Clementine Rokus

Clementine Rokus, 98, of Woodstock, Ill., and formerly a long-time resident of Rockford, Ill., died Tuesday, August 17, 2010, in Woodstock, Ill. Born May 27, 1912, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, the daughter of Wilhelm and Wilhelmine Hasenbein Nunkesser, she married August Rokus on August 27, 1941, in Paderborn, Germany. He died in 1990 in Rockford. Clementine graduated from The Lyceum in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and worked for Deutsche Bank and several firms in Germany before her marriage. In 1953, she and August immigrated with their two sons to the United States to provide a better life for the family than was possible in post-World War II Germany. She and the rest of the family were proud to become naturalized U.S. citizens in 1959. Clementine worked at Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford as an accountant for over 20 years until she retired in 1977. She was a volunteer for the American Heart Association for several years. In 2003, Clementine moved to Hearthstone Manor in Woodstock, Ill. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rockford. Survivors include two sons, Josef (Diane) Rokus of Locust Grove, Va., and Hans (Kathy) Rokus of Woodstock, Ill.; grandchildren Brian Rokus of Alexandria, Va., Greg (Sue) Rokus of Woodstock, Ill., and Mary (Aaron) Smith of Lake in the Hills, Ill.; and great-grandchildren Caitlin Rokus, Jacob Smith and Brianna Smith; and one niece Mary Johnson of Clinton, Miss. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, August 24, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2505 School St., Rockford, Ill., with the Rev. Ricardo Hernandez officiating. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Rockford, Ill. Visitation will be held starting one hour prior to the Funeral Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hearthstone Communities, 920 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, Ill. 60098.