Lawrence âLarryâ Henry Simmons 73, of Streator passed away Tuesday morning (Nov.5th) at his home.
A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-7PM at the Winterrowd Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Friday morning at 10AM at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Larry was born on July 26, 1940 in Utica, IL to Mildard Henry and Meredith Irene (Rivers) Simmons.
He married Marilyn June Braun on June 8, 1968 at the Methodist Church in Lacon, IL. She survives.
Also surviving are sons, Steven Simmons of Romeoville and Stanley (Ann) Simmons of Streator, daughter, Sandra (Jason) Henson of Streator, grandchildren, Amber, Christian, and Taylor Henson, and Damian Simmons, 2 step-grandchildren, Michael and Christian Martinez, siblings, Beverly Simmons, Kenneth (Mary) Simmons, Ronald (Donna) Simmons, Richard, Daniel, and Michael (Kay) Simmons, Deborah (Dan) Gualandi, Vicki Zulz, and Janie Bade and sister-in-law, Phyllis Simmons.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Linda Simmons, brothers, Millard in infancy and David Simmons.
Larry graduated from Grand Ridge grade school and attended Ottawa High School. He joined the Army in 1960 and served in Germany with the 293rd Engineer Battalion. He was stationed at Bombholder for awhile and Verdune France building roads. He was a mechanic, built missile bunkers and was one of our soldiers that marched up to the Berlin Wall. (Berlin Crisis) He was honorably discharged in 1963.
He started working at Vactor in 1965. (Then known as Myers and Sherman and Peabody Myers. He welded for about 25 years. He then cut hoses until he retired in 2004. (38 years 10 months of service)
Larry loved his family. He worked hard and played hard. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races, riding motorcycles, fishing, hunting, and inner tubing down the crow creek on the in-laws farm and loved playing cards. He was known as a jokester at work and a fun person to be around. He loved life and people. He was true to his family and his country.