Raymond Harold Kolves

Born July 18, 1949 in Canton to Raymond Harold, Sr. and Patsy (Hasty) Kolves, he married Janet Stamm on June 4, 1975 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are three children, Jonathan Kolves of Peoria, Dawn (Andy) Anderson of Yuma, Arizona and Heather (Ray) Gottner of Joliet; five grandchildren, Devin Anderson, Jarod (Kaitlyn) Anderson, Xander Gottner, Rylan Gottner and Wyatt Gottner; two great-grandchildren, Daniel and Rosalie Grace Anderson; three brothers, Ken (Karen) Kolves of Florida, Mike Kolves and Marvin Kolves, both of Havana and one sister, Diana (Robert Chase) Burrows of Wisconsin.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Debbie West and Marcia Hernandez.

He was a United States Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

Ray retired from Commonwealth Edison after many years of service. He first worked at the Powerton Station in Pekin and last worked at Dresden. He was an outage scheduler for most of his years and started in the coal room.

He enjoyed fishing on Heritage Lake in recent years and watching Family Feud on television. Anyone that knew Ray, knew him to be funloving, onery and a bit of a jokester.

Ray regularly attended First United Methodist Church in Pekin, where he helped with the funeral dinner committee.

He was an advocate for the shingles vaccine.

His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 27, 2023 at First United Methodist Church in Pekin. Pastor James C. McClarey and Pastor Judy Doyle will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service Thursday at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

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

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