Esther Crum (87) of Altamont
Published on July 22 2024 3:09 pm
Esther Helen (Polk) Crum, 87, of Altamont, IL died at 2:30 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2024 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 29, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church, Altamont with Rev. Jeff Morrison officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Altamont. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 28, 2024 at Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont and for one hour prior to the service time. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, HSHS Hospice Care or Lutheran Care Center.
Esther was born July 15, 1937 to William Lawrence and Gertha Mae (Austill) Polk in Gibson County, Indiana. Esther grew up in the Boonville area of Indiana. Her father died and her mother remarried and moved to Effingham County while she was in high school. She married Darrell (Rusty) Crum in Effingham, IL on March 5, 1955. He preceded her in death on December 17, 1993. She graduated from Altamont High School in 1955. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She has worked at the Altamont Garment Factory, Murphy’s in Effingham and WalMart in Effingham. She was a 4-H leader of the Cloverettes for many years. She enjoyed sewing, and sewed and altered many garments and handicrafts over the years. Many who knew her enjoyed her baked goods and candies. She was a fan of NASCAR. Cardinals Baseball, Hallmark movies and celebrating Christmas. She loved family gatherings.
She is survived by her daughters Leta (Gregg) Weber of Bedford, NH; Rita (Lyndon) Willms of Murphysboro, IL: Sharon (Mike Springer) Roones of Peculiar, MO; Linda Haskett of O’Fallon, IL and Amy (Mike) Thompson of Mattoon, IL and “adopted” daughter Carolyn (Jerry) Kemper of Jewett, IL.; Grandchildren Randy (Amber) Roones of Paradise, TX; Ryan Willms of Carbondale, IL: Heather (Kris Hood) Roones of Denton, TX; Seth (Kellie) Willms of Herrin. IL; Noel (Clare) Elrod of Columbia, MO; Jordan (Kristina) Willms of Herrin, IL; Travis (Elizabeth) Weber of Greenville, NC; Leah (Katie) LaKett of St Louis, MO; Kaitlyn (Lucas) Larson of Powell, TN; Brody (Ashley Davis) Philabaum of Mattoon, IL; Taylor Haskett of O’Fallon. IL; Cameron Philabaum of Mattoon, IL and Tyler Thompson of Mattoon, IL. Great grandchildren Anastacia (Christopher) Hankins; Elizabeth Roones; Phoenix Roones; Ariana Roones; Allen Roones; Isaiah and Madeline Euler; Ayla Knupp, Gavin, Colton, and Skylar Willms; Bayley and Joey Larson; Lincoln and Isaac Elrod; Roxas Oden. Great-great grandchildren Onyx, Nova and Arya Hankins. She was the last surviving sibling of eleven children. She is survived by brothers-in-law Ken (Linda) Trigleth of Phoenix, Arizona; Don (Nina) Trigleth of Lead Hill, AR and Tim (Barb) Trigleth of Salem. IL. Esther leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as friends she has made over her lifetime.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years Rusty, her parents, Williiam Polk, Gertha Higgs and her stepfather, Don Higgs, her in-laws I.L. and Elnora Trighleth. Her brothers, Burtis Polk, Shirley Polk and Kenneth Polk. Sisters Erma Wayman, Vernia (Bob) Grass, Reba Jean Walters, Margie (Wayne) Mundy, Marilyn (George) Irvin, Willma Irwin and Betty Polk who was stillborn. Brother-in laws Duane Crum, Harold Crum and Larry Crum and sister-in-law Sandra Marek. Grandchildren Elizabeth Roones, Caleb Willms, Lindsay Willms and Andrew Roones.
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