Rita "Butch" Fuehne

Rita “Butch” Fuehne, 86, of Damiansville, died Thursday, September 28, 2017 at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. She was born November 4, 1930 in Aviston, the daughter of Henry and Theresia, nee Wilke, Rakers. Butch and Cletus H. Fuehne were united in marriage on May 31, 1949 in Aviston and celebrated 63 years together before he preceded her in death on January 23, 2013.

Butch is survived by her children, Darlene (Alfred) Spihlmann of Damiansville, Shirley Netemeyer of Albers, Mary Lou (Tom) Huling of Fairview Heights, Nancy (Butch) Toennies of Damiansville, Dave (Cindy “Cid”) Fuehne of Damiansville, Lynn (Don) Koerkenmeier of Stilwell, KS, and Steve (Gwen) Fuehne of Damiansville; 17 grandchildren, Debbie (Kurt) Becker, Jeff (Jill) Spihlmann, Jason (Erica) Spihlmann, Lori (friend, Trish McGrath) Netemeyer, Stacey (friend, Shane Brown) Netemeyer, Matt Huling, Luke (Mandy) Huling, Jamie (Kevin) Wilburn, Kyle (Andrea) Toennies, Nick (fiancée, Kristen) Fuehne, Phillip (Ashley) Fuehne, Adam Fuehne, Josh (Darcy) Koerkenmeier, Ryan (Chelsea) Koerkenmeier, Grace Fuehne, Matthew Fuehne, and Evelyn Fuehne; 18 great-grandchildren, Devon & Seth Becker, Carter, Tyler, & Lance Spihlmann, Alexie & Kayla Spihlmann, Justin, Haley, Brooke, & Drew Huling, Aubrey, Addison, & Brandt Wilburn, Quinn & Claire Toennies, and Kynleigh & Kacyn Koerkenmeier; and brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Frank & “Bim” Fuehne and RoseMary Spihlmann all of Damiansville, and Lou Fuehne of Bartelso.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Donald Fuehne, a son-in-law, Duck Netemeyer; a granddaughter, Heather Fuehne; three sisters, Alvina Feldman, Henrietta Mondt-Septeowski, and Dorothy Kalmer; two brothers, John Rakers and Edward Rakers; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Aloys Feldman, Aloysius Septeowski, Joe Mondt, Robert Kalmer, Clara Rakers, Norbert & Mary Fuehne, Estelle & Vince Tonnies, Leona & Vincent Eilering, Mary Ann & Alvin Thoele, Richard Spihlmann, Alfred Fuehne, and Steven Fuehne; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank & Ann Fuehne.

Butchie and her late husband, Clete farmed for numerous years. In 1958 they built and operated Fuehne’s Tavern for the next 29 years. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinal’s fan and went to spring training with a large group of friends every year. Butch also enjoyed spending time at the clubhouse going 4-wheeling and sitting around the fire pit visiting with friends that stopped by. She was a member of St. Damian Parish in Damiansville.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2017 at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville with Rev. Anthony Onyango and Deacon Glenn Netemeyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Damian Cemetery in Damiansville.

Friends may call Friday, September 29, 2017 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nordike Funeral Home in New Baden and again on Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 8 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Damiansville Park, St. Damian Parish Building Fund, or Mater Dei High School and will be received at the funeral home or church.