SAVOY, IL (Chambana Today) – Alice Katherine Bokenkamp, 100, passed away quietly in her sleep on 24 September, 2024 at Reflections in Savoy, Illinois.

Visitation is at 10:00 AM, funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, both on Monday, 30 September, at St. John Lutheran Church in Champaign. Rev. Jeff Caithamer will officiate. Burial will follow immediately at Woodlawn Cemetery in Urbana.

Born in Bunker Hill, Illinois, on July 20, 1924 to parents Reverend Edward T. J. and M. Viola (Rykken) Birner. Alice is survived by three of her four children, twelve grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren. She now happily joins her husband of 72 years, Robert W. Bokenkamp, who died in 2019.

The surviving children of Robert and Alice are Stephen R. Bokenkamp (Lisa Berkson) of Tempe, AZ, Johanna B. Thies (David) of Champaign and Timothy K. Bokenkamp (Jo Ann) of Billingsley, AL. Second son Mark Bokenkamp of Loudonville, Ohio died in 2016 of illness. He is survived by his spouse, Janet Marsano, and their twin daughters.

Alice took great joy and pride in her children and all of her family. It was also a point of pride that she served as the first female senior class president of Mattoon High School. She graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Valparaiso University, and worked at various times as a census worker, as office supervisor for the railroad and for various units at the University of Illinois, and as life coach for her many descendants.

All of her life, Alice was a devout and active servant of the Lord in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. She taught Sunday School and joyfully participated in the social and administrative life of the church. Alice compiled, and had printed in book form, thirty-one of the many sermons delivered by her father, E.T.J. Birner, former pastor of the Lutheran Church, Mattoon, IL, under the title , “ Living Fire from the Forge as delivered by the Blacksmith’s Son.” It was widely distributed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League or St. John Lutheran Church of Champaign, Illinois.

Condolences may be offered at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory.