Donna L Colson

MANITO ~ Donna Lee Colson, 79, of 3238 Spring Lake Rd., passed away at 5:25 a.m., Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Bel-Wood Nursing Home in Peoria.

Born October 30, 1931 in Pekin to Robert Lee and Wilma Ada (Bright) Hawkins, she married Clarence Dean Colson on February 3, 1950 in Pekin.  He died June 6, 2011 in Pekin.  She also was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Ronald J. Colson and Robert Dean Colson, Sr. and two brothers.

Surviving are one daughter, Janet (Don) Walker of West Chicago; one grandson, Robert Dean (Kimberly) Colson, Jr. ; six granddaughters, Amber Colson, Annissa Stiles, Carrie Hammock, Rhonda Colson, Donna Walker and Katie Walker; twelve great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons and one sister, Wilma M. Morsch Hostetler of Pekin.

Donna worked as a longtime office worker at Illini Welding in Pekin.  She also helped and supported her husband Dean with his electronics business, Colson’s TV and Repair in Pekin.  The company later transitioned into Colson Radio Communications and Colson Radio until 2000, when her grandson assumed ownership of the company.

She enjoyed playing the organ and played with her husband in the Dean Colson Combo.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin.  She also was a member of the Pekin Boat Club for many years.

Her funeral will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  The Rev. Terry C. Edele will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour before the funeral at the funeral home.  Cremation will be accorded following the funeral.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St., Pekin, IL 61554.

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