Published on July 29, 2025 3:48 pm
Last Updated on July 29, 2025 3:48 pm
Christine Theresa Litzelman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend,
passed away peacefully on July 27th, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She
was 82 years old.
Born on January 10, 1943, to Edward and Emma Zumbahlen, Christine was raised with
strong family values and a deep appreciation for hard work. As a teenager, she began
working at the Newton Press-Mentor and served as a bookkeeper for the local police
magistrate, setting the tone for a lifetime of service and dedication to her community.
After graduating from Newton Community High School, she continued her career in
bookkeeping at the Effingham Equity. Later in life, Christine answered a new calling,
serving as a 911 dispatcher for 10 years. She was eventually sworn in as a deputy and
went on to become secretary for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, a testament to
her resilience, sharp mind, and unwavering sense of duty.
Christine married the love of her life, Donald Litzelman, on February 17, 1962. Together
they built a beautiful life and raised four children: James Litzelman of Arlington, VA;
Cheryl Orlet of St. Louis, MO; Susan McClurg of Edwards, CO; and Tony Litzelman of
Ste. Marie, IL. She was a devoted and doting grandmother to her nine grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren, each of whom brought immense joy to her life.
She was proceeded in death by her husband of more than 60 years, Donald, brothers
Arthur, Vincent, Cletus, Sylvester and Leonard Zumbahlen, and sisters Clara Brummer,
Rosemary Bergbower, Marian Weishaar and Marie Dust. She is survived by brother
Elmer Zumbahlen, and sisters Estella Deters and Irene Correll.
Christine had a gentle spirit and a nurturing soul. She found joy in the simple pleasures:
fishing on quiet mornings, traveling to new places, trying new foods, and watching the
sun set over the family farm. Her home was always warm and welcoming, filled with the
aromas of her home cooking and baking. Her handwritten letters and cards were
treasured gifts to those lucky enough to receive them, filled with heartfelt words and her
unmistakable warmth.
Her legacy lives on in the traditions she lovingly passed down, including family meals
that gathered generations around the table, the art of growing vegetables and tending to
blooming flowers, and the irreplaceable feeling of being cared for under her roof.
In her final years, Christine enjoyed the peace and beauty of rural life from her favorite
rocking chair on the porch, watching the comings and goings on the farm and feeding
her beloved hummingbirds in the summer.
Christine will be remembered not only for the love she gave so freely, but also for the
grace, wisdom, and quiet strength she brought to every chapter of her life. She made
every visit to the farm unforgettable, every meal a celebration, and every moment with
her family something to be cherished.
She will be deeply missed and forever loved.
Services to celebrate Christine’s life will be held on Friday August 29 at 10:30 am at St.
Mary’s Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, IL.
Memorial gifts to honor Christine may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be offered at www.crainfuneral.com.