Kenneth H. Emme

Kenneth H. Emme, 88, of Forest City, passed away at 1:36 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born on December 8, 1936, at home in rural Havana, the son of Henry and Alma (Steging) Emme. He married Diana VanOrman on December 1, 1968, at Forest City Community Church. He is survived by his wife, Diana, of Forest City; four children: Todd (Annie) Emme of Palmyra, MO, Brian Emme of Forest City, Patia (Eric) Havican of Germantown Hills, and Beth (Jason) Lyons of Lombard; five grandchildren: Alexis Emme, Emme and Ethan Havican, Joseph and Rose Lyons; one brother, Robert (Alice) Emme of Havana; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father. Ken was a Havana native and graduated from Havana High School in 1954. In 1957, he enlisted in the Air National Guard’s 170th Fighter Squadron. After basic training, he was trained in jet engine maintenance. On March 30, 1959, he was hired as a teller at Havana National Bank. In 1961, Ken was called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Berlin Blockade. He continued to serve in the Air Force and Air National Guard for a total of eight years. Following active duty, he returned to Havana National Bank as a teller and was promoted several times, serving in multiple management positions. In 1984, he was promoted to President and CEO, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. He retired as President and CEO in 2004 but remained on the Board of Directors until 2020. Throughout his career, he attended and graduated from several banking schools and served two terms on the Illinois Bankers Association State Board of Directors, as well as on the Ag Advisory Board at both the state and federal levels. Ken was active in many civic organizations in the Havana and Mason County area. He was a lifetime member of The American Legion Post 138 in Havana and held many positions over the years. He served on the Spoon River College Foundation Board, Havana Jaycees, Havana and Manito Rotary Clubs, Havana Economic Development Committee, Mason County Farm Bureau, and Central Illinois Irrigated Growers Association. He was very involved in his church, serving on multiple committees and in various leadership roles. Ken was a participant in the WATCH and Cursillo communities, where he shared his faith in Jesus. Ken enjoyed traveling, both in the states and abroad. He especially loved camping with family and friends at Camp CILCA in Cantrall, and Blue Lake Resort in Fountain, MI. Growing up on a farm outside of Havana, Ken always had a deep connection to agriculture and enjoyed collecting antique tractors. He and his wife lived on her family’s farm in rural Forest City, where they hosted countless family get-togethers, complete with tractor rides for the grandkids. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at Hurley Funeral Home in Havana. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manito, officiated by Pastor Matthew Berndt. A brief one-hour visitation will precede the funeral. Burial with military rites will follow at Meadow Lawn Cemetery in Manito. Memorial contributions can be made in his honor to Camp CILCA, Cardiac Rehab at Mason District Hospital, or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Manito. Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”