1946
Richard
2025
Dr. Richard “Rich” Allan Londo
May 1, 1946 — May 27, 2025
Dr. Richard “Rich” Allan Londo, age 79, of Loves Park, IL, formerly of Morrison, IL, took the hand of his Savior and slipped peacefully into his Eternal home on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
He was born May 1, 1946, in Morrison, IL to loving parents, Hubert and Gertrude (Medema) Londo. Rich grew up on the farm where he learned early the responsibilities of farm life as well as the wonder of the cycle of life and nature. His grade school years were spent in the Round Grove, two-room schoolhouse. He graduated from Morrison High School, where he excelled in his studies, was a three-sport athlete, graduated with the class of 1964 and later was inducted into the Morrison High School Hall of Fame.
Rich went on to attend the University of Illinois, the beginning of his journey to study medicine. He proposed to his high school sweetheart, Dianne Vance, early in his college career and they were married on June 10, 1967, at the Fulton Presbyterian Church. It was a marriage built not only on love but on a shared faith and a partnership that would weather the storms of life and rejoice at the blessings as well.
Rich earned his bachelor’s in chemistry at the U of I in Champaign in 1968. He was accepted into medical school in the fall of that year and graduated with honors from the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Chicago in 1972. Upon his graduation, Rich and Dianne and their growing family moved to Rockford, IL, where he completed his Family Practice Residency. That residency provided him with strong diverse training for his future private practice.
Returning to his hometown of Morrison in 1975, Rich went into private practice with Dr. Richard Vandermyde. Rich practiced there for 13 years following the traditional model of a true family doctor; making house calls and caring for patients through all of the stages of life. In addition, he helped to establish the first hospice care in Whiteside County. In 1989, he returned to Rockford where he accepted a teaching position at the Family Practice Residency where he was trained. In addition to teaching in the Residency, he taught medical students on the Rural Medical Education track. He worked two years for Swedish American Hospital, establishing a branch clinic in Roscoe, IL. He served as medical director for Northern Illinois Hospice for seven years from 2010 till 2017, when he retired.
Their family eventually grew to four children: Angie, Michelle, Carrie, and Tom made the family complete. Rich was so proud of their success in their various professions. Rich was a dad in every respect. He taught them many practical things like learning to drive, preparing the hill for sledding, and how to catch the hill on fire with fireworks. Perhaps more importantly he taught them life skills: the love of learning, respect for others and for self, and the desire to achieve whatever goal they were seeking. Christmas held a special place in the Londo family and Rich shared his faith with the children, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as he told the Nativity story and taught through example the true meaning of Christmas. He taught the lessons through the life he lived and the example he set. Down to his last days, little children were “precious in his sight” and brought a twinkle to his eye and joy to his heart. His strong moral character and integrity showed in the way he raised his children, cared for his patients, his students and his colleagues.
Rich was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha as well as various medical societies and other professional organizations. He was a faithful member of the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and taught adult Sunday School.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dianne Londo; four children, Angie Obermiller, Michelle (Steve) Holmquist, Carrie (Dywight) Hamilton, and Tom (Karmela) Londo; 15 grandchildren; beloved great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sharon Brown and Faye (Jim) Roberts; sisters-in-law, Ladora (Larry) Eberle and Susan James; brothers-in-law, Paul James and Don (Judy) James; cousins, Marc (Dawn) Londo, Bill (Diane Smith) Londo, Donna Thompson, and Beth (Lou) Zavala; many nieces and nephews; and a lifetime of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Gertrude Londo; his father and mother-in-law, Harold and Beulah Vance; his brothers-in-law, Charles James and Gerry Brown; and his nephew, Josh Brown.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church, 7300 Belvidere Road, Caledonia, IL. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow at Scottish Argyle Cemetery, Caledonia. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, 401 River Lane, Loves Park.
A memorial will be established by the family; donations can be made to Willow Creek Presbyterian Church or Northern Illinois Hospice .
He was born May 1, 1946, in Morrison, IL to loving parents, Hubert and Gertrude (Medema) Londo. Rich grew up on the farm where he learned early the responsibilities of farm life as well as the wonder of the cycle of life and nature. His grade school years were spent in the Round Grove, two-room schoolhouse. He graduated from Morrison High School, where he excelled in his studies, was a three-sport athlete, graduated with the class of 1964 and later was inducted into the Morrison High School Hall of Fame.
Rich went on to attend the University of Illinois, the beginning of his journey to study medicine. He proposed to his high school sweetheart, Dianne Vance, early in his college career and they were married on June 10, 1967, at the Fulton Presbyterian Church. It was a marriage built not only on love but on a shared faith and a partnership that would weather the storms of life and rejoice at the blessings as well.
Rich earned his bachelor’s in chemistry at the U of I in Champaign in 1968. He was accepted into medical school in the fall of that year and graduated with honors from the University of Illinois School of Medicine, Chicago in 1972. Upon his graduation, Rich and Dianne and their growing family moved to Rockford, IL, where he completed his Family Practice Residency. That residency provided him with strong diverse training for his future private practice.
Returning to his hometown of Morrison in 1975, Rich went into private practice with Dr. Richard Vandermyde. Rich practiced there for 13 years following the traditional model of a true family doctor; making house calls and caring for patients through all of the stages of life. In addition, he helped to establish the first hospice care in Whiteside County. In 1989, he returned to Rockford where he accepted a teaching position at the Family Practice Residency where he was trained. In addition to teaching in the Residency, he taught medical students on the Rural Medical Education track. He worked two years for Swedish American Hospital, establishing a branch clinic in Roscoe, IL. He served as medical director for Northern Illinois Hospice for seven years from 2010 till 2017, when he retired.
Their family eventually grew to four children: Angie, Michelle, Carrie, and Tom made the family complete. Rich was so proud of their success in their various professions. Rich was a dad in every respect. He taught them many practical things like learning to drive, preparing the hill for sledding, and how to catch the hill on fire with fireworks. Perhaps more importantly he taught them life skills: the love of learning, respect for others and for self, and the desire to achieve whatever goal they were seeking. Christmas held a special place in the Londo family and Rich shared his faith with the children, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as he told the Nativity story and taught through example the true meaning of Christmas. He taught the lessons through the life he lived and the example he set. Down to his last days, little children were “precious in his sight” and brought a twinkle to his eye and joy to his heart. His strong moral character and integrity showed in the way he raised his children, cared for his patients, his students and his colleagues.
Rich was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha as well as various medical societies and other professional organizations. He was a faithful member of the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and taught adult Sunday School.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dianne Londo; four children, Angie Obermiller, Michelle (Steve) Holmquist, Carrie (Dywight) Hamilton, and Tom (Karmela) Londo; 15 grandchildren; beloved great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sharon Brown and Faye (Jim) Roberts; sisters-in-law, Ladora (Larry) Eberle and Susan James; brothers-in-law, Paul James and Don (Judy) James; cousins, Marc (Dawn) Londo, Bill (Diane Smith) Londo, Donna Thompson, and Beth (Lou) Zavala; many nieces and nephews; and a lifetime of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Gertrude Londo; his father and mother-in-law, Harold and Beulah Vance; his brothers-in-law, Charles James and Gerry Brown; and his nephew, Josh Brown.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church, 7300 Belvidere Road, Caledonia, IL. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow at Scottish Argyle Cemetery, Caledonia. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, 401 River Lane, Loves Park.
A memorial will be established by the family; donations can be made to Willow Creek Presbyterian Church or Northern Illinois Hospice .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. Richard “Rich” Allan Londo, please visit our flower store.
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