Loren E. "Larry" Long

Loren E. ?Larry? Long, 86, of Aurora, Illinois, died peacefully in his home on Sunday, June 1, 2014.

Loren was born in Gibbon, Oklahoma and spent his childhood on his family?s wheat farm in Gibbon and in Anthony, Kansas. He graduated from Anthony High School in 1945. After graduating, Loren served in the U.S. Army in Fort Lewis, Washington. He received a B.A. degree in Education in 1951 from Wichita University and his Master?s degree from Northwestern University in 1956. He taught at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Illinois for 10 years, followed by a 25 year teaching career at Elgin Community College, retiring in 1991.

After retiring, Loren wholeheartedly pursued the interests that he cherished the most. He was an avid traveler and visited countries around the world, including most of Europe and China. He enjoyed domestic travel as well, especially to family reunion events and to the annual Buster Keaton festival in Michigan. He loved music and was a supporter of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Lyric Opera. At home, the radio was always turned on to WFMT or WNIU. He was a passionate movie buff and was able to spend his final weeks enjoying his favorite films with family.

Loren is survived by his son, Eric; daughter Janean (Long) Mileusnic; dear friend, Archie Needam; grandchildren, Amanda, Craig, Doug, Nathan, Joshua, Evan, Megan, Connor; great grandchildren, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Magie and Hailey; brothers, Dean and Wayne and sisters, Ruth Jacob and Janice Duever.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dwight and sisters, Maxine Cooper and Lucille Mingle.

He will be remembered and cherished as a kind and gentle man who loved to tell jokes and make people laugh.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 5, 2014 from 4-8 P.M. at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2014 at 10 A.M. also at The Healy Chapel. Interment will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park.