Kenneth Claus Chilman
Kenneth Claus Chilman of Cobden passed away peacefully at home, on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He was a forester with an adventurous, kind soul who will be missed.
Ken was born in Platte, S.D. on March 20, 1932 to Claus Magnus and Ellen Marie Chilman.
He started his education in a one room schoolhouse, then to Platte High School (graduating in 1949) then to South Dakota State University before heading to Purdue University Forestry Program.
Ken joined the Army (1953-55) at the end of the Korean War – serving stateside. He completed his forestry degree at Purdue and then pursued his master’s degree at University of Michigan, graduating in 1959.
He married Eunice Lucille Clevenger in June 1959. They moved from the Midwest to California to serve in the U.S. Forest Service stationed in Bishop, Downieville and Mammoth Lakes, Calif. in the Sierra Nevada Mountains – serving as forest ranger and occasional firefighter. Ken returned to the Midwest in 1965 to pursue his doctorate at University of Michigan – graduating in 1968.
Ken began a teaching career first at University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. in the School of Forestry. In 1973 he moved his family to Cobden, and joined Southern Illinois University in Carbondale as professor of forestry. He retired from teaching in 2004 and continued in his research work in park management for many years.
He was passionate about the use of natural land – and did many studies of use of public land and waterways in the west as well as southern Illinois and Missouri.
Ken was devoted to his family and his work and also an adventurous traveler and naturalist. He traveled extensively to Nepal, Bhutan, Peru, Australia and other countries and loved all U.S. national and state parks with many travels over many years through the west and southwest U.S.
Ken was devoted also to his faith and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years – serving the church in many different ways during that time.
Ken is survived by his wife Eunice (married for 65 years!) and his children Beth Chilman of Harrisburg, Brenda Chilman of St. Louis, Mo. and Eric Chilman (Stacey) of Jonesboro. He was blessed with amazing grandchildren; Kaitlin Chilman, Evan Chilman and Dylan Chilman and one great grandson, Jackson Claus Grover. Ken is survived also by sister Jane Hamblen and sister-in-law, Eva Chilman, both of North Vernon, Ind., sister-in-law Alice Jones, of Washington, Ind. and brother-in-law, Jim Clevenger of Galesburg. As well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Wayne Chilman (North Vernon, Ind.) and Marlo Chilman (Washington, Ind.) and sisters in law, Ila Faye Price (Jacksonville IL) and Rita Clevenger (Galesburg, Ill).
Celebration of Life services will be at noon, Thursday, April 17, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cobden. Visitation from 10 a.m. until the service at noon. Interment will follow at the Cobden Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Carroll P. Foster Post #3455 of the V.F.W. in Anna. Reception to follow at the First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers can be made to Southern Illinois Hospice, First Presbyterian Church of Cobden or preferred charity. Envelopes will be available at the church and the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home.