Leland G. Knobloch, 68, of Maeystown, died March 8, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born Feb. 26, 1938, in Maeystown, the son of the late William and Lydia Knobloch nee Berg. He was married to the late Gloria Knobloch nee Hankins. Mr. Knobloch is survived by his son William Knobloch of Maeystown, brother Vernon (charlotte) Knobloch of Fults, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, niece, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Frieda and brother Sylvester. Mr. Knobloch was a member of St. John United Church of Christ in Maeystown. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Ivan Horn officiating. He is buried at St. John Cemetery in Maeystown. Memorials may be made to American Kidney Foundation or St. John United Church of Christ in Maeystown.
Nellie R. Massie nee Halleran, 82, of East Carondelet, died Marcy 8, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 1, 1923, in De Soto, the daughter of the late Maurice and Dora Halleran nee Adams. She married the late Eugene Massie in 1940; he preceded her in death in 1990. Mrs. Massie is survived by her sons Douglas (Katie) Massie of Decatur, Maurice (Nancy) Massie of Jefferson City, Mo., Stephen (Kathy) Massie of East Carondelet, Ricky (Mary) Massie of East Carondelet, Randall Massie of East Carondelet, and Roger (Cathy) Massie of Waterloo; daughters Brenda (Edward) Kemper of Valmeyer, Cynthia (John) Love of Columbia, Jeanne (Mark) Wagner of East Carondelet, Kathy (Bill) Brooks of East Carondelet; 23 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; brother Jackie (Charlotte) Halleran of De Soto; and sisters Bettie Barumel of Seabring, Fla., and Dorothy Carlson of Sterling. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and one sister. Mrs. Massie was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. She was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star – White Shrine of Jerusalem Harmony Shrine #112. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral services were at First Baptist Church of Waterloo, Jonathan Peters officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Betty L. Leilich nee Woods, 81, formerly of Dupo, died March 9, 2006, in Weatherford, Tex. She was born Nov. 14, 1924, in Fornfelt, Mo., the daughter of the late David and Margaret Woods nee Lane. She married the late Clyde “Lou” Leilich in 1971; he preceded her in death in 2001. Mrs. Leilich is survived by her son Gregory (Martha) Britton of Weatherford, Tex., and Malcom (Lynn) Britton of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren Sean (Jodi) Britton, Ian Buchanon, Lance Buchanon, Kyle Buchanon, Clayton Buchanon and Zachary Britton; great-granddaughter Grace; and brother Bob Woods of Lincoln, Neb. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Gordon Britton, sisters Vernetta Markham and Florence Jackson, and brothers David Woods and Bill Woods. Mrs. Leilich was a retired administrator with Cahokia School District Unit #187. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home. She is buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in New Athens. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul United Church of Christ Elevator Fund.
Milton A. Rippelmeyer, 84, of Waterloo, died March 9, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born Nov. 19, 1921, in Fults, the son of the late Albert and Katherine Rippelmeyer nee Illert. He was married to the late Theresa A. M. Rippelmeyer nee Meister. He is survived by his daughters Gloria Rippelmeyer of Belleville, and Janet Hodges of Waterloo; grandson Jason Hodges of Waterloo; sisters Mildred Meyer of Waterloo, Ethel Luehring of Waterloo, Esther (Ted) Muertz of Waterloo, Loretta Rodenberg of Fults, and Florence Jaenke of Waterloo; brothers Paul (Gerry) Rippelmeyer of Waterloo, and Herman (Shirley) Rippelmeyer of New Athens; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother George Rippelmeyer. Mr. Rippelmeyer was retired from Koerber Distributing Co. He was a member of Metzger-Crook Post #6504. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Nancy Spier-Lee officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and American Cancer Society.
Wanda Lee Ritzel nee Thompson, 78, of Staunton, died March 10, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born Jan. 7, 1928, in Cora, the daughter of the late Joseph and Knettie Thompson nee Qualls. She was married to Howard Ritzel. Mrs. Ritzel is survived by her children Pamela (David) Williams of Staunton, Thomas (Penny) Ritzel of Waterloo, and Timothy (Sylvia) Ritzel of Wentzville; grandchildren Amanda (fiance Jeffrey Miles) Williams, Michael Williams, Bryan Ritzel, Joshua (Kayla) Ritzel, Matthew (Jamie) Ritzel, Ann (Danny) Waln, Heather (Jesse) Heller and Amy Ritzel; great-grandchildren Christian, Jeremy, Zachary, Maybelle, Cailey and Caiden; sister Bonnie (Fred) Schramm of Red Bud; and brother Joseph “Gene” (Carol) Thompson of Vancouver, Wash. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Mrs. Ritzel was a member of Abundant Love Fellowship in Cahokia and First Baptist Church in Waterloo. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Tim Ritzel officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Dolores Frieberg nee Cheek, 83, of Waterloo, died March 11, 2006, in Red Bud. She was born March 7, 1923, in Fults, the daughter of the late Zay and Cindy Cheek nee Fults. Mrs. Frieberg is survived by her daughters Janet (Joseph) Maul of Waterloo and Nancy (Marvin) Schilling of Waterloo; grandchildren Kenneth (Yolanda) Maul, Steven Maul, Susan (Thomas) Koesterer, and Thomas (Stacey) Schilling; great-grandchildren Tyler Crase and Elia Crase; sister LaVerne (Neil) Reeves of Evansville; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Frieberg, brothers Melvin “Bud” Cheek and Robert Cheek, and sisters Mary Kahle, Wilma Mudd and Grace Cheek in infancy. Mrs. Frieberg was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. She was also a member of American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. She is buried at St. John Cemetery in Maeystown. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Robert T. Friz, 73, of Columbia (New Hanover), died March 11, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born May 16, 1932, in Quincy, the son of the late Pastor Gerhard and Grace B. Friz nee Dumke. He was married to Patricia Friz nee Baisch. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Friz wrote a newspaper column for several years on local outdoor lore. He was a retired printer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Mr. Friz is survived by his wife; children Matthew (Stephanie) Friz of Valmeyer, and Joel (Angelia) Friz of Belleville; grandchildren Nathan Friz, Victoria Friz, Lydia Friz and Jessica Friz; brother Richard (Madaline) Friz of New Hampshire; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Friz was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Friz was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Floraville and Zoar Brotherhood. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Floraville, Pastor Matt Friz officiating. He is buried at Zoar Cemetery in New Hanover. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Floraville’s Building Fund.
Kathleen Vogt nee Ruby, 79, of Waterloo, died March 11, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born June 14, 1926, in Burksville, the daughter of the late Oliver J. and Esther Ruby nee Heidger. She was married to the late Calvin “Butz” W. Vogt. Mrs. Vogt is survived by her children Barry (Candy) Vogt of Columbia, Barbara (John) Corey of Waterloo, and Rebecca Manthei of Kansas City, Mo.; grandchildren Tracy, Andrea, Ryan, Natalie, Angela Villanuava, Matt Allen, and Ronnie Manthei; great-grandchildren Aubrey Davis, Evan Davis, Katelyn Davis, Felix Villanuava, Chris Villanuava, Isabelle Allen, and McKenna Allen; sister Lois Allgire; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Mary Jane Eschmann, and brothers Gregory Ruby and Jerome Ruby. Mrs. Vogt was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Catherine L. Branson nee Smith, 88, of Waterloo, died March 14, 2006, in Red Bud. She was born Sept. 30, 1917, in Dixon, Mo., the daughter of the late Charles and Effie Smith nee McKee. She was married to the late Joseph C. Branson. Mrs. Branson is survived by her children Richard (Vivian) Branson of Fults, Clyde (Jeanette) Branson of Fults, Don (Phyllis) Branson of Waterloo, Sharon (Alvin) Mehrtens of Millstadt, Brenda (John) Bueschel of Waterloo, and Gale Branson of Red Bud; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister Bessie Jessen of Valley Park, Mo.; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Paul Branson and sisters and brothers. Mrs. Branson was a member of First Baptist Church of Waterloo. She was on the residence council of the Monroe County Care and Rehab Center. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Dr. Kevin Kerr officiating. She is buried at Waterloo City Cemetery.
Stephen D. Hoefft Sr., 65, of Berger, Mo., died March 15, 2006, in Creve Coeur, Mo. He was born March 8, 1941, in East St. Louis. He was married to Linda Hoefft nee Mosbacher. Mr. Hoefft is survived by his children Stephen “Bud” (Tari) Hoefft Jr. of New Hanover, Cindy Mueller of Prairie du Rocher, and Daniel (Barb) Hoefft of St. Charles, Mo.; step-children Jennifer (Mark) Stutsman of Maeystown, Kristine (Blane) Kessler of Sparta, and Anthony (Kim) Bergmann of Waterloo; sister Ruth (Raymond) Krull of Hermann, Mo.; brothers Michael (Wilma) Hoefft of Campbell Hill, Mo., and John (Phyllis) Hoefft of Fults; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and so James Hoefft. Mr. Hoefft owned and operated Hoefft Auto Body and Repair Shop in Hermann, Mo., since 1983. Visitation was at Toedtmann and Gorsse Funeral Homes in Hermann, Mo. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
