Paul Kotcher

Paul D. Kotcher, 70, of Taylorville, passed away on August 24, 2026, in his home.

Paul was born to the marriage of Edward and Barbara (Sleva) Kotcher at St. Elizbeth's Hospital, Danville, Illinois. Paul was the middle child with two siblings, Richard of Westville, Illinois, and Deborah of Golden Valley, Minnesota. Paul is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews and by several pets.

Paul is a 1974 graduate of Westville Illinois High School. He then enrolled and graduated from Danville Illinois Community College with an associate's degree in Police Science. In 1976, Paul enrolled at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri. Later in 1978, Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Paul graduated with a 3.9 GPA as Cum Laude. In 1985, Paul was accepted at Easter Illinois University in Charleston in the master’s level classes into the Educational Psychology curriculum. Paul graduated free from any educational debt, not knowing what a student loan was! This was done by being employed, not securing any outside debt, and saving money for tuition, during his educational pursuits.

As to employment, from 1968 until 1972, Paul was employed as a custodian’s assistant in the Westville Illinois School system. From 1972, Paul was employed part-time and full-time at Latoz Hardware as a sales associate. This employment ended in 1990, and the learning of maintenance and repairs was without measure.

In 1972, Paul joined the Westville Fire and Rescue Protection District as a cadet, then fireman, with the last eighteen months as trustee. The duties included fire suppression and rescue calls, but at the end, administration of overall operations. This was a 24/7 demand at significant risk of personal safety. That dedication ended in 1985, when Paul moved out of the fire and rescue protection district.

In 1978, Paul was appointed Probation Officer for Vermilion County. He supervised felony and misdemeanor offenders. At the conclusion of his time, Paul was supervising a focused caseload of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs offenders. While employed, Paul completed several training courses related to public safety.

In 1990, Paul was appointed to the Central District of Illinois Federal District Court System, as a Probation/Parole Officer. Paul’s duties were primarily enhanced supervision of federal offenders in the community. The supervision was not limited to violent offenders, but any number of federal offenses, including Witness Protection cases. The focus was public safety, while providing direction to offenders. A huge emphasis was also put on completing a variety of investigations for the District Court. While in government service, Paul attended a number of trainings, which included trips to Washington D.C.

In 2010, Paul was seeking a lower impact employment at Landmark Cadillac in Springfield in the service department as a driver/customer assistant. That employment was considered a complete waste of time, while using very poor judgment in securing it. Ethics is a constant struggle for the automobile business. In 2015, Paul left this employment.

Later in 2015, Paul secured employment as a fulltime security guard at HSHS Health Systems at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. This was an extremely rewarding opportunity to help others. In that capacity, there was great learning of the true human condition. Great healing was the very best, but also great suffering and even death was the business of the day. Paul left this employment in 2021, post COVID.

In 2000, Paul married Mary Ann Dominque Calandro of Taylorville, Illinois. That marriage ended in divorce in 2007, as no children were born to that union.

In 2021, Paul secured once again lower impact employment as a driver/delivery for Sherwin Williams Company.

It is clear that the rough waters of the human condition were Paul’s passion. Helping others was the very best. Paul’s hobbies included the welfare of animals not limited to his own pets. Paul loved machinery with an emphasis on fire trucks.

Cremation arrangements will be provided by McClure Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Taylorville, Illinois.