Hampshire Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 draped the charter this week in memory of former member Doris Mae Klock.
She died unexpectedly at her Hampshire home at the age of 84 on Dec. 16.
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“Klock had been a member since October 1954,” said Hampshire auxiliary member Arlene Reiser. “Through the years, she served as hospital chairperson, conductress, past historian and sunshine chairperson. She collected articles of toiletries, clean men’s clothing, puzzles and other items for the veterans at the Elgin Mental Health Center. She was also very involved in community service. She will be greatly missed.”
Klock was an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hampshire. She was also a member of the Senior Citizens, Hampshire Homemakers, the Garden Club, Book Club and the Red Hat Society. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library in Hampshire.
Klock leaves behind her husband, Arlo; daughters Marla (Bruce) Peterson, Marsha (Carl) VanHooijdonk, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three sisters.
The Hampshire auxiliary mourned the loss of seven members in 2015: Klock, Jean Hunt-Christ, Lucille Connery, Bernice Jones, Helen Munck, Elsie Prinner and Rita Seyller.
The Hampshire auxiliary received its charter in June 1948. Two of its original charter members are Velda Grimes and Sally Seyller.
There are currently 72 members, including newest members Betty Kabance and David Stuehler. As of August, men are now allowed to join the auxiliary.
Some of the projects that the Hampshire auxiliary has been involved in include: sending packages to servicemen, school programs, the Buddy Poppy program, cooling collars for servicemen, and helmet liners for the troops.
The Hampshire auxiliary is currently collecting miscellaneous baby articles to support women veterans at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital.
The Hampshire auxiliary has announced that Hampshire High School student Cassandra Thompson recently won first place for her Voice of Democracy essay at the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary Fifth District Department of Illinois Youth Scholarship Awards Dinner.
Four local area students who competed with Thompson at the Fifth District level were Burlington Central High School student Michelle Fox and Hampshire High students Grace Dwyer, Randall Thiede and Aldron Briones.
Every year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country compete to win a share of the $2 million in educational scholarships.
Thompson will next compete in Springfield on Saturday, Feb. 13. If she wins in Springfield, she will have the opportunity to compete again in Washington DC.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.