HENSON
FORREST — Robert R. “Butch” Henson, 80, of Forrest, formerly of Lancaster, Ky., died at 7:33 a.m. Sunday June 22, 2025, at OSF Healthcare in Bloomington.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 12, at Rosenbaum Funeral Home in Gibson City, followed by a funeral service at noon.
M r . Henson was born June 26, 1944, in Paxton, a son of Archie and Floss- ie Fox Henson. He married Patricia Kay Collings on Feb. 7, 1964, in Paxton. He later married Mary Britt on Nov. 1, 1986, in Urbana.
Surviving are his wife of 38 years, Mary Henson of Forrest; three children, Shelley (Eric) Dunham of Chino, Calif., Daniel Henson of Strawn and Stephen (Stacy) Henson of Savoy; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Jeffrey; and three siblings, Ralph Henson, Patricia Cox and Lola Anderson.
Mr. Henson was a 1962 graduate of Paxton High School. He briefly worked for Kraft Foods in Champaign. In 1969, he moved with his wife and two young children to California. In California, he drove a milk route for many years and then a cement mixer truck, delivering to many developing areas. After his two younger children were born, they all moved back to Illinois. He continued his truck driving career with various companies, lastly WB Transport, before retiring in 2022.
Mr. Henson was a fan of old-time country music and would often be found singing karaoke to his favorite artists. He was a gun collector and was a 9-ball pool shark. He was a Chicago Bears fan — no matter how their season was going — and was also a loyal follower of the Kentucky Wildcats.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.