Region 5

strong>Margaret Von Qualen, Illinois Lincolnland Unit, dies

      Margaret Von Qualen, 88, a long-time member of the Illinois Lincolnland Unit died Jan. 31 at Hernando Pasco Hospice Care Center in Dade City, Fla.

      The Von Qualens spent their winters at Travelers Rest RV Park.

      Margaret was born June 8, 1919, a daughter of Boi Ehmsen and Mary (Wier) Eskildsen. She married Earlen H. Von Qualen on Sept. 22, 1940. He survives.

      Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wed., Feb. 6, at Hager Memorial Home, Dwight, Ill. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dwight. Internment will be at Oaklawn Cemetery in Dwight.

      Surviving in addition to her husband, were sons Richard, Kempton; Virden, Batavia; and Gordon, Gardner and their families.

      Margaret was a fine seamstress, quilter and knitter. She worked with church groups making quilts for Lutheran World Relief and was a member of Home Extension. One of her special attributes was teaching the art of sewing and knitting.

      She was a graduate of Brown’s Business School in Chicago and kept books for her father’s implement business and the family farm.

      Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Dwight or Hernando Pasco Hospice in Dade City, Fla.

ROBERT J. POOLE, SOUTHERN INDIANA UNIT, DIES

      Robert J. Poole, 79, of Newburgh, Ind., a long-time member and past president of the Southern Indiana Unit, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Evansville, Ind.

      Bob was a 1946 graduate of Central High School and had served in the United States Air Force. He was employed as a supervisor of tool design at Kent/Ball Plastics. He later owned and operated Poole Mold Design. Bob was a deacon of Barker Avenue Primitive Baptist Church.

      He and his wife, Louise, were long-time members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club and he served as president in 1982.

      He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Louise M. (McCormick) Poole; three daughters, Debbie (Jim) Kerns and Donna Will, of Evansville, and Gail Chapman of Newburgh; sister, Mary Beshear of Evansville; and half sister, Julya (Richard) Hopkins of Florida. Also surviving are grandchildren, Eric (Sara) Kerns, Mark Kerns, Brian (Nicky) Will, Brad (LuAnn) Simpson, and Kelly (Trevor) Bechel; and six great-grandchildren.

      Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Terri Lee, and half brother, Johnny Poole.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. at Pierre Funeral Home, Elder Jeffrey Winfrey and Elder Travis Housley officiating. Entombment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

      Friends may visit from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street in Evansville.

      Memorial contributions may be made to the Barker Avenue Primitive Baptist Church, 50 S. Barker Avenue, Evansville, IN 47712.

      Online condolences may be made at www.pierrefu

ROY KERLEY, JR., SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIT, DIES

      Roy Kerley Jr., 79, a long-time member of the Southern Illinois Unit, died at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in Melbourne, Fla.

      Services were held Friday, Feb. 1, in the Wilson Funeral Home in Karnak. Burial was in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Village Ridge.

      Roy was retired from farming after 53 years and was also retired from E.T. Simonds.

      He was a member of the Maple Grove Baptist Church in Perks. He was also a member of the Local Operating Engineers No. 318 for 44 years.

      He is survived by his wife, Meryl Ditterline Kreley of Cypress, three sons and daughters-in-law, Chuck and Paula Kerley of Cypress; Roger and Debbie Kerley of Cypress; and Tim and Rosa Kerley of Metropolis; four sisters; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

RALPH DIXON, ILLINOIS LINCOLNLAND, 45-YEAR WBCCI MEMBER, DIES

     Ralph Dixon, a 45-year member of the Wally Byam Caravan Club and a member of the Illinois Lincolnland Unit, died Nov. 12 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Ill.

    Ralph, a resident of Rantoul, Ill., was many times past president of the Lincolnland Unit.

    He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Genet; a daughter, Kim and husband Robert Wyre, and two      grandchildren; and a brother, Nathanial.

    Ralph was a native of Springfield, Mo., a graduate of Drury College in Springfield with a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan and a veteran of the Army Air Corps, Air Force and Air National Guard.

    He was a veteran educator, starting his career in 1950 and moving to Rantoul in 1953 where he was principal of Northview and Pleasant Acres School until 1982. In addition to his WBCCI involvement Ralph was a 32nd degree Mason and a Scottish rite member. He was a square dance caller in the Danville, Ill. Frontier Twirlers and the Circle R. Club in Rantoul.

PAUL ZARIFIS, CENTRAL INDIANA UNIT MEMBER, DIES

    Paul Zarifis, a long-time member of the Central Indiana Unit, died Oct. 22 at the age of 83.

    He and his wife, Emmagene, were active members for a number of years. Paul was a veteran of World War II, serving as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division.