Vernon Holesinger

Vernon Holesinger, age 87, of Freeport, Illinois, previously of Mt. Carroll, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2016 in the care of his family and St. Joseph Presence Nursing Facility, Freeport. A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2016 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the funeral home. Memorials may be given in his memory for Oakley Assisted Living Center, 3117 Kunkle Blvd., Freeport, Illinois 61032.
Vernon was born November 28, 1928 in Morrison, Illinois. He grew up on a farm near Morrison and then a farm near Argo Fay, until the family moved to the Elver and Eleanor Eisfeller Farm near Mt. Carroll in 1956. Vernon is a 1946 graduate of the Mt. Carroll High School. He played softball and pitched horshoes as a young man. He always remembered bailing hay all day, then going to play softball with his team in the evenings. On January 29, 1949, Vernon married Mary Wiersema. They raised four children and celebrated 62 years of marriage.
As a farmer, Vernon was dedicated. He won Carroll County Conservation Farmer of the Year by using contouring strips on his ground. He also had one of the first automatic feed lots to feed his Herefords and Black Angus. Vernon actively farmed until retiring in 2011. Vernon was a charter member of the Faith Reformed Church of Lanark, Illinois, where he served as an Elder and Deacon for many years. He also was a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau. Most of all, Vernon enjoyed the time he spent with family grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Vernon will be dearly missed by four children, Ralph (Marty) Holesinger of Cedarville, Illinois, Gwen Mowen of Freeport, Illinois, Mike (Jody) Holesinger of Lafayette, Colorado and Jeff (Vita) Holesinger of South Elgin, Illinois; twelve grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Vernon is preceded in death by his wife, grandson, great-grandson, Son-in-law, two brothers and two sisters.