Donald W Velker

Donald W. Velker, 84, of Princeton passed away at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. Born Feb. 1, 1929, in Bureau Township, Bureau County, to John Carl and Mildred Elizabeth Emma (Cook) Velker, he married Shirley Elaine Whited March 12, 1955, in Providence. She died Nov. 30, 2011. He was a 1947 graduate of Princeton High School. He started in tool and die for Harper-Wyman and retired as a foreman after 37 years in 1990. He served as a PFC in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, based in Austria. He was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton and Princeton American Legion Post 125, and a former member of Strunk''s Pond, the Quarter Center Club and the Radio Control Flying Club. He was a past member of the Princeton Moose Lodge. He was also a bowling league member at Pleasant Lanes in Princeton. Surviving are three daughters, Karen (James) Miller Jr. of Princeton, Cindy Marshall of LaSalle and Dawn (David) Buhlig of Meredosia; 10 grandchildren, Matthew Miller of Princeton, Jacqueline Miller of Princeton, Nathon Wangelin of LaSalle, Tanna (Kenny) Brown of Princeton, Ray Vitale of LaSalle, and Candace Vortman, Shelby Buhlig and Jacob Buhlig of Meridosia; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary (Art) May of Vancourver, Wash.; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Barney. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one son, Greg Velker; one daughter, Laura Velker; two grandsons, Shawn Skaggs and Kyle Bowman; and two sisters, Shirley Benskin and Linda Kitterman. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Princeton, with the Rev. Al Beck officiating, Burial will be in Elm Lawn Memorial Park, Princeton, with military rites conducted by Princeton American Legion Post 125. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m Thursday at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton. Memorials may be directed to St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Princeton and Princeton Ambulance.