Loretta Erke
September 14, 1935 — February 16, 2017
Loretta Maxine Erke, 81, of Quincy, passed away at 7:20 PM, Thursday, February 16, 2017, at the Timber Point Healthcare Center in Camp Point.
She was born on September 14, 1935, the daughter of Truman and Neva (Smith) Nagel at the family home in Sutter. She married Hewitt Erke on October 21, 1962, at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Sutter. He survives.
Also surviving are three children Dean Erke and wife Diana of Leaf River, Dale Erke and wife Leah of Quincy and Barbara Dickhut and husband Brian of Camp point, five grandchildren Terra-Anne Erke, Sierra Erke, Lauren Erke, Logan Erke, Dylan Dickhut, and one great granddaughter Hailey Erke. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother Richard Nagel.
Loretta was a 1953 graduate of Hamilton High School. She received her Bachelors Degree in Home Economics from the University of Illinois in 1957. She worked as a Home Advisor with the University of Illinois Home Extension in Mercer and Adams Counties from 1957 to 1968. From 1981 to 1999, she worked as the assistant manager of JoAnn Fabrics in Quincy.
She was a woman of deep Christian faith and was a member of the Ellington Presbyterian Church, where she served as the treasurer and organist until the Fall of 2016. She was also a member of the Volunteer Voices. She served as a member and served as the President of PTA, while her children attended Greenfield Elementary and Mendon Unity High School. She was a church organist for many different churches including Trinity United Church of Christ, for over 60 years. She was an accomplished seamstress, who enjoyed cross-stitch, puzzles, singing, and anything crafty. Her greatest joy was attending her grandchildren’s activities.
Services will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at the Ellington Presbyterian Church in Quincy, with Reverend Ron Cox officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenmount Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday, at the Hunter Funeral Home in Mendon. Memorials are suggested to Ellington Presbyterian Church.