Batchtown News – January 17, 2024

By Editor | January 16, 2024 |

By Marcy Klockenkemper
618-396-2468

Hope you are keeping warm and safe. It’s really cold outside. It’s been below zero all week. The weekend doesn’t look much better.
We extend January birthday wishes to the following: Betty Sievers, Marie Klaas, Marcia Klocke, Keegan Friedel, and Faron Presley. Have a wonderful year.
We are sad to say that we lost some Batchtown residents. Peggy Johnson who lived in Ashbridge Holler recently passed away. She is survived by her husband Ron, and family. Peggy was a retired CNA at the Calhoun Nursing and Rehab Center in Hardin. She had also worked as a beautician earlier in her life. Peggy enjoyed eating at the Senior Citizens Center, and playing bingo there with friends. Gardening and planting flowers were her summer pass times. She will be missed.
John Siemer, age 82, passed away Jan. 4. He is survived by his wife, Louise, daughter Michelle Bauer, and son Michael (Santina) Siemer. He was the son of the late Leonard and Anna Siemer. In addition to his wife and children John is survived by two brothers, Nick Siemer and Larry (Anita) Siemer, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
John served his country in the Army and was employed for 41 years at Olin in Alton. John loved to hunt and enjoyed being with his children and family on the farm and at home. He will be greatly missed and will be remembered by all.
A funeral visitation, followed by a mass at St. Barbara Catholic Church was held Saturday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. with burial at St. Barbara cemetery.
Suzanne Kamp of Batchtown, age 84 passed away 1-12-24. She had recently resided at the Calhoun Nursing and Rehab Center. “Susie, as many friends called her, was a rural Batchtown resident for many years. She was married to Jim Kamp and he preceded her in death, along with a son Mark Kamp, and granddaughter, Jessica Kamp.
Suzanne is survived by her children, Jeff (Debbie) Kamp, of Golden Eagle, Scott (Courtney) Kamp of Alton, Matt Kamp of Batchtown, Anne (Kenny) Sturgeon of Carrollton, and Amy (Dave) Hurley of Hardin, daughter- in- law, Sherry and Tony Friedel of Hardin, her sister, Mary Hoekstra, a brother Mike and (Sharon) Boland, in laws, John and Anita Kamp, Greg and Agnes Kamp, and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Suzanne was witty, and very artistic. She enjoyed drawing, and painting, gardening, flower arranging, and interior decorating. She had been a telephone operator, worked at catering, in dietary and food preparation at the Calhoun Nursing and Rehab Center and enjoyed community ventures. She was a 4-H Leader of the Batchtown Lucky Clovers, Supt. Of the Art Show at the Calhoun County Fair, and a member of the Batchtown St. Barbara Altar Society. She will be missed.
A visitation and funeral mass will be held at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church this Saturday, Jan 13, with Fr. Robert’s officiating. Burial will be at Cresswell Cemetery.
Lela Schulte played volleyball at Jacksonville and they won. She is a student at Brussels High School.
Kate Zipprich played basketball with the Calhoun High School team and they won first place at North Greene with 1000 points. Robin Hillen and many other Calhouners watched the game.
Robin Hillen attended the retirement party for Phil and Julie Godar at the K.C. Hall Sunday, We wish them a happy retirement, and wish Tim and Liz Sievers great success as the new owners of Northside Grocery.
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and Clothing Store is open Wed. Jan 17. Everyone is welcome.
St. Vincent DePaul helps with rent, utilities, mortgage, GED, and help with other agencies. Call the volunteer hotline at 1-618-310-1141 for help.
––––––––––––––––––––
True Wealth
I wonder who’s the richer man,
A miser with his gold in pan,
Or the peasant with a cart,
Who has a loving caring heart –
For riches do not come from gold
Or treasures owned from ages old,
True wealth is being true and wise
Seeing value in blue skies –
Living life with attitude
Of thankfulness and gratitude,
The miser stores his earthly wares,
The richer man his bounty shares.
–Virginia Borman Grimmer