Larry D Hamell

November 1, 1941 - September 4, 2021

Larry D Hamell passed away Sept. 4 at the age of

79. He will be remembered by his loving wife of 49 years

Mary (Deline); children Joe

(Heather) Hamell and Kari

(Jordan) Aranda; and grandchildren Jonah, John, Ripley,

Marin Hamell, Josselyn, and

Teagan Aranda.

Larry was born on Nov. 1,

1941 in Decatur, Ill. and raised in Plymouth. Even at a young age Larry showed that he was an incredible athlete. At Plymouth High School he earned 12 varsity letters for football, basketball, and track; and all-state honors for football and basketball, becoming a member of the Indiana basketball 1,000 point club before graduating Class of 1960 winning the “Nobel Kizer” Award. Larry graduated from Ball State University in 1964 where he was a 3 year football letterman and still holds the receiving record of 4 touchdowns in a single game. After college he was sought after by multiple NFL teams ultimately signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 1964. He later played for the Chicago Owls in the Continental Football League.

Larry taught Earth Science, drivers Ed, coached football, basketball, and track for the Illinois U-46 school district.

In October 1972 he married the love of his life Mary Deline and started a family in Elgin later settling in Dekalb, Ill.

Larry went to work for Frank Whalen Lincoln Mercury followed by Zimmerman Ford in St. Charles where he was the used car manager for 35 years. He also spent time at State Street Motors and Brad Manning Ford before retiring from Dekalb Sycamore Chevy.

Despite all his awards and success he did not boast, even though he was successful and everything he did. He was a very private family man who would do anything for anyone.

He loved vacationing, golf, wordscape and all sports, especially the White Soxs. Above all, he truly loved the Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Evelyn Hamell.

Larry is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren along with his siblings Jeannie (Red) Harris, Lester (Karen) Hamell, Janice (Bob) Meyer, Joellen (Tom) Wagner, and Jill (Joe) Chalk.

A visitation will be held from 3 - 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, at Anderson Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hamell Family, addressed to Anderson Funeral Home, PO Box 605, Dekalb, Ill. 60115.

Forinformation,visitwww.andersonfuneralhomeltd. com or call 815-756-1022.