Phyllis M. Schenke's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Phyllis M. Schenke, age 93 of Charleston, passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. In accordance with her wishes her earthly body will be cremated and there will be no visitation or services. It is requested that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts in her honor be made to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Gifts are to be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Phyllis was born on September 21, 1919 in Racine, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late Alfred and Milda (Meggers) Langner. She was a 1937 graduate of Sheboygan High School in Wisconsin and furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she attained a Bachelors degree in Speech and Drama in 1941. On April 4, 1942, Phyllis married Lahron Schenke in Madison and she taught at Waldo, Wisconsin while he completed his doctoral degree at Columbia University, New York. In 1953 they moved to Springfield, Missouri where Phyllis taught speech at Drury College. While in Springfield, she directed and acted in many ""Little Theatre"" productions. After moving to Charleston in 1963, Phyllis became one of the founding members of the Charleston Community Theatre and continued to act in and direct community plays. She was also a member of the Charleston Country Club. Phyllis was an avid reader and a lover of animals. She always had cats and dogs as pets and provided a home for those animals who found themselves homeless. Phyllis is survived by her daughter, Pam Atteberry and her husband Keith of Charleston and her cousin, Carol Hartman Turski of Sheboygan. In addition to her parents she was preceded by her husband of 67 years as Lahron passed away on September 23, 2009.
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