Deacon Larry Honzel

GENESEO — A funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Malachy Church here for Deacon Larry Honzel. The celebrant will be Father Daniel Gifford, pastor.

Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, also in Geneseo.

A parish rosary will be prayed on Friday, Aug. 25, at 3:30 p.m. in the church, 595 E. Ogden Ave. A visitation will follow from 4 to 7 p.m.

Deacon Honzel died on Aug. 19, 2023, at Hillcrest Home in Geneseo. He was 85.

The son of James L. and Lelah P. (White) Honzel, Deacon Honzel was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on June 23, 1938. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for the USDA until his retirement in 1995.

On June 30, 1962, he married Audrian Conrady in Milwaukee. She survives as do their daughters, Laurie (Dan) Thwaites of West Ulm, Oregon; Debbie Rowley of Geneseo; and Sue (David) Ferguson of New Berlin, Wisconsin; their sons, Jim (Kelly) Honzel, and Mike (Sheri) Honzel, all of Bloomington; and 12 grandchildren.

Deacon Honzel is also survived by his brother, John Honzel of Rockford, and sister, Babs (Al) Debes of Walker Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, John Rowley; grandson, Nathan Honzel; and sister-in-law, Rose Rita Honzel.

Deacon Honzel was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop John J. Myers on May 17, 1997, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Assigned to St. Malachy Parish in Geneseo, he was active in RCIA, Cursillo and Teens Encounter Christ.

He also served on the school boards for St. Malachy School and Geneseo School District No. 228. He was a former member of the Geneseo Jaycees where he held many offices, including that of president.