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Leonard E. Krusemark

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[May 20, 2020]  LINCOLN — Leonard E. Krusemark, 90, of Lincoln, Illinois, previously of Emden, IL, passed away peacefully at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, at 8:45 a.m. on May 1, 2020.

Service: A celebration of life service will be held at a later date, at which time military rites will be conducted.

Funeral home: Davis –Oswald Funeral Home

Obituary

Leonard E. Krusemark, 90, of Lincoln, Illinois, previously of Emden, IL, passed away peacefully at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, at 8:45 a.m. on May 1, 2020.

He was born March 18, 1930, in San Jose, Illinois, the son of Elmer and Ruth Gould Krusemark. He married Betty Ann Cross on January 22, 1950, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Emden, Illinois. Leonard and Betty Ann celebrated 67 years of marriage before Betty Ann passed away in September 2017.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, sister Viola Alberts, and daughter Kay Tubbs.

Leonard is survived by four daughters, Sue Krusemark of Savoy, Illinois, Jill (Jamie) Voyles of Lincoln, Illinois, Jan (Brian) Anderson of Granger, Iowa, and Joy (Larry) Knicl of Macomb, Illinois; a son-in-law, Dick Tubbs of Pageland, South Carolina; eight grandchildren, Adam (Mel Bise) Voyles, Collin (Jessica Martin) Voyles, Shelby (Jake Mohr) Voyles, Erik Anderson, Claire (Brandon) Schnier, Alex (Katelyn) Knicl, Scott (Jessica) Knicl, and Lauren Knicl; and three great-grandchildren, Raelynn, Ally and Dominic Knicl.

Also surviving are his sister Mary Lou Klokkenga of Emden, Illinois, and brothers Larry (Becky) Krusemark of Pittsfield, Illinois, and Dave (Noi) Krusemark of Madison, Missouri, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Leonard graduated from Hartsburg High School in 1947. He attended the University of Illinois and joined the ROTC while a student there. While serving in the Illinois National Guard after college, Leonard’s unit was called up in 1951–1952. Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in Officer Training and Communications, Leonard, Betty Ann, and infant daughter Kay were stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Camp Cooke, California, and Ft. Lewis, Washington, until after the Korean War ended in 1953. After the war, Len, Betty Ann, and Kay returned to Emden to farm.

Leonard loved agriculture and watching his crops and livestock grow. He farmed for over 50 years on the family property southwest of Emden and felt he was doing God’s work by helping feed the world. He supported the agricultural industry by his involvement in the Farm Bureau and Soil and Water Conservation Board, often in positions of leadership.

Serving the community was important to Leonard, and he was happiest when he found some way to help. He supported education by serving on the Hartsburg-Emden school board and later in life by helping tutor younger students in math and reading. In 2009, he received the Hartem Alumni Wall of Fame “Service to the District” Award for his efforts. He was a regular and committed blood donor, donating over 23 gallons of blood over the years, and he served as a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln.

Providing safe housing was a passion, and he worked on several projects for the Logan County Habitat for Humanity and served on the Board of Directors for 25 years. In recognition, he was presented an Honorary Lifetime Membership award in 2019. He was instrumental in securing and building the first Habitat house in Emden. In 1998, Leonard was honored as the Lincoln Courier Citizen of the Year. There he was described as a humble, quiet soldier, without whom many projects would never have been completed.

But it was Leonard’s Christian faith that was the foundation for his life. He was an active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Emden, where he taught an adult Sunday School class for over 50 years.

Funeral Director

He served on the Church Council and the Worship Planning Committee, taught the Bethel Bible Series, was a member and past president of the Men in Mission Organization, was a member of Men’s Brotherhood, and sang in the church choir. In the absence of a regular pastor, Leonard also taught confirmation classes. He was continually active in Kogudus, by which thousands of people deepened their faith through weekend retreats and continued fellowship. Leonard passed on his faith to his family and friends by not only reading the Gospels but living them out as well. Serving and worshiping Christ brought him joy, which he wanted to share with those around him. Leonard was a good and faithful servant.

Besides being affectionately known by his family as Daddy and Grampy, many positive adjectives describe Leonard: faithful, selfless, honest, loyal, full of integrity, generous and humble, to name a few. He made family a priority and especially enjoyed the annual summer campouts with his children and grandchildren. Everyone enjoyed his smile and sense of humor. Music was a big part of Leonard’s life, and he instilled that love of music in his family. His legacy will carry on for years to come, and he will be greatly missed.

The visitation and graveside service will be private because of the current Covid-19 restrictions. Pastor John Schurter will officiate. Pall bearers are nephews: Tom Alberts, Tim Cross, Tom Cross, Alan Klokkenga, and Neil Klokkenga. Honorary pall bearers are nephews: Casey Krusemark, Jesse Krusemark, and David Carl Krusemark. Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Delavan, Illinois, is in charge of arrangements.

The family would like to offer their sincere thanks and gratitude to all the healthcare workers at The Christian Village, Memorial Hospital, Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, and Hopedale Hospital who gave such amazing care to Leonard.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church, Logan County Habitat for Humanity or The Christian Village, and mailed to: Jill Voyles, 706 S. State St., Lincoln, IL 62656.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date, at which time military rites will be conducted.

To express condolences online, visit www.davisoswaldfuneralhome.com

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