Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Bielicke, 88, of Edwardsville, Illinois, died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at McKnight Extended Care in St. Louis surrounded by the love of his family.

Larry will be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor and infectious smile. Larry had an uncanny ability to read people and put anyone at ease, and was the center of many a social gathering with family and friends over the years. He and wife, Jeanette, loved dancing especially the polka, entertaining a wide network of friends, tailgating at Mizzou and Illini football games, and traveling.

Larry was a sports enthusiast and followed his beloved St. Louis Cardinals/Browns from the age of five years old and held season tickets for many years. Family vacations included visits to major league baseball stadiums, the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown and Wrigley Field in Chicago. Larry was an avid golfer and was known as “The Commish” for his role in founding and running a golf group for many years. Larry enjoyed classic movies (Casablanca), loved the music of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and liked World War II history.

Larry & Jeanette met on a New Years’ Eve blind date in 1961, were married on June 15, 1963 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in East St. Louis, Illinois, and celebrated 63 years of a loving marriage. They moved to Belleville, Illinois where they raised their family and were members of Queen of Peace Parish, before then moving to Edwardsville, Illinois. Larry was proud of his Polish heritage, and very proud of his three kids and granddaughter.

Larry served in the National Guard. He graduated from SIU-Edwardsville, Illinois in 1970 with an accounting degree and earned his CPA designation. Larry enjoyed a career of more than 30 years in the brokerage industry at A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis, Missouri as Assistant Controller. He had a keen business acumen and managed a close-knit team in the Control Department.

Larry will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 63 years, Jeanette née Bednara; sons, Mike Bielicke and Roger (Stella) Bielicke; daughter, Debby (Garry) Eades; and granddaughter, London Mae Bielicke; sisters-in-law, Carla Hyland, Kathy (Gary) DeFosset, Chris (Jim) Gonzalez, and Karen Bielicke; his cousins, many nieces and nephews, and so many wonderful friends.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents Raymond & Genevieve (Zelechowski) Bielicke, his brother Gerald J. Bielicke and sister-in-law Patricia Bednara.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Siteman Cancer and Research Center or a charity of your choosing. 

A memorial visitation will be held at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 110 N. Buchanan Street, in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m.

The family is being served by Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, IL, 62034.