Laverne R. Gretencord

LaVerne Robert "Teensie" Gretencord, age 69, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria. A eulogy and liturgical prayers honoring his life will be held 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Miller officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Foundation. LaVerne was born April 26, 1939 at Ottawa, Illinois, a son of Alfred and Bessie (Cox) Gretencord. He married Alice Smith May 3, 1958. He is survived by his wife, Alice; his children, Lori (Larry) Johnson, Tami (Kevin) Callahan, LaVerne (Sharon) Gretencord, Jr., and Curtis (Kristina) Gretencord all of Ottawa and Dawn (Russell) Huebner of Bolingbrook; brothers, Melvin Gretencord and Richard (Linda) Gretencord of Ottawa and a sister, Helen Miller of Ottawa. He also leaves grandchildren, Brooke Zielinski, Jeremy Johnson, Stephanie Heyers, Kristin Callahan, Andrea and Raechelle Gretencord, Curtis Yasm and Michael Meyer; step-grandchildren Sonya and Jake Moyer, Tim and Mike Shepherd. Great-grandchildren, Cain, Nevaeh and McKenzie Johnson, David and Ashley Zielinski and Dade Heyers; Great-step-granddaughter Makaela Shepherd also survive him. He was preceded in death by six sisters, Marie VanKampen, Annabelle Soens, Frances Hill, Betty Boldt, Zelma Reed and Phyllis Powell; and three brothers, Alfred, John and Jim Gretencord. Mr. Gretencord was educated in the Ottawa schools. He was employed at Libbey Owens Ford, retiring in 1988. He owned and operated Gretencord Tree Service from 1971 to 1985. He later owned and operated Gretencord Pallet Company from 1988 to present.