Albert C. Boelens

Albert C. Boelens, 89, of Atkinson, passed away on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Hillcrest Home in Geneseo, IL, surrounded by his loving family. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson. Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson Chapel. The Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Albert Boelens Memorial Fund.

Albert was born on August 13, 1928, the son of Richard and Emma (Claeys) Boelens, in rural Atkinson, IL. He was a graduate of Galva High School. Albert married Mary Jane DeReu on September 22, 1951, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Sheffield, IL. He was a lifetime grain and livestock farmer in rural Atkinson. Albert was involved in many organizations including, the International Fellowship Program, Friends of the People of Haiti - helping with medical missions, a longtime volunteer of the American Red Cross, Henry County Farm Bureau, Henry County Livestock Producers, and Henry County Pork Producers. Albert enjoyed bowling and spending time with his friends and family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Mary Jane; sons, Dennis Boelens, Atkinson, Mark (Lois) Boelens, Atkinson, and Patrick (Chris) Boelens, Geneseo; and his daughters, Tina Murphy, Plano, TX, and Roxanne Ryan, Rockville Center, NY. Albert is also survived by nine grandchildren, Troy (Micki) Boelens, Dustin Boelens, Matthew (Megan) Boelens, Curtis (Amber) Boelens, Lindy (Jake) Carlisle, Brandan Boelens, Christopher Ryan, Thomas Ryan, and Sean Murphy, and ten great-grandchildren.

Albert was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Emma, and by his brother and sister-in-law, August and Margie Boelens.