Kenneth “Bud” Kersch, aged 91, of near Hookdale, IL, passed away at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at Helia Health Care where he had been a resident for the past 2 ½ years. His wife, Leona, as well as other family members, were by his side.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014 at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Porter and Rev. Wayne Pierce officiating. Interment will follow in Mt.Auburn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning until service time at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home. For those who desire memorials may be made to the Hookdale United Church of Christ, Bond County Hospice, or the Simple Room.
Kenneth was born June 6, 1923, to Henry and Anna (Greimann) Kersch and quickly obtained the nickname “Bud.” He attended the Crossno one room school east of Hookdale, and later enrolled in the National Youth Administration (NYA) in Litchfield, IL, where he was trained as a machinist. Upon completion of the program, he worked for a short time in St. Louis as a machinist before returning to the family farm where he and his father farmed together. He married Leona Mollet on June 9, 1945, at the Hookdale church, and they raised two daughters, Patty and Mary. Bud and Leona recently observed their 69th anniversary.
In 1951, Bud and Leona bought their own property and moved to what is now known as Cart Hill Farm where together they farmed and built an outstanding registered herd of Holstein dairy cattle. After retirement, Bud bred and raised registered bird dogs. He was an active member of the National Shoot-to-Retrieve Club.
Bud was confirmed in the St. Peter Evangelical and Reformed Church, Hookdale, now the St. Peter United Church of Christ, where he was a faithful and generous member for life. Bud held positions on the board, was instrumental in helping to build the current church building in 1954, and was a dedicated worker at the annual Hookdale Sausage Supper for years.
He is survived by his wife Leona, his daughters Patricia (Dean) Skaggs, New Carlisle, IN, and Mary (Jay) Young, north of Greenville. Also surviving are his sister Margie Dobson, Springfield, IL and his brother Charles (Betty) Kersch, Georgetown, TX. Four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren survive: Nathan (Sarah) Metzger, Normal, IL; Alan (Jill) Metzger, Ste. Genevieve, MO; Troy Skaggs, Lexington, KY; and Angela (Don) Howard, Cleveland, OH; Tony (Tammy) Young, Greenville, IL; Tyler Young, Oklahoma City, OK. Six great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, two step-great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Lillian in infancy and Elsie Benson.
