Ronald Alhorn

Ronald “Ron” Alhorn (73) of Geneseo, IL passed away Monday, March 27, 2023, at Hammond Henry Hospital:  Long Term Care Living Unit, Geneseo, IL.  Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial visitation will be held at First Lutheran Church, Geneseo, on April 5, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a service to immediately follow the visitation.  Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, 114 E. Main Street, Geneseo, IL, 61254 or the Ron Alhorn Memorial Fund.

He was born May 10, 1949, in Jacksonville, IL, the son of Albert and W. June (Goodrich) Alhorn of Meredosia, IL.  He was raised on a grain and livestock farm near Meredosia.  Ron graduated from Meredosia-Chambersburg High School in 1967 and Illinois State University in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in Comprehensive Agriculture Education.  He taught Agriculture Education and was the FFA Chapter Advisor at Cambridge High School from 1971 to 2005.  He married Leanne M. Ellinor on June 12, 1976, in Lanark, IL.  She survives.  He is also survived by a son Brian (Erica) Alhorn of Wheaton, IL, a granddaughter, Mackenzie Alhorn, and twin grandsons, Riley and Reid Alhorn.  He was proceeded in death by his parents.

During his 34 years as the Cambridge Agriculture Instructor, Mr. Alhorn received many awards and honors:  Illinois Association of Vocational Teachers and National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Agriculture Education Teacher of the Year, Section 3 FFA Agriculture Education Teacher of the Year, Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Environmental Conservation Teacher of the Year,  National Association of Conservation Districts Conservation Education Teacher of the Year, Black Hawk East College Agriculture Achievement Award, The Daily Dispatch Newspaper Master Teacher Award, Illinois and National Outstanding Agriculture Education Program.  His FFA Chapter teams and members won many local, Section 3 and State contests in livestock judging, soil evaluation, crop judging, agriculture business management, parliamentary procedure, ag mechanics, horse judging, and foundation awards.  He was a volunteer at Hammond Henry Hospital, the Henry County Animal Shelter in Geneseo, and volunteered as a summer youth soccer, baseball and girls’ softball coach.

He greatly enjoyed spending time with his family along with many years of helping with sprint car racing teams, target shooting, and 22 years of refereeing IHSA and college women’s basketball games.   He was a member of the Illinois State University Ag Club, the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers, the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, the Illinois High School Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Henry County Humane Society, and First Lutheran Church of Geneseo.