Henry R. Vanthournout, 79, much beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died Jan. 16, in the comfort of his home surrounded by loved ones. 

Henry was born on Peck Road in Geneva on July 9, 1932. A life-long resident of the St. Charles area, he grew up in a farming family, attended St. Patrick grade school and graduated from St. Charles High School in 1951.

In 1952, he married JoAnn Arbizzani, and together they spent most of the first 18 years farming in St. Charles. In 1970, they moved into town and together with JoAnn's brothers Robert and Timothy owned and operated the Little Owl restaurant in Geneva.

Upon retirement from the Little Owl in 1987, he took numerous part-time jobs to keep busy. In 2002 following a stroke, where he was also diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, he officially retired.

He had a passion for all sports, participating in dootball, basketball and baseball at St. Charles High School. He also played semi-pro baseball—including his highlight moment where he doubled off Satchel Paige. He was a life-long Cub fan. 

Henry is survived by his wife JoAnn (Arbizzani) and six children—Janis Weyhenmeyer (Jim), Albany, NY; Marci Cohen, Charlotte, NC; Sheila Hoffman (Mike), Neptune, NJ; Lisa Boyd, Chicago, IL.; Tom Vanthournout (Cindy Hudson), Johnson City, TN; and Jim Vanthournout (Linda), Bowling Green, KY. He has four grand-daughters Jessica Cohen, Elizabeth Vanthournout and Hannah and Abigail Hudson; ten grandsons James and Jonathan Weyhenmeyer, Adam Pasholk, Kyle Hoffman, Seth Cohen, Thomas and Timothy Vanthournout, and Andrew, Matthew, and Jacob Vanthournout; two great grandsons Conner and Aiden Weyhenmeyer; a sister, Dorothy Coleman (Jim); two brothers Robert and Donald Vanthournout (Marilyn); two sisters-in-law Dorothy Vanthournout (Arthur) and Jan Vanthournout (Richard). 

He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Julia, a son William Arthur, and two Brothers, Arthur and Richard. 

Funeral Mass was at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 400 Cedar Street, St. Charles, IL, on Jan. 19.

Donations may be sent to Vitas Hospice, www.Vitas.com and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

For more information, please call Yurs Funeral Home of Geneva, 630-232-7337 or at www.yursfuneralhomes.com

This notice is courtesy of Yurs Funeral Home.