Elmer H. Klenke

Elmer Henry Klenke, age 86, of Pocahontas, IL., died Sunday, January 25, 2009, at Greenville Regional Hospital in Greenville, IL. He was born October 24, 1922, in Pin Oak Twp., IL., the son of Henry F. and Christina (Ziegler) Klenke. Mr. Klenke was born in Pin Oak Township, east of Edwardsville, IL; his parents moved to a farm south of New Douglas and Elmer was raised on the farm. Following his marriage, he and his wife lived and farmed in New Douglas Township. They operated a grain farm; a dairy and raised hogs. They also operated K. F. Corporation on the farm. At one time, Elmer and his sons rented and farmed up to 3000 acres. He retired in 1985. Following his retirement, Elmer had lived in Godfrey and St. Louis. While in St. Louis, he had worked at Dierbergs Grocery Store for some 6 years. In the Fall of 2005 he moved to rural Pocahontas, IL to live with his daughter, Betty. Several of his life accomplishments include: Highway Commissioner for New Douglas Township 1952-56; Highland Community Schools, Unit District 4 - School Board Member 1950-1962; Board Member of the Federal Land Bank- Belleville District 1970-82; Organizer and Board Member of Hamel State Bank 1961-73 and Past President of the Salem United Church of Christ Church Council, Vice President of Squqare Deal Milk Producers, and Past President of Madison County Pork Producers. He was a member of Salem United Church of Christ-Alhambra, IL. He was also a member of Alhambra Community Club Survivors include Son-Del E. (Shirley) Klenke of Saint James, Mo., Daughter-Dr. Anita M. Reising of Collinsville, Ill., Daughter-Rosemarie I. King of Pierron, Ill., Daughter-Sharon K. (Mark) Thoele of Fairhope, Ala., Daughter-Betty F. DeLaurenti of Pocahontas, Ill., Son-Gerry E. (Lorelei) Klenke of Highland, Ill., Daughter-Shirley L. (Roger) Gall of Alhambra, Ill., Daughter-Bonnie S. (Daniel) Archer of Waterloo, Ill., Daughter-Vickie C. (Greg) Johnson of Wildwood, Mo., Daughter-Ruth Ann E. (Charles) Zwolle of Westerville, Ohio, Son-Darrell E. (Tina) Klenke of Breese, Ill., Daughter-Myrna J. (Mark) Davis of Spanish Fort, Ala., Grandchildren-Thirty Seven ., Gr Grandchildren-Thirty Eight ., Former Wife and Mother of his Children-Marjorie I. Klenke, nee Westerheide, married 7/26/1942/Divorced of Waterloo, Ill., 2nd Former Wife-Leona Klenke ,nee Daum married 6/26/1993/ Divorced of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Brother-Harold Klenke of Troy, Ill., Sister-Irma Henkhaus of Hamel, Ill., Sister-Velma (Ted) Henkhaus of Alhambra, Ill., Brother-Norman (Ana) Klenke of Centralia, Mo. He was preceeded in death by Father-Henry F. Klenke, Mother-Christina Alice Klenke, nee Ziegler, Son-Keith M. Klenke, Brother-Orville Klenke, Grandchild-Natalie Boehler, Grandchild-Josephine Boehler, Grandchild-Devon Yarbrough Arrangements are being handled by Dauderman Mortuary in Alhambra, Ill.

Elmer H. Klenke

October 24, 1922 - January 25, 2009