Donald Russell Keil

Donald Russell Keil, age 96, passed away at the OSF Richard L Owens Hospice home in Peoria, Illinois on October 17, 2025. He was born in Peoria on May 4, 1929, to Russell and Marie (Meyer) Keil. He is survived by one son Gary (Michelle) Keil of Chillicothe, Illinois, and one daughter Sally (Michael) McGraw of Lutz, Florida, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Don attended school in Peoria, Illinois, graduated from Woodruff High School, then attended Bradley University until 1949 when he joined the Machinist Apprentice program at Caterpillar Tractor Company. In 1951 he entered the US Army during the Korean War, serving in the 113th Transportation Port Co at Fort Eustis, Virginia, until 1953. While in the Army, he married the love of his life, Jewel “Judy” Bradshaw on May 18th, 1951. He returned to Caterpillar in 1953 where he worked for 43 years, serving in multiple management roles in the Quality Department at various Peoria area plants as well as plants in Gossellies, Belgium, and Leicester, England.

He loved hunting, fishing and clay shooting. But most of all he loved his family and the Lord. He was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church for 65 years and Gideons International. He and Judy helped at many Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible Schools, and the Southside Mission in Peoria. He loved to tell stories to entertain young and old alike. He was always surrounded by groups of children listening to his Bible and other stories wherever he went.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jewel, and one brother Kenneth (Ann) Keil.

Funeral services will be Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, located at 2408 West Willow Knolls Drive, Peoria, IL, 61614. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Grace Presbyterian Church, 8607 IL-91, Peoria, IL 61615 or to the South Side Mission, 1127 S Laramie St, Peoria, IL 61605.