Lawrence (Larry) A. Sadlek, Jr., formerly of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, died peacefully during a nap on April 13, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa. For over 66 years he was the devoted husband and steadfast companion of Barbara (nee Nedwick) Sadlek. She survives him, along with their three children, Lance (Thia) Sadlek of Davenport, IA; Lynne (Owen) Charles of Connecticut; and Mark (Lauren) Sadlek of Venice Beach, California. He will be deeply missed by his five grandchildren: Kassandra, Coco, Gideon, Ursula, and Rylen, and his sister, Carol and brother, Robert. A celebration of life will be held later this year.
Larry was born September 13, 1931 to Dr. Lawrence A. Sadlek and Eleanor (nee Sherfinski) Sadlek. Larry and his wife Barbara grew up in the same Polish neighborhood on the South side of Chicago. In fact, Barbara's grandmother often saw young Larry with his mother in the neighborhood. According to family legend, one day seeing Larry and his mother waiting for a streetcar, Barbara's grandmother pronounced, "That little boy would be a perfect husband for my Barbara." Her grandmother's prophesy became a reality on September 15, 1956.
In 1959, shortly after their first child, Lance, was born, Barbara and Larry moved to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, where Larry joined the Mt. Carmel Drilling Company. He arrived having already received degrees from Northwestern University in geology and law, and having served in the military. In 1976 he founded Lawrence Oil Company. He relished describing himself as, "a light producer of heavy crude."
His interests and passions were lifelong. He began collecting stamps when a child and amassed an impressive collection, eventually focusing on Austrian Przemyśl covers. He had a lifelong fascination with rocks stemming from walks along Lake Superior with his grandfather. Aside from being a geologist, he eventually received his certification in gemology.
Throughout his life he returned many times to the Boundary Waters of Northeast Minnesota and Canada, first as a geology student, and then leading friends and eventually his own sons and brother on wilderness canoe trips.
As a college student he traveled through Europe on his bike for five months. He never lost his love of traveling, and throughout his life he and his wife would take numerous trips to destinations including Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, and China.
He joined Rotary shortly after moving to Mt. Carmel. He was a past president and received the Paul Harris Award. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Larry was never short of a favorite quote and had an endless supply in his quiver for his next zinger. Some of his favorites were: "All things in moderation, including moderation." And this one that his children have been graced with more than they can count: "Why don’t they send donkeys to school? Because nobody likes a smart a** (expletive deleted).
One of his finest gifts, though, was his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone he encountered. He savoured chatting it up with Mt. Carmel's postal clerks, priests (especially after a sermon), university presidents, the famous and infamous, the down and out, and the highfalutin. He genuinely was interested in each person's story. He was an honorable man.
