He is survived by his wife, Karen K. Connett of Delavan; one daughter, Shelley M. Sweatman of Easton; two grandchildren, Chapin R.L. and Clancey J. “C.J.” Sweatman, both of Easton; one brother, Alvin R. (Monica) Connett of Pekin; one special aunt, Elizabeth (Liz) Sumpter of Springfield; three nieces, Erica R. (Jay) Mutchler of Morton, Casey J. (Jed) Hill of Pekin and Carrey A. Sayles Tiller of Germany and one nephew, Darren R. (Dawn) Connett of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Scott Lee Connett; one son-in-law, R. DeWayne Sweatman and one infant sister, Darlene Connett.
Larry L. Connett was born in Pekin, IL September 24, 1946, to Betty J. Fry and Raymond E. Connett. Larry grew up with his younger brother Alvin riding horses, hunting, self-teaching himself to do a little taxidermy, spending summers at the Fry family farm in Pawnee, IL, and playing in the Schaeferville dirt south of Pekin, IL. Larry's mother passed away when he was in high school and from that point on, he worked two jobs at Owens gas station and Stafford Dairy until he graduated from Pekin Community High School – Class of 1965. After graduation, Larry took a job at Corn Products in Pekin, IL. On December 27, 1965, he enlisted in the US Army and was in basic training, then specialized training until March of 1966. On September 3, 1966, he married his high school sweetheart Karen K. Garman of Pekin, IL at Trinity Lutheran Church. After they were married, the couple moved to New York and then New Jersey where he completed additional specialized training and waited to be deployed. Larry came home from Vietnam in June of 1968 earning medals, citations, and campaign ribbons including: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Two Overseas Service Bars, and Marksman Badge M-14 Rifle.
After returning stateside, Larry went back to work at Corn Products and began his family and civilian life in Pekin, IL. In 1978 he began farming in Tazewell County with his Father-in-Law Herb Garman and Brother-in-Law Keith Garman creating the partnership of G&C Farms. The next 20 years were filled with long hours, hard work and much love of row crop and livestock farming while raising his two children who were blessed to grow up in wide open spaces full of outdoor adventures, with an appreciation and love of agriculture.
In 1999 Karen and Larry moved to Virginia, IL to be closer to grandkids. Larry began working for Cargill in Beardstown in maintenance, as there wasn’t much the man couldn’t fix. Larry spent the next 16 years enjoying family, stepping in and being a father figure to two grandsons that lost their father, motorcycle trips, remodeling a 100-year-old home, and sitting on the porch watching wildlife in their backyard until he and Karen retired in 2014.
That same year, the couple moved to Delavan, IL to be closer to family where they enjoyed retirement by visiting with friends, family and traveling on motorcycles with other enthusiasts and the In Country Vietnam Motorcycle Club (ICVMC) in which he served as Illinois Chapter President. He also was a board member of Cerelose Credit Union and a member of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
Larry was an amazing husband that spoiled his wife. They were blessed with over 57 years of marriage filled with love and laughter. His love for his wife and family was undeniably loyal and fierce. He was a “tinkerer” and “fixer” who could figure out how to make something work again, run if it had been sitting over time, or generally fix anything in the family that had managed to break.
He was a Veteran that proudly served and worked to help himself and others through the aftereffects of wartime service.
He would always appreciate anyone that worked hard and quietly help anyone that struggled with whatever life had thrown at them. His family always knew that wherever he went he would either run into someone he knew or strike up a conversation and make a new friendship. He was quick to love and slow to anger. His was a life well lived with a legacy left behind in family that knows how to work hard and love fiercely.
His memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday May 3, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Reverend Judy Doyle will officiate. Military rights will be provided by the United States Army and Tazewell Military Rites Team. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Private inurnment will be held at a later date at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel To Towers, Post Office Box 70719, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19176-0719, an organization to support America’s first responders, veterans and their families.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com
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