Lloyd Choate

Lloyd Choate, 87, of Cape Girardeau died at his home at 12 p.m. Friday, 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; a daughter, Vicki Hamann of Carbondale; stepchildren, Teresa (Tony) Thrower, Rhonda (Mark) Ruark and Angela (Brent) Metje, all of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Betty Dewey of Kansas City. He leaves grandsons, Darrell Hamann and Josh Stewart; and eight grandchildren.

In addition to nieces Agnes Colley of Brighton, Mich., and JoAnne Shanks of Tucson, Ariz., he is survived by a nephew, Dale Choate of Metropolis, Ill., and a niece, Emma Lou (Bob) Bennett of Wildwood, Fla.

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

Mr. Choate was an esteemed, successful farmer in Wolf Lake, Ill. He also raised two beautiful daughters, gave generously to friends, family and community. His membership and service included the Masonic Lodge 111 in Jonesboro, Ill., he was a Shriner, Illinois Agricultural and Stabilization Board, Wolf Lake School Board and 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.

Funeral services for Mr. Lloyd Choate will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 21, 2006, at the Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. Interment will be in 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 Whitey Anderson and John Brown.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20.