Warren Edward Hadley passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the age of 87. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory-Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Barry Wynveen will officiate. Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 PM on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory-Geneseo Chapel. He will be laid to rest at Grace Episcopal Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Geneseo Education Foundation, https://geneseoeducation.com/contribute-to-gef
He was born January 22, 1938, to Gilbert and Lucille (Balluff) Hadley, and grew up on the family farm between Geneseo and Cambridge, IL, graduating from Geneseo High School in 1956. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1961 with a BS in Agriculture. After graduation, he served as a field secretary for Delta Chi Fraternity traveling the country in his corvette. While working out of the national office in Iowa City, his fraternity brothers set him up on a blind date with a nursing student, Catherine Kemp. On December 23, 1962, he married her in Cedar Falls, IA. They had two children, Karen Hadley Lyman (Alan) and Pamela Hadley (Matthew Rispoli). Warren was blessed with 5 grandchildren – Andrea Lyman DeMent (Jamie), Lauren Lyman Brown (Brandon), Justin Lyman (Kira Sisson), Ellen Rispoli (Peter Russel), and Grace Rispoli (Izel Smith). In addition, he lovingly interacted with his 5 great-grandchildren, Caileigh and Martha DeMent and Ezekiel, Micah, and Noah Brown, making or choosing gifts to delight them. Caileigh and Martha DeMent and Ezekiel, Micah, and Noah Brown. He is loved dearly by his sister, Patricia Duensing, his nephews Dean and David, and their families.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Lucille.
After marrying Cathy, Warren returned to the family farm in 1963. With his father, and later his daughter and son-in-law, Warren farmed 540 acres and fed more than 2,000 cattle annually in Henry County. He spent a great deal of time developing and adopting modern ways of feeding and finishing beef cattle in the Midwest. He was a partner and vice president of Empire Equipment, NA, and a member of the Henry County Beef Association, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Beef Council, National Livestock Feeders Association, and National Cattleman’s Association. Warren was civic-minded, serving as a Director of Geneseo Cooperative Gas and Oil, the State Bank of Osco, and the Hammond Henry Hospital Foundation. He deeply valued education, serving on the Black Hawk Community College Board, Geneseo Board of Education, and was a founding member of the Geneseo Endowment for Excellence in Education. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Geneseo.
In retirement, Warren and his wife finally had time to travel. They cruised the Rhine, the Mediterranean, saw fall leaves in Canada and glaciers in Alaska, and marveled at the wonders of Machu Picchu. Warren enjoyed playing golf, reading, and his morning coffee group. He also took up wood turning and became a member of the Quad Cities Woodturners. His works were displayed at art shows and RutabagA Art.