Troy Lee Nell, age 58 and a lifetime Boilermaker was met by a ‘Cool Breeze’ which rolled through the Richard Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, on Oct. 12, 2026; carrying him into the next chapter of the book of Troy, his passing.

Troy was born Feb. 14, 1968, at Kewanee Hospital, the only son of Nancy Lee (VanWaes) Nell and the late Jerome Dee ‘Jerry’ Nell. Troy attended Visitation Grade School and graduated from Kewanee High School, regretting that he missed his 40th reunion this summer. Troy went to Black Hawk East College he earned certificates in data entry, then obtained and maintained his Food and Sanitation Licenses.

Troy and Julie together again. Troy married the Love of his life, Julie Hadsall, on Feb. 1, 1998, at Visitation Catholic Church in Kewanee. We are certain that as the ‘Cool Breeze’ carried Troy towards his destination he was met along the way by both Julie who preceded him in death as well as his dad Jerry, his beloved children(dogs) Coco and Taylor and Grandparents, Aunts Uncles and cousins too numerous to list.

Troy worked his whole life. Early jobs included being a clerk, an attendant and many times a cook/chef at several locations long before working in the food services industry. Legends has it that while working in Galva lines extended outside the building on Taco Tuesdays to get ‘Troy’s Tacos or you can’t count the number of requests for his secret fried chicken recipe. Troy was a chef and restauranter at heart. He even got to manage a restaurant until the owner pulled out. Troy held several positions at Walmart including working in the vision center. His last job was, hallelujah, was back in a kitchen this time at Saint Luke’s Hospital as a dietary aide. When Troy spoke about any of his jobs, they were always TOO. Too low or too short in wages and smoke breaks. Troy was always busy, if not working then playing, which included work like Troys start up with friends and relatives of the haunted Hayrack rides through Baker Park during Halloween which in turn became the annual Bakersville Halloween event for the community for generations.

Troy loved his life! He enjoyed going to his favorite watering hole, Woodzy’s Bar and having drinks with his friends especially Melinda ‘Mo’. Troy loved 80s music, gambling, traveling and his dog, ginger. Troy mostly adored and honored his mother and was a true ‘Mommas Boy’. His only drive while hospitalized had been to get back to his mom a true ‘Sons Mommy’ because he was her caregiver for years while she stayed at his home. God bless our wonderful memories of Troy. We will miss his laugh, his sense of humor, his cooking but mostly his “Love Yas”.

Waiting here to later reunite again with Troy, are his mother Nancy; his sisters Cherri (Steve) Brackett and Lisa (Richard) Harper; a niece Traci (Jerome) Toohill and nephews Benjamin (Mianna) Bracket, Jerome (Kelsy) Williams, and John Arthur Williams III; great-nieces Hannah Kirk and Audrey Toohill as well as great nephews Aiden and Austin Toohill and Knox Williams. Further surviving are many aunts, uncles, cousins and a community full of friends.

Please join us in celebrating Troy’s life with a Mass of Chistian Burial at Saint John Paul II Parish church, 406 W. Central Blvd. in Kewanee, on Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, at 10:30 AM. Father Narcis Katambe will celebrate the Mass with Troy’s cremation accorded, following the service. A Reception at the Flemish American Club will follow Mass for continued fellowship. Friends may call on the family during a Visitation at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee, Wednesday Oct. 21, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Flowers are welcome but in lieu of; memorials may be directed to the Jerry Nell Fund or to the Henry Co. Humane Society, in Troy’s name.

Online condolences may be offered at www.lenzmemorialhome.com or share a memory on the Tribute Wall on Rux Funeral Home’s obituary.