Cleo W. Ulm, 93, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 15, 2018 at Oakview Heights Continuous Care & Rehab. She was born weighing less than two pounds on May 26, 1925 in St. Francisville, Illinois the daughter of Herman and Mary Wetzel. Cleo married Charles Jackson Ulm in El Paso, Texas and together they treasured seventy years of marriage before his passing on January 28, 2016.

Most of Cleo’s youth was spent in Richland County on the Wetzel homestead where she attended three years of high school at Lancaster, Illinois and graduated from Mount Carmel High School Class of 1943. She attained some college credits from Indiana University, Charleston and Carbondale College but graduated Suma Cum Laude from Oakland City University in 1962 with a degree in elementary education.

Cleo taught elementary school for thirty years in Wabash County until her retirement in 1980. Cleo loved helping students and was always encouraging her students to do their best. Following retirement, she took up wood carving and loved making a variety of projects especially carousel horses and birds. Cleo and Charles lead a very active life and loved their church family at Bellmont Christian Church in Bellmont, IL where they attended for over forty years.

Cleo will be remembered by her son, Kelvin Ulm of Mount Carmel.

Cleo was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ulm; one half-sister, Zelma Croman and four half-brothers, John, Willard, Earnest and Berry Short; one niece and three nephews, Patty Rogers, Dwight O’Conner, George Wilbur and Charles Short.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a Visitation from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 18, 2018 in the Chapel of Keepes Funeral Home.

Graveside Services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Bethel Cemetery with Pastor David Shain officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made in Cleo’s memory to Bellmont Christian Church.

Envelopes will be at the funeral home or can be mailed to Keepes Funeral Home, 1500 North Cherry Street, Mount Carmel, IL 62863.

Keepes Funeral Home is serving the family with the arrangements. To view Cleo’s tribute wall, purchase flowers and leave condolences for the Ulm family, please visit www.keepesfuneralhome.com