H. Lee Holsapple, Former Macon Co Sheriff, Dies

H. Lee Holsapple, who served as Macon County Sheriff from 1986 to 1998, has died at the age of 80.

The Macon County Sheriff’s Department says Holsapple passed away from natural causes Sunday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.

“The condolences of everyone at the Macon County Sheriff’s Office are extended to the family of Sheriff Holsapple at this time of loss”, officials said in a news release, which was posted on the department’s Facebook page.

Funeral services for Holsapple are scheduled for 1 PM on Wednesday, January 18 at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home in Decatur, preceded by visitation at the funeral home at 4 PM on Tuesday. Burial will be at Macon Cemetery.

According to an obituary posted on the funeral home’s website, Holsapple was born in Sullivan in 1936, and began his career with the Macon County Sheriff’s office in 1964. He moved up the ranks to Captain, and was elected to the first of three terms as Macon County Sheriff in 1986.

During his final year as sheriff, Holsapple, a Democrat, ran for the Illinois House in 1998, losing to Republican Bill Mitchell.

In comments to the Decatur Herald and Review, current Macon County Sheriff Tom Schneider called Holsapple not just a manager, but a leader, who “understood how to work with people to utilize resources to benefit the public he served.”