Troy Daniel Cole, 52, of Poplar Grove, IL, passed away on September 10, 2025. He was born June 28, 1973, in Belvidere, IL, to Kathy (Reynolds) and Gerald Cole.

On July 19, 2013, he married Theresa, the love of his life. Together they built a strong, tight-knit family. They raised their kids and grandkids with laughter and love. Troy was the heart of the family - the one who could make the babies laugh, the teenagers roll their eyes, and the adults crack up with his smart remarks and quick wit.

Out of all the roles Troy had in life, being a grandfather was one of his favorites. His grandkids were his pride and joy. He lit up every time they were around, and he made sure they always knew how much he loved them.
Troy was a straight shooter - what you saw was what you got. He didn't sugarcoat things, didn't play games, and always told it like it was. He was the kind of man who showed up, spoke his mind, and stood by the people he loved. He was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan and he loved the open road on his Harley.

Troy was also the chef of the family, he made sure no one left his table hungry. Cooking was his way of bringing people together, and he loved nothing more than filling the house with the smell of good food and the sound of laughter. When his son was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base, Troy made it a mission to cook for the sailors. He would bring homemade meals to share, making sure as many of them as possible got a real taste of home. It was important to him to show his love through the food he made.

He worked hard his whole life, especially during his years at Conagra Foods, where he led by example as a respected production supervisor. Troy was also a skilled woodworker. He took real pride in his work, especially when it came to honoring those who served. He handcrafted burial flag cases for veterans and donated them, no recognition needed. It was just his way of showing respect.
Troy wasn't about putting on a show. He was real and full of heart. He'd give you the shirt off his back, but he'd also tell you when you were out of line. He will be deeply missed, never forgotten, and always loved.

He is survived by his wife, Theresa Cole; children, Jessica Martinez, Emily (David) Cole, Alex (Taylor) Martinez, Olivia (Hunter) Martinez, Jacob (Sierra) Cole, Michael (Olivia) Cole; grandchildren, Corbin, Grace, Kaisyn, and Wyatt; siblings, Linda (Edwin) Coleson and Jerry (Heather) Cole, he is also survived by numerous extended family members whom he loved dearly.

He is welcomed into heaven by his father, Gerald Cole.

His celebration of life will be on Monday, September 29th between the hours of 6pm-9pm at the Lombardi Club. Located at 209 Olive St, Rockford, IL 61107.