Kip C. Sleaford

Kip Christopher Sleaford, 61, of Atkinson, IL, passed away unexpectedly at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, MN on Tuesday, December 2, 2024.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson Chapel.  Reverend Terry Lancaster will officiate.  Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery in rural Atkinson.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson Chapel.  Memorials may be directed to the Kip Sleaford Memorial Fund which will be distributed amongst his favorite local charities.

Kip was born December 4, 1962, the son of James and Connie (Buysse) Sleaford, in Geneseo, IL.  He graduated from Annawan High School, class of 1980, and then attended auto body training in Wichita, KS.  On October 9, 1999, Kip married Trudy Sears at a service held at Muzzy Chapel, Geneseo.  DuPont Automotive Finishes employed him for over 20 years before retiring and beginning his own business as an auto body painter.  Kip was a St. Anthony Catholic Church member, loved automobiles – especially painting them, enjoyed traveling, and loved spending time with his grandchildren, family, and friends.  If you could not find Kip, you can guarantee he was out painting something!

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Trudy Sleaford of Atkinson; son, Marcus (Courtney) Sleaford of Atkinson; bonus son, Joe (Dawn) Nicol of Lake Zurich, IL; daughters, Ashley (Josh) Palumbo of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; bonus daughter, Jessica (Chris) White of Geneseo; eight grandchildren, Henley Sleaford and one on the way, Aiden, Alex, Archer, Ariel, and Avery Palumbo, and Livy Nicol; mother, Connie O’Connor of Moline, IL; brothers, Kurt (Rosemary) Sleaford of Fairfield, IA, Kraig (Beth) Sleaford of Davenport, IA; and sister, Kelly (John) Whicker of St. Charles, MO.

Kip was preceded in death by his father, James Sleaford and Jim O’Connor.