Mary Louise Himstedt, 95, of Morrisonville, died at 10:51 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at Taylorville Care Center.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home, located at 304 Carlin Street in Morrisonville. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at the First United Methodist Church,located at 200 S. Walnut Street in Taylorville. Pastor Becky Lembke will officiate. Interment, alongside her husband, will follow at the Morrisonville Cemetery. Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Morrisonville is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Himstedt was born on June 22, 1926, in Morrisonville, the daughter of Albert and Juanita (Malsbury) Dunkirk. She married Leonard O. Himstedt on Dec. 19, 1948, at the Shiloh Methodist Church in rural Morrisonville. Together, they shared 45 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on June 13, 1994.
Mrs. Himstedt was a graduate of Morrisonville High School. She was a dedicated homemaker and assisted her husband on the family farm. Mrs. Himstedt was a talented pianist, cook, seamstress and pieced beautiful quilts. Tending to her beautiful flower gardens was a favorite pastime, along with vegetable gardening; then canning the rewards of her labor. With all of the duties of the farm, she still managed to put her family first in every way. She truly cherished her time with all of them. They never had to question her love for them, as she always made it known when they were together. Mrs. Himstedt’s faith never took a backseat to her household and family duties. She was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church in Morrisonville and more recently, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Taylorville.
Mrs. Himstedt is survived by her children, Sharon (husband, Bruce) Meachum of Seattle, WA, Edward Stone of St. Peters, MO, Glenn (wife, Grace Tryon) Himstedt of Mechanicsville, VA, Dale (wife, Sandy White) Himstedt of Morrisonville, and Kris (wife, Melissa DeWerff) Himstedt of Fairland, IN; nine grandchildren, Lynette, Grant, Jodi, Chad, Jamie, Laura, Jeff, Devan and Garrett; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; siblings, Albert (Pauline) Dunkirk Jr. and Kenneth (Dottie) Dunkirk; and daughters-in-law, Barbara Stone and Vickie Stone.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Morrisonville-Palmer Food Pantry, 309 SE 6th Street, Morrisonville, IL 62546 or First United Methodist Church, 200 S. Walnut Street, Taylorville, IL 62568. Condolences may be left online at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
