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Submitted: 5/15/10 • Approved: 10/9/12 • Last Updated: 6/30/13 • R322880-G322879-S3
Regina 6 Jan 1919-3 Feb 2008
Regina Elizabeth Lensing Willems
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 10:01 AM CST
Regina Elizabeth Lensing Willems, 89, of Paris died in Charleston, surrounded by her children, on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. She was born in Shoal Creek to Ida Engel and Henry Lensing on Jan. 6, 1919. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Frank J. Willems; brothers, Ed, Donald and Raymond Lensing; sister, Bertha Lensing Neumeier; four siblings who died in early childhood, Stella, Gregory, Elizabeth and Earnest; her son-in-law, Harold Keizer; and grandson, Kirk Myers.
Regina experienced the joys and sorrows of a large family, and as a young girl during the great Depression, she knew the value of hard work. She loved music and learned to play the piano form the Benedictine sisters at St. Scholastica in Shoal Creek. She played and sang for her children and grandchildren throughout her life. She expressed creativity in her work and was a talented seamstress and quilter. Her needlework was amazing. The works she created remain the treasures of her family. In 1944, she met the love of her life, Frank, while working as a waitress at the Blue Mill Cafe in Paris, where he was delivering milk. Six months later, they married.
She and Frank had five daughters and three sons. She was a quiet and strong woman, content to raise a family while supporting Frank as he went from farmer to public servant and businessman. Life on the farm meant feeding family by raising vegetables and chickens and constant canning and cooking. Her homemade bread was legendary in the family. She made all of her children’s clothing by hand in the early years. Her flower garden and wild birds were always a source of pleasure to her.
She loved her family and church and was always involved in St. Benedict’s parish activities, in the Mother’s Society, church choir, North Logan County Hospital Auxiliary, and Legion of Mary. All eight children are adults grateful for the loving and happy upbringing they received. Mrs. Willems had 36 grandchildren at the time of her passing.
She is survived by three sons, Dennis and Norma Willems, John Willems and Michael and Cathy Willems and five daughters, Dolores and Mike Hofrichter, Ramona Keizer, Mary and Joe Eckart, Joan and Wayne Davis and Roseann and Nick Kennedy, as well as her sisters, Freda Eckelhoff and Mildred Etzkorn; and brother, Bill Lensing. Also cherishing her memory are her grandchildren, Michael, Gregory, Mark, Laura, Melissa and Eric Hofrichter, Jacqueline and John Bogner, Kimberly and Roger Sosebee, Jennifer and Brian Hurt, Kari and Shea Frye, Kourtney and Tim Gavin and Jonathan Keizer, Robert and Robbin, Andrew, John and Tanja and James Eckart, Maria and Glenn Constantino and Christi and Richard Welcher, Shannon and Ryan Rogers, Josh Willems, Karen and Tory Hawkins, Amber and Will Earl, Chuck and Steve and Shannon Thomas, Benjamin and Rebecca, Ryan and Claudia, Philip and Austin Davis, Rebecca and Eric Lewis and John Rotert, Matthew, Michael and Regina Claire Kennedy, Jack, Nathan and Joseph Willems. She is also survived by 40 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at 9 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church with burial to follow at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home, Paris. Online guest book www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Eckart, Michael Kennedy, Jonathan Keizer, Eric Hofrichter, Philip Davis, Nathan Willems, Bryce Willems and Raymond Eckart.
Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren.
Contributed on 5/15/10 by tootied
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Record #: 322880