Mary Lou DeCausemaker

Mary Lou DeCausemaker

Mary Lou DeCausemaker, 99, of Atkinson, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2017, at Geneseo Good Samaritan Village. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson, IL. Reverend Stephen S. Engelbrecht will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson, where the rosary will be recited at 4:30. Memorials may be directed to St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Mary Lou was born on January, 1, 1918, the daughter of Peter and Mary L. (Lievens) VanHerzeele, in Atkinson. She was united in marriage to Ambrose DeCausemaker on June 11, 1938 in Atkinson. Ambrose preceded her in death in 1984. Mary Lou assisted Ambrose on their farm in rural Atkinson for many years. She was a longtime, faithful member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and the Altar & Rosary Society, Atkinson Women’s Club, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and a former member of the War Mothers. She loved cooking and baking for her family and friends.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son Gary DeCausemaker, Moline, IL, grandchildren Heather (Brett) Errthum, Rock (Tina) VanOpdorp, and Rory (Cathy) VanOpdorp, great-grandchildren Sam, Owen and Audrey Errthum, Carlie (Taylor) Shipman, Chase VanOpdorp, Tara VanOpdorp-Goodwin and Tory (Heather) VanOpdorp, great-great grandchildren Hailey and Kade VanOpdorp, Taylor Goodwin and Piper Shipman, along with several nieces and nephews.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Mary, a daughter, Linda Arnold, her grandson, Ryan VanOpdorp, brothers Peter and John VanHerzeele, and sisters Jule, Irene, Margaret, Katherine, Lillian and Rosemarie.

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