Elma Aleen Voorheis Obituary (1929 - 2024)

Elma Voorheis, age 94, of Bloomington IL formerly of Bellflower, IL passed away surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. There will be a private family graveside service at Bellflower Township Cemetery. She was born in Gridley, IL on August 21, 1929, the daughter of Elmer and Jessie Kiser Bayles. She was married to Duane “Barney” Voorheis, the love her life, for 53 years until his passing in 2003. She endured hardships coming through the Great Depression and WWII. She is a polio survivor from the polio epidemic of 1948-49. She held a secretarial position at the University of Illinois in the Civil Engineering Department where she retired in 1995. She enjoyed reading and had a love for animals, especially horses. She would often recount stories of her prized Arabian horse, Dolly. She created a family life based on her love of family, God and country and imparted values of strength to her children. Surviving are her six children; Duane Voorheis, Dawn (Larry) Daghe, Cynthia Voorheis, Dirk (Carla) Voorheis, Deb (Don) Rusthoven, and Dennis (Christopher) Voorheis. She has 16 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 10 great great-grandchildren, one sister, Shirley Rosendahl, sister in-law, Marie Bayles, and a brother in-law Paul (Linda) Voorheis. She was preceded in death by her husband, one brother, three sisters and three grandchildren. Elma was a member of the Bellflower United Methodist Church, the DAR, and a member and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bellflower United Methodist Church. Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com