Dennis Corwin Tucker (74) of Cowden

Dennis Corwin Tucker, 74, of Cowden, IL went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 9, 2022, in the comfort of his home.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, in the Free Methodist Church in Cowden. The funeral service celebrating Dennis’ life will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, in the Free Methodist Church in Cowden with Pastor Jon Fulton presiding. Burial will take place in Mound Cemetery with military rites performed by the Shelby County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cowden First Responders, P.O. Box 324, Cowden, IL 62422 or the First Baptist Church, 213 W. Fayette Ave, Effingham, IL 64201. Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Cowden is assisting the family.

Dennis was born on August 17, 1947, in Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia, IL, to the late Corwin and Mary Tucker. He was a 1965 graduate of Cowden-Herrick High School and was drafted into the Army on November 21, 1966. He went to basic training at Fort Ord, CA and then to Fort Huachuca, AZ for advanced training. His permanent duty was at Fort Belvoir, VA, Dewitt Army Hospital. He received orders on October 15, 1967, to Vietnam where he served with the 9th Infantry Division from November 1967 to September 1968. Upon his return from Vietnam, he attended and graduated from Greenville College with his bachelor’s degree in education (1968-1972). Dennis married Rosalie Kay Yardy on May 26, 1973. Dennis began his teaching career in Jena, LA where he taught for one year, 1974-1975 at which time he transferred to the Cowden-Herrick Schools where he taught for 30 years before retiring in 2005. In 1987, he received his master’s degree in administration from Eastern Illinois University.

At the age of thirteen, Dennis accepted Christ as his Savior at the Cowden campground and cherished fellowship with his church family and serving the Lord. He also enjoyed his time together with his family and friends. He was a big fan of being outdoors whether it be hunting, mushroom hunting, farming or collecting/making maple syrup.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rosalie Tucker of Cowden; mother-in-law, Jessie Yardy of Urbana; four children: Kimberly (Carlos) Ramos of Mesa, AZ, Eric (Nicole) Tucker of Cowden, Alan (Jamie) Tucker of Lakewood and Kory (Brittany) Tucker of Effingham; grandchildren: Alani and Akoni Forbes, Corwin Gabbert-Tucker, Natalie, Brooke and Kaden Tucker, Ava, Kase and Kyla Tucker, Brynlee, Kellan and Kohen Tucker; two step-grandchildren: Carlos Jr. and Crystal Ramos; brothers: Gary (Mary Ann) Tucker of Lyles, TN, Reverend Ronald (Joy) Tucker of Assumption and Steven (Pamela) Tucker of Shelbyville; sister, Cheryl (Stephen) Ballinger of Pleasant Plains.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Corwin and Mary Tucker, father-in-law, Dr. Paul Yardy and sister, Sharon Tucker.

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