Lawrence “Larry” Stephen Salley, age 80, of Machesney Park, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He was born to Carolyn Mae (Gerlick) Salley and William L. Dabbs on March 12, 1945 in Rockford, Illinois. Larry graduated from Rockford East High School where he was active in ROTC and was a member of the Purple Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He attended Northern Illinois University before joining the Navy. Larry proudly served on the USS Yorktown and in the Navy Reserve from 1967 to 1971. He then graduated from Rock Valley College and worked at Fenner Stone Hydraulics as chief engineer and at John S. Barnes Corporation as a manager of product engineering.
Larry married the love of his life, Jean Wahlstrom, on September 6, 1969 in Rockford, Illinois. Larry had many interests, including music, fishing and hunting, camping with his family, photography, and having coffee with friends.
Larry is loved and missed by his wife of more than 55 years, Jean Salley of Machesney Park, Illinois; and children, Lora Salley of Chicago, Illinois and Lynn Salley of Rockford, Illinois; as well as several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Franklin “Mike” and Carolyn Mae Salley; and brother, David Salley.
His family wishes to extend special appreciation for his caregivers from OSF Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Larry.
A visitation for Larry will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Christ Lutheran Church, 425 Riverside Rd, Belvidere, IL 61008 with a service to follow at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army of Rockford and Winnebago County.
