Roy Hartke (88) of Effingham

Roy Hartke, 88, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be held at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Dieterich with military rites. Arrangements are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.

Due to Covid-19 concerns, please wear a mask for all services and follow all social distancing guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Immaculate Conception Cemetery or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.

Roy was born on January 28, 1932 in Dieterich, IL, the son of Roman and Celia (Pals) Hartke. He married Sylvia Gebben on April 28, 1962 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham by his uncle Father James Hartke. Roy was a member of St Anthony of Padua Church and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Dieterich before it was destroyed by a fire. He was very active in the Immaculate Conception Church and loved his “little church.” He was a lifetime honorary member of the Effingham Knights of Columbus 665 and a Dieterich American Legion Post 628 member since 1953 and served as a Commander and a Service Officer with them. He served on the Dieterich Volunteer Fire Department for 33 years where he also was the Secretary Treasurer of the Dieterich Fire Protection District for 21 years. Roy was a farmer his whole life. He drove a truck for Effingham Asphalt and Effingham Ready Mix. His favorite thing to do was operate his bulldozer. He also ran a saw mill with his father for many years. He enjoyed watching his grandson play Major League baseball and his granddaughter become an attorney.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Sylvia and his daughter, Brenda (David) Winkler of Effingham and son, Jeff (fiancée, Diana) Hartke of Dieterich; 2 grandchildren, Daniel (Camille) Winkler of Brentwood, TN and Kristen (Kenneth) Flood of Jewett, IL and his 4 great-grandchildren, Elliot and Cole Flood and Declan and Eloise Winkler as well as his sister, Lila Gebben; in-laws, Marcella Behrman, Viola Green, Eleanor Gebben, Judy Nosbisch, Sue Gebben, Andrew (Patricia) Gebben, Sonny Hutmacher and Richard Gebben; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gene, Floyd, triplets Donald, Dale and Thomas; his sister, Linda Hutmacher; in-laws, Eugene, Ray, Quirinus, Charles, Stephen and Anthony Gebben, Richard Green, Robert Behrman, Joan Hartke and Jan Gebben.