Ralph J. Moens

Ralph J. Moens, 89, of rural Atkinson, passed away on Monday, January 1^st, 2018, at his home.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson, IL. Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Atkinson American Legion. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson. The Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Ralph Moens Memorial Fund, and will be used for future FFA scholarships. Memorial donations may be mailed to Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, 580 East Ogden Ave, Geneseo, IL, 61254, to be forwarded to Ralph's family. 

Ralph was born on February 26, 1928, the son of August and Clara (DePaepe) Moens, in Atkinson. He graduated from Atkinson High School. Ralph proudly served our country during WWII in the United States Army. He later graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Ralph married Mary Lou Causemaker on December 26, 1951, in Atkinson. Ralph was a grain and livestock producer, farming in rural Atkinson for many years. He was the agricultural instructor and FFA advisor for Atkinson High School, and retired in 1980. Ralph was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Atkinson. He was a member of the Henry County Farm Bureau, and the Henry County Fair Board, where he served as president for many years. He was a longtime 4-H leader and belonged to the Livestock Association. Ralph was an avid Illini fan. His passion and love were farming.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Mary Lou; sons, Keith (Joyce) Moens, Arlington Heights, IL, and Ken (Deb) Moens, Evergreen, CO; and his daughter, Ann (William) VanLue, Ellisville, MO. Ralph is survived by seven grandchildren, Emily (Nick) Cepicky, Alli VanLue, Olivia VanLue, Alec Moens, Amy Moens, Eric Moens, and Scott Moens; and one great-grandchild, Leo Cepicky. Ralph's siblings include his brother, Leonard (Mary Ann) Moens, Atkinson, and sisters, Arlene (Dave) Paquer, Kewanee, Darlene (Maurice) DeSutter, Woodhull, Carolyn Burke, Geneseo and Helen (Wilbur) Beuseling, Geneseo.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, August and Clara; brothers, Vernon, and Rich Moens; sister, Rachel Mock; and his grandson, Andrew VanLue.

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