Leona E Schank Bartling

Danville- Leona E. Schank Bartling passed away on August 24, 2016, at the age of 97. She was born on December 7, 1918 in Plymouth, Nebraska to Fred and Tillie Schank. She grew up there with two brothers, Melvin and Arnold and two sisters, Geraldine and Betty Jane. She attended the Plymouth School and graduated with a Valedictorian Scholarship from the Plymouth High School in 1936. She worked as a beautician in various shops until marrying Max Bartling on April 27, 1946. They had four children; Bruce, Joan, Alan, and Laurie. After 58 years of marriage, Max preceded her in death on January 9, 2004. Max was an electrical engineer which meant a lot of moving to new locations as he worked on various projects. Their daughter Joan also preceded her in death. Joan was married Jay Malone, who seemed like another son as he helped to raise their three children. Max and Leona had 13 grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeff) Schmale, Michael and Connor Bartling, Molly (Dan) Allen, Patrick (Beth) Malone, Jayne (Ross) Meade; Brett (Monique) Bartling, Mitchell Bartling, Jackson Bartling, Annie (Ronald) Quysner, Sophie (Michael) Fronk, David Quysner and Lily Miskimin. They were also privileged to have six great grandchildren, Abraham and Jacob Schmale, James Patrick Malone III, William Malone, Max Edward Allen, and Maggie Lynn Bartling. They were proud of every one of them and blessed by their love. As they also were by nieces and nephews, Sherryl (Peter) Wilson, Gaylord (Dorothy) Schank, Lindyna Schank Elsner, Jonadyne (Rex) Carpenter, Pam Bell, Rick (Laurie) Bell, Mike (Diane) Bell, Patrick (Cindy) Bell, Randall Schank, Aaron (Karen) Schank, and Steve (Carol) Allen. Jerry Allen preceded her in death. Leona volunteered whenever possible as a church choir member, as well as with women's groups at their churches. She helped with the Red Cross Home Nurses during WWII (not in medical, but in rolling bandages) as well as fixing food as the military trains stopped in Midwest towns to be fed. She was the president of the Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Fremont, Nebraska. Her favorite hobby was painting water colors, after studying under Erica Hoyt at the University of South Carolina. This led her to have craft classes in her home for neighborhood children. They blessed her with their company and helped with "chores". Max and Leona always had many friends wherever they lived - even during their two years in Europe when he worked there. (The John & Francine Proot family still keep in touch). After moving back to Danville, Illinois in 1986, the Bethel Lutheran Church and Tee Pak friends were all like family. In 2010, Leona moved to Katy, Texas, where three of her children and their families live. She lived with her son, Bruce, and enjoyed the grandchildren, as well as her own children. She felt that was a special blessing for this stage of her life. A Tribute to the life of Leona will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday August 30, 2016 at the Bethel Lutheran Church located at 901 West Fairchild Street in Danville, IL. Officiating will be Reverend Edward Stone. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Monday August 29, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion Street Danville, IL and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. Memorial donations may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church. Please join Leona's family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Aug 29, 2016 Monday, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61834 Visitation Aug 30, 2016 Tuesday, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Bethel Lutheran 901 W Fairchild St Danville, IL 61832 Service Aug 30, 2016 Tuesday, 11:00 AM Bethel Lutheran 901 W Fairchild St Danville, IL 61832