Larry D. McWherter Sr.

In an ordinary obituary you would find a list of Larry’s earthly accomplishments like where he went to school, degrees he had (and he had a few!), how he served our country in the Air Force, his many awards and other things that he accomplished while living his life. Larry was never one to boast about such things. Larry was so much more than his earthly accomplishments.

To know Larry, you know that he was a loving husband who enjoyed life with his wife, Toni. Together they walked side by side in business, in travel (around the world twice!), serving in church, in parenting and enjoying life. They were a team who spent 58 years loving each other, their children (Larry JR & Kathy, Debbie & Chuck, Linda & Jim, Ron & Gloria), their grandchildren (Kristin, Kailyn & Colton) and the many people they met in both their travels and their everyday life.

Larry loved life experiences and shared that love for life with his children and grandchildren. Family vacations were filled with fantastic travel adventures (and if possible, a little bit of history)! His grandchildren have fond memories of travels from Mount Rushmore to the hills of Tennessee, to exploring the history of Lincoln right here in the state of Illinois and more.

As much as possible Larry and Toni were always present for the life experiences of their children and grandchildren, even when it meant traveling a distance to be there. Everything from a kindergarten graduation, sporting events, car racing to high school and college graduations. He enjoyed being a part of it all. He loved celebrating and participating in the lives of those he loved!

In all the things that Larry did for his family and for others, his legacy is the life of faith that he lived. He was a servant, always ready to use the talents and skills that the Lord had given him to bless others, to encourage others and to pray for and with others. His greatest joy was serving the Lord and celebrating the life that the Lord blessed him with.

We as his family will carry a void in our hearts now that he has passed, but we rejoice in knowing that Larry’s last breath on earth was his first breath in heaven where he was held in the arms of his Lord and Savior and greeted by those that he loved who had passed before him. We will miss him dearly but also rest in the knowledge of knowing that we too one day will be greeted by him when we pass from this earth.

Thank you to all who have reached out, have been there during his last days, who loved him, and who celebrated his faith with him. If he could leave you with a parting word, we believe he would want you to know:

He lived his life, loved others, served others and blessed others because of his faith and the salvation he found in his Lord and Savior. He would want you to know that his prayer for others was always that those who don’t know the Lord would come to a place where they too would find Him as their Lord and Savior.

To those who have met and known Larry, thank you for loving him as we his family have loved him, thank you for remembering him and thank you for celebrating a life well lived with us until we meet him again.

So go rest high on that mountain

Son, your work on earth is done!

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Steve Colyer will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Military rites will be provided by the United States Air Force and Tazewell Area Ceremonial Team. Cremation will be accorded following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lighthouse Church of God, 1010 El Camino Drive, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.Preston-Hanley.com