Leo Palen

FORREST - Leo Palen, 83, of Forrest passed away Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, at OSF St. James John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, surrounded by his family.

His funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth. Leo's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Calvert and Martin Funeral Home in Forrest from 4 to 8 p.m. The rosary will be recited at 3:45 p.m. Burial will be in the Forrest Cemetery. Full military rites will be accorded by J.A. Folwell Post 172.

Memorials may be made to SELCAS, The Brian J. Munz Safety Complex Fund, St. James Catholic Church in Forrest or Fairview Haven Nursing Home.

Leo Edward Palen was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Chicago, the son of Alfred and Ethel Teeling Palen. He married Lorraine Koertgen on June 18, 1955. She survives.

He is also survived by two sons, Ed (Cheryl) Palen and Joe (Cindy) Palen, all of Forrest; four daughters, Betty (Tim) Dray of Forrest, Marie (Bob) King of Piper City, Judy (Todd) Somers of Forrest and Leona (Mark) Pacheco of Springfield; and one son-in-law, Jamie Rieger of Forrest. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren, Michael (Sam) Palen, Zachery and Katelyn Palen, Phil, Steve and Daniel Dray, Alisha (Jarod) Luebchow, Tasha (Michael) McDonald, Seth King, Megan (Matt) Mathes, Molly and Mandy Palen, Aimee, Emily, Austin and Evan Rieger, AK, Jonah and Nathan Somers, Caroline, Audrey and Julia Pacheco. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Nasja and Michael McDonald and Dustin Mathes, and one sister, Ruthann Beranek of Holmen, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Tina Rieger.

Leo was raised in Chicago but enjoyed spending his summers visiting his mother's family farm in Iowa.

After graduating from St. Gregory's High School in Chicago, he enrolled in DePaul University. He paid his own way through college by working full time at the post office on the night shift. He graduated with a degree in business.

Leo served two years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany.

Following graduation, he met and married the love of his life, Lorraine Koertgen, on June 18, 1955. He and Lorraine lived in Chicago for just one year before moving to an old farmhouse near Oelwein, Iowa.

Leo worked for the FDIC and traveled throughout the week performing bank examinations.

After five years of living in Oelwein, Leo and Lorraine moved their family to Kankakee, Ill., for several years.

In 1965, Leo had the opportunity to become president of the First State Bank of Forrest. He and Lorraine moved their ever growing family to Forrest and have been there ever since!

Leo was president of the First State Bank of Forrest, The Heights Bank and the Erie State Bank for 45 years. He remained actively involved in the management of the banks up until a few weeks before his death.

He also enjoyed being an area farmland owner.

Leo was so loved, and will be terribly missed by his family. We love you, Dad!