Lawrence S. Vahlkamp

Lawrence Stephen Vahlkamp, 89, of the Illinois Veterans Home, formerly of 608 Washington, died at 12:15 a.m. Monday (Oct. 27, 2008) in the home. Born Nov. 24, 1918, in Quincy, Lawrence was a son of Stephen and Teresa Schnetzler Vahlkamp. He married Margaret Hibbard on May 24, 1952, in Monticello, Mo. She died July 8, 1996. Lawrence was of the Catholic faith. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Order of the Purple Heart and a life member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He was an avid duck hunter and a former member of Ducks Unlimited, the North Side Boat Club and the South Side Boat Club. Mr. Vahlkamp served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II seeing action in the Philippines and Luzon. He was awarded two Bronze Battle Stars and the Purple Heart. Lawrence was employed at the International Shoe Factory and then as a carpenter. He was later employed at Gardner-Denver Co. for 25 years until his retirement in 1980 as tool crib inspector. Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Cole and her husband, Steve, of Quincy; four grandchildren, Lori Spangler and her husband, Todd, of Apopka, Fla., David Cole and his wife, Peri, of Quincy, Julie Hilbing and her husband, Craig, of Quincy and Kevin Cole and his wife, Mindy, of Quincy; eight great-grandchildren, Kayleigh Spangler, Weston Spangler, Neilly Cole, Cole Thomas Hilbing, Chloe Hilbing, Lydia Hilbing, Brody Cole and Brenner Cole; two brothers, Arthur Vahlkamp and his wife, Norma, of Quincy and Robert Vahlkamp of Fort Myers, Fla.; a sister, Cathryn Spilker and her husband, Harold, of Quincy; and many loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Vahlkamp was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret; a son, William Vahlkamp in infancy; a great-grandson, J.D. Cole; three brothers, Frank Vahlkamp, Raymond "Penie" Vahlkamp and Stephen Vahlkamp; and three sisters, Helen Nelson, Clara Frese and Marie Brinks. SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Don Blickhan. Burial with military honors by Quincy American Legion Post No. 37 will be in Quincy Memorial Park. VISITATION: 9 a.m. to the time of services Saturday in the funeral home. MEMORIALS: Parkinson's Foundation or the Illinois Veterans Home Purple Heart Society. ARRANGEMENTS: Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home. Condolences may expressed online at www.whig.com.