David Jess Wills, age 76 of Mazon, IL passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 14, 2023, after battling his most recent and last cancer diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Born, January 31, 1947, in Joliet, IL, David is the son of the late Ellen Loretta Wills (nee Farmer) and the late Arden Ernest Wills, Sr.  He was raised on the family farm in Mazon, IL and educated in the country school and graduated from Coal City High School with the class of 1965.  David went on to attend Joliet Junior College where he played college basketball.  David married his high school sweetheart, Jean Arlene Wills (nee Hintze) on August 19, 1967, and together they moved to Dekalb, IL for him to attend Northern Illinois University to pursue a degree in education.  He graduated from NIU in 1969 and later received his master's degree in education from Northern in 1977.  David and Jean made their home in Coal City, IL.   He began his teaching career in the Wilmington, IL School District in 1969, where he taught history and also coached boys' basketball.  David then continued his teaching career and retired from the Morris, IL School District in 2002 where he taught 5th grade.

David worked the land on the family farm from a young age and spent his adult years farming with his father, brother, and nephews in the evenings and on weekends to plant and harvest corn and soybean crops.  During his illness, he wrote a book about his memories on the farm.   Upon retirement, David helped to build a home to live out their retirement years- by using remnants of the century old barn located on the homestead.  The farm and home provided David with an opportunity to entertain friends and family.  The meticulously cared for grounds and decorated home served as a gathering place for special events, grape harvesting, hayrack rides, gardening, holiday celebrations and Farm Fest… making memories that will live on in the minds of all that knew David.

David had a passion for sports, and he invited others to join in.  David helped to coach his daughter's softball team and his son's baseball teams and assisted with coaching the twin's hockey teams as well.   He was also known for entertaining the neighborhood kids with hitting flyballs, baseball games in the front yard and making sure everyone had a sheet of ice to skate on in the wintertime, including constructing a hockey rink at the home on 3rd Street and making sure the ice at the Coal City Area Club or at the farm was cleared off and ready for a "Game On" situation!

David himself enjoyed baseball, softball, downhill skiing, playing hockey in a men's league with others from Coal City, and playing golf with friends and his sons.  He was an avid fan of the Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, and a college sports fan.  David enjoyed attending garage and estate sales with his wife and friends- always on the hunt for the next great find to use to decorate their home with.  He had a skill for growing anything and everything… including the family garden plot, flowers, and grapes.  He kept up the landscaping and greatly enjoyed decorating their home both inside and out in a manner that was intriguing to everyone that came for a visit.  A lover of animals, you would also always find David with an animal companion by his side.

Serving as past President on the Board of Trustees for the Coal City Fire Protection District, David was instrumental in making sure a second firehouse was constructed to improve emergency response times to those living on the east side of town.  He also penned the letter to receive the grant to allow the new firehouse to become a recipient of the remnants of the United Trade Center Twin Towers Monument that was erected and stands at the front of the fire station today.

David was a loyal, hardworking family man, who devoted his life to spending time with his sweetheart of 56 years, Jean and his beloved children, grandchildren, and friends- enjoying numerous trips and experiences that filled him with great happiness.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Arlene Wills (nee Hintze), 3 children-DavyLynne Wills of Morris, IL, Adam (Nassim) Wills of La Jolla, CA, Allen (Kymm) Wills of Downer's Grove, IL;  5 grandchildren: Christian Badorek (23) of Decatur, IL, Ella Badorek (20) of Champaign, IL, Kate Wills (15) of Downer's Grove, IL, Mila Wills (9) and Elika Wills (6) of La Jolla, CA…. and his beloved, Buddy- a pandemic rescue dog, who stayed at his side throughout his illness.  David also leaves behind a sister-in-law, Jane (Ronald) Wills, brother-in-law, Paul (Cynthia) Hintze, nieces-Kristen (Lance) Copes, Kim (Brad) Mathis, Janet Wills and nephews- Greg (Tiffany) Wills, Darin (Nikki) Wills and Joshua (Marti) Hintze. Also, his great nieces, Zoe Wills, Kerigan Copes, Emma Mathis and great nephews, Brandon Wills, Alex Wills, Carter Copes, Beau Wills, Dean Mathis and Deacon Hintze.   He also leaves his life-long friends, Cindy Berta, Duane and Barb Wolfe, Kenny VanDuyne and Jan & Ron Berta.  His friendships with former classmates, co-workers, and friends and family and everyone's daily texts, phone calls, cards, fresh veggies, meals and snacks of donuts, burgers, biscuits and gravy, and Trader Joe cookies were what kept him going the last 2 years.  We greatly appreciate everyone's kindness.  We would especially like to thank those that helped to keep up the farm grounds, and watched Buddy while we were away at the hospital and for treatment.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Arden and Ellen (nee Farmer) Wills, brother Arden Wills, Jr., sister-in-law, Carole (Vilt) Wills and 3 great nephews in infancy-Ryan Wills, Caden Copes and Kellen Copes.  Also, his lifelong friend, Mike Berta, mother-in-law, Frances Hintze (nee Ramsdell) and father- in- law, Milford Hintze.

The family will receive family and friends for visitation on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. with a service following visitation at 11:00 a.m. at the Coal City United Methodist Church, Coal City, IL.  The service will be officiated by Reverend Dr. Jay Regennitter, Pastor.  There will be a processional past the family farm on the way to lay David to rest at the Braceville-Gardner Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Joshua Hintze, Brandon Wills, Alex Wills, Carter Copes, Beau Wills, Trevor Mcintire, and Layne Hopper.

Honorary Pallbearers will be as follows:  Kenny VanDuyne, Greg Wills, Darin Wills, and Lance Copes.

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials may be made as donations to:  Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center @ Warrenville, IL for those whose insurance does not cover the cost of cancer treatments.  We are grateful for the care and treatment that David received to extend his life after diagnosis.  Donations may also be made at David's request to the Just Animals Shelter in Mazon, IL or the Coal City United Methodist Church.

We would like to express our thanks to Absolute Home Care Plus and the many caregivers who provided thoughtful care for David and Jean, as well as for the Lightways Hospice program of Joliet, which allowed David to stay home on the farm to live out his final days.

Family and friends are encouraged to login into www. ferrarifuneral.com to sign the online guest book, upload photographs or share David's memorial page through social media.

Funeral Arrangements have been made under the direction and care of the Ferrari Funeral Services in Coal City, IL (815)634-4040.