Captain Dennis (Denny) Ray Trone, born 07/18/1930, died 05/05/2008.

Denny was born to Doane and Mabel Trone and raised in Rushville, Illinis; he was the eldest of three sons. Upon graduation from the United States Navel Academy, he married Elizabeth Fiala in 1954. After completing Naval Postgraduate School and a nine-year career, he resigned from the Navy.

Denny and his younger brother and best friend, Robert (Moon), bought a half interest in the Dubuque Boat and Boiler company. Over a ten-year period, many boats were built including the riverboat Talisman and steamboat Julia Belle Swain. Denny and Moon ran the boat business out of Peoria, but would often lead the lives of gypsies, tramping up and down the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois rivers. There were countless adventures, events, and people only the mind could imagine. After the excursion boat Twilight was built, the business was moved to Galena, Illinois. In 2006, Denny finally sold the boat business to long time employees Kevin and Carrie Stier.

Denny finally had the time to devote his full attention to what he loved to do, restore and fly the airplanes he had seen and read about as a child. This joy was tragically cut short when he was suddenly killed in an aircraft accident near Brodhead, Wisconsin.

Denny was a maverick, leader, mentor, and devoted friend to those in the close knit communities of riverboats and airplanes, and with his death there has been a great loss of experience and knowledge that can never be replaced.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents Doane and Mabel (Ray), and his brothers Robert (Moon) and Kent.

Denny has left a loving, faithful and ever supportive wife of 53 years, Elizabeth (Fiala) of Petersburg, Illinois; children Janet Trone of Mojave, California, Lisa (Dennis) Ideue of Fullerton, California, Amanda (Paul) Serra of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Robert (Nancy) Trone of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Sophia Trone of Los Angeles, California; and grandchildren Elizabeth and Victoria Serra, and Katharine and Robert Trone.

A short funeral service will be held Saturday May 10, at 10:00 am at the Worthington Funeral Home, 331 W. Washington St., Rushville, IL 62681. The internment will be at the Rushville City Cemetery where Denny will be laid to rest beside his father, mother and brother. Following the funeral, a memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church, 210 S. 8th St., Petersburg, IL 62675 beginning at 2:30 pm.

The family requests no flowers be sent, and memorials be of the donors choice.