Rachel K. Clementz

Rachel Kaylene Clementz, formerly of Geneseo, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 2, 2023, in Maryland Heights, MO, at the young age of 22.  Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at First Methodist Church, Geneseo.  A memorial visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, Central Bank has set up a memorial fund for Rachel.  Memorials may be directed to the Rachel K. Clementz Memorial Fund - Central Bank of Illinois and the Rachel Clementz Memorial Bowling Scholarship Fund. 

Rachel was born on June 16, 2000, in Geneseo, IL.  She graduated from Geneseo High School, class of 2018, and Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO, in 2022, with a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and criminal justice and a minor in psychology. 

She was employed by Lindenwood University as a Public Safety and Security Officer.  She absolutely loved her job and the people she worked with.  Prior to that, she worked for Smith Farms, in Prophetstown, for Robert Smith, as a farmhand.  Rachel loved the farm life and everything that went with it, including calves-cattle, pickup trucks, testing electric fences, mowing, and baling hay with her coworker and cousin, Tyler.

Rachel had a heart of gold and would do anything for the people she loved and cared about.  She loved her pets (and everyone else’s) she was a dog lover.  She enjoyed hanging out with her friends and family.  She always knew how to get a laugh out of everyone.  She enjoyed bowling, which she started as a young child and continued through college.  She liked her tattoos.  She had several already and was working on her own design for a personalized sleeve.

She was a loving daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter, and friend, and she will be forever greatly missed.

She is survived by her mother, Brenda (Paul) Tigges; father, Mark (Christine) Clementz; brother, Cole (Kenzie) Clementz; grandmothers, Mary Smith and Tamara Gernant; one step-brother, Michael (Ashley) Smith; two step-sisters, Trista (Dan) Whiting and Larissa (Eric) Darwin; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Rachel is preceded in death by her grandfathers, Reiley Smith, John Clementz, and Charles Gernant; grandmother, Barbara Clementz; uncles Jackie Clementz, Eugene Clementz, and Jerry Clementz, Sr.