Larry Calvin Lovell
Larry Calvin Lovell, 75, of Anna, died at his home on Saturday morning, March 4, 2023.
He was born on Oct. 25, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Jasper Calvin Lovell and Georgia Charlotte Lamb Lovell.
On Sept. 5, 1970, he married Diane Kluesner of Chaffee, Mo.
Mr. Lovell worked for 40 years at Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative in Dongola, serving the last 23 years as executive vice president/general manager.
In 1975, Mr. Lovell received his bachelor of science degree, with a major in mathematics and a minor in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
He served on several boards of directors, including Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, Marion, Ill.; United Utility Supply Cooperative, Louisville, Ky.; ACES Power Marketing, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Union County Hospital, Anna, Ill.
His miscellaneous endeavors included the NRECA/CFC Joint Member Task Force on Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, Washington, D.C., from February 1994 through February 1995. In 2001, the Illinois Cooperative Council presented him with the Cooperative Management Award.
He was particularly proud of being instrumental in the formation of SouthWater Inc., a regional not-for-profit water system in Dongola.
Another project that he was honored to be a part of was his role as chairman of Union County Hospital District that he and others successfully negotiated a lease with Community Health System, CHS, from Franklin, Tenn. The lease allowed Union County Hospital District to retain ownership of the hospital, pocket over $3 million and a provision for CHS to upgrade hospital infrastructure. The citizens of Anna were able to keep a quality hospital when other small community hospitals were struggling. The best part is that the hospital district was able to stop taxing Anna residents, saving taxpayers money each year.
Mr. Lovell was an active member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Anna. He was a member of the parish council, a trustee and longtime chairman of the finance committee. He was honored that God allowed him to be an active volunteer for the church.
He loved the many get-togethers with his family, especially the Sunday dinners with his children, grandchildren and great-grandson.
The many family trips and the trips with friends were also very special and memorial to him. He always had the best of times. All of his grandchildren and great-grandson were the highlight of his life and he enjoyed every minute with them.
He also enjoyed fishing with his family and playing golf with friends. He will be truly missed by his family and so many other people. The light is dimmer here today and brighter where he has gone; but, his memories and his wisdom will be with us forever.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Diane Lovell; daughter Alysia (Jay) Kaufman; son Jason Lovell; grandchildren Cameron Lovell, Lydia (Trent) Grider, Alexandria Lovell, Caleb Kaufman, and Nathan Kaufman; great-grandchild Carter Andrew Grider; brother Dennis (Valerie) Lovell of Greenville, Texas; sister Janis (Ronnie) Burford of Benton, Mo.; brother-in-law AJ (Betty) Kluesner of Cape Girardeau; sisters-in-law Flora Brucker of New Hamburg, Mo., Clairene Priest of Cape Girardeau and Helen Kluesner of Scott City, Mo.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, March 10, at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro, and from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Anna.
Father Uriel Salamanca will lead the Rosary at 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, at Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at St. Mary Church in Anna, with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating.
Entombment will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at Lindsey Cemetery, just east of McClure.
Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association, St. Mary Church or Lindsey Cemetery. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.