Eddie M. LeCrone

Eddie M. LeCrone, lived 78 interesting and loved years.

He was the beloved husband of Darlene; father of Gigi (Bruce Carlson) and Mimi (Ken Book); grandfather of Kurt (Mary Phillips Carlson), Larin (Justin Filip), Cody (Katie Book) and Jeremy Book; great-grandfather to Hank, Gus and Ike; and brother to Janet and Max.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bertha; and a brother, Larry.

Celebration of Life services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Harvard First United Methodist Church. The time is to be determined.

He came from a family of simple means in central Illinois and learned frugality and ways to be creative and have fun with what the outdoors offered. In his young life, an artist and naturalist emerged with his curiosity. He developed a love of history by first listening to the old-timers’ and veterans’ stories in his small town of Kirksville, acquiring a respect for their wisdom and service.

The love of his life, Darlene, grew up in nearby Sullivan where they were married after he completed his Bachelor of Arts at Eastern Illinois University. He also earned a Master of Arts at Northern Illinois University. Eddie the historian traveled with Darlene and their children to every Civil War battlefield east of the Mississippi and participated in muzzle-loading skirmishes with the 104th Illinois and the 6th Wisconsin for nearly two decades.

For 33 years he dedicated his life to education and inspired students by teaching art and coaching. When he retired, he and Darlene travelled extensively, being sure to visit their AFS daughter, Ulrike Schwarz, and her family in Austria.

He was an accomplished painter, sculptor, Civil War historian and author of four books.

Friends and family will remember him as the most interesting man in the world.

Arrangements were made by Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, Harvard.