Lacorda Ruth Guggemos

LaCorda Ruth Guggemos, 92, of Danville, died at 6:03 AM on Saturday, October 22, 2011, after complications from Alzheimer's. She was born on April 27, 1919 in Lansing, Michigan the fifth daughter of Arthur H. and Augusta M. McMaster. LaCorda married Robert J. Guggemos on June 9th, 1944 in Lansing, Michigan. He preceded her in death on June 6, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, four brothers- Alfred L., Alfred M., George and Robert and four sisters- Janette, Elizabeth (Betty), Clara and Marjorie. LaCorda is survived by her five children- Nancy (Charles) Fiely of Buena Park, CA, John (Donna) Guggemos of Westfield, IN, Susan Parham of Rockton, IL, Patricia (Henry) Povelones of Danville, and George (Kim) Guggemos of Danville, eleven grandchildren- Andrea and Edward Fiely, Britt (Laure Miche) Guggemos and Bree' (Mark) Drapa, Kimberly, Corey (Sara), and Leslie Parham, Lindsey Lacorda (Brian) Long and Casey Povelones, Blake Lipa and Joe Guggemos, six great-grandchildren- Molly, Maximilian and Maisy Drapa, Samuel and Charlotte Miche-Guggemos and Maximilian Parham. LaCorda is also survived by multiple hundreds of nieces and nephews. LaCorda graduated from Lansing Central High School in 1937, attended Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Nursing School and worked in the office pool at R.E. Olds Motor Car Company throughout WWII. After WWII she joined her husband, as he continued his career in the U.S. Army Air Corp. In 1947 they returned to Lansing, MI. In 1953 they moved to Danville to join in the building of a family business, Tilton Pattern Works. LaCorda was more than an ordinary homemaker. She started her community involvement early as she enjoyed participating in a wide variety of organizations connected to the church (St. Joseph and St. Patrick Catholic, St. James United Methodist), school (St. Joseph, Schlarman), and Community (Election Judge, Project Concern, and Cunningham Children's Home). She enjoyed Duplicate and Contract Bridge and golf at Vermilion Hills Country Club. She held part-time jobs at Meis Brothers, Windbreaker, and Lucas Construction. LaCorda was involved as a servant to others in the following ways: Home and School Association (30+years at St. Joseph and Schlarman), Circle Leader, Co-Leader, Bazaar Chairman and various Board Positions (25+years at St. James United Methodist), founding member of Vermilion Hills Country Club and a continuing Board Member. Cunningham Children's Home (20+years), School of Mission-Illinois Conference, District Chairperson (3years), District VP (3years) and District President (4years United Methodist Women), Conference Chair of the Christian Global Concern (8 Districts) (United Methodist Women), Illinois Church Board of Global Ministries, District Council of Ministries under District Superintendent-Dr. James Bartell (United Methodist Women). Our Mom also found time to haul around and attend all of her five kids swim meets, baseball and basketball games, operettas, dance recitals, scout meetings, help with the morning paper route, plus she loved to play card games, compete at bridge, lose at cribbage, fish, speed excessively (oh, those car rides!), feed birds, chase squirrels, read constantly, feed the deer at Kickapoo State Park (a no-no), do crossword puzzles, especially the difficult ones. An old friend mentioned I-94 was the name of the interstate not the speed limit. LaCorda was a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother (due to her illness, she was unaware she had become a great-grandmother or had aged past 39) who had the happiest time of her life spending her time being of service to others. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at North Logan Health Care and Passages (hospice) for their kindness and love. A celebration of LaCorda's life will take place on Thursday October 27, 2011 from 4-7 PM at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, A Life Celebration Home in Danville. Funeral services will be held Friday October 28, 2011 at 10 AM at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville with Pastor Randy Robinson officiating. LaCorda will be interred with her husband, Robert, at Danville National Cemetery at 12 AM Friday. Memorials can be made in LaCorda's name to Schlarman Academy Development Office, St. James United Methodist Church, Cunningham Children's Home in Urbana, Holy Family Church or to the donor's choice. Condolences may be sent to her family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com