Lawrence Leroy DeCapp

Lawrence Leroy DeCapp, 72, of East Peoria, IL passed away at his home in East Peoria at 8:28 pm on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 after a five-and-a-half-year battle with Myeloma.  Larry was born on December 12, 1948 in Moline, Illinois to Albert and Anne (DeBlieck) DeCapp, the youngest of five children.  He married Patricia “Patty” Hartness on December 13, 1969 in East Peoria.

Surviving are his wife, Patty; daughter-in-law, Hallie DeCapp; grandchildren, Kaleb (fiancé Kitara Martin) and Kylee DeCapp; sisters Betty Plumb of Port Byron, IL and Pat (Morry) Popelier of East Moline, IL; brother-in-law Ron Lampe; and many loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Kent Michael DeCapp, and two sisters, Janet Lampe and Doris Seams.

Larry moved to the Peoria area in 1970 to take part in the Electrical Apprentice program at Caterpillar.  Larry graduated from Bradley University with honors with both a bachelor’s and Master of Science in Computers.  He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

He worked at Caterpillar for many years and then at ATS (Advanced Technology Service) followed by positions at Digital Equipment Company, BCS (Business Communication Systems) and G & D Integrated from which he retired. He loved working outside at his own “Tadmore Acres” and spent many hours taking care of the property.  

Larry was also a member of the Permanent Diaconate Community, having been ordained in May of 2007.  He was also active in the Cursillo movement and served as a team member and Spiritual Director on many weekends.  His faith was extremely important to him. He was a member of St Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Germantown Hills and served as deacon at both St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Metamora and his home parish at Lourdes.  Larry also was caretaker of the grounds of both the Lourdes Church Campus and Cemetery for many years.  He was a Notary Auditors and worked with many members of the Catholic Community with annulments.  He helped prepare couples for marriage working with them during the pre-marriage journey and worked with new parents on baptism preparation of their first child.  He loved doing both marriages and baptisms.  They brought him much joy.  The hardest thing he had to do was the funeral service for his son, Kent, in January of 2020.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, January 22, 2021 at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Greg Jozefiak officiating and concelebrated with Father Vien Van Do of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Metamora.  Due to COVID-19, CDC guidelines will be followed with social distancing in place and masks required.  A walk-thru Visitation will be held at the church at 10:00 am until time of mass on Friday.  Burial will be in St. Mary of Lourdes Cemetery at a later date.  For family and friends who are unable to attend, the mass will be live-streamed for viewers at the following link,  https://www.youtube.com/c/StMaryofLourdes.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Illinois Cancer Care Center, 8940 North Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615, St. Mary of Lourdes Church Building Fund, 424 Lourdes Church Road, Metamora, IL 61548, or Traditions Hospice, 3000 North Main Street, Unit C, East Peoria, IL 61611.  Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

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