Michael R. Cornyn

Michael R. Cornyn, 76, of Savoy, died at his home on May 21, 2025, in the care of his family. He was a devout Catholic, retired attorney, and U.S. Army veteran.

Michael was born in Evergreen Park, Ill., on August 16, 1948, to William Michael and Maryon Frances (Campbell) Cornyn. He graduated from St. Laurence High School, in Oak Lawn, in 1966. He began his college education at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., before transferring to Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb, where he met his future wife, De (Austin) Cornyn. They were married in the summer of 1971. 

Mike graduated from Northern Illinois in 1970 and served in the U.S. Army in Indianapolis, Ind., and South Korea from 1971-1973. After planning their wedding in one week to coincide with Mike’s Army leave, Mike and De lived in Indianapolis as he prepared to deploy. De was able to join Mike in South Korea from 1972-1973.

After their return from Korea, Mike and De lived in Galesburg, Ill., where they taught junior high and elementary school, before moving to Carbondale, Ill., where Mike completed his law degree from Southern Illinois University in 1981.

Following graduation, he clerked for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Underwood in Bloomington. He started his career as an attorney in Rantoul at Allen & Korkowski, and continued in Champaign-Urbana for nearly 40 years, many of them with the firm Thomas, Mamer, and Haughey.

Mike liked to play golf, pool, and poker (regular, online, and TV), and was a voracious reader. He read books faster than his family could buy them, and his interests were wide-ranging, covering everything from astrophysics and science fiction to World War II history, spy thrillers, and beyond.

Mike was a great supporter of his daughters’ artistic endeavors, attending concerts, recitals, plays, and musicals through the years. He was there for every cross-country move, driving through many unexpected weather events, car breakdowns, and dehydration.

He enjoyed spending time with family on both the Cornyn and Austin sides, and loved meeting and spending time with Swiss relatives, including a wonderful trip to Switzerland with De.

Mike loved celebrations, especially De’s Galesburg High School Class of ’65 reunions, Holy Cross parties, and weddings of friends and family members. He loved to share a whiskey and a cigar, and always had a story to tell; most of them were even true.

Mike was an animal lover, beginning with his dogs Scout, OB, and Basquo. He also loved cats, especially his pals DC, Nala, Sting, Diva, and Jack.

Michael is survived by De, his wife of almost 54 years, of Savoy; his children: Maggie (DJ Roach) and Molly (Ryan Ross), all of Champaign; siblings Daniel Cornyn, Nancy (John) Riesbeck, James (Beth) Cornyn, Sheila Cornyn, and Amy (Daniel) Abalos; 11 nieces and nephews; 11 grand-nieces and -nephews; and four great-grand-nieces and -nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held at Owens Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 27, from 5-7pm. A prayer service will be held prior to the visitation at 4:30pm. Funeral mass will take place at Holy Cross Church on Wednesday, May 28, at 10am. A funeral luncheon will be held at the Holy Cross Parish Center immediately following mass. Private burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Champaign, with military rights accorded to the Army veteran.

Condolences can be shared with the family at owensfuneralhomes.com. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross School, Hospice Hearts Animal Rescue, American Diabetes Association, and the Wounded Warrior Project. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the care given by Carle Hospital staff and the Carle Hospice team.  

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