Richard Louis Balke, 84

Richard Louis Balke, 84, of Cole Camp, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 19, 2015, at his home.  He was born on November 24, 1930, at Cole Camp, Missouri, a son of Louis Oliver and Gertrude Mae (Spry) Balke.

He attended grade school and high school in Cole Camp.  On March 25, 1945, he was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cole Camp.

On August 9, 1948, in Harrisonville, Arkansas, he was united in marriage to Betty June Kreisel, who survives of the home.  This union was blessed with the gift of three children:  Richard Wayne, Carolyn Mae, and Donald Dean.  They moved to Greenridge, and in 1954, moved to Cole Camp.

Richard had a truck hauling history, hauling gravel for Junge Brothers, hauling asphalt for Menefee and Marcum, and hauling hay to many farmers.  He worked the harvest of 1952 in Kansas and helped on the Balke dairy farm, planting and cutting silage.  In his later years, he owned John's Used Cars.

He made many memories with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He gave each of them a special nickname, the last nickname was given to his great-great-granddaughter, Crumpgrinder.

Besides his wife, he is survived by:
his daughter, Carolyn Mae (Balke) Kreissler-Adkins and husband Steven of Olathe, Kansas;
his son, Richard Wayne Balke and wife Ruth of Cole Camp;
seven grandchildren, Jerry Kreissler and Mary, Jodi McCubbins and Tim, Jeana Viebrock and Jason, Jamey Kreissler, Jolene Balke and Gary Potts, Jennifer Kreissler-Gott and Josh, and Justin Balke;
fifteen great-grandchildren, Dusty McCubbins, Zachary McCubbins, Taylor Viebrock, Adrian Viebrock, Dalton Viebrock, Dale Viebrock and Kelly, Ciara Kreissler, Clayton Kreissler, Desi Spry, Charlie Spry, Tyler Kreissler, Jenson Gott, Daisy Edgar, L. J. Edgar, and Kayden Edgar; and
one great-great-granddaughter, Leigha Viebrock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Gertrude Balke and his son, Donald Dean Balke.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, with Pastor Jeffrey Kuddes officiating.  Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Friday at the church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Benton County Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Kreissler, Jamey Kreissler, Justin Balke, Tim McCubbins, Jason Viebrock, Dusty McCubbins, Clayton Kreissler, Zachary McCubbins, and Tyler Kreissler.