Obituary of Carl Francis Harke

A Mass of Christian Burial for Carl Francis Harke of O'Fallon, MO, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 6, 2013 at Immaculate Conception Church in Old Monroe, MO. Fr. Richard Rath, church pastor, will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Eric Harke, Ron Harke, Jim Harke, Phil Harke, Jesse Bauer and Craig Jones. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. Mr. Harke, 85, passed away Monday, September 2, 2013 at his home. Born October 18, 1927 in Old Monroe, he was the son of Lawrence and Lucille "Lucy" Wehde Harke. He worked as a farmer all his life. He was united in marriage on February 15, 1958 in Overland, MO to Dorothy "Dot" McCullen. This union was blessed with five children: Doug, Linda, Julie, Becky and Valerie. He was a member of the St. Charles County Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Lucy Harke; and one brother, Robert "Bob" Harke. Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years, Dot Harke of O'Fallon; one son, Doug Harke of Troy, MO; four daughters: Linda Herberger and her husband, Tom, of Wentzville, MO, Julie Stewart of Manchester, MO, Becky Thiemann and her husband, Kirk, of Wentzville, and Valerie Harke of O'Fallon; six grandchildren: Krista Herberger, Tiffany Snipes, Lindsey Stewart, Eric Willburn, Melanie Thiemann and Brianna Thiemann; and three great-grandchildren. He also leaves three brothers: Roy Harke and his wife, Norma, of O'Fallon, Earl Harke and his wife, Betty, of Old Monroe, and Gary Harke and his wife, Ann, of Old Monroe; three sisters: Harriet Bauer and her husband Edwin "Epp", of O'Fallon, Ruth Bauer of Old Monroe, and Kathryn Bowman of Old Monroe; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Memorials may be made to Community Opportunities Assisted Living (Doug's House) in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home; 3838 East Highway 47; P.O. Box 253; Winfield, MO 63389.