Arden Wills

Arden E. Wills

Age 70 of Coal City passed awayA Wednesday evening, January 2, 2013 atA Morris Hospital with his loving family at his side.

Born August 3, 1942 inA Joliet, Arden was a son of the late Arden and Ellen Farmer-Wills. He was educated in aA one room school houseA at Sulphur Springs Grade School, where he was the only eighth grade student. Arden then graduated from Coal City High School A and continued his education at NorthernA Illinois University, where he earned a BS, MS and CAS.A On June 8, 1963, Arden married Carole Vilt in Assumption Catholic Church inA Coal City, and together they made their home on the family farm. Arden taught and coached at Saratoga Grade SchoolA and later was hired as superintendentA at South Wilmington Grade School, from where he retired in 1998. Arden was a founding administrative board member and past president of the Grundy County Special Education Co-op and he also held the position of president of the IESA (Illinois Elementary School Association) from 1986-1988. He was a member of IASA (Illinois Association of School Administrators) and IPA (Illinois Principals Association). Arden coached and directed Coal City Youth Baseball and was a recommending scout for the Pittsburg Pirates Baseball Organization.A ArdenA did all of this while continuing to work the family farm. He will be remembered as an avid snowmobiler, who enjoyed the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Black Hawks, and all high school sports. Arden took great pleasure in traveling, and had a tremendous love for his grandchildren; cherishing all of the time spent with them, and attending their activities.

Arden is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years: Carole; three children: Gregory (Tiffany) Wills, Darin (Nikki) Wills, and Kristin (Lance) Copes all of Coal City; six grandchildren: Brandon Wills, Alex Wills, Carter Copes, Beau Wills, Zoe Wills and Kerigan Copes: one brother David (Jean) Wills of Coal City and one sister-in-law: Sharon (Robert) Fricke of Melrose Park, as well as niece and nephews: DavyLynne Wills, Adam Wills, Allen Wills, Marc Fricke and Michael Fricke.

Arden was preceded in death by his parents and three grandchildren in infancy: Ryan Wills, Caden Copes and Kellen Copes.

Visitation and video tribute will be heldA on Sunday January 6, 2013A between the hours ofA 2:00pmA andA 7:00pmA at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 North Broadway (one block North of Illinois Route 113) in Coal City. Arden will then lie in state at The First United Methodist Church,A 6805 East McArdle Road, inA Coal City onA Monday, January 7th from 9:00am until time of funeral service 10:00am.A Reverend Dr. Thomas Logsdon A will officiate and burial will follow in Braceville-Gardner Cemetery.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Arden 's memory to his family for distribution to charities of their choosing.

Pallbearers and Honorary Pallbearers will be Arden's children and grandchildren.

Friends may sign the online guest book or send private condolences to the family by logging onto:A www.ReevesFuneral.com

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