He was born on July 17, 1931 in Peoria, a son of Harold E. “Sunny” and Myrtle (Gebhart) Van Houten. He married Norma J. Higgins on May 9, 1959 in Bartonville. She preceded him in death on June 12, 2013 in Pekin.
Sunny is survived by his two daughters, Kim (Marty) Duda of Pekin and Lisa (Peter Sabinske) Higdon of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Nick and Andrea Duda of Pekin and Erika Higdon of Atlanta, GA; three great-grandchildren, Ella, Taylor, and Aryia; and three sisters, Bonnie Allen of Arizona, Joann (Bill) Workman of East Peoria, and Sharon Buckland of Texas. He was also preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Timothy; and son, Mark.
Sunny was a veteran of the United States Army. He worked as a millwright for Caterpillar, Inc. in Mapleton and Mossville for many years, retiring in 1990.
He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bartonville and Bartonville Lions Club, where he volunteered for many years. Sunny was also a member of “The Coffee Table” at Bartonville Diner. He was a past member of the Peoria Motorcycle Club, Hanna City Sportsman’s Club, and American Legion Limestone Post #979. Sunny loved his Harley-Davidson motorcycles, going to auctions and sales, woodworking, and camping with his family.
Sunny’s graveside service will take place at a later date in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria. Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel is handling arrangements. A celebration of life gathering will take on Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 from 1pm to 3pm at Davison Fulton Bartonville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a Samaritan’s Purse or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois.
Online condolences may be sent to Sunny’s family at www.davison-fulton-bartonvillechapel.com.
