Vernon "Red" L. Blackert, Jr.

Vernon “Red” L. Blackert Jr., 90, of Prophetstown, IL, passed away on August 25, 2023, at Hammond Henry Long Term Care-Geneseo. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, September 1, 2023, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory-Atkinson Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Zion United Methodist Church in Hooppole with Pastor Terry Lancaster officiating. He will be laid to rest at Annawan Township Cemetery. Memorials can be made in his name to the Red Blackert Memorial Fund. 

Red was born on February 12, 1933, in Tampico, IL, the son of Vernon Sr. and Alice (Pratt) Blackert. He graduated Annawan High School Class of 50’. He married Betty Jane Pont on August 31, 1952, and she preceded him in death in 2009. Red served his country in the United States Army before returning home to start his own construction company which he worked his whole life. Never officially retiring, he passed down his knowledge and skills to his grandchildren and was always there for help on family projects. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseback riding and camping on their family property. He loved being with his family and watching all their activities. Red was very active in the Hooppole American Legion and Annawan School Board, as well as a member of Zion United Methodist Church in Hooppole.

Those left to cherish his memory are children; Cheryl (John) DeRycke, Kirk (friend-Ann Hutchinson) Blackert and Angela (Dean) Cantrell, grandchildren; Cory (Michelle) DeRycke, Adam (Hope) DeRycke, Dusty (Jill) DeRycke, Jacob, Seth and Ethan Cantrell, Matt Kostner and Lisa Marshall, great-grandchildren; Nathan, Rachel, Kyla, Katelyn, Claire, Caroline and Cordelia DeRycke, Rayne Marshall, C.J. Kostner and Annabella Kostner, siblings; Ralph (MaryAnn) Blackert, Walter Blackert, Adria Kleckner and Linda Billiet.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty Blackert, daughter, Pam Kostner, great grandson, Noah DeRycke, brother, Jerry Blackert and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.