Shelly Sue Rasche – Lummis Hamilton Funeral Home

Shelly Sue Rasche, 69, of Camp Point, Illinois, passed away on February 3, 2025. Shelly was born on October 30, 1955 in Decatur, Illinois, daughter of Ralph & Dorothy Sherden. She married Jeffrey A. Rasche on August 8, 1981 in Decatur, Illinois. He survives.

Shelly was a prolific freelance commercial artist whose designs have been published by companies around the world on countless items including children’s books, greeting cards, prints, counted cross stitch kits, plush animals, mugs, puzzles, kitchenware, collectible figurines, music boxes, and more. See www.ShellyRasche.com for more.

Shelly graduated from Eisenhower High School in Decatur, and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, majoring in pottery. In addition to her freelance artwork, Shelly often taught art, pottery, and stained-glass classes to children and adults.

Shelly and Jeff’s rural Camp Point home, known as “Windsong Acres,” is also a wedding and event venue featuring a gazebo, koi ponds, and old barns that Shelly and Jeff renovated together. The buildings are full of Shelly’s artistic touches, from mosaics and original stained-glass windows to ornate Victorian displays. Because of their unique “labor of love,” Windsong Acres has been the subject of numerous TV stories and newspaper articles over the years. See www.WindsongAcres.org for more.

Shelly loved their three sons and savored the chance to do art projects with her six granddaughters. Shelly also cared for many animals, from donkeys and dogs to cats and ducks, all of which often found their way into her artwork. She was a major fan of John Denver, and got to see him in concert several times. Because of her habit of making cakes or pies or cookies almost daily, her father nicknamed her “Bake-a-day Shelly.”

Survivors include her husband, Jeff; one sister Pattie (Wes) Pfeifer of Hollister, MO; three sons Ben (Keeli) Rasche of Chatham, IL and their children Anzley and Aliza; Zach (Kristen) Rasche of Quincy, IL and their children Emma Kate and Elsie; Nick (Michelle) Rasche and their children Adeline and Avery. Shelly is also survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In her immediate family, Shelly was proceeded in death by her parents as well as her maternal and paternal grandparents.

A memorial service will be held at the Camp Point United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 with clergy friends officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 4:00-8:00 p.m., also at the Church. Shelly will be laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery, Camp Point. Memorials are suggested to any of the following: 1) The “Panther Pride Foundation” of Central High School, to add to the existing Shelly Rasche Art Scholarship Fund, 2) The Camp Point United Methodist Church, or 3) Chaddock.

The Lummis Hamilton Funeral Home of Camp Point is handling the arrangements; messages to the family may be shared online at: www.hamiltonfuneralhomes.net.