Chesley Ernest Drouillard, age 79 of Woodriver, Illinois, passed away Monday evening, October 17, 2016 surrounded by family at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Illinois.

Chesley is survived by his 5 children, his daughters, Deborah (Steve) Beavers of Highland, Illinois and Karen (Daniel) Norris of St Louis, Missouri; his sons, Vance Drouillard of Pacheco, California; Steve (Jeanne) Drouillard of Pacheco, California; and David Drouillard of Bourbonnais, Illinois; 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; his loving siblings, Clayton (Carol) Drouillard of Trenton, Ontario, Canada and Monte (Peggy) Drouillard of Northbrook, Ontario, Canada and Iva Drouillard of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Henry Ernest and Gladys Marie (Pitts) Drouillard and an infant brother, Joseph Ernest Drouillard.

Ches was born on March 28, 1937 in Riverside, Ontario, Canada, to parents Joseph Henry Ernest and Gladys Marie (Pitts) Drouillard. In 1957 he moved to Pontiac, Michigan where he worked in sales. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971 to raise his family. Ches loved to travel and also resided in California, Missouri, and Colorado before settling in Illinois. Ches enjoyed meeting and talking to people. He was self-employed in sales and owned several businesses over the years. Chesley served in the U.S. Army. The family will have a private celebration of Chesley’s life on October 29, 2016.