Henry W. Tarkington

Henry Wayne Tarkington, 66, of Geneseo passed away on March 5, 2022, at OSF Medical Center in Bloomington, IL. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:00AM on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at Vandemore Funeral Home and Crematory-Geneseo Chapel with Pastor Connor Morrison officiating. The service will be livestreamed at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com/live-streaming. A memorial visitation will be held from 4-7 PM Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Henry Tarkington Memorial Fund. Henry was a simple man, please dress casually.

Henry was born in Kentucky on June 18, 1955, the son of Eugene and Barbara (Hendon) Tarkington. He married his best friend Julie Wilson on January 1, 1988, and she survives. He graduated from UT High, East Moline in 1973 then began working at John Deere Harvester Works. Henry worked there until retiring in 2008. He started and ran Tarkington Construction in 1992 for 15 years while working 3rd shift at John Deere. After retirement Henry worked at Emerick Pest Control for 10 years. He considered Doug and Shelly family and loved working for them. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who went to many tournaments for Charity especially the Children’s Therapy Fishing Tournament. He was a member of Isaac Walton and Twin Rivers Bass Club. He also really enjoyed playing music with several different bands over the years.

Henry is survived by his wife, Julie, children; Todd (Vanessa) Tarkington of Geneseo, Chad (Jennifer) Koker of Anchorage, AK, and Lindy (Justin) Diehl of Polo, IL, grandchildren; Tanner and Tucker Tarkington and Wesley Diehl, children; Tonya Tarkington and family of Alabama and Joshua Tarkington and family of the Quad Cities, sister, Karen (Bill) Sanders of Colona and his beloved companion “Princess Shelby”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Charles “Jeffery” Tarkington, sister, Theresa Tarkington and an infant daughter, Amber Tarkington.