Eileen Hoke

BUCKLEY - Eileen Louise Hoke, 86, of Buckley went to the Lord on Sunday evening (Aug. 17, 2025) at home surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Buckley, with the Rev. J. Kevin Wyckoff officiating. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Buckley. Baier Family Funeral Services, Buckley, is handling arrangements. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the church and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Eileen was born Jan. 4, 1939, in Watseka, the daughter of Werner Fredrick George and Lillian Agnes Johnson Theesfeld. Just barely over three pounds in weight, she was baptized at the hospital and sent home and not expected to live past three days. She shared this often, giving all glory to God for her long life.

She is survived by three sons, Daniel Hoke of Buckley, Darrell Hoke of Champaign and Timothy (Bonnie) Hoke of Paxton; two daughters, Teri "Tina" (Mike) Wagner of Lake Iroquois and Tricia (Don) Schroeder of Lake Iroquois; a special daughter, Molly (Rob) of Paxton; 75 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; her brother James (Lois) Theesfeld of Cissna Park; sister-in-law, Mary Theesfeld of Buckley; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Ernest Hoke and Werner Hoke; her daughter Tammie Teresa Zook; brother Owen Theesfeld; and two infant brothers, Larry Dean Theesfeld and Dean Alan Theesfeld.

Eileen spent her childhood in the Clarence and Buckley areas and attended St. John's School and Buckley-Loda High School. She married James Douglas Hoke on Oct. 8, 1955, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Buckley. As the devoted spouse to her Air Force husband, she courageously provided steadfast support to her family through countless relocations and hardships, divorcing in 1972. She was a devoted single mother raising her eight children from ages 14 to 5 months, and always kept her faith in God.

She was a lifetime member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Buckley, where she was baptized and confirmed. Eileen was a small-industry worker in the local area. After retirement, she was a special-needs school bus monitor for PBL schools.

Eileen was always tinkering, making art projects for her family or making things for gift giving. She enjoyed watching her game show channel and listening to music on RFD TV.

Eileen was an avid bowler when she was younger, and in her later years, she liked doing word searches and, most importantly, spending time with her family and many friends. 

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or St. John's School. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.