Lourene Viola Bastian

Lourene V. Bastian, 81, of California passed away August 26, 2017 after a short illness. She was born in Waterman on June 12, 1936. Lourene was raised on her family's farm outside Hinckley and attended the nearby one-room Fay School for grades 1-8 and then graduated from Hinckley High School. She earned her bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and taught elementary school in Illinois and Indiana before moving to Redlands, California in 1963, where she taught for 32 years at Kimberly Elementary primarily in second grade before her retirement in 1996. Lourene was active in the ministry of her local church for many years. She also served as a discussion group leader with Bible Study Fellowship and also volunteered with Mission Aviation Fellowship. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and other crafts. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Carla and Keith Heal of Fresno, California; a niece, Heather (and James) Kinney of San Diego, California; a nephew Jon (and Karen) Heal of Springfield, Virginia; great-nephews Daniel Heal, Thomas Heal, and Matthew Kinney; great-niece Rosette Kinney; and many cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Louella Bastian. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 20 from 4-8 pm at Beverage Family Funeral Home in Sandwich. Services will be held at 10 am on Thursday, September 21 at Beverage Family Funeral Home in Sandwich. Interment will be at the Oak Mound Cemetery in Somonauk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Mission Aviation Fellowship or World Vision.