Brett Creager

<p>Brett Edward Creager, 49, winged his way home on Sunday, November 29, 2015, after a valiant war on cancer. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 2, at Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home on Oakland Avenue, Decatur, from 4 to 8 p.m. Homegoing service will be held on Thursday, December 3, at 11a.m at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Steenbergen Cemetery in Mt. Pulaski.<br><br> Brett was born March 28, 1966 to Edward and Lois Lee Creager. He married his high school sweetheart, Leslie Knowles. His son, Mitchell, and his daughter, Megan, were the pride of his life.<br><br> He graduated from Macon High School and Eastern Illinois University. Brett&rsquo;s restless energy and his passionate zeal for life were evident in his varied interests. For almost 20 years, he worked at the Misubishi Motors Plant in Bloomington. For 10 of those years, he owned and operated Creager Construction. He rediscovered his true vocation when he became an Industrial Arts teacher at Clinton High School, passing on his skills to a new generation.<br><br> As a lifelong athlete, he took great joy in coaching at Clinton. He mentored countless young people as the girls&rsquo; basketball coach, the track and field coach, and the freshmen football coach for several years. In the fall of 2014, he took his experience to the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team as their defensive coordinator. He was a fierce competitor and tireless advocate &ndash; in the classroom and on the field. <br><br>One of his greatest pleasures was hunting. From boyhood on, he spent 39 duck and goose seasons on Sangchris Lake. Governor Bruce Rauner presented him with a Conservation Award for his exceptional service at Sangchris Lake State Park. He developed lifelong friendships at the lake. As Brett&rsquo;s Warriors, they supported him through his battle with cancer. <br><br>When he was diagnosed five years ago, he met cancer head-on with grit, guts, faith, family, and friends. He fought relentlessly to the end. Our thanks go out to Dr. James Wade of the Cancer Care Institute and Dr. Benjamin Tan of Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Special thanks to Becky VanZant, his hospice nurse, who compassionately journeyed with us these last weeks and wept as he took flight. <br><br>Brett&rsquo;s battle cry has been Psalm 118:17: &ldquo;I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.&rdquo; Through his children and all the people he impacted and inspired, he lives on. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, he will &ldquo;dwell in the house of the Lord forever.&rdquo; We extend gratitude to his church family at Heartland Community Church and Resurrection Life Church. <br><br>He leaves behind to treasure shared memories: Mitchell, Megan, and Leslie; dad, Edward, and wife, Barbara; sister, Becky Massey, and husband, Mark; nephews and nieces, grandmother, Lois Cooper; Brett&rsquo;s Warriors; former students; and extended friends and family. He was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents, and dear friend, Todd Whitaker. <br><br>Memorials can be made to the Sangchris Waterfowlers Association for the Brett Creager Memorial Youth Event.<br><br> God&rsquo;s love and HOPE have been poured into our hearts (Romans 5:1-5). The Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings, and Brett has been set free (Malachi 4).</p><p> </p>