Eldon L Quick

Eldon L. Quick of Rantoul died on April 26th of 2025 at 2:20pm at the Villas of HollyBrook Assisted Living at the age of 94.

Eldon was born on a farm in rural Jewell County, Kansas on November 3rd, 1930. The 5th child of Roy T. Quick and Anna A. (Robinett) Quick. Eldon and his family lived on various tenant farms in Jewell County, Kansas during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Like most people in that area and during those very difficult times, they were devoted Christians. It was due to Eldon’s parent’s faith in God that they survived the Great Depression and the huge dust storms that plagued the area in the 1930’s.

Eldon’s early education was in one room county schools. He graduated from Kiowa Kansas High School in 1949.

In 1950, he enlisted in the US Air Force at the beginning of the Korean War. His Air Force service brought him to Chanute AFB, at Rantoul, where he met his wife, Frances. At the end of his four year enlistment, he was discharged with an honorable discharge from the Air Force in November of 1954 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In September 1957, Eldon was appointed as a police officer with the Rantoul Police Department. He was promoted through the various ranks and was appointed as Rantoul Chief of Police in 1966. He served his adopted home town of Rantoul as Chief of Police for the next seventeen and a half years, retiring on September 1st, 1983. His tenure as Rantoul Police Chief was the longest serving in that position in the history of Rantoul.

In 1987, Eldon was elected to the Rantoul Village Board and in November 1988 he was elected as the Champaign County Coroner. He was re-elected as Coroner in 1992 and 1996, retiring on December 31st, 1998, after serving as Coroner for 10 years.

Eldon’s hobbies included carpentry, woodworking, as well as singing in his church choir, and the Martin Luther men’s chorus.

In 1965 he built his own home in Rantoul. He also helped his children with building and remodeling projects in their homes. This included helping his son, Richard, build a new home in Rantoul in 1983 and remodeling and building room additions to his other 3 children’s homes in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas. One of his great-granddaughters gave him the ultimate compliment when Eldon built her a playhouse: “Grandpa Quick can build anything!” It always seemed that Eldon was happiest when he was helping others.

Eldon is survived by his son Richard (Carol) of rural Champaign, daughter Kathy of Rantoul, Patricia (Billy) of Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Marlana (Chad) Smith of Rantoul, Marshall Quick of Rantoul, Kristopher Haman, Texas, Kristina Haman, Texas, Ryan (Allison) Waters of Danville, as well as 6 great-grandchildren and 3 step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Frances, and daughter Karen Haman, his parents, 3 brothers, and 2 sisters, and daughter-in-law, Irene (Funkhouser) Quick.

Visitation will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gifford on Wednesday, April 30th from 4-7pm. There will be a second visitation at St. Paul’s on Thursday, May 1st at 10am with a service to follow at 11am. Funeral service will be officiated by Pastor Gary Maxwell. Burial to follow at Eden Park Cemetery in Rantoul alongside his wife Frances with military honors accorded by Rantoul American Legion Post.  Baier Family Funeral Services, Paxton is handling arrangements

Eldon’s greatest joy in life was foremost his love of Jesus Christ, his family and considered it a great honor and privilege to have served his adopted hometown of Rantoul for 26 years with the Rantoul Police Department.

Memorials to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gifford. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.