Carl Hermsmeyer (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Carl Alfred Hermsmeyer, son of Charles and Lillie Stein Hermsmeyer, was born September 28, 1928, in Litchfield, Illinois. He departed this life December 9, 2010, in Marshfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years, two months, and eleven days.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joyce Satterly Hermsmeyer; one brother, Ralph Hermsmeyer; and one sister, Ethel Repp.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home; three sons, David Hermsmeyer, and his wife, Toni, Springfield, Illinois, Richard Welch, and his wife, Cindy, Conway, Missouri, and William Leady, and his wife, Tracy, Homestead, Florida; three daughters, Kay Kasten, and her husband, Bill, Petersburg, Illinois, Beth Harmon, and her husband, Bob, Litchfield, Illinois, and Cheri Kuhl, and her fiancé, Terry Roberts, Niangua, Missouri; one brother, Robert Hermsmeyer, and his wife, Dona, Litchfield, Illinois; two sisters, Myrtha Schmidt, Staughton, Illinois, and Geneva Mercer, Spokane, Washington; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchild; as well as a host of relatives and friends.
Carl lived his early life in the Litchfield community. He entered the military as a young man. He spent much of his time in occupied Japan during World War II. After the war, he returned to Litchfield where he opened Hermsmeyer Cleaners. He had a successful career for over 25 years. He then returned to college at first to study the “hypnosis” process but continued into the field of psychology, where he eventually gained his Doctorate of Philosophy in 1976. For a time, he operated his own private practice and before working for the State of Illinois as a prison psychologist and later for the Department of Disability, determining eligibility for Social Security Disability. He had served on the Litchfield City Council and was instrumental in the building of Litchfield Lake. After moving to Missouri, he continued to work for Illinois from a Missouri Social Security office.
Carl loved to work. He also loved working with his polled Herefords. He became an active member of the Phillipsburg Christian Church and enjoyed Southern Gospel music. In his later years, he gained a renewed appreciation for life and especially enjoyed spending time with his grand and great-grandchildren. Carl’s life was filled with many challenges and he worked diligently to meet his potential. He touched countless lives through his career and truly made a “difference” in all the lives of those around him.
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