- Visitation
Thursday, January 14, 2016
9:00 to 11:00 am
St. Paul United Church of Christ, Lebanon, IL
- Service
Thursday, January 14, 2016
11:00 am
St. Paul UCC, Lebanon, IL.
- Full Obituary
Sylvester O. “Sal” Korte, Sr., 97, of Lebanon, IL, passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at Cedar Ridge Healthcare Center, Lebanon, IL, surrounded by his family.
He was born January 8, 1919, to Henry and Ellen (Nee Riebold) Korte in Mascoutah, IL. On October 15, 1940 he married Elenora M. “Nora” Wittmer.
Sal was a dairy/grain farmer who was dedicated to his family. As a younger man, he was community-minded. He served on the Horner Park Board, Emerald Mound School Board, Lebanon High School Board, and was a St. Clair County Farm Bureau member, Emerald Mound School Board member, Lebanon High School Board member, Emerald Mound Grange member and officer, First Mennonite Church member, and later a St. Paul United Church of Christ member. His most satisfying accomplishment was helping to establish the rural Emerald Mound Fire Protection District with two other gentlemen. He remained active as a trustee with the rural fire district for 55 years. Sal enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting, as well as playing cards and being with his grandchildren.
Sal was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ellen (nee Reibold) Korte; his wife of 74 years, Nora Korte (February 13, 2015); brother, Harold Korte; sisters, Frances Schiefer, Elva Feldt, and Henrietta Vaughn; son-in-law, Dale Fertig.
He is survived by a daughter, Sylvia Fertig, Lebanon, IL; sons, Sy (Kay) Korte, Lebanon, IL, and Dennis (Martha) Korte, Lebanon, IL; grandchildren, Brian Fertig, Gary (Lisa) Fertig, Dr. Derek (Jen) Korte, Leah (Jeremy) Corbitt, Sarah Korte, and Lauren (fiance, Keith Trahan) Korte; great-grandchildren, Evan Korte, Spencer Korte, Adam Korte, Kathryn Fertig, Kevin Fertig, Collin Fertig, Allison Corbitt, and Joseph Corbitt; brother-in-law, Irvin Wittmer, Edmond, OK; sister-in-law, Grace (Fred) Cherry, Independence, MO.
The family would like to thank the Cedar Ridge Healthcare Center for their love and kindness to Sal.
Memorials may be made to the Lebanon-Emerald Mound Fire Department, the Korte-Fertig Scholarship Fund at McKendree University, or St. Paul United Church of Christ.
Visitation: Thursday, January 14, 2016, from 9:00 to 11:00 am, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Lebanon, IL.
Funeral Service: Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 11:00 am, St. Paul UCC, Lebanon, IL.
Clergy: Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, Pastor
Interment: College Hill Cemetery, Lebanon, IL
Meyer Funeral Home, Lebanon, IL
