Lorene E. Heil

Lorene E. Meyer Heil passed away suddenly on May 30, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. She had been a resident of Winona, MN for 2 months, previously living for 6 years in Alma, WI, 7 years in Mendon, IL, 20 years in Carlyle, IL, 26 years in O’Fallon, IL, a-er spending various amounts of .me in Edwardsville, IL, Co/age Hills, IL, and Alton, IL. Lorene was born in Prairietown, IL on February 2, 1922 to Ferdinand C. and Clara Gusewelle Meyer. She grew up in Prairietown a/ending St. Peter Lutheran School and Edwardsville High School, gradua.ng with the class of 1939. On November 20, 1941, she married George Robert Heil, Jr. Throughout her life, Lorene was an energe.c, warm, loving, and tough lady. She wore the tradi.on of being a stubborn German very well and proudly. Any plant put into her care was nurtured un.l it thrived. She was a great cook and made the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the world. She was a life.me member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the VFW, suppor.ng all veterans organiza.ons as she was able. She was a member of St. Paul and St. Luke United Church of Christ in Alma, serving as an assistant financial secretary to the congrega.on as well as the Sunshine Lady to the Women’s Guild un.l her health prevented her from carrying on that posi.on. She loved 40’s big band music, especially the Glenn Miller Orchestra. She loved to dance and could ji/erbug, waltz, and polka. She was quiet and unassuming, but always wished to be in control of her own life. She drove her car proudly and independently un.l she suffered her first stroke and had a driver’s license that would not expire un.l she was 98 years old. She was a lady in the best sense of the word. Lorene is survived by her daughters, Peggy (Alberto) Bustamante of Highland Park, IL and the Rev. Marcy Heil of Alma, WI; grandchildren Anthony (Julia) Bustamante of Evanston, IL, Anne (John Brejc) Bustamante of Chicago, IL, Robert Smith of Belleville, IL, Michael (Angela) Smith of Quincy, IL; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Kell Bustamante of Evanston, IL, and Oscar DaSilva of Chicago, IL; her sisters, Verneda Masinelli of Staunton, IL, Marie Farless of Highland, IL and dear friend, Maxine Meisenheimer of Staunton, IL; and many dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, her parents, her brother, Orville Meyer, former sister-in-law, Arlie Nearn Meyer and brothers-in-law O.s B. Farless and Raymond Masinelli. A celebra.on of her life will take place on Monday, June 3 at 11 AM with the Rev. Linda Hunsaker of Davenport, IA officia.ng. A .me of visita.on with the family will take place two hours prior beginning at 9 AM. A graveside service will take place on Wednesday, June 5 at the Carlyle City Cemetery in Carlyle, IL at 11 AM. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, dona.ons in honor of Lorene be directed to St. Paul and St. Luke UCC, Alma, WI, Hope UCC, Cochrane,