Curtis J. Bachelier, 85, of Columbia, died April 8, 2013 at Columbia Rehab and Nursing Center. He was born March 29, 1928, in Prairie Du Rocher, the son of the late Prosper and Ada Mary (nee Godier) Bachelier. Curtis married Verna (nee Buettner) Bachelier in 1953 in Columbia. She died in 2004. Mr. Bachelier is survived by his daughters, Joydean (Rick) Beatty and Lynn McAuliffe, both of Columbia; and grandchildren, Mallory and Michael Beatty, Molly (Grant) Gvozdich and Artie McAuliffe. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Jacqueline Vogt and Marie Hooten; and brothers, Myron, Ronald and Willard Bachelier. Mr. Bachelier served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a retired supervisor at Banner Iron Works in St. Louis. Curtis was a certified landscaper and had worked at several local nurseries and golf courses. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, working outdoors, rooting on the St. Louis Cardinals and playing the harmonica. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mr. Bachelier was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Melba Riechmann, nee Ritzel, 90, of Waterloo, died April 9, 2013, in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 19, 1922, in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late George and Marie (nee Roever) Ritzel. Mrs. Riechmann is survived by her children, Jane (Patrick) McCarthy and John (Patricia) Riechmann; grandchildren, Daniel (Gayle) McCarthy, Michael (Kristin) McCarthy, Mary (Ben) Neff, William (Jamie) Riechmann and Kate (Brad) Edler; great-grandchildren Alyssa, Mallory and Isabelle McCarthy, Morgan and Riley McCarthy, Troy and Drew Neff, Evan and Lily Riechmann and Levi Edler; step-great-grandchild, Cole Matzenbacher; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Paul and Sarah Ritzel, and Roy and Alberta Riechmann; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard "Pete" Riechmann; and siblings, Ruth Kohnz, Margaret Olinger and Howard Ritzel. Mrs. Riechmann attended St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer, where she was a former president of the St. Anne's Altar Society, former president of West Deanery Council of Catholic Women and a member and former regent of Daughters of Isabella. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mrs. Riechmann was buried at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to masses or the building fund at St. Mary Catholic Church.
Donald L. Heck, 57, of Waterloo, died April 10, 2013, at his residence. He was born Feb. 18, 1956, in Waterloo, the son of Margaret Heck and the late Leo H. Heck. In addition to his mother, Mr. Heck is survived by his children, Jennifer Heck, Jacob Heck and Christopher Heck; a sister, Jeanette Gazda; and a brother, Thomas Heck; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was the owner of Don Heck Heating and 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 Ronald Weber officiating. Mr. Heck was buried at the church’s cemetery.
Alma F. Juelfs, nee Hern, 96, of Waterloo, died April 14, 2013 in Waterloo. She was born June 9, 1916, in Fults, the daughter of the late Henry and Louisa (nee Klamp) Hern. Mrs. Juelfs is survived by a daughter, Delores (Gene) Worley; grandchildren, Michael Worley, Douglas Worley, Elaine Byer, Daniel Worley, Darren Worley, Brad Juelfs and Colleen Johanning; great-grandchildren, Scott and Luke Worley, Caitlyn and Charles Byer, Wade Worley, Leah Worley, Henry Worley, Lydia and Nathan Johanning, and Colten and Clayton Juelfs; sisters, Seta Easton, Priscilla Bancroft and Alice Newland; and a brother, Elliot (Linda) Hern; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo H. Juelfs; a son, Glenn Juelfs; great-grandsons, Eric Worley, Cameron and Cale Johanning; brothers, Wilbert, Calvin and Elmer Hern; and two siblings in infancy. Mrs. Juelfs was a charter member of the Renault Assembly of God Church and a former member of the Victory Fellowship Church in Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Stephen Livengood officiating. Mrs. Juelfs was buried at the St. John Cemetery in Fults.
Frank Sondag Jr., 86, of Valmeyer, died April 14, 2013, in Waterloo. He was born Dec. 6, 1926, in Valmeyer, the son of the late Frank Sr. and Ida (nee Mitweide) Sondag. Mr. Sondag is survived by his nieces and nephews, Mike (Corrine) Sondag, Dan (Patsy) Sondag, Ken Sondag, Paulette (Allan) Englerth, Carol Jean (Mark) Pinkerton and Diane (Mark) Gorris; and sisters-in-law, Clara Sondag and Mabel Offermann; along with great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by brothers, Paul and Gene Sondag. Visitation was Monday, April 15, from at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was Tuesday, April 16 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mr. Sondag was buried at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill Senior Center in Waterloo.
Betty Anne (Hubbs) Houseknecht, 78 years, of Belleville, and formerly of Columbia, died June 26, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born May 9, 1932, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Harry and Della Mae (Green) Hubbs. Mrs. Houseknecht is survived by her son, Jim Houseknecht of Waterloo; a daughter, Ellen (Jeff) Grueninger of Columbia; grandchildren Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Bentrup of Ballwin, Mo., and Andrew Grueninger of Edwardsville; and a great-grandchild, Abigail Bentrup, along with other relatives and friends. Mrs. Houseknecht was a retired secretary, having worked at Golden Dipt in Millstadt and Columbia City Hall. She was a member of St. Paul UCC, where she had participated in the Women's League and was a past Sunday school teacher. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard, officiating. Mrs. Houseknecht was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery n Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul UCC.
Douglas J. Feldker, 47, of Chester, formerly of Waterloo, died June 28, 2010 in Chester. He was born Aug. 27, 1962, in St. Louis. Mr. Feldker is survived by his parents, Joseph and Nadine (nee Branson) Feldker; a daughter, Taylor Marie Feldker; brother, Daniel Feldker; sister, Heather (David) Bush; niece, Alexandra Feldker; and special friend, Barb Christeson; along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; aunts and uncles. Mr. Feldker was a member of Eagles Lounge in Chester and was a bricklayer. Visitation is Wednesday, June 30, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo. Funeral is Thursday, July 1, at the funeral home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Hilda Louise Pfeffer, nee Brellinger, 89, of Millstadt, died June 29, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born March 9, 1921 in Columbia, the daughter of the late John and Mary (Mosbacher) Brellinger. Mrs. Pfeffer is survived by her children, Carolyn (Lawrence) Patterson of Millstadt, Raymond (Pam) Pfeffer of Millstadt, Wayne (Pamela) Pfeffer of Smithton and Glenn (Melody) Pfeffer of Columbia; daughter-in-law, Betty Pfeffer of Millstadt; and a sister, Florence Martin of Dupo; along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Joe Pfeffer; a son, Donald Pfeffer; sisters Stella Reichert, Alida Kern, Amelia Brellinger and Ella Ebersohl; and a brother, Clarence Brellinger. Hilda was a homemaker and a lifetime member of the Bluff Grange. Visitation is Saturday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. A funeral will immediately follow with Father Marvin Volk officiating. Mrs. Pfeffer will be buried at Mount Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to the Millstadt Senior Center.
Ann M. Laird, nee Swacker, 82, of Red Bud, died May 3, 2010 in Red Bud. She was born March 10, 1928, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Louis and Margaret (nee Lauterwasser) Swacker. Mrs. Laird is survived by her children, Linn (Genelle) Laird of Fenton, Mo., Sue Strauss of Pennsylvania, Tom (Joyce) Laird of Red Bud, Bill (Jeannie) Laird of Pennsylvania and Joe Laird of Florissant, Mo.; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur W. Laird. Mrs. Laird willed her body to science and there was no funeral.
Rayburn A. Fricke, 70, of Red Bud, died Friday, May 7, 2010 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. He was born July 24, 1939 in Murphysboro to the late Arthur and Leta (nee Rayburn) Fricke. Rayburn married Glenda Smith on April 2, 1966 in Chicago. In addition to his wife, Mr. Fricke is survived by his children, Robert Fricke Jr. of Red Bud and Chris (Will) Trowbridge of Columbia; a sister, Dottie Hoffman of Columbia; brother, Robert D. Fricke of Belleville; and a granddaughter, Grace Trowbridge of Columbia. Mr. Fricke received a football scholarship to the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., where he earned a degree. He also graduated in 1977 from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Mr. Fricke was an attorney who served as a public defender for eight years. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud, the Illinois Bar Association, Randolph County Bar Association and Red Bud Lion’s Club. Rayburn had been an active member of the Muskets Athletic Club and coached Pee Wee Football for several years. Visitation is Monday, May 10, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Tuesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Russell Koen officiating. Mr. Fricke will be buried at Paradise Cemetery in Steeleville. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church of Red Bud or the Muskets Athletic Club.
