Phyllis Haars

Phyllis Haars, 97, of Geneseo, passed away on Monday, October 11, 2021, at her home surrounded by family.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo.  Father Daniel Gifford will officiate.  Burial will follow at North Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  A Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 3:30, prior to the visitation at the funeral home, led by Deacon Harley Chaffee.  Memorials may be directed to Meals on Wheels (www.mealsonwheelsamerica.com) or American Cancer Society (www.donate3.cancer.org).

Phyllis was born March 25, 1924, in Phenix Township, rural Geneseo, the daughter of Edgar and Gertrude (Wert) Pearson.  She attended Bunker Hill and Geneseo High School.  She united in marriage to Vernon Haars on May 16, 1942, in Geneseo.  He preceded her in death on November 14, 2004.  Phyllis worked at Hammond Henry Hospital and the Geneseo bookstore.  When they first started farming, she assisted her husband in Osco Township and Geneseo Township for fifty years.  She was a member of St. Malachy Catholic Church, The Women of the Moose, Neighborhood Club, and the Henry County Farm Bureau.  She enjoyed her family, reading, word puzzles, and being outside.  She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Those left to cherish her memory include three daughters and their spouses, Betty (Richard) Lievens, Osco, Karen (Steve) Peters, Coal Valley, and Shirley (Michael) Burnett, Orion; four sons, Donald (JoAnn) Haars, Geneseo, Allen (Suzi) Haars, Osco, Randy (Terry) Haars, Geneseo, and Harvey Haars, Rochelle; twenty grandchildren; forty-three great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Merton and Dale; granddaughter, Abby Nicole Burnett; and great-grandson, Curtis Haars.