Mark Scott Drollinger
1963 - 2017 (54 years)
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Name Mark Scott Drollinger Birth 22 Apr 1963 Danville, Vermilion, IL 
Gender Male Military U.S. Air Force Death 6 Jul 2017 Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL - HOOPESTON Mark Scott Drollinger, 54, of Hoopeston passed away at 6:45 a.m. Thursday (July 6, 2017) at his home.
He was born on April 22, 1963, in Danville, the son of Ralph E. Drollinger and Beverly (Watson) Drollinger. He married Susan Ward on March 17, 2017, in Hoopeston. She survives in Hoopeston.
He is survived by one son, Patrick Drollinger of Hoopeston; one stepson, Chris Land of Ridge Farm; stepmother, V. Jean Taflinger Drollinger; one sister, Nina Drollinger of Rankin; one stepsister, Debra Mae (Lupe) Rivera; one stepbrother, Phil (Dee) Hollen of Dallas, Texas; an aunt, Bonnie Watson Swan; two uncles, Danny (Gale) Watson and Howard (Carol) Drollinger; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother; sister, Vickie Drollinger (husband Roger) Beaty; and grandparents.
Mark was chief of police for the City of Hoopeston. He was a former investigator for the Vermilion County Sheriff's Department.
He was also a former Vermilion County Board member and a Hoopeston City Council member.
Mark was in the U.S. Air Force, a member of the United States Golf Association, Hubbard Trail County Club, American Legion, Mason Star Lodge 709 and the United Community Fund of Grant Township.
He loved golfing at Hubbard Trail, the children's time at the library, visiting the kids at the school and getting together every Sunday with his buddies to watch the Bears games. He loved to visit the French Quarter in New Orleans and was an avid Chicago sports fan.
Mark had an infectious laugh and a wicked sense of humor and he lived his life to the fullest.
A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the First Church of God, 1004 E. Orange St., Hoopeston. Masonic rites will be at 7 p.m.
The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of God, with Pastor Micah Mobley officiating. Military rites will be accorded by the Hoopeston American Legion Post 384. Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Hoopeston Explorer Post 511, 301 W. Main St., Hoopeston, IL 60942, or the United Community Fund of Grant Township, 525 S. Market St., Hoopeston, IL 60942.
Anderson Funeral Home, Hoopeston, is handling the arrangements.
Mark had been battling stage 4 jaw cancer.
Person ID I13824 Drollinger Genealogy Last Modified 27 Jan 2022
Father Ralph Eugene Drollinger, b. 29 Mar 1932, Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL d. 24 Feb 2020, Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL (Age 87 years) Mother Beverly Jean Watson, b. 2 Aug 1932, Monon, White, IN d. 19 Nov 1983, Danville, Vermilion, IL (Age 51 years) Family ID F4523 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Julie Hester Children 1. Patrick Garrett Drollinger Family ID F4530 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 6 Feb 2022
Family 2 Susan "Susie" Marie Ward, b. 10 Dec 1958, Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL d. 27 Aug 2024, Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL (Age 65 years) Marriage 17 Mar 2017 Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL Family ID F8808 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 24 Jul 2017
Family 3 Lizzette Huber Family ID F17686 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 8 Aug 2021
- HOOPESTON Mark Scott Drollinger, 54, of Hoopeston passed away at 6:45 a.m. Thursday (July 6, 2017) at his home.
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Event Map 
Birth - 22 Apr 1963 - Danville, Vermilion, IL 
Marriage - 17 Mar 2017 - Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL Death - 6 Jul 2017 - Hoopeston, Vermilion, IL = Link to Google Earth
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Photos 
Mark and Susie
"Bennett delivered a certificate of recognition from the Illinois House of Representatives and a proclamation from Gov. Bruce Rauner in honor of Drollinger to Drollinger’s son, Patrick, and wife, Susie, while being flanked by members of the Hoopeston Police Department and Auxiliary Police on stage during the ceremony."
Documents 
Obituary
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Notes - Married twice. Has one child.
Mark first contacted me through LinkedIn a couple of years ago. He thought it would be fun to be connected to another Mark Drollinger. I thought so too. I never met Mark, but over the years he and I would share a note or two and stayed connected mostly through our name. My last correspondence with Mark was probably the end of 2016. I had come across an article about another Drollinger that had been involved in a multiple slaying in the 70's. Since that occurred in Illinois, I thought Mark might have heard of him. He responded that he had a wanted poster of Roger Drollinger in his office. He also told a story of when the FBI showed up at his house to ask if they had seen Roger. The fact that he had a poster, as chief of police, was very funny to me. It must have been funny to him as well. Mark seemed like a good man. I'm glad he reached out to me. Rest in Peace, Mark
Mark K. Drollinger
Mark Drollinger - August 30, 2017 at 08:24 PM
Mark Drollinger's email address: chief@hoopestonpolice.org
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County Board Members
Mark Drollinger
District 1
Republican
2000 - Drollinger, Hodge honored during National Sweetcorn Festival
By Jordan Crook Chronicle Editor Sep 5, 2017
The memories of two men who played important roles in the community were honored this weekend.
This year marked the first year since 1999 that the National Sweetcorn Festival was presented without Mark Drollinger as Hoopeston's chief of police.
Drollinger passed away July 6, 2017 after a protracted battle with cancer and his impact on the community he had served for decades was made plainly obvious in the days before and after his passing as signs of gratitude began popping up at area businesses throughout the city.
Messages such as "Thanks Chief" were prominently displayed on business signs and marquees for weeks after his passing, with some still being displayed months later.
State Rep. Tom Bennett was astonished by these signs and spoke about them while delivering two proclamations in honor of Drollinger Sunday during the National Sweetcorn Festival in McFerren Park.
Bennett delivered a certificate of recognition from the Illinois House of Representatives and a proclamation from Gov. Bruce Rauner in honor of Drollinger to Drollinger's son, Patrick, and wife, Susie, while being flanked by members of the Hoopeston Police Department and Auxiliary Police on stage during the ceremony.
The award cited Drollinger's "years of service, dedication and personal integrity shown to the people of Hoopeston."
Rauner's proclamation highlighted the many ways Drollinger had served his community, not just as chief of police, but also as a member of the city council, a sheriff's deputy and in the U.S. Air Force.
"Chief Drollinger's dedication to public service leaves behind an enduring legacy and his loss will be collectively felt by the citizens of Illinois and the many people whose lives he impacted," the proclamation reads.
Drollinger was honored during the previous day of the festival as well.
The Vermilion County Board, of which Drollinger had served as a member of, had proclaimed Sept. 2 as "Mark Drollinger Day" in the county.
During the National Sweetcorn Festival Grand Parade, a police car, driven by Sgt. Jim DeWitt, rode at the front of the parade carrying Drollinger's father, Ralph, and stepmother, Jean, with its back windows carrying the signs "205 Never Forgotten" in honor of Drollinger.
The late Brian Hodge was also honored during the National Sweetcorn Festival Grand Parade.
Hodge served as a teacher and athletic director for Hoopeston Area School District who passed away May 17.
A universally-respected teacher and coordinator for Hoopeston Area sports, the loss of Hodge was deeply felt by the school district at the end of last school year.
The impact Hodge made on the district could be immediately seen following his passing as hundreds of former students, staff and community members changed their social media profile pictures to the iconic blue Cornjerkers logo in honor of Hodge's memory.
A 1987 graduate of Hoopeston-East Lynn High School, Hodge served as manager for the 1985 and 1986 state basketball teams.
After graduating from Western Illinois University, Hodge returned to Hoopeston teach history and geography at Hoopeston Area Middle School.
His love of sports prompted him to serve as athletic scheduler for the Middle School for four years and he later served as athletic director up until his death.
Hodge was honored during the parade Saturday.
The position of marshall of the grand parade was dedicated to the memory of Hodge and members of his family rode in the parade in his honor and parade-goers were encouraged to wear Hoopeston Area sports shirts in his honor.
Family members, friends, co-workers, cheerleaders and the district's mascot, "Jerky," paused during the parade around the "Jerky" logo painted at the intersection of Market and Main, to release balloons into the air in memory of Hodge.
- Married twice. Has one child.