KORSMEYER, NORMAN R.

RUSHVILLE, IL – Norman R. Korsmeyer, 94, of Rushville, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, at Passavant Area Hospital in Jacksonville, Ill.

He was born July 12, 1921, in Cass County, the son of Louis and Amelia Fricke Korsmeyer. He married Betty Lamb on Dec. 16, 1951, at First United Methodist Church in Beardstown.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Korsmeyer of Rushville; his children: Cynthia Korsmeyer of Beardstown, Ken (wife, Kristine) Korsmeyer of Rushville, and Alecia (husband, John) Crowe of Beardstown; seven grandchildren: Jennifer (husband, Robert) Dotzert, Jonathan Korsmeyer, Jill (husband, Jason) Barth, Ashley (husband, Casey) French, Adam (wife, Holly) Crowe, Erik (wife, Christine) Crowe, and Paul Crowe; 11 great-grandchildren: Hunter, Hayden, and Halle Dotzert, Killian, Flynn, and Kennedy Barth, Caroline, James, and Claire French, and Clay and Shelby Crowe; three sisters: Irene Lamkin, Dorothy Lamb, and Joan Korsmeyer; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lew Korsmeyer; and two brothers Melbourne, in infancy, and Willard J. (surviving, wife Carnell) Korsmeyer.

Norman graduated from Beardstown High School with the Class of 1939 and attended Bradley University in Peoria. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. He was a member of Carlson’s Raiders at Bougainville and Guadalcanal and a member of the 5th Marine [Division] on Iwo Jima, where he was wounded and later received the Purple Heart. After the war, Norman was a member of the Marine Raider Association and the 5th Marine Division Association.

Norman farmed in the Cass and Schuyler County areas his whole life. He was a baptized and confirmed member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beardstown.

Norman served as a 4-H Leader and was a Drainage Commissioner for Valley, Clear Lake, and South Beardstown Districts.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beardstown with the Rev. Douglas Evenson officiating.

The family will meet with friends from 8:30-11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials have been suggested to: Guthrie-Pierce VFW Ladies Auxiliary Relief Fund or St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements.