Lawrence E. DeSplinter

Lawrence E. DeSplinter, 100, of Geneseo, passed away on Thursday, October 25, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Geneseo, Illinois. Private funeral services will be held for his family on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Geneseo Chapel. Father Michael Pakula will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. No visitation will be held. Memorials may be left to Hillcrest Nursing Home.

Lawrence was born on September 9, 1918, the son of Fred and Mary (Brate) DeSplinter, in rural Annawan, Illinois. Lawrence was united in marriage to Margaret DeClercq on June 15, 1943, in Atkinson, Illinois. Margaret preceded him in death on July 9, 2005. He spent his life working as a farmer and spent five years farming in rural Kewanee before moving to Cambridge, where he farmed for 46 years. After his career in farming, Lawrence and Margaret retired to Geneseo, where they were members of St. Malachy Catholic Church. Lawrence was active in Geneseo Moose Lodge #990, and the Geneseo Bolders Club. Lawrence was also a member of the Henry County Farm Bureau.

Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Fred (Theresa) DeSplinter, of Cambridge; daughters, Carol (James) Dobbels, of Cambridge, Pat (Cary) Wright, of Geneseo, Diane (Dan) Mallum, of Geneseo, and Barbara (Duane “Swede”) Johnson, of Ankeny, IA; 15 grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. Lawrence is also survived by his sister, Jorettea Painter, of Mandeville, LA.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mary, three brothers, Chester, Lester, and Marvin DeSplinter, and a sister, Loretta.