Glenn E. DeSmith

Glenn Edward DeSmith, 91, of Geneseo, formerly of Annawan, passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at Hillcrest Home, Geneseo.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2019, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson.  Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate.  Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery, Atkinson. Military honors will be accorded by the Atkinson American Legion Post.  Visitation for Glenn will be held on Friday, from 4-7 p.m. at Vandemore Funeral Homes and Crematory – Atkinson Chapel. The Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m.  Memorials may be directed to Glenn E. DeSmith Memorial Fund to be distributed among several charitable organizations.

Glenn was born January 1, 1928, in rural Atkinson.  He was the son of Edward and Elizabeth DeSmith.  He was a graduate of Atkinson High School in 1946.  He was united in marriage to Elizabeth (Betty) Grymonprez, in 1951, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Colona, Illinois.  He proudly served his country in the Army during the Korean War from January 1951 to January 1953.  He farmed southwest of Annawan until retirement in 1990 and then moved to Geneseo in 1996.  He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson, and was formerly a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Annawan, where he served as a trustee for 35 years.  He was a member of the Holy Name, Knights of Columbus and the Atkinson American Legion Post 724.  Glenn served on bank boards of Bank of Atkinson N.A., Norwest, and Wells Fargo for 25 years.  He also served in numerous past positions in the area, including Henry County Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Henry County Farm Bureau Board.  He received the Henry County Conservation award in 1975.  He also volunteered at Hammond-Henry Hospital.  Glenn and Betty spent their winter months in Arizona for approximately 35 years.  There they were members of All Saints Catholic Church in Mesa, AZ.  He marshalled many golf tournaments for the Phoenix Open and ladies golf tournaments in the Phoenix area.  Glenn loved being with his family, Hayden’s Hikers, traveling, golfing, playing cards, rolle bolle, and drinking coffee with his friends at the Donut Shop and McDonalds, both in Geneseo and Arizona.  He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; daughter, Karen (Mark) DeDecker, Cambridge; sons, Kenneth (Lynette) DeSmith, Atkinson, Gerald (Sue) DeSmith, Annawan, and Lee (Andrea) DeSmith, Mahomet, IL; grandchildren, Jacob (Kristina) DeDecker, St. Johns, MI, Lance (Lindsey) DeDecker, Cambridge & Ashley (Ash) Weaver, Rocky Point, NC, Denise (Blake) Haverback, Atkinson, Dawn (Joe) Driscoll, Williamsburg, IA, Danelle (Paul) Burrs, Dixon, IL, Elizabeth (Adam) Ancelet, Fowler, IL, Patrick (Jessica) DeSmith, Mt Vernon, IL, Lauren (Bryan) Carper and Brooke DeSmith, Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren, Haley (Brandon) Gruber, Nicole Haverback, Andy, Erin & Erica Driscoll, Paige & Grant Burrs, Caydence & Alex Ancelet, Taylor & Kaleb DeSmith, Hayven, Isaiah, Zander, Elijah, Colt & Chance DeDecker and Conley Weaver.  Glenn is survived by sister, Rhea Dwyer, Geneseo; and sister-in-law, Pat DeSmith, Geneseo. 

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, Edward & Elizabeth DeSmith; brother, Rueben DeSmith, and brother-in-law, Frances Dwyer.