A funeral will be held Friday, February 11, 2022 for 87-year-old Mary Ann Koeneman (nee Uffelman) who passed away at 2:37 pm, Sunday, February 6, 2022, at Memorial Hospital, Chester, Illinois.
She was born to the late E. J. (“Dutch” – former mayor of Chester) and Mary Uffelman (nee Hamm) on April 17, 1934.
Mary Ann attended Chester Grade School and graduated from Chester High School in 1952.
In 1956, Mary Ann graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Mary Ann’s name was engraved on the Bronze Tablet which includes the names of the university’s most outstanding students. While attending college, she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
On June 30, 1956, Mary Ann married Don Paul Koeneman at the old First Presbyterian Church in Chester. In the fall of that year, due to Don’s active duty as a JAG officer in the U.S. Air Force, the newly married couple moved to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. Thereafter they were stationed for several years at the Azores Air Transport Station in Azores, Portugal.
Following Don’s honorable discharge from the Air Force, Mary Ann and Don, together with their two sons, Paul and Greg, returned to Chester where Don started his law practice and then became the Randolph County State’s Attorney.
Mary Ann’s hobbies included supporting her beloved University of Illinois, traveling around the world, hosting Bible Studies at her home, attending Broadway shows at the Fox with her friends, reading voraciously, participating in various Bridge clubs, square dancing, skiing and letting people know that she was thinking of them as she sent hundreds of birthday and other cards routinely.
Mary Ann was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Chester and served as both an elder and deacon for many years. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Club and was in charge of the church’s mission projects. In addition, for many years Mary Ann was the Chester Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s annual fund drive and served on the Boards of both Chester Memorial Hospital and the Chester Food Pantry. She also was very instrumental in organizing Hospice of Southern Illinois.
In 2007, Mary Ann was honored to be named as the Chester Women’s Club “Woman of the Year.”
She is survived by two sons: Don “Paul” (Kyle) Koeneman, Jr. of Chester and Greg Koeneman of Chesterfield, Mo.; two grandsons: Christopher (Briana) Koeneman of Chester, Ill. and Kevin (Amy) Koeneman of Leawood, Kans.; three great grandsons: C.J., Danny and Max.
She was preceded in Death by her parents – E.J. and Mary Uffelman, husband – Don P. Koeneman, brother – John Uffelman, mother and father-in-law – B.W. and Marguerite Koeneman, and brother-in-law – Bill E. Koeneman.
Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at the Pechacek Funeral Home in Chester and 10-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church in Chester, Ill.
A funeral for 87-year-old Mary Ann Koeneman (nee Uffelman) will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 at the First Presbyterian Church in Chester. The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer will officiate.
Interment will be in Paradise Cemetery in Steeleville, Ill.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
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