Jackolyn C. Protz, 72, of Sullivan, died on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in an auto accident near Hillsboro.
Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Vandalia. An additional visitation will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. before the funeral services begin at 2 p.m. at the church. Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia is assisting the family.
Mrs. Protz was born July 29, 1947, in Decatur, to Delbert G. and Helen M. (Cordray) Banks. She married William H. Protz on June 6, 1965, in Sullivan, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 2019.
During her career, she served as a deputy clerk of both the Moultrie County Clerk and the Moultrie County Assessor's offices. She continued to work between the two offices part-time.
Mrs. Protz was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan and a chaplain for Racers For Christ. She was a fan of drag racing with her husband Bill, and became one of the few female drivers in the sport in the area. Much like her granddaughter Jenna, she loved seeing win lights against the boys. Additionally, she was a member of the Coles County Dragway Hall of Fame and was the 2015 Person of the Year award recipient at Crossroads Dragway.
She followed every sport her son Randy participated in at Sullivan and MacMurray College. She had been a fan of the Vandalia Vandals since 1994, when her son began coaching and teaching. She and her husband were fixtures at Vandalia sports, following their granddaughters' teams since the very beginning.
Mrs. Protz loved trips with her yayas to the beach, frequent phone calls and messages with her best friends and being with her family every chance she could. She loved reggae music, snowmen, University of Alabama football, the American flag and sending silly SnapChat messages to her granddaughters. She wanted everyone to be the best version of themselves and to love life.
She is survived by her son, Randy (Janel) Protz of Vandalia; granddaughter, Brandy Michelle Protz of Vandalia; and brothers, David Rex (Beverly) Banks of Springfield and Phillip Gene (Glenda) Banks of Sullivan.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Protz was preceded in death by her parents; and granddaughter, Jenna Protz.
Memorials may be directed to Racers For Christ.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.millerfh.net.
