Lawrence B. Iben

Lawrence Bernard Iben, age 96, of Thomson, Illinois, and formerly of Chadwick, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Resthave Home in Morrison.

Lawrence was born on June 14, 1930, in Sterling, Illinois, the son of George and Catherine (Boze) Iben. Lawrence grew up learning the value of hard work on his family’s farm in Rock Falls. He graduated from Rock Falls High School with the Class of 1948. That same year, his father moved the family to a farm east of Chadwick which later would become a large part of his life. On January 8, 1956, Lawrence married the love of his life, Delores Daehler. Shortly after their wedding, they moved back to Chadwick and took on the responsibility of the family dairy and grain farm where they raised their four children and shared 63 wonderful years of marriage before Delores’ passing in 2019.

For decades, Lawrence was a dedicated farmer in the Chadwick area. He possessed a strong sense of civic duty and cared deeply about his community. Over the years, he served on the Chadwick School Board, was a member of the Chadwick Fire Department, and served as an EMT. Faith was central to his life; he was an active and devoted member of the First Lutheran Church in Chadwick for many years. He took great pride in taking care of the church building, attending to its needs, and sang in the choir.

To know Lawrence was to know a man who could fix absolutely anything, most often with a generous application of duct tape. He loved to tinker and possessed a brilliant, inquisitive mind. He was a voracious reader, particularly fond of author James Michener, and he loved listening to classical music, with "Ode to Joy" being his absolute favorite.

Lawrence was wonderfully social and had a gift for striking up conversations and forging friendships wherever he went. He was famous in his community for his homemade caramels, which he lovingly made and delivered to everyone. An avid trivia buff, he was the guy everyone wanted on their team. Later in life, he took up golf and was a fixture at the Oakville Country Club, where you could always hear him coming in his specially self-modified golf cart.

Remembered as generous and protective, Lawrence always looked out for those around him. He made it a point to stay close to his siblings, frequently driving them all to sibling outings in his truck. He had an incredibly soft heart for small children and injured animals, with the strict, notable exception of gophers.

Lawrence will be dearly missed by his four children, Gary (Lori) Iben of Mt. Carroll, Craig (Lindy) Iben of Clinton, IA, Sharon Iben of Auburn, IL, and Amy (Brian) Wills of Carlinville, IL; six grandchildren, Stephanie (Ben) Lehman, Brian (Jeanelle) Iben, Noelle Iben and her husband John Ricke, Shawn Iben, Haley Wills, and Aaron Wills; five great-grandchildren, Aubrie, Weston, Whitley, Weller, and Lucas; twin brother, John (Shirley) Iben of Forreston, IL; and two sisters, Elsie Long of Sterling, IL, and Marie Rolfson of Sterling.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Delores; daughter-in-law, Jill and his parents, George and Catherine.

A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, at the First Lutheran Church in Chadwick. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:30 a.m. at the church, with Pastor Barbara Stark officiating. Burial will take place in the Chadwick Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the church.