Arlene A Almquist
January 14, 1919 — January 30, 2017
Arlene A. Almquist, 98, of Orion, IL, died Monday, January 30, 2017, at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Geneseo, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1001 9th Street, Orion. Burial will be at Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion is assisting the family with arrangements.
Arlene was born on January 14, 1919, on the family farm in rural Orion, IL, the daughter of Bert Aldrick and Violet W. Swanson Peterson. She married Carl Almquist on January 7, 1939, in Davenport, IA, and he preceded her in death on August 4, 2002. During WWII Arlene worked as an inspector of 35 mm shells on the assembly line at John Deere Tractor in Moline. Later she worked as a substitute distribution Clerk at the Orion Post Office. She retired in 1981 after 30 years an examiner of claims with Royal Neighbors of America.
Arlene was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she was active in WELCA, Friendly Stitchers and Carnation Circle, where she was a Recorder for over 30 years. She was also a member Clara Lodge #118 I.O.V. and a volunteer at area nursing homes. Arlene loved to quilt as well as doing genealogy and in younger years she traveled extensively.
Survivors include her daughter, Susan L. (Mike) Rockwell, St. Charles, MO; daughter-in-law, Sharon Almquist, Osage Beach, MO; 3 grandchildren, Debby (Don) Gainey, Osage Beach, MO, Lon (Julie) Almquist, Temple, TX, Melissa (Joe) Tocco, St. Charles, MO; step grandson, Chris (Amanda) Gainey, St. Louis, MO; 7 great grandchildren, Errin Gainey, Drew Almquist, Ben (Natalie) Almquist, Michael Tocco, Lucas Tocco, Matthew Tocco, Nicholas Tocco; great great grandsons, Lon and Liam Almquist; step great great grandchildren, Annabelle and Addison Gainey; sister, Carol (Bob) Kapple, Orion, IL and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; son, Larry; sisters, Doris Ward, Elvina Nobile, Elvera Smith, and Jeanne Kohls; brothers, Robert Peterson, Fred Peterson, and Denzil Peterson.
Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.
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