Michael "Mike" E. Minnaert

Michael “Mike” Eugene Minnaert, 76, of Geneseo, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Hammond Henry Hospital – Long Term Care, Geneseo. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Cremation rites will be accorded following the service and inurnment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo, at a later date.  A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo, 14606 Roos Hill Road, Geneseo, IL, 61254 or Henry County Senior Citizens, Inc, 200 E South Street, Kewanee, IL, 61443.

Michael was born March 22, 1948, the son of Eugene and Martha (Griffin) Minnaert, in Geneseo.  He graduated from Geneseo High School, class of 1966, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in industrial education from Western Illinois University in 1970.  He was employed as a teacher of Industrial Arts at Toulon High School and worked at Vandemore Plumbing.  Mike was a passionate Chicago Bears and Geneseo football fan, and enjoyed TV westerns.  He was a big fan of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.  He was a member of the Geneseo Lions Club, president of the Geneseo Men’s Softball League, and volunteered for many years at Arrowhead Ranch.

Those left to cherish his memory include his several cousins; and aunt, Joyce Wisdom of Erie, IL.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Martha Minnaert.