Dr. Prudent C. Coussens PhD., formerly of Rapids City, IL., passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at Clarissa Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, IA. Funeral services will be 9:00 am Monday at St. John's Catholic Church, Rapids City, Ill. Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 pm Sunday at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline, IL. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Moline. Prudent was born on February 17, 1919 in Butler, Minn, the youngest son of Camiel and Irma (Masschelein) Coussens. The family moved to the Quad City area in 1925. He attended Sacred Heart school in Moline. On June 22, 1946 he married his former classmate, Evelyn Smet, in Sacred Heart Church, Moline, where he was choir director, cantor, and organist. They had two daughters, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Austin, TX; and Regina Szabady, Minneapolis, MN. He studied in seminaries in Techny, IL, and Gerard, Penn.; and DePaul and Iowa Universities. He held degrees in Philosophy, Music, and a Doctorate in Foreign Languages. He taught at St. Ambrose University from 1946 to 1979, when he retired to a country home in the Orion, IL, area. He received in 1999 the Pere Marquette award in the Peoria diocese for his work in education and church music. During his retirement he was organist and cantor in Orion. Other avocations were translating and carpentry. He is survived by his two daughters, Rebecca Fitzgerald, Austin, and Regina (Paul) Szabady, Minneapolis; two granddaughters, Dr. Brenna Fitzgerald DVM, Oakley, CA, and Mary Szabady, Minneapolis; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Coussens; his parents; three sisters; and two brothers. The family would like to thank Genesis Hospice for their excellent care. Online condolences my be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com

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Sunday, December 11, 2016 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Van Hoe Funeral Home 1500 Sixth Street East Moline, Illinois 61244

Monday, December 12, 2016 9:00 AM

St. John's Catholic Church 1416 Third Avenue Rapids City, Illinois 61278