Dr. Victor L. Commean

Herrin-Dr. Victor Lee Commean, age 65, of East Peoria, formerly of Herrin and Energy, Illinois, died at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, at 8:00 AM, Wednesday, June 12, 2013, one day shy of his 66th Birthday. He was born at Herrin Hospital, June 13, 1947, to Levi and Patricia (Afia) Commean. He attended grade schools in Energy and Herrin, South Side Junior High School, Herrin High School Grades 9 and 10, and Northeast High School, St. Petersburg, Florida, Grades 11 and 12. He graduated from Northeast High School in 1965, but Victor always considered himself part of Herrin High School's Class of '65. Many of his Herrin High classmates have been supportive and prayed for him during his illness.  After high school he received his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Bradley University in Peoria in 1969, his Masters in Chemistry from SIU-C in 1975.  It was also in 1975 that he was honorably discharged from the Army Reserve.  He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loyal University School of Dentistry in Chicago in 1977. Victor married Elizabeth Clayton Schellenger in October 1969. They were married for 30 plus years. They have two children: Victor Edward and Kelly Lynne. Dr. Commean had a dental practice in Freeport, Illinois, from 1978 to 1998, and was a member of the American Dental Association.   He has lived in Peoria and East Peoria, Illinois, since 1999, working in several dental practices until February 2008. He became interested in computers, and conducted internet courses in Freeport.   He also set up (and managed) a computer program for the Peoria City/County Public Health Department and  was one of the businessmen instrumental in bringing the internet to Freeport from Rockford.  He was formerly a member of Energy and Herrin First Baptist Church and later a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Freeport. With resolve, perseverance, and grace, Victor has faced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since December 2006 and when he could no longer live alone, his friend and partner, Anita Booth, cared for him since March 2010. He is survived by his children: son- Victor Edward Commean and wife Connie of Mount Prospect, Illinois, daughter- Kelly Lynne Commean of Carbondale, Illinois, sister- Emily (Commean) Finegan and husband James Vincent Walenga of Palatine, Illinois, and his partner, Anita Booth of East Peoria, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents. The funeral will be at 11:00 AM, Monday, June 17, 2013, at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin.  Rev. Don Colson will officiate.   Interment will follow at the Egyptian Memorial Gardens in Energy.  Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until time of service, Monday at the funeral home.