Alice M. Lebkuecher

Alice M. Lebkuecher, 87, of Beardstown, died Saturday afternoon, Feb. 5, 2011, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.

She was born Dec. 9, 1923, near Black Oak Church in rural Beardstown, the daughter of John Alvin and Ruth Barbara Jaggers Hays. She married Robert George Long on Nov. 1, 1942, and he preceded her in death in August 1950. Alice then married Charles Lebkuecher on Nov. 9, 1957, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beardstown, and he preceded her in death in February 1988.

Surviving is a daughter, Carolyn (husband, Garth) Cripe of Astoria; a son, John Robert Long of Jacksonville; a daughter-in-law, Joan Lebkuecher of Glen Carbon; one brother, John A. (wife, Evelyn) Hays of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Todd Cripe of Vandalia, Mo., Scott (wife, Amanda) Cripe of Lewistown and Conner and Julia Hannon, both of Glen Carbon; and five great-grandchildren, Landon, Megan, Lydia, Charlie and Adah. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and one son, Chuck.

Alice attended the Black Oak Grade School and graduated from the Beardstown High School in the Class of 1941, and was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beardstown. She was a bookkeeper for the Hardwick Farms in Beardstown from 1978 to 1997, and prior to that had worked for the Bluff Springs Elevator, Philadelphia Elevator, Dr. Davidsmeyer, Dr. Merrihew, CIPS and Pat and Linda Harris. She was known to be a great baseball player in her younger years.

Memorial services for Alice M. Lebkuecher will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beardstown. The family will be meeting friends one hour prior to services at the church. Burial of her cremated remains will be at a later date at Beardstown City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested for the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, or Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice. Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.