Laura Elizabeth Schachtrup Cullinan, a respected philanthropist, community advocate and devoted mother whose work helped shape charitable initiatives throughout Central Illinois, died on October 24, 2026, following a utility terrain vehicle accident in Peoria County. She was 50.
Cullinan’s death has left her family, friends and colleagues grieving the loss of a woman whose professional leadership was matched by a deep commitment to helping others. As president of the Gilmore Foundation, she supported initiatives in education, the arts, youth development and human services, working to strengthen the community she proudly called home.
Her death was announced as tributes began emerging from community leaders and organizations that had worked alongside her. Those who knew her remembered her generosity, intelligence, warmth and ability to bring people together around a shared purpose.
Fatal accident in Peoria County
Cullinan died after a UTV overturned on private property near Kickapoo-Edwards Road in rural Peoria County on Saturday night, October 24.
According to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area of the 5600 block of North Kickapoo-Edwards Road following a report of a rollover accident involving injuries. They found the vehicle on its side, with Cullinan partially pinned underneath.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Cullinan suffered fatal injuries to her head and chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said four people had been travelling in the vehicle when it left a paved path, struck a wooden post and overturned.
The driver, 52-year-old Joshua A. Bellamy, was arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence. Prosecutors said deputies observed signs of impairment and that Bellamy refused field sobriety and chemical testing. Investigators subsequently obtained a warrant to collect blood and urine samples.
The case remains under investigation, and toxicology results were pending in the initial reports. Bellamy’s attorney has disputed the allegation that he was under the influence at the time of the crash. The charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt.
A life devoted to family
Born in Peoria on September 1, 1976, to Linda Elaine Schachtrup and Francis Michael Schachtrup, Laura grew up with strong family connections that would remain central to her life.
She attended St. Mary’s of Kickapoo, Father Sweeney Grade School and Peoria Notre Dame High School before graduating with high honors from the University of Notre Dame. She later earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, beginning a professional career that included work at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago and RLI Corp. in Peoria.
Despite her academic achievements and professional responsibilities, family remained her greatest source of happiness.
Laura married Allen Duane Cullinan in 2014, and together they built a family life centered on love, tradition and shared experiences. They had three children: nine-year-old twins Duane and Mary Michael, and six-year-old Frances.
Her family described motherhood as her proudest role. She treasured the ordinary moments of raising her children, from preparing breakfast and baking treats to celebrating birthdays, holidays and school milestones.
She was determined to preserve family memories and make childhood special. Summers in Minnesota, where she had spent time as a child, became an important tradition for her own family. Boating, water skiing, riding bikes, playing games and sharing ice cream were among the experiences she loved creating with her husband and children.
Those closest to Laura remembered a mother who celebrated her children’s accomplishments, encouraged their interests and made them feel deeply loved.
A distinguished record of community service
As president of the Gilmore Foundation, Cullinan played a significant role in supporting charitable projects and community development across the Greater Peoria region.
Her leadership reflected a belief that a stronger community could be built by bringing people, institutions and resources together. She worked to support programs in education, the arts, youth development and human services, helping organizations expand opportunities for residents.
Cullinan was also instrumental in advancing Choose Greater Peoria and collaborative efforts associated with the Greater Peoria Leadership Council. She believed in the region’s potential and worked to help make it a place where families could thrive and future generations could build their lives.
Her influence extended into healthcare. In the months before her death, the Gilmore Foundation committed nearly $850,000 toward establishing a doctoral Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program at Methodist College. The program is expected to welcome its first students in 2028 and is intended to help strengthen healthcare education and services in the region.
Those involved in the initiative said Cullinan was enthusiastic about the opportunities the program could create for nurses and patients. Her contribution is expected to have a lasting impact beyond her lifetime.
She also helped establish the Peoria Food + Wine Festival with her husband. The event brought together local chefs, food enthusiasts and community members while raising funds for causes important to the region.
For Cullinan, philanthropy was not simply a professional responsibility. It was a personal expression of her belief that communities could become better places through generosity, collaboration and thoughtful investment in people.
Remembered for kindness and generosity
Beyond her work, Cullinan was known for her ability to make people feel welcome and valued. Friends and relatives remembered her as a thoughtful host, a loyal friend and someone who paid attention to the smallest details.
She enjoyed gardening, floral arrangements, cooking and creating a welcoming home. Her love of beauty extended beyond decoration; she believed that the spaces people shared and the experiences they created could make others feel cared for.
Her obituary also describes a woman who remembered birthdays, offered help without hesitation and found meaningful ways to encourage friends and relatives. She maintained friendships throughout the different stages of her life and treasured the relationships that had grown alongside her career and family.
Her interests included golf, boating and spending time outdoors. She also cherished the traditions and gatherings that kept her extended family connected.
The news of her death prompted tributes from local leaders. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali described Cullinan as a gifted leader whose kindness and generosity had made a substantial difference in the region.
For colleagues and community partners, her passing represents the loss of a leader who combined strategic thinking with a personal interest in the people behind the organizations she supported.
Family and community mourn an irreplaceable loss
Cullinan is survived by her husband, Allen, and their three children; her father, Francis Michael Schachtrup, and his wife, Jan; her brother, Mike Schachtrup; her stepsiblings; and a large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Linda Elaine Schachtrup, and her infant brother, Francis Matthew.
Her family and the organizations she served now face the difficult task of carrying on without a woman whose work touched many parts of community life. The healthcare education initiative, charitable programs and local events she helped develop offer examples of how her influence may continue.
Yet for those closest to her, her legacy is also found in the family traditions she created, the friendships she nurtured and the care she extended to people in need.
Laura Cullinan’s life was cut short at 50, but her contribution to Peoria and the wider Central Illinois region was substantial. She devoted her talents to building a stronger community and her heart to the people she loved.
Her death has brought profound sadness to those who knew her. The work she supported, the people she encouraged and the memories she created with her family will remain enduring parts of her legacy.
Funeral arrangements
A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights, Illinois.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, October 30, at 10 a.m. at the same church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions to the Gilmore Foundation Restricted Fund in Memory of Laura Schachtrup Cullinan.
As relatives, friends and colleagues gather to remember her, Laura Cullinan will be mourned not only as a respected community leader but also as a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend whose generosity helped make the world around her more beautiful.
