Betty Ann Schlesinger, nee Fries, 80, of North Port, Fla., died Oct. 9, 2013, in North Port. She was born Dec. 19, 1032 in Evansville, the daughter of the late Walter and Bertha (nee Dieckmann) Fries. Mrs. Schlesinger is survived by her children, Susan Cline and Timothy Schlesinger; grandchildren, Courtney and Ryan Williams, and Sebastian and Caroline Schlesinger; a sister, Karen Hill; and a brother, Roger (Marie) Fries; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale E. Schlesinger; and a son, Todd Schlesinger. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Schlesinger was buried at the St. John UCC Cemetery in Maeystown.
Ralph "Red" Mueller, 85, of Columbia, died Oct. 9, 2013. He was born Nov. 4, 1927, at Fults, the son of the late Henry and Augusta (nee Hoffmann) Mueller. He married Helen (nee Fischer) Mueller in 1953 in Columbia. In addition to his wife, Mr. Mueller is survived by a daughter, Deborah (Michael) Schuetz of Barrington; grandchildren, Kate, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Patrick Schuetz; and sisters, Pearl Halleran and Twila Hankammer, both of Columbia. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Ardelle Vogt and Mildred Berneking; and brothers, Robert and Nelson Mueller. Mr. Mueller served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Red was a carman with the Missouri Pacific Railroad in Dupo. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Mueller was buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.
Dennis M. Doyle, 65, of Waterloo died Oct. 13, 2013 at St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis. He was born July 25, 1948, in St. Louis. Survivors include daughters, Kari Doyle of Waterloo and Danielle (Brian) Roth of St. Charles, Mo; a granddaughter, Kayla (William) Juenger of Waterloo; his parents, Ivan and Mickey (Gillispie) Doyle of Columbia, sisters, Carolyn (Jim) Summers of Maryland Heights, Mo. and Tammy (Mark) Kohlenberger of Columbia; and a brother, Bruce (Susan) Doyle of Columbia. along with other relatives and friends.Mr. Doyle had been an insurance broker and was a member of the V.F.W, American Legion, and the Paralyzed Veteran's Association. He served as an Army Ranger and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home. Mr. Doyle was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Paralyzed Veteran's of Amer-ica.
Father Jerry Wirth, 72, died Sept. 30, 2013 as he was preparing to get a radiation treatment. He was a former teacher at Gibault and an area church pastor. He had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Father Wirth was born June 11, 1941 in Mt. Carmel, the son of the late Bernard and Pauline Wirth. Father Wirth is survived by his brothers, Paul (Carole) of Olney and their children, Alan and Kristina; Jim (Shirley) of Hollister, Mo., and their children, Jonathan, Kara and David, Lee (Donna) of Darien and their children, Mark and Kelly, Tom (Jane) of Evansville, Ind., and their children, Matt and Joe. He was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Jean. Jerry attended St. Mary's Grade School in Mt. Carmel and graduated in 1960 from St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville. Father Wirth’s college studies continued through his life, including St. Henry College (1960-62), St. Meinrad College (1962-64), St. Meinrad Theology (1964-68), SIUE (1971-74) and sabbatical in San Antonio (1994). His college degrees included a Bachelor’s Degree in the Classics, and Master’s Degree in Social Services Theology (1970). Churches he served included St. Clare of O'Fallon, the Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia (1969-70), Gibault High School (1969-75), St. Rose of Lima in Metropolis (1975-80), St Paul in Vienna (19775-80), Immaculate Conception in Centreville (1980-84), St. Regis in East St. Louis (1983-84), St. Patrick in East St. Louis (1984-94) and St. Joseph in Stringtown (1994-95). His personal interests were swimming, walking, speed walking, biking, skiing, hunting, sports, flower gardening, reading, movies, travel, good food and nature. Funeral was at the church. His body was donated to St. Louis University. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School.
Former Columbia Mayor John W. Coats, 72, died Sept. 28, 2013 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. Mr. Coats had been a patient in the hospital since sustaining injuries in an automobile accident in Columbia Friday, Sept. 13. He was born Dec. 21, 1940, in Belleville, the son of the late Gene J. and Leona C. (nee Bade) Coats. He married Jery (nee Schoening) Coats in 1963 in Waterloo. In addition to his wife, Mr. Coats is survived by his sons, Christopher Coats of Washington, D.C., Kelly (Chris) Coats of Belleville, and Adam (Jeneen) Coats of St. Louis, Mo.; grandchildren, Jed and Ellie, Derrick and Gabby; brothers, Robert W. (Jeanne) Coats of Milton, Ga., and David (Nancy) Coats of Belleville; and sisters, Jean Lee (Leon) Landgraf of Columbia and Bonnie S. Ribbing of Columbia. Mr. Coats had served the City of Columbia as an alderman (1981-89) and as mayor (1989-93). During his term as mayor the sister cities relationship with Gedern, Germany was initiated. He was a member of the Columbia Knights of Columbus - Council 6165 and the Columbia American Legion Post 581. John had worked in pharmaceutical sales with A.H. Robins, SmithKline Beecham and Alcon Laboratories Inc. Mr. Coats was a basketball official for both high school and college games. As a long distance runner, John ran two St. Louis Marathons and had qualified for and participated in the Boston Marathon in 1984. Visitation and funeral were at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating.
Carol J. Daab, 77, of Columbia, died Sept. 18, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Belleville. She was born Feb. 3, 1936, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Royal and Clara (nee Meier) Hoffmann. Carol married Henry W. Daab Jr., in 1995 in Columbia. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Daab is survived by a daughter, Melissa A. Daab of Columbia; and a sister, Marylin (James) Devan of Belleville; along with aunts, nieces and nephews. There were no public services. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the American Diabetes Association.
Paul Philip Althoff, 86, of Waterloo, died Sept. 17, 2013 in Waterloo. Mr. Althoff was born March 26, 1927 in Valmeyer, the son of the late Philip and Eleanora (nee Sensel) Althoff. He is survived by his daughter, Angela (Gary) Most; and grandchildren, Phillip and Olivia Most; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Althoff was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Caroline (nee Rahn) Althoff; a brother, Robert Althoff; a sister, Ruth Anderson; and a sister-in-law, Joyce Althoff. Mr. Althoff was raised in Valmeyer and was the valedictorian of the Valmeyer High School Class of 1945. Mr. Althoff served in the U.S. Army for two years in Wurzburg, Germany. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from SIU Carbondale. He married his college sweetheart, Ethel Rahn, and had 55 wonderful years together. After teaching several years in the Waterloo School District, he was employed for 34 years at Ralston Purina. Mr. Althoff attended St. Paul UCC in Waterloo and was a past-president of the consistory. He also served as a president of the Waterloo School Board and was a Paul Harris Fellow with the Waterloo Rotary. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC. Mr. Althoff was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church.
Doris F. Scherrer, nee Gardner, 82, of Waterloo, died Sept. 18, 2013, in St. Louis. She was born May 22, 1931, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Eddie Gardner and Alpha (nee Keller) Gardner. Mrs. Scherrer is survived by her husband, Francis "Bud" Scherrer; children, Michael (Juanita) Scherrer, Diane Scherrer, Janet (Jerry) Gasper, Susan Hetz, Jerry (Pam) Scherrer and Linda Eggemeyer (William Sharpe); siblings, Mary (Merle) Berglof and Eddie (Lynn) Gardner; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Scherrer attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Ron Weber officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
William C. Reger, 91, of Columbia, died Sept. 20, 2013 at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis. He was born April 5, 1922, in Columbia, the son of the late William and Mary (nee Wilde) Reger. He married Dolores (nee Haessig) Schulte Reger in 1999 in St. Louis. In addition to his wife, Mr. Reger is survived by his step-children, George (Stephanie) Schulte of Davenport, Iowa, Ann (Ed) Crane of Emerald Isle, NC., Karen (Bob) Morgan of Ballwin, Mo., and Mark (Jill) Schulte of St. Louis; 13 step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; and close friends Marty Kaempfe and Leroy Davis; along with nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in law. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Elizabeth Stumpf, Helen Newport and Vera Reichert. Mr. Reger served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He was a retired electrician, having worked with Wilde Radio and Electric, and later with Design Electric in Columbia. Bill was a 55-year member of IBEW Local 309 of Collinsville. Mr. Reger was a local farmer who enjoyed gardening and dancing. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Rev. William Groennert officiating. Mr. Reger was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the de Greeff Hospice House.
Pearl Mehrmann Jahr, 96, died Sept. 23, 2013, Salida, Colo. She was born April 1, 1917, in Monroe City. Pearl is survived by daughter, Sharon Jahr of Buena Vista, Co.; brothers, Roy Mehrmann of Red Bud and Donald (Shirley) Mehrmann of Columbia; and sisters, Patricia (Art) Ford of Red Bud and Betty (Glenn) Foster of Green Cove Springs, Fla.; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother; five sisters; and her husband, Clarence. Private services were held.
