Gene Holt, 50, of East Carondelet, died July 24, 2006, in Norman, Okla. He was born Jan. 13, 1956, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was married to Donna Holt. Mr. Holt is survived by his parents, wife, children and grandchildren in Illinois and Oklahoma, and all his fishing buddies. Mr. Holt was a pipe fitter for the Chrysler Corporation. Visitation and funeral services were at Dashner Funeral Home in Dupo. He is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Eugene L. Steppig, 79, of Columbia, died July 26, 2006, in Red Bud. He was born Nov. 7, 1926, in Columbia, the son of the late Henry Steppig and the late Catherine Steppig nee Krack. He was married to Shirley Steppig nee Bencher. Mr. Steppig is survived by his wife; daughters Rebecca Ann (Michael) Koon of Marion, Ky., Eugenia (Darrell) Mayo of Columbia, S.C., Barbara (Albert) Fix of Columbia, Patricia Ann (Edward) Reece of Columbia and Marsha Steppig of Columbia; brother Lavern Steppig of Ft. Myers, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Grace A. Steppig nee Kettler, sister Dorothy Hayes and brother Robert Steppig. Mr. Steppig was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. He was a retired general foreman from Granite City Steel and served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Gerry Proctor officiating. He is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ of Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Harry W. Costello Jr., 86, of Las Vegas, Nev., formerly of Granite City, died June 26, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nev. He was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Granite City, the son of the late Harry W. and Winifred J. Costello Sr. nee Judge. Mr. Costello is survived by his niece Marie (Gary) Schroeder of Waterloo; nephews Patrick (Letha) Costello of Metamora and Paul Costello of Waterloo; and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Brother Maurice Costello, and Sisters Marie Bollinger and Grace Costello. A graveside service was held at Calvary Cemetery in Glen Carbon.
Edith Ellen Kopp nee Ellis, 69, died July 27, 2006, in Indianapolis, Ind., the daughter of the late Robert Ellis and Lillian Phillips. She was married to Ervin W. “Fez” Kopp. Mrs. Kopp is preceded in death by her husband and brother Tony White of Sumpter, S.C. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Tom White, Roger White and John White. Mrs. Kopp was a member of the Protestant faith. She enjoyed gardening, flowers and people. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo, Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. She is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Valentine “Rudy” Rapp Jr., 84, of Waterloo, died July 28, 2006, in Red Bud. He was born May 28, 1922, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Valentine and Agnes Rapp nee Wentzel. He was married to Alice June Rapp nee Wendel. Mr. Rapp is survived by his wife; step-daughter Adele Lewis; step-sons Charles Piotraschke and Lawrence Piotraschke; granddaughters Jennifer (Mark) Omohundro and Kellie Lewis; great-grandchildren Alicia, David and Beau; nephews Peter L. (Joanne) Rapp and Roger (Karen) Bresnahan; and nieces Carol (Frank) Zareki and Pat (Jim) Huelsman. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Ether Rapp, brothers Frank Rapp and Peter N. Rapp, and sister Helen Bresnahan. Mr. Rapp was a member of Waterloo VFW Post #6504 and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Patrick J. Brady, 76, of Waterloo, died July 30, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born May 18, 1930, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Michael and Myrtle Brady nee Rode. He was married to Frances C. Brady nee Adamini. Mr. Brady is survived by his wife; children Michael Brady of Oakville, Carol (Mike) Thomas of St. Clair, Mo., Colleen (Tom) Hayes of Waterloo, George (Margaret) Brady of Valmeyer, and Kathleen (Bryan) Hays of Fults; grandchildren Russel, Rachel, Alyssa, Madison, Blair, Carson and Brayden; sisters Alice Pitonak of Granite City and Catherine (Bud) Voss of Granite City; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers. Mr. Brady was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He was a member of the American Legion in Valmeyer and Waterloo VFW Post #6504. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home and a VFW service was held. A funeral mass was at SS. Peter and Paul Church. He is buried at Waterloo Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association.
Mary K. Wilson nee Weilbacher, 50, of Columbia, died June 4, 2006. She was born Oct. 15, 1955, in Red Bud, the daughter of Harvey Weilbacher and the late Bernice Weilbacher nee Helfrich. She married Henry S. Wilson in 1979. Mrs. Wilson is survived by her husband, daughter Katherine Anne Wilson of Los Angeles, Calif.; brothers Daniel (Cybele) Weilbacher of Columbia and Gerald (Patricia) Weilbacher of Columbia, and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia, Fr. Roger Karban officiating. She is buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Cancer Treatment Centers of America of Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Kathleen T. Waltmann nee Albrecht, 73, of Waterloo, died June 6, 2006, in Columbia. She was born Nov. 6, 1932, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Albert and Clara Albrecht nee Hoef. She was married to Clyde J. Waltmann. Mrs. Waltmann is survived by her husband; children Cheryl L. Waltmann of St. Louis, James (Pam) Waltmann of Maple Grove, Minn., and Michele (Joe) Caldwell of Lawrence, Kan.; grandchildren Caryn (Mark) Potter, Melanie Waltmann, John Waltmann, Jacob Caldwell, Courtney Caldwell, Brayden Caldwell and Grace Caldwell; great-grandchildren Dustin Potter and Colby Potter; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Rita Marian. Mrs. Waltmann was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, where she was in the Mary and Martha Society and was a bell ringer. She was a former member of St. Bernadette in St. Louis and was a retired teacher’s aide from Point School in Oakville for 28 years. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. She is buried at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Ss. Peter and Paul School Building Fund.
Nancy R. Weilbacher nee Grant, 59, of Columbia, died June 6, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born Feb. 11, 1947, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late James N. and Dorothy N. Grant nee Kolb. She married Armin Weilbacher Jr. in 1980. Mrs. Weilbacher is survived by her husband, son Hank Weilbacher of Columbia, brothers Don (Rose) Grant of Riverton and Tim (Becky) Grant of Cahokia, and other relatives and friends. Mrs. Weilbacher was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She was retired from Southwestern Bell in St. Louis as a secretary with 30 years of service. She had also worked for Mid-Coast Aviation at Bi-State Airport in Cahokia. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. She is buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception School Education Fund of DeGreeff Hospice House in St. Louis.
David L. Harper, 51, of Columbia, died June 7, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born July 23, 1954, in St. Louis, the son of Inas Harper nee McConnell of Dupo and the late Jack Harper. He married Valerie Harper nee Husted in 1974. Mr. Harper is survived by his wife; sons Matthew (Courtney) Harper of Waterloo and Daniel Harper of Columbia; sisters Phyllis (Mickey) Enboden of Camdenton, Mo., and Paula (Nat) Turdo of Hazelwood, Mo.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, teammates and friends. Mr. Harper was retired from Southwestern Bell in St. Louis as a manager. He was an avid sportsman, loved to fish, and participated in many baseball, softball, bowling and golf leagues. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home. He is buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of St. Louis.
