Marcellus B. Poettker, 83, of Aviston, died Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at his son’s home in Aviston.  

Mr. Poettker was born June 9, 1926, in Breese, IL, and married Rita Kleffner on October 4, 1949, at the Guardian Angel Church in Brinktown, MO.  She survives in Aviston. 

Also surviving are his children, Lois (Richard) Brandmeyer of Aviston, Michael (Marjorie) Poettker of Aviston, and Mary (DeLaine) Herl of Augusta, MO; four grandchildren, Carl (fiancée Anna Abts) Poettker, Eric (special friend Jen Gabrielatos) Poettker, Melissa (Ron) Tinsman, and Karen (Curt) Jansen; two great-grandchildren, Samantha and Alyssa Jansen; a brother, Linus (Barbara) Poettker of Belleville; sisters, Martha Kleffner of Waterloo, Lucille Krebs of Carlyle, Lillian (Charles) Strube of Marissa, and Jane Kampwerth of Breese; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary Ann Poettker of Robinson, Pauline Gerling of New Baden, Frances Wuebbels of Germantown, Irene Kleffner of Corpus Christi, TX, Henry (Bonita) Kleffner of Jefferson City, MO, Generose Kleffner of St. Louis, MO, Sr. Monica Kleffner, Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Louis, and Bernadine Hughes of Oklahoma City, OK; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Aviston where he was an original member of the St. Francis Men’s Choir, and a former member of the Aviston School Board, the Clinton County Board of Review, and the Clinton County Farm Bureau.   

He worked as a molder, a farmer, and a self-employed truck driver. He was also an avid gardener, card player extraordinaire, life philosopher, and a beloved foster parent for 15 years. 

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jean Marie Poettker; his parents, Gerhard and Bertha (Woltering) Poettker; sisters, Lorena Rolves, Adelphia “Del” Reilmann, Ann Margaret Stanley, and Clara Mae Thole; brothers, Ralph Poettker, Jim Poettker, and Robert Poettker; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Theodore and Theresa (Lischwe) Kleffner; and brothers-in-law, Erwin Rolves, Romanus “Bud” Reilmann, Vic Gerling, William Stanley, Theodore “Ted” Thole, Elmer Krebs, Joe Kleffner, Leroy Kampwerth, Dave Hensley, Norbert Kleffner, Alvin Wuebbels, Lambert Kleffner, Liborius Kleffner, and Gene Hughes. 

Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Clinton County Relay for Life and will be received at the funeral home and at the church.  

Visitation will be Friday, January 1, 2010, from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese and again on Saturday, January 2, 2010, from 8:00-9:45 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Aviston.  A prayer service will be held at 4:00 PM Friday at the funeral home.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 2, 2010, at 10:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Aviston with Fr. Daniel Friedman and Deacon Charles Litteken officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Francis Cemetery.