EFFINGHAM - Charles Forest Blickem, 92, a former resident of Cowden, passed away at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, at White Oaks Health Care Center, Mount Vernon. Masonic rites and services were private with Lockart-Green Funeral Home, Cowden, in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Jay Huddleston officiated. Burial was in Mound Cemetery, Cowden. Condolences may be left online at www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com. "Charlie" was born in Plymouth County, Iowa, on May 16, 1918, the sixth of 12 children born to Elihu E. and Grace Ellen Riley Blickem. He married Myrtle Mae Beck on July 29, 1940, in St. Charles, Mo., and she preceded him in death March 25, 1998. He was an expert welder, owning and operating a blacksmith business in Cowden in the 1950s. He was later employed in the engineering department of Oliver Corporation, Shelbyville. He retired as a pipeline welder for ADM in Decatur. He was a member of the Baptist Church, a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Greenland Lodge 665 for 66 years. He was a Shriner out of the Ainad Temple in East St. Louis. Surviving are his children, Victor Blickem (wife, Julie) of Cambridge, England, Judi (husband, Don) Musser of Pocahontas, Ark., and Susan (husband, Gary) Myers of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Michael (wife, Lisa) Musser of San Antonio, Shane (wife, Kelly) Musser of Austin, Texas, Branden (wife, Shawna) Stombaugh of Rayville, Mo., Carrie (husband, James) Cooper of Paragould, Ark., Chelsea (husband, Craig) Ashby of New Zealand, Lindsey (wife, Helen) Blickem, Christian (wife, Sarah) Blickem, Emily Blickem and Will Davis, all of England; and 12 great-grandchildren. Charlie was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, one grandson, his parents, five brothers and four sisters