- Date Of Birth: November 4, 1930
- Date Of Death: March 6, 2017
- State: Illinois
Quentin E. Valkema, age 86 of Freeport, IL, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017 at the Provena St. Joseph Center in Freeport. He was born November 4, 1930 to the late Harold and Dorothy (Kloepping) Valkema. He graduated from Freeport High School and attended the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana.
Quentin served in the United States Navy, serving stateside from 1951 to 1954. He married Darlene Ann Miller in 1955; she passed in February of 1999. He married Joanne MacKenzie on October 20, 2000.
Quentin had worked at Honeywell/Microswitch for 45 years, spending most of his time in the Aero Space Marketing Division. He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Freeport. He was a Mason at the Evergreen Lodge #170 and a member of the Scottish Rite of the Body of Freeport and was a 33rd Degree Mason from the Scottish Rite. He was also a member of the Freeport High Twelve Club, Freeport Elks Club and of the Freeport Concert Band where he played baritone sax. He was manager of the band for 50 years and served as president of the Freeport Concert Band Inc.
Quentin enjoyed woodworking and collecting light houses. He loved Dixie Land Jazz and would attend the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festivals.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne Valkema of Freeport; son, Daniel (Janine) Valkema of Bolingbrook, IL; grandsons, Hunter and Hayden Valkema; brother, Don (Norma) Valkema of Freeport; and sister, Carol (Stanley) Smith of Freeport. He was preceded in death by his parents; 1st wife, Darlene; son, Jim Valkema; and 1st grandchild, Tyler.
