Charles E Coffman

Born August 18, 1926 in Shelbyville to Othie and Ruth (Anglin) Coffman, he married Florence Stranz on June 1, 1952 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Julie (Tom) Martin of Pekin; two grandsons, Tyler (Cydnee Tucker) Martin of Naperville and Justin Martin of Peoria.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marie Coffman.

He served with the United States Army during WWII in the Philippines and then in Japan.

Chuck was a 1951 graduate of Eureka College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. He then began his teaching career in Girard, IL. From there, he came to Pekin and taught in Pekin Public School District 108 for 20 years, which included the sixth grade at Wilson School for many years and as a P.E. teacher and coach at Washington Junior High School. He retired in 1991.

He was a member of First Christian Church in Pekin where he had been an Elder and a Deacon.

Chuck had been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Pekin since 1989 where he was a recipient of the George F. Hixson Fellowship in 2008. He was also a member of the William Schaefer American Legion Post #44 and Tazewell County Retired Teachers Association.

An avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan, Chuck also officiated basketball, baseball and softball for the Illinois High School Association for 51 years.

Chuck had never known a stranger and would go anywhere to watch sporting events, especially when his grandsons played. He also loved vacationing in Colorado and Spring breaks in Panama City, Florida.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2015 at First Christian Church in Pekin. Rev. Gayle Lagerquist and Pastor Mike Roberts will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 1201 Chestnut Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Shade Memorial Youth Camp, P.O. Box 1027, Pekin, IL 61554.

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