Merle J. Hellhake
Merle J. Hellhake, age 89, of Quincy, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the Illinois Veterans Home. He was born on October 9, 1930 in Quincy, IL, the son of Joe and Laura (Schutte) Hellhake. He married Joan Talken on July 19, 1955 in St. Francis Catholic Church. She preceded him in death on November 13, 2014.
Merle was a 1948 graduate of Quincy Notre Dame High School. He was a lineman and repairman for the Illinois Bell Telephone retiring in 1991. Merle proudly served his country in the US Army and participated in the 2015 Great River Honor Flight.
Merle was a member of the Church of St. Peter and the Knights of Columbus. He was involved as a Troop Master for the Boy Scouts and was an active Band parent at Quincy Notre Dame when his children were in school.
Horses, especially Appaloosas, were a big part of his life. He belonged to the Illinois Ridge Riders and the Quincy Saddle Club. In his retirement, he enjoyed meeting friends for coffee, most recently at Hardee’s.
Merle is survived by his children, Ann Hellhake VonDeBur and her husband Joe of Sherman, IL, Tom Hellhake and his wife Marlene of Quincy, Janet Shaughnessy and her husband Tom of Chesterfield, MO, and Tim Hellhake and his wife Maureen of Lenexa, KS; a companion, Sharon Meyer of Quincy; grandchildren: Kate VonDeBur, Jill Kraus, Kim Kraus, Stephanie Kraus, Kari Kraus, Greg (Sarah) Hellhake, Emily (Matt) Schornheuser, Grace Shaughnessy, Jack Shaughnessy, Heath Hellhake and Noah Hellhake.
He was preceded in death by his wife and daughter, Katherine (Hellhake) Kraus and two sisters, Alice Brumbaugh and Maxine Hellhake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter by Monsignor Leo Enlow. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. Military Honors will be presented by the American Legion Post #37 and the Illinois National Guard Honors Detail. Visitation will be held on Friday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Peter. Memorials are suggested to Quincy Notre Dame or the Great River Honor Flight. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. www.dukerandhaugh.com
So sorry for your loss. I worked with Tom at Merchants Wholesale and Kay at Metropolitan Life.
Tim, sorry to hear about your Dad’s passing. Merle was a good man who was always pleasant to talk to.
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I had a nice talk with him last summer at the KofC BBQ. Prayers for your family.
It appears Merle had a long and rewarding life, one worth celebrating. The survivors will mourn rightly so; however, in the end they can look back and see he was a good man who enjoyed life. That’s all we can ask for. Rest In Peace Merle.
We are sorry to hear this. Our prayers are with you.
Hellhake Family: so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. We have fond memories of him in Prairie Ridge. Our thoughts & prayers are with your family. The Jim Hiland Family
Hellhake Family, we were sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. We have good memories of him in Prairie Ridge. Our thoughts & prayers are with the family
Dear Tim and Maureen,
We are sorry for your family as you part with your father. We send our sincere condolences.
Tim and family, I’m sorry to hear this news of your Dad’s passing. He was a very nice man and I have good memories of his Bell years with my Dad.