Laurence F. "Larry" Gage Jr., 95, a lifelong farmer & cattle feeder on the family farm of 176 years in Brookfield Twp. south of Marseilles, passed away peacefully at his home, Thursday morning, February 10, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation for both Larry and Ruthie will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday April 10, 2022, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. A Celebration of Life will be at a later date.  According to Ruthie & Larry's wishes, their ashes will be combined and laid to rest together in the Grand Ridge Cemetery.

Larry was born July 4, 1926 at St. Mary's Hospital in Streator, the first son of Laurence F. Gage Sr. and Fern (Moss) Gage. Larry married his best friend, Ruth Beverly Read, in the little country Brookfield Presbyterian Church located only a mile from each of their families' farms and homes, on December 19, 1948.

Larry played basketball and ran track for Marseilles High School, and was a member of the MHS Sweet Sixteen basketball team of 1944. He played for many baseball, fast-pitch softball and basketball league teams in the Marseilles, Streator, Grand Ridge and Ottawa areas. In 1980, he was inducted into the Illinois Valley Baseball Old-Timers Hall of Fame. Larry pitched for the LaSalle County All-County and 35ers fast-pitch teams well into his mid-fifties. He was a lifetime member of the LaSalle County Farm Bureau and their sports committee, being in charge of the homemade lemonade stand at the local 4-H fair for many years. In 2002, he was received the Distinguished Service for Agriculture Award by the LaSalle County Farm Bureau. Larry was an elder and Sunday School Superintendent in the former Brookfield Presbyterian Church. After the church closed, he faithfully attended the Grand Ridge Methodist Church.  He was a 4-H leader for the Brookfield Indians, and a trustee/clerk for Brookfield Twp. for over 60 years. Larry loved sports and had season tickets for OHS football and basketball games.  He was an avid University of Illinois fan, holding season tickets for football and basketball games for close to 30 years.  He loved rooting for the Cubs, Bulls, and Bears. Reading the sports pages of the Champaign News-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, and Daily Times was a part of his daily routine.

Survivors include two sons, Bruce (Cheryl) and Read Gage; a daughter, Laurie Gage; grandson, David (Kelly Zachary) Gage, all of rural Marseilles; granddaughter, Karie (Dan) Stecken; two great-grandchildren, Camryn and Costner Stecken of Seneca; and a sister, Melva Gage (Edgar) Madsen of Princeton, NJ. He was a brother-in-law to Joy (John) Christie of Ottawa; an uncle to Reg (Janet) Gage of Plainfield, Linda (Brian) Fluty of Bloomington, Duane (Cathy) Gage of Beeville, TX, Curt (Lori Stevenson) Read of Plano, Brian (Beth) Christie of Cedar Lake, IN, and Allison (Mike) Mueller of Crystal Lake. Larry is also survived by many great-nieces and nephews and an "honorary daughter", Diana "Butter" (Gary) Windy of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert "Bob" and Doris Gage and his brother-in-law, Linn Read, both of Grand Ridge.

Memorials may be directed to Lightways Hospice in Joliet or the Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home

1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341

815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com