Kenneth Cole, who recently turned 96, passed away in his home in Macomb Thursday, Dec. 18.
Kenneth, born Dec. 6, 1929 in Macomb to A. Don and Ethel (France) Cole, was a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and a friend to many. He attended grade school in Sherman Hall at Western Illinois State Teachers College, and transferred to the Lab School for his sixth and seventh grade years before moving on to Fairmont County School for eighth grade. A highlight of his grade school years, which he would share when given the chance (and even included in his ‘obit notes’), was that he got to meet Amelia Earhart when he was in first grade.
Kenneth, or Ken or Kenny as he was called by friends and family, graduated from Macomb High School in 1947 and then it was back to Western Illinois State Teachers College for two years. He married the love of his life, Joan Clayton, in 1950 and he went to work on his father’s farm, located just off St. Francis blacktop in Macomb. Another fun fact in his obit notes was he and Joan’s honeymoon was spent caving in Missouri, and that set the stage for a lifetime of adventures, including visiting other caves throughout the years.
Military service was a source of pride for Kenny, first joining the Illinois State Militia while he was still in high school. When the militia disbanded in 1947, he joined the Illinois National Guard unit in Macomb and a few years later, his unit was called into federal service during the Korean War. Joan and Kenny had their first child, Brenda, in 1951 and the family of three lived near Camp Cooke in California when he was called to active duty. His wife and daughter returned to Macomb when Kenny boarded a ship for Japan in the Eighth Field Artillery Unit, where he was engaged in a series of battles, offenses and counter offensives as a forward observer. His time in the military was captured a few years ago in “A Book by Me: Books Written for Kids by Kids,” by local youth author Elijah Norton.
Cole returned home in 1953, and he and Joan had two more children, Randy and Gina. When he returned home, he continued to help on the family farm, and over the next 20 years, he served on the McDonough County Farm Bureau Board, and after that lengthy stint, he served on the Illinois Farm Bureau’s marketing committee and a two-time term on the American Farm Bureau Committee.
If all that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Kenny also was a charter member of the McDonough County Reserve Police, serving for 30 years, from 1964-1994. Another story he would be quick to share was that he served as security for “the Man in Black,” Johnny Cash when he played at Western Hall. In addition to keeping the community safe, Kenny worked as a full-time school bus driver from 1977-2009, and then drove for several more years as a substitute driver for school, WIU and city buses {Note: He was still driving buses in his 80s!}.
While Kenny had an incredible work ethic, he also loved his vacation time with Joan. The couple began traveling abroad in 1983 and continued to indulge in their travel bug for several years, visiting countries throughout the world. He and Joan also welcomed the world into their home as host parents to international students from Western Illinois University. The couple also called Gulf Shores their winter home-away-from-home for many years.
And while he had a fulfilling life, with lots to do and see, Kenny decided he was going to finish something he started years ago: his college degree. He returned to Spoon River College and graduated in 1993 at the age of 64.
Always a careful driver, he and Joan took an AARP Safe Driver Course, and that led to yet another activity for the pair. They started teaching the AARP defensive driving course in 1995, and in 2000, Kenny was appointed assistant state coordinator for 10 Western Illinois counties, following by an appointment as zone coordinator for the 15 Western Illinois counties in 2015. Just before his death, Kenny was recognized (and featured in an AAPR newsletter) for leading the AARP Smart Driver courses for 30 years in the Macomb area.
The term “never lets the grass grow under his feet” would certainly fit Kenny to a “t.” In 2002, he started writing a self-published book about his memories, then went on to write one on Wally Fellheimer’s life, followed by one on World War II D-Day and finally, one on the Korean War.
Kenny was preceded in death by his bride of 61 years, Joan, who passed away on July 17, 2011; his son, Randall Cole (and his husband, Bob Eden); brother, Gerald Cole; sister, Wanda; his parents, and his brother-in-law, Terry Bigham. He is survived by his daughters, Gina (Monte) Colley of Macomb and Brenda Cole of Dallas TX; sister Lois Bigham of Macomb; eight grandchildren, Cameron Cole, Travis Cole, Tanya Jones, Brandon (Brigette) Colley, Shawn Colley, Alayna (Chris) Martin, Shane (Jessica) Eden and Shawna (Paul Hodgson) Calloway; several great-grandchildren, a niece and a nephew; brother-in-law, Gene Clayton of Macomb; sister-in-law Marilyn Cole of Los Angeles, and his special friend, Judy Jones of Rushville. His lady friend following Joan’s death, Claudia Ekovich, died in March 2021.
If you were lucky enough to know Kenny Cole, your life was far better for it. And if you made his notebook (which he always carried, which included the phone numbers and addresses of friends and relatives and who knows what else), you knew you were “in.” He had an incredible, quick wit, a zest for life and learning, and if you heard his “snorting” laugh, you couldn’t help but laugh along. He will be missed (and if he could leave you with one thing it would be to drive the speed limit and be safe).
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at the Wesley United Methodist Church, where he was a longtime member of the congregation, with Pastor Don Long Jr. officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 22, 2025 at the Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home from 4-6 p.m. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery with Military Rites. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church or to the American Legion Post 6. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.dodsworthfh.com
