Otto Konitzer Jr. (1929-2022)

KONITZER, PECAUT, YARGER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/13/2022 at 09:20:34

Otto “Joe” Konitzer Jr., 92, of Cambridge, IL passed away on July 8, 2022, at Hillcrest Home in Geneseo. A Celebration of Joe’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 18, 2022, at Vandemore Funeral Home and Crematory-Geneseo Chapel. A memorial visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery-Geneseo.

Joe was born on August 8, 1929, in Moline, IL the son of Otto J. Sr. and Lydia M. (Pecaut) Konitzer. He married Mary Jane Yarger on February 16, 1974, and she preceded him in death on May 8, 2022. Joe worked at John Deere before serving in the US Army. He was an electrician for many years at East Moline Metal before his retirement. As a young man he fetched balls for the Moline Plow Boys, the Chicago Cubs farm team where he got to meet some famous baseball players. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School from kindergarten through high school and was proud to say he only ever missed one day when it was -16 degrees, and his mother wouldn’t let him go. Joe loved fishing, golf, bowling and playing fast-pitch softball. He was also a member of St. Malachy’s Catholic Church in Geneseo.

He is survived by his daughters; Tammy (Russell) Quillin of Cleveland, IL, Jan (Craig) Palmer of Cambridge, brother, Jim (Carole) Konitzer of Colona, 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild on the way.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane, his parents, 2 sons; Michael J. Konitzer, Steven L. Yarger and 2 sisters; Phyllis Comp and Lois Leamans.