John Winfred Dooley

May 30, 1925 - December 25, 2016

John Winfred Dooley Mattoon, IL —John Winfred Dooley, age 91, of Mattoon, IL, passed away at 4:43 p.m., Sunday, December 25, 2016, surrounded by his family in his home in Mattoon, IL. The funeral service in his honor will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon, IL. Reverend Matthew Froeschle will officiate. Interment will be in Dodge Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL, 61938. John was born May 30, 1925 at the Dooley-Goss Homestead in Union Township, Parke County, Indiana. He was the first born son of Lois Goss and David Reuben Dooley. He married June Beverly Anderson of Chicago, Illinois on September 9, 1949. She preceded him in death on July 11, 2011. John is survived by their five children, James Dooley (Teresa) of Bloomington; Janet Ronchetti (Scott) of Mattoon; Judith Helfrich (Bruce) of Versailles, KY; Jeffrey Dooley of Mattoon; and Jay Dooley (L.A.) of Shelby County, IL; eleven grandchildren, Aaron Dooley of Normal, Jessica Dooley of Laramie, WY, Amanda Kessler (Chris) of Arcola, Nathan Saegesser (Natalie) of Hinsdale, Seth Helfrich (Stephanie) of Fuguay Varina, NC, Matt Helfrich of Indianapolis, IN, Christa Benson (Jesse) of Merkel, TX, Breanna Stark (Wade) of Mattoon, Megan Tool (Blake) of Ogden, Taylor Dooley of St. Joseph, and Joshua Ekiss (Jessica) of Sullivan; fifteen great-grandchildren; Avery Kessler, Jacey Kessler, Leighton Saegesser, Olivia Saegesser, Christian Helfrich, Lucy Helfrich, Lilia Benson, Ellery Benson, Alexis Dooley, Laurel Stark, Evan Tool, Dominik Ekiss, Dalton Ekiss, Alyana Ekiss, Anabelle Ekiss; and one sister, Mary Lois Yegerlehner of Clay City, IN. In addition to his wife June, John was preceded in death by both parents, a brother William Dooley, sister-in-law Barbara Dooley, brother-in-law Kenneth Yegerlehner, one daughter-in-law Kim Dooley, and one grandson Austin Dooley John was a member of The Greatest Generation. Having been born prior to, and growing up during the Great Depression, he served his country in the military during World War II. After graduating high school from the Union Township Schools, Bellmore, IN, John enlisted and proudly served in the U S Navy from 1944 to 1946. He trained as Aviation Radioman/Aerial Gunner. He completed training near VJ Day. After VJ Day, he then served in the Naval Air Transport Service at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland and at Miami, Florida Naval Air Station. Upon discharge from the US navy, he enrolled in the Agricultural Engineering program at Purdue University. After graduating with a B.S. Agricultural Engineering in 1950, he and June moved to Vincennes, IN where he began his career as an Assistant Engineer at the Knox County REMC. In June 1952 they moved to Mattoon, where John continued his career at Coles Moultrie Electric Cooperative. At CMEC he oversaw the evolution of the Engineering Department from a one person office to a fully staffed department. Included in his many responsibilities, he served as Electrical Engineer from 1952 to 1979, Administrative Assistant 1979 to 1989, Director of Engineering, 1989 to 1992. He also served as interim manager in 1990. During his years with CMEC, John continued his education completing several NRECA Management Services Department courses. He is also a Graduate of the NRECA Management Internship Curriculum, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Upon John’s retirement in June 1992, he continued his career with Burns and McDonnell, Engineers-Architects¬Consultants, Kansas City, Missouri, as Senior Distribution Specialist. From there he retired in 1998. John was a very civic-minded man. He believed in leaving his world better than when he came into it. He was the past president of the Bennett School, Central Junior High, Mattoon High School Parent-Teacher Associations, and the Central Junior High Band Parents. He was also past president of the Mattoon Camera Club; Past Official Cooperative Representative to the Great Lakes Electric Consumers Association; Past Member of the Architectural and Engineering drafting Advisory Councils, Lake Land College; Past Member of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee member, Member of Board of Directors Water Resources Committee, Member of the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce, Past Light industrial and Commercial Development Committee member; Member of the City of Mattoon Electrical Commission; Former member of the Electric Power Research Institute Distribution Task Force; Former member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; Life Member of American Legion Post 88, Rockville, IN. He also served on the Board of Directors 1983-2007 and as Utilities Drive Chairman 1987-2009, for United Way of Coles County. John was longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mattoon. Not only did he and June regularly attend, but he also served his church in several capacities. He was an Elder, and also served as Deacon and Trustee. He taught both Junior High and Senior High Sunday School classes. He served as Assistant Treasurer, and was a member or the Stewardship-Finance, Endowment, and Foundation Committees. Joining in January 1963, John was a dedicated member of Rotary Club of Mattoon. Rotary was a passion of his. During the almost 54 years of membership, he served in many different offices: Program Committee Member, Community Safety Committee Chairman, Rural-Urban Committee, Sergeant at Arms; Member, Club Bulletin Committee; Director, Community Service; Club Secretary; Vice President; President; Area Representative for District Governor Kurt Schmidt, District 649; Secretary for District Governor Virgil Judge; Past-Chairman & Member of District 6490; Vocational Service Committee. He also held various Club leadership positions in recent years: Member of Club Membership Recruitment Committee, Co-Chair of Club New Member-Fireside Chat Committee, and member of Club Monthly Program Committee. John was also a Paul Harris Fellow John was active in the Boy Scouts of America since 1961. John was a past member of Troop 75 Committee; past Institutional Representative, Troop and Pack 75; past Chairman, Hickory District, Lincoln Trails Council; past Vice President (Cub Scouting), Lincoln Trails Council; past Vice President (Council Camping), Lincoln Trails Council; President, Lincoln Trails Council, 1978-1981; past Member of the Executive Board, Lincoln Trails Council; and now a member of the Advisory Board, Lincoln Trails Council BSA. He was awarded The Silver Beaver Award by Lincoln Trails Council, May 7, 1973, and designated a James E. West Fellow, December 18, 2009. Beginning his running career in the Run For Your Life Program at EIU in 1966, John became a dedicated jogger. In the colder months, John drove daily to EIU to run. And in the warmer months, he could be seen running through the west end of Mattoon in his bright gold and black Purdue clothing. John ran until his strokes wouldn’t allow him to run anymore. He ran in many 5ks, and always ran where ever his job took him. He felt running and walking were a way to living. Up until his last days he frequently asked "to get up and walk." One of John's other loves was the white 1963 Pontiac convertible he bought for June in 1967. Fully restored, John could be seen driving it around town, or taking June to the Dairy Queen on a warm day. John's family would like to thank Doctor Gary Mikel, Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, the Odd Fellow/Rebekah Home, Carle Hospital, Lincolnland Hospice. The family is especially grateful to in-home caregivers, Carolyn Nunamaker and Jeri Wafford who cared for John on a daily basis, and became a part of his family. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to The First Presbyterian Church, The Boy Scouts of America, or a charitable organization of the donor's choice. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in her honor or share a memory with her family.