Donald Gene Snedden

PEKIN ~ Donald Gene "Lefty" Snedden, Sr., 73, of 1006 S. 14th Street, passed away at 1:02 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at his residence.

Born November 15, 1937 in Streator to Thomas Andrew and Virginia Faye (Davies) Snedden, he married Thelma Lee Cook on August 4, 1957 in Pekin.  She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Peggy Sue (Jeff) Stephens and Shelley (Greg) Simpkins, both of Pekin; one son, Donald (Jeanna) Snedden, Jr. of Manito; nine grandchildren, Brooke (Mark) Donnelly, Ian (Susie) Hacker, Don (Stephanie) Snedden, III, Katy Stephens, Jessica Biga, Damon Snedden and Taylor Biga, all of Pekin, Tassia (Lance Spencer) Barnard of Essex, Missouri and Codie Snedden of Manito; twelve great-granddaughters; three great-grandsons; one brother, Robert (Vicki) Snedden of Sunbury, Ohio; and one sister, Patricia Pfeiffer of Pekin.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one great-granddaughter, Ashley May Spencer.

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

He worked at Caterpillar, Inc. as a machine operator for 36 ½ years, retiring on December 31, 2002.  He previously had worked as a bartender at Pak-Away in Pekin and Hilltop in Creve Coeur.

He also had been a member of the Pekin Moose Family Center #916 since 1987.

His funeral will be at 12 p.m. Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday (tonight) at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Pekin Hospital Wellness Center 600 S. 13th St. Pekin, IL 61554.