Larry Truckenbrod, 90, of Sublette, IL. and formerly of Mendota, IL., passed away peacefully at his home in Tavares, FL on Monday, June 10, 2024.

Visitation will be held at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., with The Reverend David Jungnickel officiating a ceremony at 12:00 p.m. Service and burial with military honors by Mendota VFW Post 4079 will be held at Restland Cemetery, Mendota at 1:00 p.m. Burial is open to the public.

Larry was born September 7, 1933 in Amboy, IL to Norval and Eulalia (Cassidy) Truckenbrod. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean Conflict in 1953 and proudly served his tour at Fort Sill, OK until 1955. He married Elizabeth Ekstrom on July 26, 1959.

Larry began working for Blue Star Potato Chips in 1960 and eventually founded and managed his own wholesale distribution business, Larry's Snack Foods, from 1972 - 1988. Larry, along with his brother Stanley, took over the day-to-day operations of the family farm in Sublette in 1982. Being back on the family farm provided a familiar joy and nostalgia as he eased into his retirement years. Larry's lifelong passion was proudly farming the Centennial Family Farm in Sublette. Most recently, he was the Cornhole Champion of his residential community in Florida. He enjoyed bingo several times a week, both in Florida and Illinois. For many years, Larry was a respected bowler, and his teams were often league champions. He also loved dancing, attending concerts, playing harmonica for his grandchildren, traveling around the country as well as abroad and striking up a conversation with anyone and everyone he met along the way. No one was a stranger to Larry.

Larry is survived by his loving companion of nine years, Bonnie Mayo of Tavares, FL, his former wife, Elizabeth (Ekstrom) Truckenbrod of Grand Rapids MI, his daughter, Deborah (Cyrano) Williams of Grand Rapids, MI, son, Trent Truckenbrod of Orlando, FL, daughter, Pamela (Dennis) Spangler of Sevierville, TN, son, Mark (Ilona) Truckenbrod of Aurora, IL, son, Nathan (Wendy) Truckenbrod of Williamsburg, VA, daughter, Kimberly (Boris) Jukic of Potsdam, NY, grandchildren, Jolie, Victoria, Simeon, and Levi (Morgan) Williams, Benjamin and Leah Truckenbrod, Olivia (Trevor) Bullock and Savannah Spangler, Hannah and Jacob Truckenbrod, Abbey and Sophia Truckenbrod, and Ivana, Marko, Ana, and Drago Jukic, great-grandchildren Roman and Vincent Williams, sister, Alice Lauer of Mendota and brother, Stanley Truckenbrod of Mesa, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Sidney Truckenbrod.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren Marko Jukic, Drago Jukic, Benjamin Truckenbrod, Jacob Truckenbrod, Levi Williams and Simeon Williams.

Memorials may be sent to the VFW at https://www.vfw.org.