Thole, Robert

Robert H. Thole, 74, of Aviston, Ill., died Friday, January 13, 2006 at Countryside Manor in Aviston. He was born December 21, 1931 in St. Rose, Ill. son of Clem and Elizabeth (Wilke) Thole. He married Florence A. Ketterer on August 28, 1957 in Aviston and she survives in Aviston. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Karen Thole and husband Michael Alley of Blacksburg, VA, Donna Thole of Centralia, and Gary Thole and wife Shelley of Aviston; four grandchildren, Kyra, Audrey, Anisah & Renee Thole; one brother, Alfred Thole of St. Rose; three sisters, Ruth Potthast of Aviston, Mary Strieker of Aviston, Bernadette Jansen and husband Jim of Trenton; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sylvia & Nelson Haas of Trenton.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Florence Tebbe; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond & Veronica Ketterer; three brothers-in-law, Ernest Potthast, Anthony Strieker, Ferdinand Tebbe; and a sister-in-law Mary Ann Thole.
Mr. Thole was a proud farmer. He was a United States Army Veteran, having served in the Korean War where he earned two Bronze Stars. He was a member of St. Francis Parish, a Eucharistic Minister and he also served at funeral masses at the church; he was a member of the Aviston Knights of Columbus Council 11110, the American Legion Post 1239 where he formerly held various offices including Commander, he was a member and past trustee and officer of the Catholic Fraternal Life Aviston Council #6, and the Clinton County Farm Bureau. He was formerly on the board of directors at Prairie Farms and was a former President of the Trenton Co-op.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2006 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Aviston with Rev. Dan Friedman officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Aviston.
Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2006 and from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2006 at Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m., the Knights of Columbus will visit at 7 p.m. and the American Legion will visit at 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, St. Francis Parish or Murray Center Parents Association and will be received at the funeral home.