Betty A. Pillen

KEWANEE - Betty A. Pillen, 89, of Kewanee, died at 8:38 a.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at the Kewanee Care Home.

A public memorial visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Saturday. March 27 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 1 at Wethersfield Cemetery in Kewanee. A luncheon will follow at Windmont Park. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee or to the Kewanee Food Pantry. The funeral home will monitor capacity limits to maintain compliance with COVID regulations. The funeral home requires that all guests wear a mask for the safety of all those attending.

She was born February 9, 1932 in Walnut, IL the daughter of Marvin and Beulah (Plapp) Ioder. She married Wayne R. Pillen on August 5, 1951 at the Red Oak Church in Walnut and he preceded her in death on May 21, 2005. Survivors include her two sons, Bart (Laurie) Pillen of Rochelle, IL and Mike (Debbie) Pillen of Kewanee, her daughter, Michele (Alfred) Wentworth of Kewanee, three brothers; Harry (Judy) Ioder of Walnut, Jim Ioder of Gladstone, MO and Ned Ioder of Streator, two sisters, Caryl Behrens of Walnut and Edith (Dr. Robert) Orazam of Aitkin, MN, seven grandchildren; Kate and Sarah Pillen, Mason and Rachael Wentworth, Claire (Logan) Willits and Carter and Charlotte Pillen, two great grandchildren, Sadie Kay and Gideon and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Norma.

Betty received Chamber Executive Certificates from Notre Dame and worked as the Executive Vice President for the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce for 28 years. She volunteered for Kewanee Hospital and later OSF Saint Luke Medical Center. Betty was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee where she was an ordained Elder. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters, the State Chamber of Commerce, the Gourmet Club and several Bridge clubs. She was an avid cyclist and a fan of the Chicago Bears, Cubs and the Fighting Illini.

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