Neil Trotter

Neil L. Trotter

Age 67 of Coal City, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 5, 2018 at his home.

Born July 29, 1951 in Joliet, Illinois, Neil Lee is a son of Betty (nee Bonucci) and the late Freeman Trotter. He was raised and educated in Coal City; graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1969, and went on to earn his Bachelor’s in Ag Science from University of Illinois. Following college, Neil taught Vocational Agriculture in Rossville, Illinois, and on October 10, 1975, he married Honor Kociss in Assumption Catholic Church in Coal City. Together they raised their family in Coal City.

Neil entered into Pipefitter’s Local 597 after returning to Coal City, and made his career as a pipefitter until his retirement. He was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Coal City and enjoyed being actively involved in the FFA in his younger years.

Neil loved to fish and garden; was a fan of both the Chicago Cubs and Blackhawks, and held true to University of Illinois Athletics, where he held football season tickets. He was also a talented welder and fabricator who took pleasure in working in his shop. Neil’s greatest hobby in recent years however was his granddaughter, and he cherished spending time with her in person and through facetime.

Survivors include his mother Betty; two sons, Dr. Benjamin (Abby) Trotter of Chillicothe, Ohio and Nicholas Trotter of Coal City; one granddaughter, Gigi Trotter; one sister, Deborah (Stephen) Kasak of Champaign; two brothers, Mark Trotter and Noel (Debi) Trotter, both of Coal City; his brother-in-law, Jay Van Duyne of Coal City and numerous nieces and nephews.

Neil was preceded in death by his father, Freeman on November 23, 2005, wife Honor on May 6, 2013 and his sister-in-law Kathy Van Duyne on October 13, 2015.

Cremation rites are being accorded.

The family will receive friends for a memorial visitation on Monday, October 15, 2018 between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block north of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City. Memorial services will follow on Tuesday morning, October 16, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home, and inurnment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Braidwood, where Neil will be laid to rest with his late wife Honor.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Neil’s memory to the Unit #1 Education Foundation, P.O. Box 177, Coal City, Illinois 60416

Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Neil’s memorial page online by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com/notices/Neil-Trotter.

Cremation services and memorial arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Coal City. (815-634-2125)