Colleen Sue (Thomas) Rexilius Obituary (1931 - 2018)

Colleen Sue (Thomas) Rexilius 86, of Decatur, IL left her family and friends to meet her lord Jesus Christ on February 4, 2018. Colleen was born on December 15, 1931, in Marathon County, WI, the daughter of Leonard A. and Florence Mae (Karnes) Wells. She attended Stratford High School excelling academically and in music. She won several medals at district and state competitions at the Wisconsin Music Festival in Solo ensemble. Her love of music and academic talents earned her a scholarship to Wheaton College where she continued her studies in music, religion, and education, graduating in 1953. Colleen married George R. Thomas, her longtime boyfriend in October of 1953 and they had six children together, divorcing in 1963. Colleen began substitute teaching while going back to college earning her master's degree in special education. In 1965, she was married to Rex Rexilius and had a son. Rex and Colleen moved the family to Carrollton, Illinois in 1969. She taught full time at Greenfield Elementary School while raising her six boys and her daughter. She and Rex divorced in 1976 and Colleen moved to the Decatur area in 1980. Colleen continued teaching, but changed from Music to Special Education, teaching in Oreana, IL until 1993 when she retired. The biggest joys in her life were her Lord, bible studies, music, and knowing that she raised seven children, all of whom were high school graduates and went onto college to further their educations. In her later years, Colleen suffered from dementia, living her last few years in a senior care facility. She is survived by her seven children: Mike, James, Brian, Scott, Cindy, Jon, and Rex, as well as sixteen grandchildren and several great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one sister, and her great-granddaughter. A service to celebrate Colleen's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 9, 2018, at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 am Friday morning until service time. Burial will be in Point Pleasant Cemetery, Long Creek. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Foundation. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.