H. Lloyd Choate

Lloyd Choate, 87, died at his home in Cape Girardeau at noon on Aug. 18, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. His wife, Kay, and nieces Agnes Colley and JoAnne Shanks were at his bedside.

He married Kay Kimmich April 14, 1993, and is survived by her, daughter Vicki Hamann of Carbondale Ill.; stepchildren, Teresa (Tony) Thrower, Rhonda (Mark) Ruark and Angela (Brent) Metje of Cape Girardeau; and sister Betty Dewey of Kansas City. He leaves grandsons Darrell Hamann and Josh Stewart and eight stepgrandchildren.

He is survived by his nephew, Dale (Beverly) Choate of Metropolis, Ill.; nieces Agnes (Ted) Colley of Brighton, Mich., Joanne (John) Shanks of Tucson, Ariz.; Emma Lou (Bob) Bennett of Wildwood Fla.; and many other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Suzanne Stewart; his twin brother, Floyd "Bud" Choate; another brother, Leonard Choate; sisters Edith Werner, June Hanson, Lena Vader and Agnes Stone.

Mr. Choate was an esteemed, successful farmer in Wolf Lake, Ill. As well as raising two beautiful daughters, he gave generously to friends, family and community. His membership and service included: Masonic Lodge 111 in Jonesboro Ill., Shriners, Illinois Agricultural and Stabilization Board, Wolf Lake School Board, director of Harrisburg Production Credit Union, treasurer of the Lake of Egypt Water Board, and he was a member of the Maple United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The hallmark of this kind, gentle and very strong man's life was the rare and precious loyalty to those he loved and all those in need. Noteworthy was Choate's extraordinary care and assistance to Helen Gearhart and Ida Choate, stepmother. He was lovingly faithful beyond measure to his brother Leonard and sister-in-law Gladys Choate until their deaths. His life influenced many; he will be sadly missed and never forgotten by those who loved him.

Mr. Choate's family will receive friends at the Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna, Ill., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006, and at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 2006. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral at the Jonesboro Cemetery. Attending pallbearers will be nephew Dale Choate, stepgrandson Travis Thrower, son-in-law Mark Ruark, brother-in-law Ronald Casper, son-in-law Brent Metje, and friends Lyle Reynolds, Whitey Anderson and John Brown.

Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of the arrangements.