Elsa Laesch
Elsa H. Laesch, 100, of Bloomington, passed away at 4:45 a.m. on Nov. 15 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
Elsa’s funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington with Pastor Christine McNeal officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Interment will be at Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lutheran Bible Translators or the American Bible Society.
Elsa was born on June 18, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri, a daughter to William and Johanna Horn Hemminghaus. She married Gene Slater on June 24, 1939 in St. Louis. He died on Jan. 9, 1959. She later married Daniel Laesch on Aug. 3, 1968 in Bloomington. He died on Jan. 5, 1986.
She is survived by her children, Marcia (Rev. Joel) Hempel of St. Louis, Diane (Dennis) Gieseke of Bloomington, Ellen (Dave) Dalrymple of Lake Villa, and Mark Laesch of Nobelsville, Ind.; 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Elsa was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, William, Victor and Harold; and her son, Eugene Slater.
She was a long-term board member of Mobile Meals and the Highland 9-Hole Golf League. Elsa was also active at her church and in various community organizations.
Online condolences and memories of Elsa may be sent to the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
Carl Presley
Carl Richard “Dick” Presley, 82, of Warrensburg died at 10:50 a.m. on Nov. 15 at Heritage Health in Normal, surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Warrensburg United Methodist Church, 185 N. Main St, Warrensburg 62573. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington and one hour prior to services at the church in Warrensburg on Thursday. Entombment will be at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday at East Lawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Bloomington. Memorials may be made to the Warrensburg United Methodist church or the Warrensburg Lions Club. The family requests casual attire.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Dick was born at home on Nov. 23, 1932 in Bloomington, the son of Carl D. and Blanche Stanley Presley. He married Joann A. Campbell on Oct. 2, 1954 in Bloomington.
Surviving are his wife, Joann A. Presley of Normal; his children, Barb Curtis of Colo., Rick Presley of Las Cruces, N.M., Carol (Paul) Jones, Steve (Regina) Presley and Jim (Deb) Presley, all of Bloomington; his grandchildren, Sara (Jeromy) Kessinger, Bryan (Michelle) Trunnell, Maryea Presley, Matt (Alisha) Jones, Payten & Morgan Presley and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister, Diana (Steve) Wheeler, Normal and sisters-in-law, Betty Presley of Normal and LaVonne Presley of Schaumburg and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl D. and Blanche Presley; brothers, Leonard, David and Don Presley and one grandson, Quinten Presley.
During his youth, Dick won the first Soap Box Derby held in Bloomington. His derby car was made of wood and an old Coke sign. While in Bloomington High School, he joined the 44th Division of the Illinois National Guard. The Guard sent him to Leadership school and on to active duty in February 1952. He served in Ansbach, Germany and was assigned to do radio repair. While in Germany he witnessed the devastation that Europe endured during the 2nd World War and the hostilities inflicted on all nations.
Following his discharge, Dick resumed working for Eisner food stores, a career that began in 1948 with Piggly Wiggly when he was 16. He then married Joann and they had five children. Over the next 37 years Dick opened and managed 14 stores for Piggly Wiggly, Eisner and Jewel across Central Illinois. He was an active volunteer for five different agencies within the United Way. Following his retirement, Dick and Joann purchased a store in Warrensburg, “Dick’s Food Center.” After 12 years they sold the store, but Dick continued to work.
Dick was very active in Warrensburg. He served as a Village Clerk and was instrumental in erecting the Village Veterans Monument. He was a member of the Warrensburg United Methodist Church serving as an usher, mowing the grass, or plowing the snow. As a member of the Warrensburg Lion’s Club he established the Brotherhood Tree and recently received the President’s Award for Leadership.
Dick was very proud of his family history, which he spent countless hours documenting. He took yearly trips to decorate the graves of his ancestors in both Oklahoma and Raleigh, Illinois. Accompanied by his son-in-law, Paul, Dick looked forward to the yearly trips to Raleigh, and made it very clear that it was his wish that these trips continue after he passed.
Dick was a very proud man with a huge heart. He was always concerned about the well-being of his family and friends.
