Donald Gene Cooper

Born November 14, 1930 in East Peoria to Chester Earl and Edith I. (Tomlinson) Cooper, he married Doloros A. Schireck on June 7, 1953 in Pekin. She died September 23, 2010 in Pekin. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one son-in-law, Noel “Mike” Dever; one sister, Vivian Pittman and two brothers, Edward Cooper and Arthur Cooper, at birth.

Surviving are one son, Mark (Cheryl) Cooper of Pekin; four daughters, Sue Dever of Mapleton, Lynne (Gordon) Roat of East Peoria, Kelly (Donnie) Yentes of San Jose and Kerry Jo (Larry) Powell of Oxford, Pennsylvania; twelve grandchildren, Erik Zimmerman, Cameron (Dawnelle) Cooper, Doug (Melissa) Cooper, Michael Dever, Sam Dever, Rachael (Chris) Wolfe, Zach (Kara) Roat, Emily Roat, Morgan Yentes, Caleb Powell, Clark Powell and Cameo Powell and nine great-grandchildren, Andrew Wolfe, Emma Wolfe, Owen Wolfe, Avery Wolfe, Abbott Wolfe, Charlie Roat, Caleb Cooper, Grayson Cooper and Kian Cooper.

Don worked at Caterpillar, Inc. for 50 years as an inspector, crane operator and finished his career as a stores control clerk. He retired in 1996.

Don was a man of great faith and loved his family. He was a member of Pekin First Church of the Nazarene, where he served as Minister of Music for more than 25 years, served on the church board and was the church’s softball coach for many years. His passion was evangelism through music and he was a song evangelist for the International Church of the Nazarene. He also had served on the board at the Christian Center in Peoria, where he formerly enjoyed bowling on Monday night. He also loved playing softball and fishing.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Pekin First Church of the Nazarene. Rev. W. Lloyd Brock will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the church Saturday morning. Guidelines regarding social distancing and the wearing of masks will be required. Burial will follow the funeral Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to Pekin First Church of the Nazarene, 3514 Broadway Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com