Janet D. Donahue

Born February 20, 1940 in Pekin to Kenneth Harry and Dorothy Juanita (Rawalt) Drury, she married James Robert Donahue on November 26, 1960 in Pekin. He survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Kimberly G. “Kim” (John) Waters of Park Ridge; one son, Michael Thomas (Theresa) Donahue of Bolingbrook; four grandchildren, Dallas Elizabeth Donahue, Phillip James Donahue Waters, Christian Robert Donahue and Grace Margaret Donahue Waters and one sister, Diane Zurhorst of Pekin.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one infant brother.

Jan was a 1958 graduate of Pekin Community High School and served as the Chief Clerk for the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department for 20 years. She was elected and served as a Tazewell County Board member for District 2 from May of 1998 until January of 2011. As a board member she served as chair of the Judicial Committee, vice-chair of the Property Committee and served on Finance/H.R. Committee, Executive/Risk management Committee, Budget Subcommittee, Pekin Main Street and Cooperative Extension.

Jan was a political activist most of her life and was a member of the Tazewell County Republican Central Committee. She has served as a precinct committeewoman since 1968 and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in the year 2000. She had been selected as an Outstanding Republican for Tazewell County. She also was recognized as a Grand Marshal of the Pekin Marigold Festival and as a recipient of the Pekin YWCA Community Service Award

She was a member and former board member of the Pekin Hospital League. She also was a member of Chapter OE of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She had formerly served as a board member of the Pekin YWCA, Children’s Advocacy Center, Dirksen Center Guild and The Center for Prevention of Abuse. Jan was proud to have been a co-chair of the Save James Field Committee.

Jan was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin.

Her memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Pekin. The Rev. Judy Doyle and Rev. James McClarey will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, 2015 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jan Donahue Memorial Fund, in care of Busey Bank, 33 South 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to The Center for Prevention of Abuse, P.O Box 3855, Peoria, IL 61614.

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