Karl Howard (1921 - 2011)
Esper "Karl" Howard, 89, of Swansea, Ill., formerly of Mascoutah, Ill., passed away July 26, 2011.
"Karl", as he liked to be called, was born on Sept. 3, 1921 in Himyar, Ky. He was raised in a coal-mining community, and like most people there, he started to work in the coal mines as a young adult. Tragically, after a couple of years, he lost his arm in a coal-mining accident. He moved his family to the St. Louis area, where his wife had lived.
He then went to school for painting and obtained employment as a foreman for International Oil Burner in St. Louis, Mo. When he was offered a job as a paint supervisor for Empire Comfort Systems he moved his family to Belleville. He and his wife purchased a small farm south of Mascoutah, where they worked on evenings and weekends. After 25 years at Empire Comfort Systems, he retired in 1984 and could then devote full time to his farm. He and his wife raised beautiful gardens and shared their fruits and vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors. But the strawberries they raised every year were their greatest pride- big, luscious strawberries that people would come to get from miles around.
Karl loved sports, working outdoors, and spending time with his family. He loved keeping up with all the newsworthy and current events, he was very opinionated about them. After his wife passed away in October 2009, he lost his zest for life and started to decline. Karl didn't like to say goodbye, he would say, "I'll just see you later".
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Charlie and Mollie, nee Chavies, Howard; his wonderful wife of 64 years, Eunice L. Howard; daughter, Linda Sue Motsinger; two grandsons, Shane M. Wier and Darrell T. Fluck; a sister, Clodena Gist; two brothers in infancy; and brothers, Chester Howard, Matt Archer Howard, John B. Howard, and Gene Howard.
Surviving are his five daughters, Karlene (Tom) Fluck of Swansea, Janice Khrino of West Plantation, Fla., Carol (Dave) Wier of Smithton, Patty Powers of Belleville, and Peggy Howard of Belleville, and son Daniel (Lori) Howard of Collinsville. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna L. Flannigan of Memphis, Tenn., Ionia Smith of Ten Mile, Tenn.; and two special friends, James Emmert and Wayne Guettermann.
Daddy's Hand
When we stop to count our blessings
There are so many, but we find
A picture of a loving hand
Keeps flashing through our minds.
Some might think it's the hand of God
That can bring such a feeling of peace,
That can take a small child's hand and hold it tight
And make our fears just cease.
Although this hand is worn with time
And it's fingers sorely bent,
And though it does not belong to God
It was surely heaven sent.
How many times it brushed away
The tears upon our face
Or held our head when we were sick.
No hand could take its place.
So when we count our blessings
After all is said and done,
We are most thankful for our daddy's hand
Because all he had was one.
We love you, Dad, strawberry fields forever, and we'll just see you later.
Karl wishes to express a special thanks to two special granddaughters, Tammy Langley and Dede Vogt for their special consideration through his declining years.
Memorial donations may be made to Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be extended to the family by visiting www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 29, 2011, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 West Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at noon Friday, July 29, 2011 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Entombment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Fairview Heights, Ill.
WOLFERSBERGER
FUNERAL HOME,
O'Fallon, Ill.
Published in Belleville News-Democrat from July 28 to July 29, 2011
Esper "Karl" Howard, 89, of Swansea, Ill., formerly of Mascoutah, Ill., passed away July 26, 2011.
"Karl", as he liked to be called, was born on Sept. 3, 1921 in Himyar, Ky. He was raised in a coal-mining community, and like most people there, he started to work in the coal mines as a young adult. Tragically, after a couple of years, he lost his arm in a coal-mining accident. He moved his family to the St. Louis area, where his wife had lived.
He then went to school for painting and obtained employment as a foreman for International Oil Burner in St. Louis, Mo. When he was offered a job as a paint supervisor for Empire Comfort Systems he moved his family to Belleville. He and his wife purchased a small farm south of Mascoutah, where they worked on evenings and weekends. After 25 years at Empire Comfort Systems, he retired in 1984 and could then devote full time to his farm. He and his wife raised beautiful gardens and shared their fruits and vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors. But the strawberries they raised every year were their greatest pride- big, luscious strawberries that people would come to get from miles around.
Karl loved sports, working outdoors, and spending time with his family. He loved keeping up with all the newsworthy and current events, he was very opinionated about them. After his wife passed away in October 2009, he lost his zest for life and started to decline. Karl didn't like to say goodbye, he would say, "I'll just see you later".
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Charlie and Mollie, nee Chavies, Howard; his wonderful wife of 64 years, Eunice L. Howard; daughter, Linda Sue Motsinger; two grandsons, Shane M. Wier and Darrell T. Fluck; a sister, Clodena Gist; two brothers in infancy; and brothers, Chester Howard, Matt Archer Howard, John B. Howard, and Gene Howard.
Surviving are his five daughters, Karlene (Tom) Fluck of Swansea, Janice Khrino of West Plantation, Fla., Carol (Dave) Wier of Smithton, Patty Powers of Belleville, and Peggy Howard of Belleville, and son Daniel (Lori) Howard of Collinsville. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna L. Flannigan of Memphis, Tenn., Ionia Smith of Ten Mile, Tenn.; and two special friends, James Emmert and Wayne Guettermann.
Daddy's Hand
When we stop to count our blessings
There are so many, but we find
A picture of a loving hand
Keeps flashing through our minds.
Some might think it's the hand of God
That can bring such a feeling of peace,
That can take a small child's hand and hold it tight
And make our fears just cease.
Although this hand is worn with time
And it's fingers sorely bent,
And though it does not belong to God
It was surely heaven sent.
How many times it brushed away
The tears upon our face
Or held our head when we were sick.
No hand could take its place.
So when we count our blessings
After all is said and done,
We are most thankful for our daddy's hand
Because all he had was one.
We love you, Dad, strawberry fields forever, and we'll just see you later.
Karl wishes to express a special thanks to two special granddaughters, Tammy Langley and Dede Vogt for their special consideration through his declining years.
Memorial donations may be made to Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be extended to the family by visiting www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 29, 2011, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 West Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at noon Friday, July 29, 2011 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Entombment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Fairview Heights, Ill.
WOLFERSBERGER
FUNERAL HOME,
O'Fallon, Ill.
Published in Belleville News-Democrat from July 28 to July 29, 2011
Karl Howard (1921 - 2011)
Esper "Karl" Howard, 89, of Swansea, Ill., formerly of Mascoutah, Ill., passed away July 26, 2011.
"Karl", as he liked to be called, was born on Sept. 3, 1921 in Himyar, Ky. He was raised in a coal-mining community, and like most people there, he started to work in the coal mines as a young adult. Tragically, after a couple of years, he lost his arm in a coal-mining accident. He moved his family to the St. Louis area, where his wife had lived.
He then went to school for painting and obtained employment as a foreman for International Oil Burner in St. Louis, Mo. When he was offered a job as a paint supervisor for Empire Comfort Systems he moved his family to Belleville. He and his wife purchased a small farm south of Mascoutah, where they worked on evenings and weekends. After 25 years at Empire Comfort Systems, he retired in 1984 and could then devote full time to his farm. He and his wife raised beautiful gardens and shared their fruits and vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors. But the strawberries they raised every year were their greatest pride- big, luscious strawberries that people would come to get from miles around.
Karl loved sports, working outdoors, and spending time with his family. He loved keeping up with all the newsworthy and current events, he was very opinionated about them. After his wife passed away in October 2009, he lost his zest for life and started to decline. Karl didn't like to say goodbye, he would say, "I'll just see you later".
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Charlie and Mollie, nee Chavies, Howard; his wonderful wife of 64 years, Eunice L. Howard; daughter, Linda Sue Motsinger; two grandsons, Shane M. Wier and Darrell T. Fluck; a sister, Clodena Gist; two brothers in infancy; and brothers, Chester Howard, Matt Archer Howard, John B. Howard, and Gene Howard.
Surviving are his five daughters, Karlene (Tom) Fluck of Swansea, Janice Khrino of West Plantation, Fla., Carol (Dave) Wier of Smithton, Patty Powers of Belleville, and Peggy Howard of Belleville, and son Daniel (Lori) Howard of Collinsville. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna L. Flannigan of Memphis, Tenn., Ionia Smith of Ten Mile, Tenn.; and two special friends, James Emmert and Wayne Guettermann.
Daddy's Hand
When we stop to count our blessings
There are so many, but we find
A picture of a loving hand
Keeps flashing through our minds.
Some might think it's the hand of God
That can bring such a feeling of peace,
That can take a small child's hand and hold it tight
And make our fears just cease.
Although this hand is worn with time
And it's fingers sorely bent,
And though it does not belong to God
It was surely heaven sent.
How many times it brushed away
The tears upon our face
Or held our head when we were sick.
No hand could take its place.
So when we count our blessings
After all is said and done,
We are most thankful for our daddy's hand
Because all he had was one.
We love you, Dad, strawberry fields forever, and we'll just see you later.
Karl wishes to express a special thanks to two special granddaughters, Tammy Langley and Dede Vogt for their special consideration through his declining years.
Memorial donations may be made to Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be extended to the family by visiting www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 29, 2011, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 West Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at noon Friday, July 29, 2011 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Entombment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Fairview Heights, Ill.
WOLFERSBERGER
FUNERAL HOME,
O'Fallon, Ill.
Published in Belleville News-Democrat from July 28 to July 29, 2011
Esper "Karl" Howard, 89, of Swansea, Ill., formerly of Mascoutah, Ill., passed away July 26, 2011.
"Karl", as he liked to be called, was born on Sept. 3, 1921 in Himyar, Ky. He was raised in a coal-mining community, and like most people there, he started to work in the coal mines as a young adult. Tragically, after a couple of years, he lost his arm in a coal-mining accident. He moved his family to the St. Louis area, where his wife had lived.
He then went to school for painting and obtained employment as a foreman for International Oil Burner in St. Louis, Mo. When he was offered a job as a paint supervisor for Empire Comfort Systems he moved his family to Belleville. He and his wife purchased a small farm south of Mascoutah, where they worked on evenings and weekends. After 25 years at Empire Comfort Systems, he retired in 1984 and could then devote full time to his farm. He and his wife raised beautiful gardens and shared their fruits and vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors. But the strawberries they raised every year were their greatest pride- big, luscious strawberries that people would come to get from miles around.
Karl loved sports, working outdoors, and spending time with his family. He loved keeping up with all the newsworthy and current events, he was very opinionated about them. After his wife passed away in October 2009, he lost his zest for life and started to decline. Karl didn't like to say goodbye, he would say, "I'll just see you later".
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Charlie and Mollie, nee Chavies, Howard; his wonderful wife of 64 years, Eunice L. Howard; daughter, Linda Sue Motsinger; two grandsons, Shane M. Wier and Darrell T. Fluck; a sister, Clodena Gist; two brothers in infancy; and brothers, Chester Howard, Matt Archer Howard, John B. Howard, and Gene Howard.
Surviving are his five daughters, Karlene (Tom) Fluck of Swansea, Janice Khrino of West Plantation, Fla., Carol (Dave) Wier of Smithton, Patty Powers of Belleville, and Peggy Howard of Belleville, and son Daniel (Lori) Howard of Collinsville. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna L. Flannigan of Memphis, Tenn., Ionia Smith of Ten Mile, Tenn.; and two special friends, James Emmert and Wayne Guettermann.
Daddy's Hand
When we stop to count our blessings
There are so many, but we find
A picture of a loving hand
Keeps flashing through our minds.
Some might think it's the hand of God
That can bring such a feeling of peace,
That can take a small child's hand and hold it tight
And make our fears just cease.
Although this hand is worn with time
And it's fingers sorely bent,
And though it does not belong to God
It was surely heaven sent.
How many times it brushed away
The tears upon our face
Or held our head when we were sick.
No hand could take its place.
So when we count our blessings
After all is said and done,
We are most thankful for our daddy's hand
Because all he had was one.
We love you, Dad, strawberry fields forever, and we'll just see you later.
Karl wishes to express a special thanks to two special granddaughters, Tammy Langley and Dede Vogt for their special consideration through his declining years.
Memorial donations may be made to Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be extended to the family by visiting www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 29, 2011, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 West Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.
Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at noon Friday, July 29, 2011 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Entombment will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Fairview Heights, Ill.
WOLFERSBERGER
FUNERAL HOME,
O'Fallon, Ill.
Published in Belleville News-Democrat from July 28 to July 29, 2011
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