Alma Lee Wertman

Alma Lee Wertman, 96, of Canton, Illinois, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 6, 2026.

She was born on June 26, 1930, to Albert and Coral Rachel Linn. At the age of eight, Alma Lee survived a severe accident on her way to school when she was struck by a tree limb, remaining unconscious for several days and missing months of the third grade. That same pivotal year, her mother passed away, leaving her father and sister to lovingly raise her.

On September 4, 1949, Alma Lee married the love of her life, John Carter Wertman. Together, they shared an incredible 71 years of marriage built on love, commitment, and partnership. Though she lost her own mother at a young age, Alma Lee became a wonderful, loving mother to her daughters.

Alma Lee was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; her grandson, Cody; and all of her siblings.

She is survived by her three daughters: Lynn (Kevin) Brooks, Nancy (Jeff) Hendryx, and Janet (John Michael) Krulac; seven grandchildren: Nick (Jessica) Brooks, Nate (Sarah) Brooks, Kaylee (Sean) Blair, Luke (Erin) Overcash, Ty (Megan) Overcash, Tess (Brian) Whiting, and Zack (Taylor) Krulac; eleven great-grandchildren: Bailey, Carter, Cad, Linnlee, Briggs, Kenzie, Charlotte, Lennon, Cash, Colette, and Lincoln; her sister-in-law, Pat Linn. The family also extends special gratitude to her devoted caregivers, notably Mary Pollitt, who provided wonderful care to Alma Lee, John, and Grandpa Carter over the years.

Alma Lee attended Bradley University and Western Illinois University. Throughout her life, she demonstrated an extraordinary work ethic across many roles—from working in her father’s slaughterhouse in her youth, to working in bookkeeping at Graham Hospital, and Estes Livestock Sale Barn. Her true calling, however, was serving others. Alma Lee served as a chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Peoria and spent over 50 years at Graham Hospital.

Her life was defined by generosity, leadership, and community service. She was honored as the YWCA Woman of the Year in 1999, served in Altruistic for 60 years, and was a member of P.E.O. Chapter BZ for 45 years. Alongside her beloved husband, she also dedicated her time to mission trips with Habitat for Humanity.

Her grandkids knew her affectionately as "Mimi," and she couldn't have been prouder to be their grandmother. Loving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was truly the highlight of her existence. She was known for playing dominoes and card games and teaching them how to play. Her grandchildren also fondly remember her iconic windbreaker sweat suits and taking walks with her to McDonald's to get her daily coffee. She possessed a famously adventurous spirit. Even in her later years, she fearlessly decided she wanted to join the great grandkids in tubing on the lake…fully dressed in her jeans.

Her faith was the centerpiece of her life. She was a God-loving Christian, deeply involved in her church, who spent her 96 years loving deeply, serving faithfully, and comforting those in need. Beyond her service, Alma Lee loved to pray and enjoyed traveling the world with family and friends—including memorable trips on an African safari, to Paris, and to Norway. The ultimate proof of her love for her family was her loyalties in baseball: despite growing up a Chicago Cubs fan, she proudly switched to become an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan just to cheer alongside her die-hard Cardinals-loving grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, please honor Alma Lee Wertman by sharing God’s love: perform an act of kindness or give to someone in need and ask them to pay it forward. Before going home to heaven, Mimi said, “God has one more thing for me to do.” Her family knows that this will fulfil that wish.

A funeral service will be held at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton, on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. where visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Canton.