Melba Nicholson, nee DuFrenne, 86, of Red Bud, died March 18, 2012. She was surrounded by her family at her home. She was born Nov. 16, 1925 in Prairie du Rocher, the daughter of the late Charles and Pearl (nee Longlois) DuFrenne. Melba married Vernon J. Nicholson in 1947 in St. Louis, Mo. He died in 2006. Mrs. Nicholson is survived by her daughters Nadine (Alfred) Keckritz of Red Bud and Sharon Behnken of Ames and her family, Shawn (Stephanie) Behnken of Ames and their children Michael and Amanda, Joel Behnken of Ames, Nick Behnken of Waterloo, Jayson Behnken of Waterloo and Christopher (Jennifer) Behnken of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; and sisters Wanda Gash and Judy Cunningham; along with nieces, nephews and friends. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter Joyce Annette; a son Vernon Jr.; son-in-law Wayne Behnken; sisters Emma Schmidt, Evelyn Nicholson, Alma Swarts and Iva Gash; and a brother, Charles DuFrenne. Mrs. Nicholson attended St. Peter’s UCC of Red Bud where she served for many years as a youth advisor. She was a former Worthy Matron of the Easter Star. Melba enjoyed bingo, playing cards and touring the U.S. on the back of her husband’s motorcycle. Melba and Vernon owned and operated Nicholson TV in Ames for more than 40 years. Visitation is Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at St. Peter’s UCC in Red Bud. A funeral will follow with Rev. William Graves officiating. Mrs. Nicholson will be buried at the St. Marcus Cemetery in Red Bud. Arrangements were handled by Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Kidney Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Durrel E. “Buster” Naumann, 80, of Belleville, formerly of Millstadt, died March 19, 2012 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. He was born June 28, 1931 in Columbia, the son of the late Walter and Cora (nee Reichert) Naumann. Mr. Naumann is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley (nee Williams) Naumann; a daughter, Lynn (Gary) Schwoebel of Belleville; a son, Kent (JoAnn) Naumann of Swansea; grandchildren Cole Naumann of Rockford and Emily Naumann of Swansea; brothers Robert (Clara) Naumann of Columbia, Gene “Bebs” (Carolyn) Naumann of Tulsa, Okla., and Donald Naumann of Swansea; and brothers-in-law James (Barbara) Williams of New Athens, Larry Williams of Swansea, David (Donna) Williams of Belleville and Alan Williams of Florida; along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sons Douglas and Keith Naumann; sisters Marlene Muskopf and Shirley Lloyd; his father and mother-in-law, Paul and Gladys Williams; and sister-in-law, Barbara Vogt. Mr. Naumann was a veteran of the U.S. Army and attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt. Buster was a retired printer, having worked for the Monroe County Clarion, the Globe Democrat and retired from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was a member of Typographical Union #8, a former MCS School Board member, the Millstadt American Legion Post 502, Millstadt VFW Post 7980, Millstadt Commercial Club, Last Man’s Club and the Millstadt Union Fire Department. Mr. Naumann coached for many years with the Millstadt Khoury League. Visitation is Friday, March 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral is Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mr. Naumann will be buried at with full military honors at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or to the American Lung Association.
Mary Ellen Baker, nee Davis, 73, of Waterloo, died March 20, 2012, in Waterloo. She was born July 8, 1938, in Fayetteville, Ark., the daughter of the late John Henry and Mary Lois (nee Garrott) Davis. Mrs. Baker is survived by her husband, Virgil Baker; a son, Larry (Raelene) Baker; grandchildren Leena (Richard) Brown, Laine (Eric) Wegener and Lukus Baker; and a brother, Preston Davis. She was preceded in death by a sister, Juanetta Cottrell. Mrs. Baker was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Visitation is Friday, March 23, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Darren Smith officiating. Mrs. Baker will be buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Marlene Buss, 72, nee Jones, of Red Bud, Illinois, died March 21, 2012 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Dec. 20, 1939 in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Charles and Charlotte (nee Schwers) Jones. Mrs. Buss is survived by her children Kathy (David) Goetting of Ruma, Karla Williams of Freeburg and Kurtiss (Amanda) Buss of St. Libory; a brother, William (Inez) Jones Sr., of Imperial, Mo.; grandchildren Matt (Sarah) Blind, Jeffrey Blind, Sarah Thies, Tommy Goetting, Kelley Thies, Mary Goetting, Grace Goetting, Cody Melliere, Noah Williams, Nathan Thies, Ethan Williams and Ashlynn Buss; and a great-grandson, Brody Blind; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Jones; a sister, Clarice Jones; son-in-law, Mike Thies; and a nephew, Don Jones. Mrs. Buss was of the Catholic faith and enjoyed baking cakes. She was employed for 10 years at Harrisonville Telephone Co. Visitation is Friday, March 23, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Saturday, March 24, at 9 a.m., at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma with Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Mrs. Buss will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Evelyn L. Griffin, nee Becker, 86, of Waterloo, died March 23, 2012 in Waterloo. She was born Jan. 10, 1926 in New Athens, the daughter of the late Charles and Anna (nee Wiskamp) Becker. Mrs. Griffin is survived by her son, Dennis (Sandra) Griffin; grandchildren Jennifer (Josh) Lynn, Tim (Sarah) Griffin and Kevin Griffin (Kaylyn Huebner); great-grandchildren Halle Lynn, Morgan Lynn, Ty Griffin and Lila Griffin; sisters Alice Vogt and Esther Jordan; and brother-in-law Robert (Jeannie) Griffin; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry T. Griffin; a son, Michael T. Griffin; sister, Florence Schmulbach; and brother, Richard Becker. Mrs. Griffin attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation is Sunday, March 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, March 26, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mrs. Griffin will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Oak Hill Activity Fund.
Gloria Jean Hursey, nee Birlew, 67, of Waterloo, died March 23, 2012 in Waterloo. She was born Dec. 13, 1944 in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of late Jessie “Bud” Birlew and Irene Elizabeth (nee Abbey) Birlew. Mrs. Hursey is survived by a son, Chris Hursey; along brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends Katie, Lucie, Sheila, Sadie, Andrew and Dustin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Paul Hursey; a brother, Kenneth Wayne Birlew; and a nephew, Terrance Christopher Hammer. A memorial service will be held at a later date
Vernon Alexander Modglin, 88, of Waterloo, died March 24, 2012 in Belleville. He was born Oct. 6, 1923 in Kidd, the son of the late Lemuel and Lillie (nee McNabb) Modglin. Mr. Modglin is survived by his wife, Delores “Modge” (nee Sczurek) Modglin; children Don (Catherine) Modglin and Cynthia Modglin; grandchildren Fernando Valero, Julie (Bryan) Flatley, Vernon (Allison) Modglin, David Modglin, Benjamin Rongey and Alex Rongey; and great-grandson, Ayden Flatley; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Michele Rongey; sisters Eunice Asselmeier and Susanna Urban; and brothers Myron, Sylvester and Harold Modglin. Mr. Modglin was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation is Monday, March 26, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, March 27, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Modglin will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church, the Monroe County Veteran Association or the Dupo VFW Post 6368.
Dorothy E. Kremmel, nee Bardeleben 90, of Dupo, died March 26, 2012 at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. She was born March 17, 1922 in Dupo, the daughter of the late Henry and Alma (nee Dahmer) Bardeleben. Mrs. Kremmel is survived by her children, Carol Hurt of Dupo, Don Kremmel of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Terry Kremmel of Columbia; grandchildren Neal, Kasmah, Andy, Melanie, Scott and Duncan; and great-grandchildren Lucien, Guinness and Conall. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter H. Kremmel; a brother, Roland Bardeleben; daughters-in-law Peggy Kremmel and Marcia Kremmel; and her son-in-law, Edward Hurt. Mrs. Kremmel attended Christ UCC in Dupo. Visitation was at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral was at Christ UCC in Dupo with Rev. Dr. C. Dwayne Dollgener officiating. Mrs. Kremmel will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to herchurch.
Elsie Wrobel, 92, of Waterloo, formerly of Collinsville, died March 30, 2012, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Aug. 21, 1919, in Maryville, the daughter of the late Louis and Frances (Reschak) Casper. Elsie married William Wrobel in 1945 in East St. Louis. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Wrobel is survived by daughters, Gloria (Joseph) Oggero of Waterloo, Darlene (Russell) Horsley of Columbia and Cheryl (Samuel) Patrick-Gretter of Harper, Iowa; grandchildren Kimberly Lynn, Christopher, Bryon, Alison, Alan, Timothy and Todd; and great-grandchildren Owen, Emma, Karson, Kayla, Kaden, Andrew, Evan, William, Addison, Averie, Vincent and Elena. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Clifford Casper; and sisters Mildred Cramer and Louise Vallero.
Mrs. Wrobel attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation is Monday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. A funeral will immediately follow with Rev. Dale Maxfield officiating. Mrs. Wrobel will be buried at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Cemetery in Collinsville. Arrangements were handled by Lawlor Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the SPPS of Waterloo School Building Fund or St. Anthony's Hospice of St. Louis, Mo.
Roland F. Birkner, 82, of Red Bud, died June 18, 2013. He was born Jan. 23,1931, in Prairie du Long Township, the son of the late Frank and Emma Birkner. Mr. Birkner is survived by his wife, Irma (nee Stellhorn) Birkner; children, Sharon (Jeff) Koester, Rhonda Nobbe and Todd (Linda) Birkner; grandchildren, Nathan Marcheski, Chelsea and Candace Koester, and Reagan and Jayden Birkner; sister, Marlene (Donald) Winkel-man; sister-in-laws, Bernice Salger, Irene Stamm, Lorna (Edward) Schneider and Selma Stellhorn; and brother-in-laws, David Nellis, Alfred (Ruby) Stellhorn and Edward (May) Stellhorn. He was preceded in death by a sister, Edna Nellis; sister-in-law, Anita Salger; and brother-in-laws, Gilbert, Arlin, Friedrich, Edwin Salger and Oscar Stamm. Visitation was at Koch-Liefer Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Expansion Fund.
