Illa Mae Cannon

Born September 11, 1929, Custer County, South Dakota

Deceased August 1, 2024, Douglas County, Colorado

Illa grew up on a ranch in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota with her parents and two older brothers. She was the only child in her class in the one room country school in Argyle, South Dakota. Illa graduated from high school in Custer, South Dakota, in 1947. During her senior year, Illa’s friend Norma introduced Illa to her future husband, Irvin Cannon. Norma married Irvin’s younger brother Doug and eventually became Illa’s sister-in-law. Illa married Irvin on February 15, 1948, in Long Beach, California.

Once married, the couple moved to South Dakota and lived with Illa’s parents. A couple years later they moved to Idaho with some of their Cannon relatives. In the summer of 1951, they returned to South Dakota to help her parents harvest a wheat crop. When the crop was destroyed by a hail storm, Irv returned to Idaho. Illa stayed in South Dakota as she was close to term with her first child. Several months after Judy was born, they both joined Irv in Idaho. Irv re-enlisted in the Air Force in the spring of 1952 and Illa joined him at various locations where Irv was stationed. Irv was eventually sent overseas to Korea. Illa returned to South Dakota with Judy until Irv returned stateside. During Irv’s Air Force career, the family lived at several Air Force bases mostly in California where Cheri (1954), Mark (1956) and Gloria (1963) were born. The family spent summers in South Dakota during this period. In 1965, the family moved to Custer, South Dakota. Illa began her Civil Defense Career in Custer and Irvin completed his military career in Rapid City at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

In 1969 the family moved to Rapid City where Illa continued her Civil Defense career as Assistant Civil Defense Director of Pennington County. One of the most significant events of her career was the June 9, 1972, Rapid City flood in which Illa became the lead coordinator for Civil Defense activities. Illa continued her career eventually becoming the Civil Defense Director for Rapid City - Pennington County. During her career Illa started the county rescue team, one of her many accomplishments. Illa retired from Civil Defense after a 22-year career.

In retirement, Illa enjoyed travelling. She travelled extensively in her motorhome, vacationed in foreign countries, took cruises, and traveled to Hawaii. She visited family and spent time with her children and grandchildren. In 2007, Illa and Irv relocated to Windcrest Retirement Community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. In 2014, Irv moved into a Memory Care facility in Castle Rock, Colorado, and Illa moved to live nearby with her youngest daughter Gloria and granddaughter Mia. Illa’s husband Irv passed in 2015. Illa continued to live with Gloria and Mia until recently when health issues required Illa to move to a skilled nursing facility. In her later years, Illa enjoyed watching birds at her many bird feeders in the backyard. She travelled with Gloria and Mia on vacations and enjoyed watching her granddaughter grow up.

Illa is pre-deceased by her husband Irvin Winton Cannon; by her parents Edgar Addison Sutherland and Mattie May (Barnes) Sutherland; and by her two older brothers Ray Sutherland and Dean Sutherland.

Illa is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren:

• Judy Cannon married to Vince Griesemer:

o Their daughter Deborah Holloway; her daughters Lily, Cailyn and Evelyn

• Cheri (Cannon) Schuelke married to Paul Schuelke:

o Their son Brett Schuelke married to Rachel; their children, Brielle, Alyse, Nathaniel, and Claire

o Their son Peter Schuelke married to Karina; their daughters Eden, Miranda, and Vivien

o Their son Andrew Schuelke married to Chelsea; their daughter Lowen

• Mark Cannon married to Linda (Doehr) Cannon:

o Their sons Ryan Cannon and Tommy Cannon

• Gloria Cannon:

o Her daughter Mia

A memorial gathering for Illa will be held Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel, 407 Jerry St, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Illa's name to the Salvation Army.