Kalmer, Leona

Leona C. Kalmer, 93, of Aviston, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. She was born December 20, 1913, in Aviston, daughter of Frank and Catherine (Brueggemann) Strubhart. She married Alphonse Kalmer on November 13, 1935 in Aviston and he preceded her in death on September 12, 1993. She is survived by three sons, Jerome Kalmer and wife Rose of Damiansville, Ralph Kalmer and wife Virginia of Harrisonville, MO, and Leonard Kalmer and special friend, Barb Alexander of Aviston; one daughter, Patricia Harpstrite of New Baden; 15 grandchildren, Stephen Kalmer and wife Barb, Susan Lynch and husband Clay, Michael Kalmer and special friend Michelle, Mark Kalmer and wife Dee, Christopher Kalmer and special friend Dee, Aaron Kalmer, Julie Huelsmann and husband Kurt, Jennifer Kalmer, Brian Harpstrite and wife Sandi, Diane Weseman and husband Don, Thomas Harpstrite and wife Renee, Janice Harpstrite, Teresa Wernsman and husband Mike, Kevin Harpstrite and wife Jennifer, and Beth Harpstrite; two step grandchildren, Ryan Alexander and Michelle Alexander; 19 great grandchildren, Danielle Kalmer, Christopher Kalmer, Calvin Kalmer, Nicholas Harpstrite, Erin Harpstrite, Christopher Harpstrite, Nicole Harpstrite, Grace Huelsmann, Emily Schulte, Justin Clark, Brianna Clark, Katlyn Harpstrite, Abbigale Large, Amber Kalmer, Katie Kalmer, Blake Kalmer, Julia Kalmer, Colin Kalmer, & Alexa Creal; five step great grandchildren, Kevin Lynch, Rebecca Lynch, Tanner Mueller, Keane Adolph & Ariel Adolph; two sisters, Sister Marcella Strubhart of St. Louis, MO and Veronica Siders and special friend Cornelius Van Langen of Buhl, MN; five sisters-in-law, Idella Strubhart of Riviera, TX, Laura Strubhart of Shiner, TX, Mary Strubhart of Aviston, Stella Stukenberg of Aviston, and Henrietta Kalmer of New Baden. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Joseph Strubhart, Aloys Strubhart, Lawrence Strubhart and Anthony Strubhart; one sister, Mary Lindner; three grandchildren, Kevin Kalmer, Keith Kalmer and Richard Kalmer; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Francis Siders, Anita Strubhart, Carl Lindner, Simon Stukenberg, Hubert Kalmer, Henry and Genevive Kalmer, Leo and Marian Kalmer, William Kalmer, Marie and Bernard Korte, Agnes and Emil Becherer, and Edwin Kalmer in infancy. Mrs. Kalmer was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Francis Parish and Altar Sodality, Daughters of Isabella Precious Blood Circle 718, a St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary volunteer, the Clinton County Farm Bureau and the New Baden Senior Citizens. A funeral mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 13, 2007 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Aviston with Rev. Dan Friedman officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Francis Cemetery, in Aviston. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2007 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 13, 2007 at the Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and the Daughters of Isabella will pray the rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday at the St. Francis Church. Memorials may be made to the St. Francis Parish Building Fund and will be received at the funeral home.