Eldon E. Clinebell

PEKIN ~ Eldon Emerson Clinebell, 91, of Pekin, passed away at 6:54 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2019 at UnityPoint Health – Pekin Emergency Room.

Born June 28, 1927 in Peoria to Emerson R. and Marie E. (Voss) Clinebell, he married Mary Louise Whitaker on November 27, 1948 in Manito.  She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Joy (Steve) Starman of Pekin; one son, Randy Clinebell of Pekin; four grandchildren, Amy Starman of Hanahan, South Carolina, Melissa (Corey) Pearson of Manito, Matthew (Liz) Starman of Inverness, and Michelle (Kevin) Neill of Pekin; six great-grandchildren, Kylie, Jarrett, Jayden, Olivia, Quentin, and Colin; three sisters, June Parr of Pekin, Carol (Alan) Gorden of Walsenburg, Colorado, and Linda (Ron) Lipsey of Pekin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Lois Clinebell; two brothers, Norval Clinebell and Virgil Clinebell; sister-in-law, Norma Clinebell; and a brother-in-law, Bill Parr.

Eldon graduated from Forest City High School in 1945 and was a World War II US Army veteran having served in the military occupation of Japan.

He was a Caterpillar apprentice graduate and was assigned to various management positions in the Engineering Department for 30 of his 35 years of company service.  He retired on Sep 1, 1982.

Eldon moved his wife and young daughter from Forest City to Pekin in July 1952 and he immediately began building a new house.  He joined Grace United Methodist Church and attended Sunday school with the Tri-M class.  Eldon was a worker for his church, having served on various boards and committees through the many years and more recently serving as an usher.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, gardening and woodworking.  He was always ready to lend a helping hand to family and friends.

He and Mary enjoyed square dancing with their many friends in the Circle Eights Club in Pekin.  They also enjoyed numerous travel trailer trips to different areas of the US and Canada, normally accompanied by his brother and sister-in-law as well as dear friends from St. Louis, all with similar travel trailers.  In 1995 they bought a new Park Model in a resort in Mesa, Arizona.  Eldon then added a room to accommodate any family member who wished to visit and vacation in sunny Arizona during winter months.

He and his brother enjoyed riding their XL250 Honda Motorcycles in the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona sand dunes and the BLM land at Yuma.

His funeral will be at noon Friday, April 12, 2019 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin.  The Rev. Dr. Joel Catlin will officiate.  Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Friday at the church.  Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Arrangements are by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church for the Sharing God’s Grace Building Fund, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to The Salvation Army, 243 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

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