Larry Lee Bumbar

Larry Lee Bumbar, 77, from Thomson, IL, passed away August 18 at OSF St. Francis in Peoria, IL. A visitation will be held at the Law Jones Funeral Home in Thomson from 1-2 pm, on Monday, August 28, 2023, followed by a funeral service with burial to follow at Lower York Cemetery with Military Honors.

Larry was born February 19, 1946, in Aurora, IL, the son of Alex and Genevieve (Davis) Bumbar. His love for the outdoors began as he grew up hunting rabbits and other small game in the area, as well as fishing the local rivers and creeks. Larry attended and graduated from Aurora West High School.

A short time after graduating high school, Larry joined the United States Army to fight in Vietnam. He was assigned to the Air Calvary Division in 1968. Ten days before his deployment was over, he was injured and spent 18 months in recovery, earning a Purple Heart.

On May 17, 2014, Larry married the love of his life, Joan. Together they built and achieved their bucket list of living on the river for seven years. Larry shared his passion for the outdoors with his wife by taking her out on the boat or fishing off the bank at their river front home. During this time, they also raised their beloved black lab, Remington.

Larry went on to work as an HVAC specialist with the Bakery and Confectionery Union for Anheuser-Busch’s bakery division. Following a few years with that company, he went on to continuing his work in HVAC at the Geneva School Districts. After many years of being in HVAC trade, Larry thought he would apply his love for wildlife into becoming a Ranger with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

Larry is survived by his wife; two daughters, Jennifer (Anthony) Lazaroski and Julie (Sam Clark) Bumbar; one stepson, Jason (Jaymie) Shoemaker; five grandchildren, Darion Johnson, Devon Clark, Dimitri Clark, Dior Clark and Emersen Lazaroski.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents and several siblings.

In lieu of flowers, Joan would like all donations to go to the American Legion of Thomson.