Larry Varner

Larry N. Varner, 80, of Kewanee, Illinois, and formerly of Galva, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois.  Larry was born to D. Steve and Avis (Beede) Varner at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on September 2, 1944.

He was a 1962 graduate of Monticello High School in Monticello, Illinois, and a 1965 graduate of Illinois State University with a BS in English Education.  He received both an MS in 1970 and an Advanced Certificate in 1971 in Counseling from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, which prepared him for counseling in a school setting.  He taught English at Pekin High School during the 1965-1966 school year and the 1968-1969 school year.  From 1966 to 1968 he served in the U.S Army.  In fall of 1970 he began his counseling career at Galva High School, and he retired from Galva Junior-Senior High School in the spring of 1999.  From 1973 through 2008 he served as coach of the Galva High School Scholastic Team and was inducted into the Illinois High School Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame.

On March 22, 1969, Larry married Patty Carper at the Morton Methodist Church in Morton, Illinois.  She survives as do their two sons, Mark (Andréia Krause) Varner of Skokie, Illinois, and Ben (Erin) Varner of Lincoln, Illinois, and two grandchildren, Adalyn Varner and Colin Varner, of Lincoln, Illinois.  Larry is also survived by two brothers: Bruce (Connie) Varner of Creve Coeur, Illinois, and Eric (Sue) Varner of Carlock, Illinois.  His last Brittany Spaniel, Maggie, who always accompanied him, also survives.  He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Alan Varner

He very much enjoyed fishing in his spare time.  He belonged to Little John Conservation Club and Hook and Bullet Conservation Club and fished at both clubs’ lakes often.  He spent many summer vacations fishing in the Minnesota Boundary Waters, the Turtle Flambeau area in northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  He and his successive Brittany Spaniels would fill his truck and boat with a great amount of fishing and camping equipment for a wonderful time on the lakes.  One of his favorite quotes was by Henry Thoreau, “Some men fish all of their lives without knowing it is not really the fish they are after.”

Larry’s other great passion was riding motorcycles and taking trips for several weeks all over the United States and Canada with his brother, Bruce.  They loved finding little known winding roads as well as publicized cycling roads in the mountains and valleys throughout the continental U.S.  They thoroughly enjoyed discussing various motorcycles and shared “cycle mags” and videos on You Tube.

He spent many hours working in his large yard in Galva, where he lived for 45 years.  The last 30 years he lived in an old Victorian house with turrets west of Wiley Park and surrounded by many trees.  He loved that house and its setting so dearly and hated moving when it was necessary to find a house with only one story.  He moved to Kewanee with Patty only because the new house had two garages with five car stalls and a workbench area!

Larry joined the Galva Lions Club in 2000 because he thought they did worthwhile service projects in the community.  He served as their secretary for an extended time.  Memorials may be made to the Galva Lions Club.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 24 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva, Illinois. Cremation will be accorded with a private interment service at Galva Cemetery. 

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