Don R. Drain (85) of Effingham

Don R. Drain, 85, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 10 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. Burial will follow at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, with military rites. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, 57 Country Place, Springfield, IL 62703 (landoflincolnhonorflights.org), or Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham.

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Don was born on November 20, 1932, in Oconee, IL, the son of Harold R. and Flossie Belle (McNutt) Drain. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1951 where he met his wife of 63 years, Shirley J. Drain (nee Cubin). After serving as a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, Don attended Murray State University where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics and a M.A. in Education. He spent 30 years of his life as a math teacher, administrator and coach in Cowden, IL and at Arlington High School in Arlington Heights, IL. Don was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights and Centenary United Methodist Church of Effingham, IL where he served in multiple volunteer roles. He was a man of many interests: woodworking, history, coaching, following sports and he had a great love of all things related to being on a lake. Having lived on Lake Sara for 15 years, he spent many hours enjoying fishing, boating and he especially cherished teaching his seven grandchildren how to fish, ski and tube. In more recent years, Don enjoyed traveling with Shirley to visit family in Illinois, Oklahoma and California. One of his most enjoyable trips was his Honor Flight to Washington, DC where he visited the war memorials with other fellow veterans.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Shirley of Effingham and his three daughters, Linda (Frank) Blum of Stillwater, OK, Judie (Jim) King of Arlington Heights, IL, and Nancy (Donald) Freeman of San Clemente, CA. Don is also survived by seven grandchildren: Frank (Jamie Couey) Blum Jr., Rebecca Blum, Katie King, Jamie (Paul) Russo, Mollie King, Erin Freeman and Vanessa Freeman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Bonnie Belle McNeely of Tower Hill, IL.