By Staff
July 7, 2007
Louis John Walkenhorst, 90, of Phil Campbell, departed this life July 7, 2007. Louis was a direct descendant of early Perry County, Ill. pioneers. His great-grandfather, Henry, and grandfather, John Henry Theodore immigrated from Muenster, Germany in the mid 1800s. John Henry accumulated land in the South Four-Mile Prairie Community, west of Matthews. Louis's parents were John Thomas and Elizabeth Poignee Walkenhorst. Lizzie's parents were John and Caroline Keller Poignee.
Louis was born on October, 28, 1916 on the orignal Walkenhorst homestead. His father had died earlier on April 4, 1916. Louis attended the one-room Walkenhorst School, finishing in May 1928. He married Lorraine Elizabeth Fones March 11, 1936 in Vergennes, Illinois, and she survives.
Louis served with the USN Seabees in WWII in the Southwestern Pacific in 1945-46, receiving the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the Victory Medal and the Phillipine Libertaion Ribbon. He also served with the U.S.A.F. in 1951-52 during the Korean Conflict, receiving the Korean Service Medal.
Louis and Lorraine lived in the same community until 1977 when they moved to Phil Campbell. Louis was retired from the carpenter trade, having been employed by Dunn Brothers most of his career. He had received his 50 year watch from the Carpenters Local Union in 2001.
Louis and Lorraine enjoyed many outside activities and their home/garden displayed their talents. Louis left a hand-written legacy to his great-grandchildren of his early life and the customs of those times.
He was very well-read his entire life.
Louis affiliated with the St. John's United Church of Christ in Du Quoin, Ill. when he was a young boy.
Louis is survived by his wife, Lorraine, daughter, and son in law, Patricia Ann (Robert) Parmer, Phil Campbell; grandchildren, Pamela Jane (Bradley) Korb, Huntsville; Robert Mark (Donna) Parmer, Springdale, Ark.; John Daniel (Vickie) Parmer, Williamston, Mich.; great-grandchildren, William Harrison, Benjamin Robert and John Mark Parmer; John Tyler and Blake Alexander Parmer; Sarah Michelle Korb. Descendants today from these early Walkenhorst and Poignee families include Kohlhaas, Mohr and Winter.
Visitation was Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. at Pyatt-Harrawood Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill. Grave side services immediately followed at Galum Cemetery, Pickneyville, with Rev. Jerry Dunn. Pallbearers were Chuck Carson, Jim Ferguson, Bob Mohr, Mark Parmer, John Parmer and Will Parmer. Pinkard Funeral Home assisted the family locally.
The family would like to send a special thanks to all of those who had a part in caring for Louis during his short illness; friends and neighbors, Lawrence Place Assisted Living, Hospice of North Alabama, Russellville Health Care and Wiregrass Hospice.