John L Cole

Born October 9, 1935 in Pekin, he was the son of John L. and Marcella Ruth (Eldert) Cole, Sr. He married Leona Rae Foote on September 7, 1962 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Starletta Dawn (Paul) Taylor of Marysville, WA; two sons, Jay Leonard (Claudia) Cole of Westminster, CO and James Andrew (Kimi) Cole of Pekin; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, one sister, Lovena Cole of Pekin and two nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Joyce Diane Williams.

John served in the United States Navy during the Korean War and then for the Illinois Air National Guard, retiring in 1990 with 21 years of service as an aircraft mechanic. In all, he had 28 years between the Navy and Air Guard service. John had been an apprentice brick layer and worked on projects including the Federal Correctional Institution in Pekin. He also worked for Pekin Public Schools District 108 supporting IT functions.

John was a longtime Boy Scout Leader with Troop 98 in Pekin. He enjoyed archery with the Pekin Archers and working on electronics and computers,

He had attended Pekin First Church of God and was a former member and elder of First United Presbyterian Church in Pekin and Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Jeff Stark will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Air Force.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Films for Christ, P.O. Box 1167, Marysville, WA 98270 or to American Cancer Society, 4234 North Knoxville Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614.

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