Mr. Derek VanUnnik

Mr. Derek VanUnnik, 68, of Galesburg, Illinois, passed away 2:42 a.m. Sunday, September 24, 2023 at home.

He was born September 27, 1954 in Mendota, Illinois, the son of Camiel and Ruth (Burkhardt) VanUnnik. He married Donna Waits on September 10, 1983 in Galesburg.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Donna: two sons, Derek D. (and Christa) VanUnnik and Joseph (and Annie) VanUnnik; a daughter, Miranda N. (and Shawn) Hedden; two sisters, Janice Spivey and Denise Wiscons; six grandchildren, Kennedy VanUnnik, Naomi VanUnnik, Cole Hedden, Grant Hedden, Mason Dollar and Avery VanUnnik. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Jeanne Karl; three brothers, Dennis, Gary and Victor VanUnnik.

Derek graduated from Galesburg High School in 1972. He served in the US Navy aboard the carrier USS John F. Kennedy CV67, and was deployed on a Mediterranean cruise. He was a lineman for Illinois Power, Dynegy Energy and Ameren for 44 years, retiring in 2018.  He was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Derek loved to golf and in earlier years hunting and fishing. He loved to travel and was a Green Bay Packers fan. Most of all he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Cremation will be accorded. A private Funeral Service will be held on Friday September 29, 2023 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Home Galesburg Chapel.    A celebration of life will be 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 22, 2023, at Lake Bracken Country Club. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Special Olympics. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Home and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel is proud to assist the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com   

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