James “Big Ed” VanHooser, 82, of Tower Hill, IL, passed away Monday, December 6, 2021 in Memorial Medical Center, Springfield.  He was born August 30, 1939 in Taylorville to the late John & Katherine (Shivers) VanHooser.  Ed married Mary E. VanHooser on December 30, 1961 in Taylorville.  She preceded him in death on April 22, 2014.

Ed was a graduate of Taylorville High School, where he was a football star and still holds the shotput record in the state.  He was the head electrician for Georgia Pacific for 30 years and was the owner of Ed’s Garage in Tower Hill.  He served on the Tower Hill Village board; he was very involved in the community and had a passion for keeping the town on the map.  Ed enjoyed communicating with his Hamm radio and he loved junk cars and his little red wrecker.

Ed is survived by children:     Kathy (Michael) Anderson, Rockford, IL; Penny Jo VanHooser, Tower Hill, IL; Sandy (Thad) Dagen, Herrick, IL; Patty (Jeff) Sparks, Morrisonville, IL; Lisa Renee Plummer, Tower Hill, IL; 13 grandchildren:  Sam, Mandy, Curtis Lee, Megan, Sarah, Doug, Dalton, Tayler, Tanner, Wayde, Allison, Keaton, Hunter; 9 great grandchildren: Alexis, Adrian, Lucas, Collin, Brodey, Corby, Nathan, Jase, Addison, Ava, Mason, Dagen, Dallas, Conner, Kashton, Korbin, Kennon, Isabella Grace & 2 on the way, Lainey & Lyla and sister,     Virginia “Ginny” (Virgil) Saltz, Caldwell, ID.  In addition to his parents & wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Francis K. VanHooser & Dolores “Patty” Klaus.

Funeral services for Ed will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at McCracken-Dean Funeral Home in Pana at 12:00 p.m. with Rev. Robert Russell officiating.  Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time in the funeral home. Burial will be in Tower Hill Cemetery in Tower Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ed’s honor may be made to the Tower Hill Park and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.
www.mdfh.com