To residents of Salem Twp., Howard Wilkins was a respected trustee who took his responsibilities seriously and who was often the first to show up to help when his neighbors had a problem.

To his family, he was a loving father who enjoyed spending time outdoors with his two sons. Wilkins, 48, of Cable, died Monday night when his snowmobile struck a tree in the 2400 block of East Kanagy Road.

Wilkins owned his own farm and served as a township trustee. He also owned a business in which he trimmed hoofs for dairy herds, and he always seemed to be busy, said Rick Clyburn, a fellow trustee and Wilkins’ cousin. But he always managed to make time for his family. Often, Wilkins was busy spending time with his sons and helping with their sports teams.

“He was a good dad, a hands-on dad,” Clyburn said.

Wilkins was known as a trustee who worked hard to improve the township. He always took his job seriously and was one of the first to offer to help when a neighbor or friend was having a problem, Clyburn said.

“He could pack more in an hour of a day than I could in eight hours,” Clyburn said.

Wilkins was in the final year of his second term as a trustee and was planning to run again. The trustees postponed their regular meeting until Tuesday as they dealt with the loss. The trustees will have 30 days to appoint someone to finish the final year of Wilkins’ term, Clyburn said.

Wilkins was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.

“I doubt if a lot of the people in the township realize what he did for them and how hard he worked for them,” Clyburn said.

Funeral services are scheduled today at the Oak Grove Mennonite Church in West Liberty.