Randall Greg Degenhart

Randall Greg Degenhart age 70 of Bloomington, IL went home to the Lord on December 4, 2024. He was born November 26, 1954 in Fairbury, Illinois. He was the middle child of Robert and Leila (Tammen) Degenhart. He grew up in Kankakee and graduated from Eastridge High School in 1972. In high school he was a member of the Chamber Choir led by Dan Liddell. He was also captain of the wrestling team coached by Curt Hines. Coach Hines was very influential in him attending Elmhurst College where he met the love of his life Suzan Brandt. They were married at St. Alexis Catholic Church in Bensenville, IL on July 21, 1978. Together they had two daughters, Megan and Julie. Randall began his teaching career at Kankakee School District 111 in 1977, retiring in 2010. For most of his career he was the Teacher-Coordinator for the WECEP work program, working at both the Junior and Senior High Schools. He also taught Physical Education, Health, and Psychology. After retiring he served as a Career Coach at the Kankakee Area Career Center for six years, helping to develop the Portfolio program for the Center. Randall coached cross country for ten years at Westview High School. He also coached Wrestling for seventeen years at the Junior High and Kankakee High School. He spent his last two years in coaching as an assistant coach at Kankakee High School. During those years the Wrestling team won the Regional and Conference titles and were Co-State Champions due to the State tournament being cancelled, (tied with 32 teams). He loved coaching, and valued the relationships he developed with the wrestlers, runners and their parents over the years. While at Elmhurst College he was a four year letterman on the wrestling team, qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament his senior year. For many years he had been an active member of the American Lutheran Church in Bourbonnais, IL. He served on the Worship and Music committee, was a former council member, former superintendent of the Sunday School Program, and enjoyed playing the guitar for the praise band. Upon moving to Bloomington, Sue and Randy attended St. John’s Lutheran Church where they were welcomed. Also, Randall had been playing with the band at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Randall loved the outdoors and enjoyed golfing, fishing, and hunting. He was a twenty year board member for the Whitetails Unlimited Kankakee Chapter. He served as a board member for many years on the Kankakee Federation of Teachers Credit Union. He and Sue were members at the Oak Springs Golf Course and had many great friends there. They were fortunate to attend two Masters tournaments as well as several tournaments at Pebble Beach. He also enjoyed playing the guitar, was a music fan and loved watching live music performances with Sue and friends. He loved his four grandchildren dearly and loved watching them grow and participate in sports. He did not frequently testify of his faith in God but felt God’s grace and presence in the people he met, the beauty and wonder of nature and the love and giving nature of people. He was comforted by his faith in life and in his death. Randall and Sue lived in the Kankakee area most of their adult lives moving to Bloomington Illinois in December of 2021. Randall was diagnosed with Leukemia in the summer of 2022. To know Randy was to love him. He was an example of living life to the fullest. He will continue to be an inspiration to the countless lives he touched. Surviving is his wife, Sue; daughters Julie Hartke of Bloomington, Megan (Steven) Reiter of Nolensville, TN; one brother, Robert (Mary) Degenhart of Bourbonnais; one sister, Peggy Klaus of Parker, CO; his mother, Leila Degenhart of Kankakee; and adored grandchildren, Ella, Ava, Jace, and Jackson; nieces, nephews and other relatives. Randy is preceded in death by his father, Robert Degenhart Sr; one brother-in-law,, David Kraus and one nephew, Cameron Kraus. Visitation will be from 4 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Homes, Bourbonnais. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024 at American Lutheran Church in Bourbonnais. Pastor Patrick Jenkins will officiate the service. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Randall Greg Degenhart

November 26, 1954 - December 4, 2024