Obituary: Evelyn Riebe

Evelyn Riebe, Cullom (PHOTO: Calvert Memorial)

 

CULLOM- Evelyn J. Riebe, 85, of Cullom, IL passed away at 5:54 am on Monday, February 24, 2020 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cullom with Rev. Gabe Baumgardner officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, February 28, 2020 and one hour prior to the service on Saturday all at the church in Cullom. Burial will follow services at Mona Township Cemetery in rural Kempton, IL. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Cullom is handling arrangements for the family. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church Pipe Organ Fund in Cullom or the Cullom Fire Protection District.

Evelyn was born April 10, 1934 in Streator, IL a daughter of Gustav Frederick and May A. (Fechter) Kutzner. She married Charles Riebe on February 10, 1957 at St. John’s Lutheran Church Parsonage in Flanagan. He passed away on November 29, 2001.

She is survived one daughter Joanie (Alan) Schrock of Pontiac; two sons: Steven C.  (C. Denise Riebe) of Milton, GA and Jeff A. (Sara) Riebe of rural Thawville; her grandchildren: Matthew, Ali, and Dani Grace Schrock and Mason Riebe. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Evelyn was educated in the Flanagan schools graduating from Flanagan High School as salutatorian in the class of 1952.

She worked as a legal secretary for Adsit, Thompson, & Herr Law Offices for nine years. After having children, she stayed home to raise them and helped her family farm taking meals out to the field.

Evelyn was a faithful member St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cullom dedicated to the preservation of the pipe organ.

She enjoyed gardening, drawing, painting and sewing. Most of all, Evelyn loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. She will be remembered as a loving mom, grandma and friend.

This obituary may be viewed and condolences sent to the family at calvertmemorial.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…