Harry Surmeier
Harry John Surmeier, 91, passed away peacefully at his home in rural Venedy, Ill., on Wednesday morning, March 25, 2020, with his family nearby. Harry experienced the first of several strokes on January 26. In his recovery journey, he participated in rehab at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis and also at Freeburg Care Center. Each subsequent stroke left him with increased weakness, and his goal of getting back to living at his home became a bigger challenge. Nothing could have prepared us for a national quarantine of nursing home patients on March 13 due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. The inability to see him was too much for the whole family, so when he experienced additional deficits on Monday, March 16, he decided he’d had enough rehab and wanted to go home on hospice care to spend time with his loving wife and family in the place he loved so much.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, when public gatherings are once again available.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, 305 South Illinois Street, Belleville, IL 62220. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mollfuneralhome.com.