Kevin Hilary Kooken

Kevin Hilary Kooken, 69, died on October 28, 2026 at Abbey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in St Petersburg, FL. Kevin resided in Largo, FL for many years.

Kevin was born in Peoria, IL. He graduated from Peoria High School in 1976. Kevin worked in the hospitality industry for many years, catering and bartending. Thirty two years ago Kevin completed rehab and became sober and remained sober until his death. He felt that sobriety and sponsoring others in their sobriety were his best achievements. He was passionate about sobriety, the ocean, beach life, cooking, good food, and orchids. He loved animals having had many birds, dogs, and cats. Kevin worked for many years as a legal office assistant, last working for Johnson and Pope, Tampa, FL.

Kevin was fiercely independent but loved his family and close friends. He is survived by his sister Kathryn (Michael) Uno, brothers Curtis (Wendy) Kooken, and Phillip Kooken. He was preceded in death by Lori (David) Crank and his parents Charles and Phyllis Kooken. He had many nieces and nephews but was especially close to Kathryn (Jeremy) Creasy and children Seattle and Levi, and Kelly (Jake) Nehls and child Rosie, and Grey Kooken. Tyler Webb and Lori Ammons were close friends and lifelines.

A celebration of life in Peoria IL will be planned for the future.

If you want to honor Kevin do any of the following:  

Stay sober and clean one day at a time.

Go listen to the ocean or something else in nature.

Make or eat a great meal.

Grow something beautiful.

Memorials can be made to Central Illinois Friends to support the LGBTQ+ population and honor his friends who didn’t make it.

https://cifriends.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amount=50&campaign_id=0