IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Anita
Neal
January 27, 1928 – August 16, 2018
Obituary
SPARTA – Anita (Reuscher) Neal, 90, of Sparta, Illinois, departed this life following a brief illness on Thursday, August 16, 2018, at 2:30 PM, at Belleville Memorial Hospital.
She was born on January 27, 1928 in Campbell Hill, Illinois to William and Esther (Lange) Reuscher. She was baptized on February 5, 1928 in Campbell Hill at St. Peter's Lutheran Church.
Her family moved to Sparta prior to her sophomore year of high school and she graduated from Sparta High School. Following graduation, she went to work at the Ben Franklin store also Daniel's Grocery store. She worked also at the Lowenbaum Dress Fractory and finally served as a bookkeeper at Chester National Bank in Sparta for 41 years until she retired.
Anita married Norman Neal on August 29, 1947 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta. He preceded her in death on December 22, 2009. Together they shared 62 years of marriage and had one daughter. She is survived by her daughter, Costance "Connie" Brueggemann of Sparta, 3 granddaughters, Amy (Shawn) Kirkland, Jennifer Brueggemann, and Gretchen (Jim) Corbin of Sparta, 4 great – granddaughters, Lauren (Juma) John of Herrin, Sadie Kirkland (Tyrone Walls), of Belleville, Ava Corbin, and Annaliese Corbin, of Sparta, 2 great – great – granddaughters, Azlynn John and Makaela Walls, and 1 great – great – grandson, Zion John. She is also survived by a brother – in – law, Robert Neal, of Sparta, and 2 sister's – in – law, Mary Alice Gerlach, of Sparta, and Helen Wright, of Mobile, Alabama, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 brothers and sisters – in -law, Edward (Joyce) Reuscher and Lawrence (Jessie) Reuscher, 3 sisters and brothers – in - law, Florence Reuscher, Vera Ohlau, and Marie (Robert) Holcomb, brothers – in – law, John "Jack" Neal, and Howard Gerlach, sister – in – law, Marge Neal and her son – in - law, Micheal Brueggemann.
Anita was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta serving as a Sunday School Teacher for many years, a member of the finance committee, the alter guild, and the Dorcas Society. She took pride in everything she did a continued to serve as the ticket seller/money taker for the chruch's fish fries up until the time of her death. Anita loved to sew and often quilted with the ladies at the church. She attended the Women's Bible study on Thursday mornings and had many friends. Her family was her pride and joy and she lovingly cooked Sunday dinner for them every week. She was an amazing cook and was known for her roast beef, chocolate chip cookies, Christmas cookies and apple pie. Anyone who knew her, knew that she had a strong dislike for dairy or cheese products and would always ask "did you put cheese in that." Even though she didn't like those things, she frequently made items with those ingredients, just because she knew others liked them. She spent her retirement years visiting friends who were sick or in need and babysitting her great grandchildren. She as an active member of BPW for many years and also volunteered in the Sparta Community Hospital gift shop as a member of the hospital auxiliary. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Monday, August 20, 2018, at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta with Rev. Cory Marth officiating, burial will follow at the Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening at the church where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, and then on Monday morning from 9 to 11 AM. Wilsons Funeral Home in Steeleville is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the St. John's Lutheran Church.
She was born on January 27, 1928 in Campbell Hill, Illinois to William and Esther (Lange) Reuscher. She was baptized on February 5, 1928 in Campbell Hill at St. Peter's Lutheran Church.
Her family moved to Sparta prior to her sophomore year of high school and she graduated from Sparta High School. Following graduation, she went to work at the Ben Franklin store also Daniel's Grocery store. She worked also at the Lowenbaum Dress Fractory and finally served as a bookkeeper at Chester National Bank in Sparta for 41 years until she retired.
Anita married Norman Neal on August 29, 1947 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta. He preceded her in death on December 22, 2009. Together they shared 62 years of marriage and had one daughter. She is survived by her daughter, Costance "Connie" Brueggemann of Sparta, 3 granddaughters, Amy (Shawn) Kirkland, Jennifer Brueggemann, and Gretchen (Jim) Corbin of Sparta, 4 great – granddaughters, Lauren (Juma) John of Herrin, Sadie Kirkland (Tyrone Walls), of Belleville, Ava Corbin, and Annaliese Corbin, of Sparta, 2 great – great – granddaughters, Azlynn John and Makaela Walls, and 1 great – great – grandson, Zion John. She is also survived by a brother – in – law, Robert Neal, of Sparta, and 2 sister's – in – law, Mary Alice Gerlach, of Sparta, and Helen Wright, of Mobile, Alabama, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 2 brothers and sisters – in -law, Edward (Joyce) Reuscher and Lawrence (Jessie) Reuscher, 3 sisters and brothers – in - law, Florence Reuscher, Vera Ohlau, and Marie (Robert) Holcomb, brothers – in – law, John "Jack" Neal, and Howard Gerlach, sister – in – law, Marge Neal and her son – in - law, Micheal Brueggemann.
Anita was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta serving as a Sunday School Teacher for many years, a member of the finance committee, the alter guild, and the Dorcas Society. She took pride in everything she did a continued to serve as the ticket seller/money taker for the chruch's fish fries up until the time of her death. Anita loved to sew and often quilted with the ladies at the church. She attended the Women's Bible study on Thursday mornings and had many friends. Her family was her pride and joy and she lovingly cooked Sunday dinner for them every week. She was an amazing cook and was known for her roast beef, chocolate chip cookies, Christmas cookies and apple pie. Anyone who knew her, knew that she had a strong dislike for dairy or cheese products and would always ask "did you put cheese in that." Even though she didn't like those things, she frequently made items with those ingredients, just because she knew others liked them. She spent her retirement years visiting friends who were sick or in need and babysitting her great grandchildren. She as an active member of BPW for many years and also volunteered in the Sparta Community Hospital gift shop as a member of the hospital auxiliary. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Monday, August 20, 2018, at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Sparta with Rev. Cory Marth officiating, burial will follow at the Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening at the church where friends may call from 5 to 8 PM, and then on Monday morning from 9 to 11 AM. Wilsons Funeral Home in Steeleville is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the St. John's Lutheran Church.
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