Ellis L. "Duke" Doonan, 90, passed away on May 12, 2015 at his home in Glen Carbon, Illinois. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 801 W. Edgington St. Reynolds, IL. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Private burial will take place in Reynolds Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to: Good Days Chronic Disease Fund - 6900 N Dallas Parkway Suite 200 Plano, Texas 75024 (877) 968-7233.
Ellis L. Doonan was born on a farm west of Reynolds, Illinois on May 11, 1925. He graduated from Reynolds High School in 1943. After high school, he voluntarily entered the United States Navy. During World War II he served on an LST in the South Pacific. After discharge, he was on the Illinois State Police force for two years. He then transferred to the Illinois Job Service Department. He retired in 1984 after working 38 years for the State of Illinois. Duke was a charter member and past Commander of the American Legion Post 1166. Ellis and Jean Davis were married in Moline, Illinois in 1982, and moved to Texas in 1989. Duke was a lifelong NY Yankee fan. He liked baseball and had visited 32 Major League Baseball Parks and most Spring Training facilities in Florida and Arizona.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Doonan, Glen Carbon; sister, Marilyn Kranz, Reynolds; children, Rhonda (Marvin) McKimpson, Germantown Hills, Jac Ericson, Sunrise Beach, MO, Bob (Kathi) Ericson, Imperial, MO, Fred (Joann) Ericson, Viola; grandchildren, Stephanie (Rob) Osborne, Vandalia, Eddie (Sarah) Cupp, Moline, Nathan (Joann) McKimpson, Karl (Dawn) McKimpson, Wendy McKimpson, Neal McKimpson, Becky (Mike) Robinson, Cris Groves, Devin, Bayli, Jean and Fern Ericson and Seth Denato. Finally, 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews are survivors of his large family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and Gladys Doonan and daughter, Leslie Cupp.