Veronica M. Kettler, nee Ehrstein, 90, of Millstadt, died May 4, 2013, at her residence. She was born Oct. 14, 1922 in Stookey Township, the daughter of the late Anthony and Rosa (nee Leingang) Ehrstein. Mr. Kettler is survived by her daughters, Rosemarie (Douglas) Mudd of Prairie du Rocher, Barbara (Elmer) Becherer of Trenton, Bernice (Albert Macy) Puckett of Columbia, Jo (Butch) Krieg of Belleville and Melinda (Larry) Nobe of Venedy; along with 19 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry H. Kettler; sons, Donald H. Kettler and David Kettler; and her brother, Anthony Ehrstein. Mrs. Kettler had worked at Peter Pants Factory in Belleville and later at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. She attended St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, where she was active in the Altar Sodality. Veronica loved to quilt, enjoyed working in her flower garden and playing cards. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was Wednesday, May 8 at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt with Rev. Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. Mrs. Kettler was buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to her church or Vitas Hospice.
Edward J. Mergen, 81, of Waterloo, died May 4, 2013, in St. Louis. She was born March 14, 1932 in Sedalia, Mo., the son of the late Joseph and Pearl (nee Logan) Mergen. Mr. Mergen is survived by his wife, Bette Jo (nee Touchette) Mergen; children, Steve Mergen and Kathy (Richard) Boedy; step-children, Wayne (Tammi) Christ, Bob (Lisa) Christ, Dale Christ, Mary Beth (Jeff) Stinnett, Janice Kayser and Gary Christ; and a sister, Marge Ann (Buel) Watts; along with 14 step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia (nee Thompson) Mergen; and a brother, Charles Mergen. Mr. Mergen was a member of the Elks. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral immediately followed with Pastor Ron Weber officiating. Mr. Mergen was buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery.
Harold E. Ries, 81, of Waterloo, died May 7, 2013. He was born Aug. 13, 1931, in Columbia, the son of the late Edwin George and Frieda Maria (nee Gummersheimer) Ries. Mr. Ries is survived by his wife, Imogene (nee Schmitz) Ries; children, Bret (Tami) Ries, Brenda (Bill) Lanman, Barbara Ries (Bryan Garcia), Beverly (Kevin) Layton and Bonnie Ries (Robert Haudrich); grandchildren Jeffrey Ries, Amanda (Quinn) Huber, Rebecca Ries, Jamie Lanman and Rachel and Elizabeth Layton; brothers Harvey Ries and Marvin (Rosalie) Ries; and sisters Lucille (Lavern) Lang and Loretta (Joe) Vogt; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Marion Ries; and brother-in-law, Homer Stemler. Mr. Ries attended St. Paul UCC and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He retired from Union Electric as a unit operations engineer (Meramec plant) after 29 years of employment. He was a member of the Maeystown Sportsman's Club, the Waterloo Sportsman's Club, Waterloo IOOF 27 and played in kloepper clubs at JV's, Acorns and Willie’s West End. Harold also enjoyed fishing and gardening. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral immediately followed with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Russell Lee Row Sr., 82, of Waterloo, died May 10, 2013. He was born Nov. 9, 1930, in St. Joseph, Mo., the son of the late Orvis and Velda Mae (nee Dhone) Row. He married Patricia Ann (nee Dougherty) Row in 1954. She died in 2010. Mr. Row is survived by his children, Theresa Ann (George) Blasé, Thomas Edward (Pam) Row, Russell Lee (Patricia) Row Jr., Daniel James (Debra) Row, Susan Marie Row (Rob Hyatt), Shawnn Rennee (Charles) Green and Kristen Mary Row; grandchildren, Blake Robert Blase, Anna Carlene Row, Sara Jo Withers, Riley (Marilyn) Withers, Kyle Russell (Clare) Row, Brett William Row, Nicholas Patrick Row, Dustin Leighton Row, Samuel Albert Row, Lucas Daniel Row, Shawnn Patrick Row, Jason Lee Rheinecker, Aaron Michael Rheinecker, Philip Lee Rheinecker, Daniel Patrick Green, Russell Leighton Green, Joseph Charles Green, Sean Luke Green, Olivia Kathleen Peifer and Quinlin Jacob Peifer; great-grandchildren, Luke Green, Olivia Kathleen Peifer, Quinlin Jacob Peifer, Emilin Drew Row, Adelaide Barnett Blasé, Charlie Leighton Row, Eva Lyn Row, Jordan Withers and Mya Withers; a brother, William (Gail) Row; sisters-in-law, Delores (Doughtery) Cysewski; and brothers-in-law, Delores (Doughtery) Cysewski, Neil Johnson and Clifton Patrick Dougherty; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Row served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He enlisted in 1949 and served for three years as a radar man on the U.S.S. Boxer CVA-21. During his service, Mr. Row was awarded seven campaign ribbons. After he returned home, Mr. Row was a life member of Waterloo VFW Post 6504. Russ was employed for 43 years as a carpenter, estimator and construction superintendent for Century Construction Co., in Kansas City, Mo., the Architectural Association, Kozeny-Wagner Construction, H.H. Hall Construction and Keeley Bros. Contracting. Mr. Row was a member of Carpenters Local 169 (now Local 662). Mr. Row attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Row was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Inez Counce, nee Williams, 91, of Columbia, formerly of Dupo, died April 27, 2013, at Oak Hill Care Center. She was born Jan. 18, 1922, in Murphysboro, the daughter of the late James Earl and Ethel Lucille (nee Wiseman) Williams. Inez married Oren B. Counce in 1940 in Perryville, Mo. He died in 1996. Mrs. Counce is survived by her sons Ronald Counce of Madison, Ala., Bruce (Joanne) Counce of Columbia and Richard (Kaye) Counce of Pooler, Ga.; grandchildren Julie (Scott) Rodemich, Robyn (Kevin) McCarty, Amy (Charles) Smith and Peter (Jaime) Counce of Columbia; and eight great-grandchildren In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Lavern, Ross and Eugene Williams; and a daughter-in-law, Marty Counce. Mrs. Counce attended the First Baptist Church of Dupo. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star - Pride of Green Lodge 932 and the Dupo Ladies' Trainmen Auxiliary. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Rev. Gerald Phillips officiating. Mrs. Counce was buried at the Valhalla Gardens Of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the Hope Institute or St. Paul UCC in Columbia.
Blanche Marie Schneider, nee Yarbrough, 80, of Columbia, died April 20, 2013, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Feb. 3, 1933, in Richwoods, Mo., the daughter of the late Charles Sr. and Minerva (nee Nickelson) Yarbrough. Blanche married Robert E. Schneider in 1951 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Schneider is survived by her daughters, Susan (Larry) Doiron of Waterloo and Barbara (Robert) Vernier of Waterloo; grandchildren Scott (Kimberly) Doiron, Alisha (Eric Stegall) Doiron and Taylor, Hannah and Haley Vernier; a great-grandchild, Ethan Doiron; sister, Bertha (Leroy) Hoffmann of Columbia; and brothers-in-law, Vernon (Nadine) Schneider and Walter (Mila) Schneider. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Carol Jean; siblings Joseph Yarbrough, Helen Kerbel, Ruth Tauber, Charles Yarbrough Jr., Robert Yarbrough, Alvin Yarbrough and Rolan Yarbrough (in infancy). Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mrs. Schneider was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church’s building fund.
Agnes Barrett, nee Campbell, 91, of Columbia, died April 19, 2013, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Jan. 31, 1922, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (nee Jokerst) Campbell. Agnes married Leonard M. Barrett in 1938 in Union, Mo. He died in 1980. Mrs. Barrett is survived by her sons Edward (Peggy) Barrett of Glen Carbon, Ronald (Linda) Barrett of Belleville and Dennis Barrett of Canon City, Colo.; grandchildren Sheryl (Bob) Ragsdale, Dana (Charlie Sadler) Barrett and Melanie (Tim) Zoellick; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sisters Janet Campbell and Rosalee Payne; and a brother, Jules Campbell. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters Edna Webster and Mary Silsby; brothers Sam and Eugene Campbell; and grandchildren James and Michael Barrett. Mrs. Barrett was a retired personal shopper at Stix, Baer and Fuller in St. Louis, Mo. Agnes was a member of the Columbia American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary and a former president of the Columbia Senior Citizens. She enjoyed square dancing, volunteering and supporting veteran's organizations. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Private graveside services were at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Gateway Chapter.
Velma Budde, nee Lowery, 93, of Columbia, died April 22, 2013, at Columbia Rehab and Nursing Center. She was born May 28, 1919, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Joseph and Ella (nee Wiesner) Lowery. She married Raymond A. Budde in 1943 in Belleville. He died in 2004. Mrs. Budde is survived by her son, Michael (Vivian) Budde of Columbia; grandsons, Gregory Budde and Jeffrey (Laura) Budde; great-grandchildren, Justin, Cole and Kyle Budde; a brother, Joseph (Betty Jo) Lowery of Shiloh; and a sister, June Wuller of Belleville; along with nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Lowery; and sisters, Jeannie Mann, and Verna “Rink” Wuller. Mrs. Budde attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She was a member of the Columbia Senior Citizens. Velma was a retired bookkeeper at Meyer Oldsmobile in Belleville. Funeral was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Budde was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Building Fund.
Robert Falkner, 42, of Valmeyer, died April 22, 2013, at his home. He had been battling heart ailments. He was born May 1, 1970, in Red Bud, the son of John and Gale Falkner. Mr. Falker is survived by his wife, Michelle (nee Muertz) Falker; a son, Chase Falkner; and a sister, Lori (Brian) Weltig; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his in-laws, George and Treva Muertz; and his grandmother, Cathreen Lambert. Mr. Falkner was a member of Teamsters Local 600. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A service followed with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Memorials may be made to the Chase Falkner Education Fund.
Catherine R. Braun, nee Rettinghouse, 57, of Hecker, died April 22, 2013, at her home. She was born Dec. 1, 1955, in Red Bud, the daughter of Loretta Hudson and the late Melvin L. Rettinghouse. Besides her mother, Mrs. Braun is survived by her husband, Stephan Braun; children, Julie Braun and Stephen M. (Amanda) Braun; a grandchild, Wyatt Braun; and a sister, Dawn (Kirk) Ritzel; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a brother, Melvin E. Rettinghouse. Mrs. Braun attended St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker. She was a former Hecker village clerk and was the manager of William Braun Milk Hauling. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker with Father Von Deeke officiating. Memorials may be made to her church or to the American Cancer Society.
