Donald Lou Haskett (77) of Neoga

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday July 16 in the Grace United Methodist Church in Neoga, IL. Visitation will be Tuesday July 16 from 10 a.m. until service time also in the church. The Swengel - O’Dell Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church in Neoga, IL. Online condolences may be left at swengel-odell.com.

Lou was born January 10, 1947 in Mattoon, IL to Don and Mabel (Patterson) Haskett.  His two siblings are Annette (Chuck) Lansford of Champaign, IL and Jone (Harv) Willis of Johnson City, TN. Lou married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Byers, August 13, 1972. They were happily married for almost 52 years.

Lou graduated from Neoga High School in 1965. He received a teaching degree from Eastern Illinois University and returned to receive a master's degree in administration.
Lou‘s work career took him to several small towns in Central Illinois. In 1971, he taught earth science and was a junior high basketball coach in Gibson City. He was one of the high school basketball coaches when GC went to the Assembly Hall in the state tourney. He next became the head basketball coach at Dieterich. One year, he was named “Coach of the Year”. Lou’s next job took Lou and Brenda to Mt. Zion into the business world where Lou ran a new Neal Tire Store. Basketball was still in Lou's blood, so he continued coaching in Arcola, IL, where once again, he was a successful coach and had a sincere fondness for assistant coaches, players, managers, and parents. Lou's final stop was in Neoga where he was the elementary principal in three schools. Lou really enjoyed working with the students, teachers and staff.  Lou also became assistant principal at Neoga High School.

Lou had many hobbies; woodworking, gardening, flipping houses, and traveling with friends to Cancun, Branson and Florida.  Lou was a believer in Christ and was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church. 

Lou and Brenda's children are Craig Haskett, wife Mandy, of Leroy, IL, and Jeff Haskett of Mahomet, IL. Craig and Jeff blessed their parents with five grandchildren, Makenzi, Chase, Zoe (Jeff's) and Brayden and Evan (Craig's). The children and grandkids were Lou's pride and joy. He loved hearing about their sports, school work, exploits, and successes. In addition, Lou was very fond of his nieces and nephews.