Marie I. E. Korte

Mrs. Marie Korte, age 89, of Massac County, IL, died on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at Massac Memorial Hospital.

Dedicated, determined, and disciplined - Marie devoted her life to her family and her farm. For 89 years, she proudly embraced the roles of sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Marie was born on March 4, 1928. She was the middle daughter of five children from Otto & Amanda Hillebrand. After her mother's death at a very young age, Marie and her sisters worked together to help raise each other and sustain their home. Marie remained close to her sisters throughout her life; she looked forward to weekly phone calls with each sister and Pizza Inn birthday celebrations.

Marie worked at the Good Luck Glove Company in Metropolis before she married and started a family. She married her husband of 69 ½ years, Lester A. Korte, on June 4, 1948, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Massac County. They built their first home and started their farm close to Lester's family farm near Mermet in Massac County. She worked full-time as a partner in the farming operation and mother to Steven D. and Larry A. Korte. Marie assisted with all aspects of the farming operation-from caring for young pigs and feeding sows, to driving the grain truck, loading seed in the planter, and painting buildings. It was common to see Marie driving the Massey Ferguson 65 tractor on any given day to move pigs or haul firewood. She used this same tractor to teach each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren how to drive. More importantly though, she also taught each person the value of hard work and devotion to family.

Marie understood hardship and sacrifice. As a child, food and supplies were scarce for her and her sisters. In May of 2003, after 55 years of marriage and farming, Marie and Lester survived the F4 tornado that destroyed their first home and entire farmstead. Marie understood hardship, but she also understood the value of family, friends and community members who volunteered their time to help them restart their life after the tornado.

In addition to the farm, Marie volunteered with projects at church, in the parent group at Jefferson Elementary, and in the local 4-H club. She was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Massac County. Marie was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher for several years. When the current church building and personage were constructed, Marie helped paint many of the rooms in each building. She and her husband, Lester, were also volunteer leaders of the Happy Hillbillies 4-H club for 10 years.

Marie enjoyed many of God's creations, including animals and plants. She always had a special connection with all animals. She spoke fondly of many of the pets that she shared life experiences with through the years, including her loyal dog, Maddie. Every summer, you could find her sitting in the bleachers at the youth fair evaluating pigs while watching grandchildren and great grandchildren at the swine show. Marie also loved to plant and care for her flowers. One of her favorite activities was mowing her yard each week and working in her garden.

Marie is survived by her loving husband, Lester; two sons and daughters-in-law, Steve and Norma Korte of Massac County and Larry and Diane Korte of Virginia; three grandchildren, Darryl and Sheila Korte of Massac County, Daniel and Tiffany Korte of Massac County, and Debra Korte of Urbana, IL; four great-grandchildren, Jakob, Austin, Logan, and Larkin Korte all of Massac County; two sisters, Alberta Verbarg and Florence Henderson; one brother-in-law, Marvin and Mary Korte; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Amanda Hillebrand; in-laws, Dewey and Ruth Korte; sisters, Aline and Clifford Hunerkoch, Blanche and Lindell Bremer; brothers-in-law, Dale Verbarg and Bill Henderson; sister-in-law, Doris and Gilbert Kruger.

Visitation will be held from 9am until 11am on Saturday, December 30th at the Zion United Church of Christ. Funeral services will be held at 11am at the Zion United Church of Christ in Metropolis with Pastor David Krueger officiating. Burial will follow in the Zion E & R Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to C.O.P.E., PO Box 761, Metropolis, IL 62960.

Arrangements are entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis.

Pallbearers: Darryl Korte, Jakob Korte, Austin Korte, Logan Korte, Garry Verbarg, John Lewis, Jim Taylor.

Honorary pallbearers: Daniel Korte, Bill Graves, and John Gipson

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