Gene A. Lawver

Gene A. Lawver, 93, of Cherry Valley, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, May 7, 2026.Gene was born April 3, 1933 in Freeport, Illinois, the son of Alvin and Jen (McCarthy) Lawver. He graduated from Aquin Catholic Academy in 1951. He was quarterback on the football team, Captain of the basketball team andplayed golf. Gene went on to Loras College in Dubuque, IA where he met Jean Ann Kluck, and played basketball and golf, and was admitted to the University of Illinois School of Dentistry after only two years. Gene and Jean were married in 1956. Gene earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1957. Gene was a Captain in the US Air Force for 3 years where he practiced dentistry at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX, became a father on Father’s Day when Steven was born, and then onto Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX.

After his honorable discharge from the US Air Force in 1960, the young family moved to Rockford and Gene “hung his shingle” for his fledgling dental practice in the Loves Park Meadow Mart. Dr. Lawver was ‘everybody’s favorite dentist’ until his retirement in 2000. Gene raised two sons, Steven and David, in Rockford. He was a long-time member of Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club and often vacationed at their cottage in Green Lake, WI. They were parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church and active at Boylan Catholic High School.

Gene married Bernice Read in 1990. They loved spending time with their children and grandchildren, and traveled extensively. They were ‘Snowbirds’ spending half the year in Sun City, AZ, where they made many memories with great friends at Sun City Country Club. They were parishioners at St. Bridget Catholic Church.Gene had a passion for sports! After his football and basketball “playing days”, he became an avid golfer – he maintained a single digit index most of his life, shot his age 26 times and had 8 hole-in-ones! He also enjoyed bowling, tennis, racquetball, skiing, waterskiing, sailing, ice boating, throwing darts, playing pool, pitching horseshoes, bocce ball, playing gin, and anything competitive that involves a friendly wager.

Gene was the ultimate DIYer – he remodeled a house into his dental office, he finished basements in every home he owned, he remodeled both homes in Sun City, he built and raced 4 ice boats in Green Lake, and loved to build and fly RC airplanes.Gene is survived by his children Steven Lawver, David (Valerie) Lawver, Brian (Dawn) Read, Mark (Beth) Read, 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.He is predeceased by his parents, wife Bernice, and brothers John and Robert Lawver.Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Holy Family Catholic Church, from 10:00 AM until the time of a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Burial will conclude in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, immediately following Mass.