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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. |
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 |
Leonard
E. Krusemark