Rita B. Kalmer

April 13, 1925 - November 30, 2018

Rita B. Kalmer, 93, of Albers, died Friday, November 30, 2018 at Aviston Countryside Manor. She was born April 13, 1925 in Breese, the daughter of Bernard and Gertrude, nee Hellmann, Rakers. She married Victor A. Kalmer September 4, 1946 in Aviston and he preceded her in death on April 14, 2006. Rita is survived by her four daughters, Donna (Ed) Moyer of Aviston, Diane (special friend, Charlie) Heidel of St. Rose, and Darlene (Bernie) Louth and Debbie (Dave) Stanton all of Florida; a daughter-in-law, Lois Kalmer of Damiansville; 12 grandchildren, Kurt (special friend, Lisa) Heidel, Ryan (Heather) Heidel, Stacey (Jimmy) Kitchens, Allison (Eduardo) Gonzalez, Mike (Anne) Louth, Christopher (Michelle) Kalmer, Joel (Tabitha) Kalmer, Shannon Kalmer, Chad (Melissa) Markus, Kelly (Craig) Nugen, Logan (fiancée, Blake) Stanton, and Alec (Taylor) Stanton; 21 great-grandchildren, Evan, Hunter, Wyatt, Ty, Tatum, Wenton, Dylan, Jack, Ella, Kerry Ann, Trent, Owen, Aiden, Jorge, Eduardo, Sean, Bryan, Olivia, Stella, Norah, and Harper, and she was expecting another great-grandchild April 2019; a brother, Jim (Marilyn) Rakers of Aviston; three sisters, Delores Langenhorst of Beaver Prairie, Johanna Heimann of Fairview Heights, and Julie Toennies of New Baden; and a sister-in-law, Marie Haake of Germantown. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by three sons, Rodger, Dennis, and Joseph Kalmer; a son-in-law, Mays Heidel; four brothers, Charlie, Anthony, Bernard, and Aloysius Rakers; three sisters, Annie Kalmer, Mary “Sally” Haselhorst, and Evelyn Rakers; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Vince Langenhorst, Delores Rakers, Walt Toennies, Vince Kalmer, Leona Rakers, Clara Rakers, Robert Haselhorst, Rita Rakers, Erwin & Ermalinda Kalmer, Norbert & Sue Kalmer, and Robert Haake. Mrs. Kalmer was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Damian Parish in Damiansville and the American Legion Post 1026 Auxiliary in Albers. Rita enjoyed cooking, canning, doing puzzles, and she had a great sense of humor. Above all, she loved spending time with her family and her hummingbirds. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2018 at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville with Rev. Anthony Onyango and Deacon Glenn Netemeyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Damian Cemetery in Damiansville. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018 from 8 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Damian Parish or to the charity of the donor’s choice and will be received at the church or Nordike Funeral Home, 15 E. Hanover St., New Baden, IL 62265 who is serving the family.