Carlene Frances Waack

Carlene Frances (Wellman) Waack was born to life January 12, 1930. Born to eternity February 20, 2022. She lived a full and faithful 92 years.

Carlene was the second child of Wilbur Francis and Louise Frances (Schreacke) Wellman. On February 18, 1956 she was united in marriage to Bobbe Lee Waack at St. Boniface Church in Quincy, Illinois. He preceded her in death May 21, 2003.

Carlene graduated from Payson (Illinois) Seymour High School in 1948. She was a high school cheerleader cheering on her beau, Bobbe Lee Waack, who played basketball, baseball and ran track.

She learned to sew at a young age and told stories of how she made clothes for her home ec. teacher.  She was an active 4-H member and attended National 4-H Club Congress representing Adams County Illinois. She continued perfecting her sewing skills designing and making many wedding dresses after graduating from high school. She edged her own lace for these gowns and kept a scrapbook of each one she made. She taught her three daughters all the fine arts of designing, fitting patterns and sewing.

Her Catholic faith is what Carlene will be most remembered for. Praying the Holy Rosary, Novenas, attending Adoration, daily Mass and Holy Eucharist was her living example of her faith. She had a special devotion to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and she honored St. Anthony on Tuesdays.

Her greatest joy was her family, especially her “Grands” and “Greats” (grandchildren). She loved teaching them how to bake pies, crochet, sew and telling them stories of her life and spent countless hours rocking her “babies.”

She was a member of the St. Mary’s Altar Society, 4-H Leader for over 45 years, Great River Genealogical Society in Quincy, Red Hat Club, volunteered at the nursing home, and would babysit for the parents at CCD.

She is survived by a son and three daughters; Kevin (Debbie) Waack, Hannibal; Nancy (Paul) Jarboe, Clarence; Diane (Jim) Chinn, Clarence; and Susan Hillard, Clarence. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Stephen (Elizabeth) Wright, Lance (Heather) Waack, Jason Waack, Camissa (Chad) Hummel, Anthony (Kara) Jarboe, Danielle (Andy) Weise, Amy (Brian) Jolly, Emily (Tim) Maddex, Daniel Chinn, Brandon (Racheal) Waack, Heather (JD) Ragar, Megan (Daniel) Crawford, Nathan (Brooke) Hillard, Coltin Hillard; 23 great-grandchildren: Annabelle and Bennett Waack, Leeam Waack, Ella and Lauren Hummel, Rylin Jarboe, Auston, Amaya, Jocelyn and Owen Weise, Isaiah, Braydon and Ava Jolly, Kaelyn, Kinley and Porter Maddex, Gage, Chase and Owen Ragar, Brayton and Brody Waack, Keegan and Harper Crawford.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Bruce Waack; grandson, Gary Waack; two sisters, Florence Obert and Bernice Petro; and brother, John Wellman.

Visitation was from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 27 at Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina with a Holy Rosary at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Mass was at 10 a.m. Monday, February 28 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shelbina. Burial was at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery or Neighbors Helping Neighbors.