Glenn V. Cothern, 82, of Plainfield, Illinois formerly of the Gibson City and Elliott area passed away at 12:24 pm Tuesday June 24m 2025 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Joliet. Visitation will be held 10:30am-12:00pm Thursday July 10, 2025 at Rosenbaum Funeral Home in Gibson City. A funeral service will follow beginning at 12:00pm and burial to follow at Drummer Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the GCMS Booster Club to be used for the Track and Field Program.
Glenn was born December 4, 1942 in Melvin. A son of Clarence and Anne Acree Cothern. He married Joan Cook on October 23, 1999 in Gibson City. She passed away on February 14, 2017.
He is survived by his daughter Kelly Fermazin and a son Dan (Dawn) Cothern. Four grandchildren Tristan, Austin, Jessica and Colin. Four step daughters Lisa (Rusty) Wright, Pamela Fulk, Katrina (Earl) Nalley and Rhonda (Phillip) Bachman. He was preceded in death by his sister Jenny Sue and step daughter Kelly Duby. Glenn was a devoted Father and Grandfather and took immense pride in his family.
Glenn was a 1961 graduate of Gibson City High School. He then attended Northwestern University on a track and academic scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in education. He was a long-time educator and coach in the Oak Park / River Forest High School System. Glenn had a lifelong commitment to acts of service. He was an EMT for Gibson Ambulance, volunteer fireman for the Elliott Fire Department, was past president of the Gibson City Moose Lodge, Past president of the Gibson City Lions Club and was a past district governor and he was also awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship. He was a state track official having been inducted into the IHSA Track official’s hall of fame having served well over fifty years, as well as the GCMS Hall of Fame. Glenn was a cherished member of the Gibson City community and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.