Kalmer, Lawrence

Lawrence B. Kalmer, 85, of Damiansville, IL, died Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, IL. He was born February 24, 1929 in rural New Baden, son of Joseph H. and Catherine A. (Rensing) Kalmer. He married Virginia R.M. Deiters in Beckemeyer, IL on April 20, 1955 and she preceded him in death on October 15, 2005. He is survived by his children, Stan (special friend, Donna Emig) Kalmer of Damiansville, IL, Marilyn (Mike) Becker of Bartelso, IL, Joe (Renee) Kalmer of Damiansville, IL, Linda (Rich) Buss of Aviston, IL and Bernice (Doug) Vonder Haar of Breese, IL; 12 grandchildren, Scott Becker, Sarah (Kyle) Albers, Brent Kalmer, Alison Kalmer, Alicia Buss, David Buss, Lynn Buss, Daniel Buss, Amanda Buss, Justin Vonder Haar, Jason Vonder Haar, and Jordan Vonder Haar; brothers-in-law Leo Varel of Carlyle, IL, Jerome Koerkenmeier of Damiansville, IL, Hugo Wilke of St. Rose, IL, Ralph Thole of St. Rose, IL, Bill & Nancy Deiters of Jensen Beach, FL, Joe & Rita Deiters of Beckemeyer, IL and Rosie Hemann of Germantown, IL. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Verena A. Rensing, Marcella Varel, Rita Koerkenmeier, Ruth Wilke and Margaret Thole; brothers-in-law, Emil A. Rensing and Robert Hemann; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Rose Deiters. Mr. Kalmer was a retired grain & dairy farmer. He was a member of St. Damian Parish and Holy Name Society in Damiansville, IL and the Clinton County Farm Bureau. He attended and graduated from the Kalmer School in Damiansville, IL and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and riding around his farm on a four wheeler with his grandchildren. A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville, IL with Rev. Jack Joyce officiating. Burial will follow at St. Damian Cemetery in Damiansville, IL. Friends may call from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2014 and from 8 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mater Dei High School or the American Heart Association or for Masses and will be received at the funeral home.