Edwin Klenke

Edwin L. Klenke, age 87, of Edwardsville, Illinois met our Saviour on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Liberty Village of Maryville. Edwin was born on April 1, 1930, in Hamel Twp, Illinois to the late Louis and Malinda (Ziegler) Klenke. He was the sixth of ten children, and spent his youth tending the farm and playing drums in the siblings’ band. He was a proud Eagle Scout, and was a member of the National Farmers Organization.

Edwin married Ruth Buhrle on September 7, 1952, in Hamel. They spent 64 wonderful years of marriage together. Edwin was a life-long farmer in Hamel Twp, Illinois. He was known for his strong work ethic and diverse skillset. He enjoyed reading, welding, woodworking, jigsaw puzzles, and Shanghai. He and his older brother, Hilbert, ran an excavating company, Klenke Brother’s Dozing.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Alhambra where he served as Trustee. He took great honor in helping to build the newest addition to the church building and requested his visitation & service be held there.

Edwin is survived by his dear wife, Ruth; 2 children, Rodney Klenke & wife Valerie of Edwardsville and Sandra Gibbons & husband Edward of Fairborn, Ohio; 5 grandchildren, Kenneth Klenke & wife Cindi of Moro, Aaron Gibbons & wife Amy of Glen Carbon, Megan Hoyng & husband Keith of Coldwater, Ohio, Ashleigh Klenke Street & wife Kelly of Pontoon Beach and Whitney Klenke and fiancé , Darrell Chrisenberry, of Glen Carbon; 4 great-grandchildren, Landyn Street, Codi Klenke, and Jeffery & Addison Seymore; 7 siblings, Edna Eberhart of Memphis, Tennessee, Ella Ostendorf of State College, Pennsylvania, Hilbert Klenke & wife Verna of Glen Carbon, Lester Klenke & wife Dodi of Granite City, Gladys Wilkening of Hamel, Darlene Rode & husband Leo of Pocahontas, and Earl Klenke & wife Doris of Worden; a Sister–in-law, Martha Klenke of Hamel; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Wilmer Klenke & a sister, Louise Woods

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Alhambra. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at the church with Pastor Mark Gause officiating. Interment will follow at the Immanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery in Hamel. A luncheon will follow at the First Baptist Church. Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church in Alhambra. Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com. Weber & Rodney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.