Tony Lee Allen Hamilton, 48, of Waterloo, died Nov. 29, 2014, following an extended illness. He was born Feb. 10, 1966 in Red Bud, the son of Janet and Thomas Todd. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hamilton is survived by his children, Erin Hamilton and Peyton Hamilton; a grandson, Jax Reid; and a sister, Tonya Hensel; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Scott Hamilton; and grandparents, Robert and Bernice Cobb. Mr. Hamilton coached for 20 years with the Red Bud Muskets Youth Football Association. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Myra Gummersheimer officiating. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association or to the Muskets Football Association.
Merrill Baumgartner, Jr., 78, of Waterloo, formerly of St. Louis, died Nov. 30, 2014 in Freeburg. He was born Feb. 9, 1936 in St. Louis, the son of the late Merrill Sr. and Dorothy (nee Kupke) Baumgartner. Mr. Baumgartner. is survived by his wife, Doris; a son, Mark Baumgartner; a brother, Thomas Gardner; and a nephew, Philip Gardner; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was retired from Sears in St. Louis. There was no services. Mr. Baumgartner donated his body to the Washington University School of Medicine.
Brenda A. Gavach, 76, of Columbia died Nov. 30, 2014 at St. Anthony's Medical Center. She was born Feb. 28, 1938, in Muskegon, Mich., the daughter of the late Everett and Eva (nee Stitt) Brandon. Brenda married Carl W. Gavach in 1955 in Muskegon. Besides her husband, Mrs. Gavach is survived by her daughters, Debra (Robert) Hillyer of Cedaredge, Colo., Kellie Graves of Columbia and Toni (Bret) Steffenauer of Columbia; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sons-in-law, Donald Whitehouse and Wayne Graves, both of Waterloo; sisters, Evelyn Wheeler of Cadillac, Mich., and Claudia (Jack) Sturtevant of Twin Lakes, Mich.; and a brother, Robert (Margie) Smith of Muskegon, Mich. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Laurie Whitehouse; and sister, Patricia Hern. Mrs. Gavach was the office manager for 20 years at Steffenauer and Associates CPA's Columbia. Brenda was a past church secretary, Sunday school teacher and youth leader. She was a member of Hope Christian Church, Columbia. Brenda was a member of the Avon President's Club for many years. Her favorite past-times were reading, crocheting, playing Scrabble and crossword puzzles. She and her husband, Carl, were avid Wheel of Fortune watchers. Visitation is Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., at Hope Christian Church with Rev. Robert Hillyer and Pastor Darrell Jones officiating. Mrs. Gravach will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or Life Network of Southern Illinois.
Margaret H. Farley, nee Hager, 88, of Waterloo, died Nov. 16, 2014 in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 6, 1926 in Williamson WV, the daughter of the late Mark and Mary (nee Radford) Hager. Mrs. Farley is survived by her son, Glenn (Barbara) Farley; and grandchildren, Mark Farley and Dr. Norah (Chris) Baker; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brothers Frank and Mark Hager. Mrs. Farley attended St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tipton. Funeral is Thursday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m., at her church with Father John Kizhakedan officiating. Burial will follow at the church’s cemetery Memorials may be made to the Oak Hill Activity Fund.
Thomas A. Schwartz, 73, of Columbia, died Nov. 8, 2014 at St. Anthony's Medical Center. He had suffered a heart attack at home earlier that evening. He was born Nov. 19, 1940 in Eau Claire, Wisc., the son of David and Marion (nee Anderson) Schwartz. Tom married Colleen (nee McMahon) Schwartz in 1963 in Eau Claire, Wisc. In addition to his wife, Mr. Schwartz is survived by his children, Ashlyn (Jim) Trischett of Columbus, Oh. and Steve (Tiffany) Schwartz of Memphis, Tenn.; grandchildren, Logan and Colin Trischett; and a sister, Mary Jo (Paul) Behrens of Columbia Falls, Mont.; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, James Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz was employed from 1966 – 2004 as a cartographer for the Defense Mapping Agency. After his retirement he continued to work there as a consultant. Tom was a past president of the Columbia Bath and Tennis Club. Mr. Schwartz was also a longtime member of the Columbia Public Library Board. Tom was an avid car enthusiast and a loyal Green Bay Packers fan. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Columbia Public Library Fund.
Kenneth W.R. Schmidt, 85, of Columbia, died Nov. 9, 2014, at Columbia Rehab. and Nursing Center. He was born Dec. 29, 1928, in Sugarloaf Township, the son of the late Clarence and Katherine (nee Langhans) Schmidt. Kenneth married Laverne (nee Stumpf) Schmidt in 1952 in Columbia. In addition to his wife, Mr. Schmidt is survived by his son, David (Laura) L. Schmidt of Columbia; a daughter, Susan (Daniel) K. Wilson of Wildwood, Mo.; grandchildren, Benjamin and Zoe Schmidt, and Johanna and Sarah Wilson; and sisters, Darlene (Robert) Sanders of Waterloo and Sharon (William) Fey of New Port Richey, Fla. He was preceded in death by a brother, Gene Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of the Chester VFW and Columbia American Legion Post 581.Mr. Schmidt attended St. Paul UCC in Columbia. Ken enjoyed spending time in the outdoors. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Schmidt was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or Columbia American Legion Post 581.
Carol Ann Bivins, nee Engel, 78, of Waterloo, died Nov. 10, 2014 in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 8, 1936 in Memphis, Tenn., the daughter of the late Frederick and Dorothy (nee Walters) Engel. Mrs. Bivins is survived by her children, Michael (Kimberly) Bivins, Timothy Bivins, Penny (Charles) Hutchcraft, Tina Bivins, Paul (Angie) Bivins, Patrick (Carol) Bivins, Abby (Audie) Prange and Sonny Bivins; a sister, Debbie Cooper; brothers, Gene (Pat) Engel and Darryl Engel; Ayda Mae and 18 other grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael C. Bivins; a daughter, Kelly Bivins; and brothers, Ronnie and Frederick Engel. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mrs. Bivins was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Wilbert O. C. Voelker, 95, of Waterloo, died Nov. 10, 2014. He was born July 12, 1919 in Waterloo, the son of the late Daniel and Edna (nee Hoffmann) Voelker. Mr. Voelker is survived by his children, Gary Voelker (Cena Pogue), Lennis (Kim) Voelker, Don (Jean) Voelker and Gene (Holly) Voelker; grandchildren, Denise Voelker, Andrew (Karen) Voelker, Adam (Jenny) Voelker, Austin Voelker (Taryn Willis), Alex Voelker, Daniel Voelker (Courtnie Niederbrach), Brianna Voelker, Jada Voelker, Matthew (Lauren) Voelker and Mitchell Voelker (Bianca Doherty); a sister, Pearl Hirsch; and sister-in-law, Ada Mueller; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by his wife, Marie (nee Mueller) Voelker; and a grandson, Eric Michael Voelker. Mr. Voelker attended Zion UCC of St. Joe. He was a member of the, Monroe County Farm Bureau, Monroe County Pork Producers and on the board of directors at Monroe Service Co. (former director). Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Zion UCC of St. Joe with Pastor Nancy Spier-Lee officiating. Mr. Voelker was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or to Oak Hill.
Dale Charles Gerstenecker, 87, of Columbia, died Nov. 11, 2014 at the Columbia Rehab. and Nursing Center. He was born Jan. 14, 1927 in Jarvis Township in Madison County, the son of the late Edward Dewey and Edna LeOpal (nee Stark) Gerst-enecker. Dale married Lyla Marie (nee Thurnau) Gerstenecker in 1950 in Troy. She died in 2005. Mr. Gerstenecker is survived by his sons, Edward (Marilyn) Gerstenecker of Vernon, Leroy (Michelle) Gerstenecker of Farmington, Mo., Dale M. (Susan) Gerstenecker of Marine and Darryl (Barbara) Gerstenecker of Columbia; grandchildren, Robert (Tamra) Gerstenecker, David (fiancée Chelsey Byers) Gerstenecker, Gregory (Pey-ton) Gerstenecker, Gail (Brendon) Weidner, Garret (Michaela) Gerstenecker, Gina Gerstenecker, Elyse (Adam) Justice, Kristen Gerstenecker, Nathaniel Gerstenecker, Kara Gerstenecker and Alyssa Gerstenecker; great-grandchildren, Courtney Gerstenecker, Ryan Gerstenecker, Phoebe Gerstenecker, Adina Gerstenecker, Shelby Gerstenecker, Elijah Weidner and Alex-andra Weidner; brothers and sisters, Milton (Ethel) Gerstenecker of Edwards-ville, Frank (Janet) Gerstenecker of Troy, Mich., Evelyn (Duane) DeCota of Sikeston, Mo., Grace Gerstenecker of Troy, Jane (Robert) Converse of Troy and Marjorie Hall of Quincy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Olive Nungesser of Alhambra, Eleanor Pirok of Highland, Clifford (Betty) Thurnau of Edwardsville, Joan (George) Willaredt of Edwardsville, Robert (Dorothy) Thurnau of St. Jacob and Warren Thurnau of St. Jacob; and birthday buddy, Sara. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Edgar (Nell) Gerstenecker; sisters and brothers-in-law, Berniece (Edwin) Heck and Catherine (Clark Lewis) (William) McNivens; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Glenn Hall, Harold (Laurine) Thurnau, Jeanette (Louis) Taylor, Delmar Nungesser, Hank Pirok and Betty Thurnau. Mr. Gerstenecker was a grain elevator manager and retired after 25 years with FS. He raised his four sons on his five-acre farm. Dale was a member of the Woodcarvers, St. John UCC of Collinsville, a Freeburg School Board member, Freeburg Rotary Club, a Life Long 4-H Club leader, Turkey Hill Grange and St. Paul UCC of Freeburg. Visitation was at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville and at St. John UCC in Collinsville, where a funeral was conducted with the Rev. Tony Minear officiating. Mr. Gerstenecker was buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the Dubois Church Camp or the University of Illinois 4-H Foundation.
Wilbert W. Wetzler, 79, of Belleville, died Nov. 12, 2014, at Caseyville Nursing and Rehab. He was born Aug. 8, 1935, in Maeystown, the son of the late Wilbert H. and Kathryn (nee Pape) Wetzler. Mr. Wetzler is survived by his children, Kevin (Teri) Wetzler of Newburgh, Ind., Kent Wetzler of Waterloo, Stacy (Jim) Matulis of Tampa, Fla., Lora (Dale) Stoecklein of St. Louis and Brian (Dawn) Wetzler of Belleville; grandchildren, Jennifer and Jeffrey Wetzler, Sammy, Maddy and Max Stoecklein, Sara and Maggie Matulis, and Rebecca Wetzler; and his a sister, Jackie (Mel) Allscheid of Waterloo. He was preceded in death by his wife, Clare (nee Schmidt) Wetzler (died in 2006). Mr. Wetzler was the director of Junior Achievement in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1960-1966. He then moved back to the area where his was employed by May Company in St. Louis from 1966-1984, and then owned One Hour Sign Service in Belleville. Wilbert was a past treasurer of the Loyal Order of Moose. There were no public services. Mr. Wetzler donated his remains to the Washington University School of Medicine. Lawlor Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Human Support Services of Monroe County.
