Donald L. Hocher, age 85, of O'Fallon, born September 18, 1935 on the family farm in Collinsville, Ill., passed away Monday morning, June 21, 2021 at Colonnade Senior Living Center, O'Fallon, Ill.

Don grew up on the Hocher family farm and graduated from O'Fallon Twp. High School in 1953. While serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict, he was aboard a C-124 Globemaster that crashed into the Han River on February  22, 1957, killing 22 passengers. Although severely burned, he survived and returned to the states with an honorable discharge. Don was a proud union carpenter and had worked at Anheuser-Busch, retiring in 1996. As a superintendent, he was well-respected by his colleagues. Don was a talented woodworker, built his own homes, and shared many handmade wood-crafted items with his family. Don was a former member of the Lebanon Gun Club and NRA, and enjoyed trapshooting and quail hunting with his bird dogs.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theophil Hocher, who was killed in a construction accident when Don was only 5 years old; his mother and step-father Florence and Carl Hocher; his sister Jan (John) Smith; and brother Phil (Dolores) Hocher.

He is survived by his son Dan (Kim) Hocher of Collinsville; and grandsons Danny and Drake.

Memorials donations are suggested to American Cancer Society or O'Fallon's VFW Post 805.

Visitation: 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 25, 2021 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral: 10 a.m., Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Rev. Tarrah Vaupel officiating. Burial will follow at Friedens St. John's Evangelical Cemetery, Blackjack, Ill. The US Army and VFW Post #805 will render honors.