Irene Spilker (80) of Altamont

Irene E. (Schmidt) Spilker, 80, of Altamont, died at 1:16 a.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021 at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 13, 2021 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont with Rev. Dr. James F. Wright officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HSHS Illinois Home Care (Hospice) or Lutheran Care Center. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. It is recommended that CDC and IDPH guidelines regarding Covid-19, including face covering and social distancing, be followed.

Irene was born on Saturday, May 31, 1941, in rural Altamont, to Adolph and Esther (Eberhard) Schmidt. She married Alvin R. Spilker on April 24, 1960 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, rural Altamont. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont. As a child, she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was a graduate of the Altamont High School Class of 1959. She retired from bookkeeping at Effingham Unit 40 after 35 years, from 1961-1996. She loved cats, quilting, camping, mowing grass and especially her grandkids.

She is survived by her husband of over 61 years, Alvin Spilker of Altamont; son, Jerry (fiancé Cathy Wharton) Spilker of Altamont; daughter, Sara (Kevin) Hoene of Effingham; grandchildren, Jordan Spilker, Sadie (Alex) Turner, Cole Hoene, Jared Hoene, and Madison Hoene; step grandchildren, Ashley and Ali Wharton and Justin Fry and step great grandchild, Aiden Holste; siblings, Charlie Schmidt, Lorene (Allen) Schultz, and Dorothy (John) Verdeyen; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Linder) Wendling.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents and brother and sister-in-law, Orville and Ruby Duckwitz. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking here.