Kevin LeRoy Freeze, 62, of Geneseo, passed away on November 6, 2021 at New Perspective Assisted Living Facility, Silvis, IL, due to Parkinson’s. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021 at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo. Deacon Tom Wachtel will officiate. Services will be livestreamed on Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory Facebook page for those unable to attend. Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel. A Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m., prior to the visitation. Memorials may be directed to the Kevin Freeze Memorial Fund for the family to distribute to charities of their choice.
Kevin was born on May 2, 1959, the son of LeRoy and Frances Joan (Quinn) Freeze in Moline, IL. He was the baby of the family. He has one sibling, Cindy (Freeze) Walter. Kevin and his dad worked every Saturday at “Uncle Kenny’s” farm since he was five years old. This is how he developed a good work ethic and saved for his first car. His first two cars were a blue 1967 Lemann’s and a brown 1971 Chevelle SS. While in high school, he worked coop at Erdman Construction. Kevin, #74, offensive guard, played under head coach Bob Reade and line coaches Larry Johnson and Tom Schmulbach. He played in 1976 and 1977 to help bring home the state football title/trophy to Geneseo.
Kevin worked for Hartco Cable, Geneseo, since 1985. He has driven over 2 million miles in his lifetime “laying cable”. He has traveled to over 40 states, never called in sick, and showed up rain or snow. He was very loyal to his job. He could spot a roll of orange pipe a mile away. His employer, the Harts, took care of Kevin until the end.
Kevin met Terri Lynn Henson Peters in 1988. They married in 1993. Together with her son, Kyle Peters, they made a great family. He was a fantastic father to Kyle, and together they found trouble on anything with wheels! The Freeze family traveled each January to Florida and went on a Caribbean cruise. They have been to over 35 islands. Kevin has two Harley Davison’s that he was so proud of, a 2003 Fat Boy and a 2016 Ultra Low Classic. He loved the loud pipes! He washed his bikes and Terri’s Cadillac every weekend until the disease took over in 2018.
Those who knew “The Freezer”, knew that he was a gentle teddy bear. He loved his wife, was dedicated to his family, was a hard worker, and loved his cats. He enjoyed drinking Crown Royal, playing blackjack, eating chocolate, and adding loads of ketchup to everything! He made awesome chili and spaghetti sauce. He would not wear a seatbelt or a helmet, and he would ride his Harley year-round. Next time you hear a bike ripping by with loud pipes, think about Mr. Freeze.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Terri; son, Kyle (Bridget) Peters; grandchildren, Carson and Harper Peters; parents, LeRoy and Frances Freeze; sister, Cindy Walter; brothers-in-law, Mike (Jane) Henson, Rich (Lori) Henson, and Mark (Sandy) Henson; sister-in-law, Julie (Tim) Misfeldt; mother-in-law, Sheila Henson; and a very large extended family.
Kevin was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Terry Henson; brother-in-law, Kevin Walter; and sisters-in-law, Cindy Henson and Heidi Henson.