Thelma R. Meeks

Thelma R. Meeks, 95, of Forreston, IL passed away peacefully with family by her side at Serenity Hospice in Oregon, IL on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Thelma was born on December 9, 1930, in Freeport, IL to Alvin and Grace (Ruter) Julius. She grew up on farms in the rural area of Shannon and then Freeport. She graduated from Shannon High School in 1948.

She married Glenn A. Greenfield on April 15, 1953, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freeport. Together they had three children, Cynthia, Charles, and Debra. They moved to a farm outside of Forreston after Glenn completed his military service. Thelma joined Forreston Grove Church at that time. Glenn passed away on September 22,1958.

She met her second husband through her future sister-in-law at work. On Aug 2, 1963, she married Norman Meeks who she affectionally called “Sport”. Together they had Lisa and Tracy. Thelma was able to live in her home with Norm until the final month of her life.

In her early years, she worked in the clerical field and later worked for Groenewold Fur and Wool in Forreston. Her biggest accomplishment was the great care she took of others, most notably her son Charles (Chuckie). Born with Down Syndrome, Chuckie had kidney failure in 1984 but through her strict regimen of his diet, activities, and love, he was able to live a full life of 49 years, 22 of those years needing kidney dialysis.

Thelma also volunteered her time for many organizations; and, in 2005 she was recognized with the President’s Call to Service Award. She was a Sunday School teacher at Forreston Grove Presbyterian, a volunteer at the Village of Progress and Special Olympics, a long-time superintendent in the culinary departments at Ogle and Stephenson County Fairs, and she served 39 years as a 4-H leader of the Forreston Friskies club. In August of 2012, she was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Thelma loved nothing better than a cup of tea and a game of cards or dominos with friends and her large, close-knit family. Thelma possessed a lot of sass, spunk, and sparkle.

She is survived by her husband Norman, children Cynthia Meeks of Dekalb, Debra Apel of Freeport, Lisa Meeks (Tim Finn) of Raleigh, NC and Tracy (Todd) Walper of Chester, VA. She has six granddaughters, Dr. April Braden (Brian Erickson), Tera (Eric) Elsasser, Ashley (Adam) Boothe, Erin (Matthew) Shumway, Taylor (Jackson) Boerckel, and Kaylee Walper. She has eleven great grandchildren, Van and Archie Erickson, Hazel, Charlie, Noah and Owen Elsasser, Molly and Jack Boothe, Barrett Shumway, Raelyn and Elias Boerckel.

She is also survived by her siblings, June Donaldson, Roger Julius, and Allen (Butch) Julius; sister-in-law, Sandy Greenfield; many nieces and nephews, as well as Ruter and Julius cousins who still gather with 4 generations at least once a year.

Thelma was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Glenn, his parents and siblings, son Charles in 2006, and son-in-law Timothy Apel in 2025. She was also predeceased by in-laws Hollis and Clara Meeks and their children.

The family would like to send special thanks to dear friends Kathy Wilken and Amy Akins who helped make it possible for mom to remain at home these last twenty months. Serenity Hospice Home in Oregon took excellent care of mom in her last three weeks of life.

Memorial donations can be made to Forreston Grove Church, Serenity Hospice Home, and Village of Progress.

Visitation will be held 4-7 pm Thursday, November 5, 2026 at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home - 203 Third Ave, Forreston, IL 61030. Services will be held Friday November 6, 2026 at Forreston Grove Church 7246 North Freeport Rd, Forreston, IL 61030 with a visitation from 10-11am, service at 11 am and burial to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport, IL.