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BORN
1938
DIED
2025
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Kenneth Dorman Obituary
Kenneth Timothy Dorman, Sr.
December 9, 1938 - July 19, 2025
Kenneth Timothy Dorman, Sr. (affectionately known as "Pepper") 86, of East Moline, IL, departed this life on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Silvis Center, Silvis, IL.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 28, 2025, 10 a.m. at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1501 6th Ave., East Moline, IL. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 27th from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. 19023rd Ave., East Moline, IL. Burial will be held at the Hampton Townhip Cemetery, Hampton, IL.
Kenneth was born December 9, 1938 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Peter James and Myra (Watkins)Dorman. Kenneth came to know Christ as a young adult and was baptized at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
He received his education from Hoffman School and United Township High School. He went on to vocational school and received his certification in Auto Body Repair. He valued education and made sure his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren did too.
In 1959, he "The Cat" married his "Kitten", the love of his life, Patricia Anne Rose, and from that union they had three daughters and one son.
Kenneth worked at John Deere Foundry in East Moline, IL where he retired after 34 years in 1991. Kenneth was a hard-worker and dedicated to providing for his family in a variety of ways. In addition to working full-time for John Deere, he worked part-time at Illinois Bell Telephone Company, drove a semi-truck, and co-owned the Dorman's Barbecue Shack with his wife. His work ethic passed through the generations starting at the Dorman's Barbecue Shack where his children worked alongside him and his wife. After he retired from John Deere and closed the Dorman's Barbecue Shack, he worked at Sullivan-Phillip Mortuary, Ltd. with his late friend Burt Phillips and later Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. with his friend Mike Ellis. He also started Mr. D's Lawn Care Service that he operated until 2019.
He was a proud member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, East Moline, IL, where he got his start serving as an usher and later became a deacon. He had a strong desire to know the Lord and to help others get to know the Lord, too. He also sang in the mass choir and male chorus. He was known for singing "There's a Leak in This Old Building", "Call Him Up", and "People Get Ready".
He was also a former member of the H.E. Burris Masonic Lodge #113 PHA, East Moline, IL.
Kenneth loved spending time with his family and friends. He would chronicle that time through photographs and the sharing of memories through storytelling. His stories were often shared over a good meal or at the card table during a game of Spades, Rummy, Bid Whist, or Uno. Those stories usually involved a fishing or hunting experience with friends, as well as cherished moments with his family members. He was good at bringing those around him joy through laughter.
He enjoyed grilling and gathering around the dinner table. While he could grill some good barbecue, his wife finished it with her famous sauce. The only other dish he made that rivalled her cooking or baking was his homemade biscuits.
He enjoyed traveling as long as it was in a vehicle with wheels and on land. He would load family and friends up in the motor home and hit the road to various destinations in the US and Canada.
Those left to cherish his memories include his wife of 66 years, Patricia; his children, Kenneth "ChaCha" (Rose) Dorman Jr., Tara Burhans, and Macara Dorman; his grandchildren, Cresencia "CJ" (Curtis Richards), Robert (Michelle Massarolo) Burhans Jr., Devon (Kimberly) Bush, Kimberly "Ce-Ce" Dorman, and Kenneth (Bianca) Dorman III; his great-grandchildren, Rico Byrd, Natasha Burhans, and Yuri Burhans; his sister, Katherine Phillips, his cousins and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Peter J. Dorman; his mother, Myra Dorman; his daughter, Chana D. Dorman; his sister, Jean D. Austin Fleming; and his brothers, John, Felix, and George Dorman.
The family would like to give special thanks to Heartland Hospice and Silvis Center during his care.
Online condolences may left at sullivanellisltd.com.
December 9, 1938 - July 19, 2025
Kenneth Timothy Dorman, Sr. (affectionately known as "Pepper") 86, of East Moline, IL, departed this life on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the Silvis Center, Silvis, IL.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 28, 2025, 10 a.m. at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1501 6th Ave., East Moline, IL. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 27th from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. 19023rd Ave., East Moline, IL. Burial will be held at the Hampton Townhip Cemetery, Hampton, IL.
Kenneth was born December 9, 1938 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Peter James and Myra (Watkins)Dorman. Kenneth came to know Christ as a young adult and was baptized at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
He received his education from Hoffman School and United Township High School. He went on to vocational school and received his certification in Auto Body Repair. He valued education and made sure his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren did too.
In 1959, he "The Cat" married his "Kitten", the love of his life, Patricia Anne Rose, and from that union they had three daughters and one son.
Kenneth worked at John Deere Foundry in East Moline, IL where he retired after 34 years in 1991. Kenneth was a hard-worker and dedicated to providing for his family in a variety of ways. In addition to working full-time for John Deere, he worked part-time at Illinois Bell Telephone Company, drove a semi-truck, and co-owned the Dorman's Barbecue Shack with his wife. His work ethic passed through the generations starting at the Dorman's Barbecue Shack where his children worked alongside him and his wife. After he retired from John Deere and closed the Dorman's Barbecue Shack, he worked at Sullivan-Phillip Mortuary, Ltd. with his late friend Burt Phillips and later Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. with his friend Mike Ellis. He also started Mr. D's Lawn Care Service that he operated until 2019.
He was a proud member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, East Moline, IL, where he got his start serving as an usher and later became a deacon. He had a strong desire to know the Lord and to help others get to know the Lord, too. He also sang in the mass choir and male chorus. He was known for singing "There's a Leak in This Old Building", "Call Him Up", and "People Get Ready".
He was also a former member of the H.E. Burris Masonic Lodge #113 PHA, East Moline, IL.
Kenneth loved spending time with his family and friends. He would chronicle that time through photographs and the sharing of memories through storytelling. His stories were often shared over a good meal or at the card table during a game of Spades, Rummy, Bid Whist, or Uno. Those stories usually involved a fishing or hunting experience with friends, as well as cherished moments with his family members. He was good at bringing those around him joy through laughter.
He enjoyed grilling and gathering around the dinner table. While he could grill some good barbecue, his wife finished it with her famous sauce. The only other dish he made that rivalled her cooking or baking was his homemade biscuits.
He enjoyed traveling as long as it was in a vehicle with wheels and on land. He would load family and friends up in the motor home and hit the road to various destinations in the US and Canada.
Those left to cherish his memories include his wife of 66 years, Patricia; his children, Kenneth "ChaCha" (Rose) Dorman Jr., Tara Burhans, and Macara Dorman; his grandchildren, Cresencia "CJ" (Curtis Richards), Robert (Michelle Massarolo) Burhans Jr., Devon (Kimberly) Bush, Kimberly "Ce-Ce" Dorman, and Kenneth (Bianca) Dorman III; his great-grandchildren, Rico Byrd, Natasha Burhans, and Yuri Burhans; his sister, Katherine Phillips, his cousins and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Peter J. Dorman; his mother, Myra Dorman; his daughter, Chana D. Dorman; his sister, Jean D. Austin Fleming; and his brothers, John, Felix, and George Dorman.
The family would like to give special thanks to Heartland Hospice and Silvis Center during his care.
Online condolences may left at sullivanellisltd.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Rock Island Dispatch Argus on Jul. 25, 2025.
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