Betty J. Kolmer (nee Wilkerson), 77, of Waterloo, died March 7, 2010. She was born Oct. 23, 1932, in New Athens, the daughter of the late George and Minnie Alice (nee Fordyce) Wilkerson. Mrs. Kolmer is survived by a son, Ken (Sandra) Kolmer; grandchildren Casey, Conner, Cole and Carter; and sisters Alice Jung and Helen Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth F. Kolmer; along with sisters and brothers. Mrs. Kolmer was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Memorial Mass is Saturday, March 13 at 10 a.m. at her church with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Earl A. Muskopf, 87, of Columbia, died March 8, 2010 at St. Louis University Hospital. He was born April 5, 1922, in North Dupo. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Viola (Hoffmann) Muskopf. They were married July 31, 1948 in Columbia. In addition to his wife, Mr. Muskopf is survived by his siblings Russell (Minnie) Muskopf of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Bernice (Lester) Allgire of Maryville, Donald Muskopf of Dupo and Sharon (David) Wienhoff of Tucson, Ariz.; and a god son; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister, LouAnn (Herman) Schandl; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Lena (Osick) Hoffmann; and a sister-in-law, Annabelle (Jerry) Collie. Earl was a retired farmer and a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, the Columbia Gymnastic Association and the Columbia Kiwanis Club. He was a former member of the Monroe County Levee Board and the Waterloo Sportsman Club. Visitation is Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Paul UCC of Columbia. A funeral will immediately follow with Pastor Kris Avise-Rouse officiating. Mr. Muskopf will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Arrangements were handled by Lawlor Funeral Home. The family extends a special thank you to the St. Louis University medical staff, 9 ICU and 7 South nursing staff, chaplains Carl Germain and Rob Hartman at St. Louis University Hospital; along with Pastor Kris Avise-Rouse for his comfort and support. Memorials may be made to his church.
Rodney Christian Bolle, 59, of Dupo, died March 16, 2010 at his residence. He was born Sept. 11, 1950 in East St. Louis, the son of the late Earl and Mary Elizabeth (nee Goley) Bolle. Mr. Bolle is survived by his daughter, Christina (Jeff) Amos of Columbia; a son, Rodney Shane Bolle of Columbia; grandchildren Jordyn and Jacob Amos, Ashlyn Hoock and Shane Bolle; a sister, Cindy (Richard) Parnell of Dupo; brother, Randy (Melissa) Bolle of Dupo; and niece, Alison (Bob) Lockett of Dupo; He was preceded in death by a brother, Sidney E. Bolle. Mr. Bolle worked as a conductor for MOPAC/Union Pacific Railroad and was a member of the Dupo Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation and funeral were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Columbia. Mr. Bolle was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia.
Doris L. Koesterer, 73, of Ruma, died March 16, 2010 in Red Bud. She was born Oct. 19, 1936 in Chester, the daughter of the late Lee A. and Lorraine A. (nee Sievers) Demick. She married Frank Koesterer in 1962 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ruma. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Koesterer is survived by her children, Melissa (Gerald) Crafton of Evansville, Michelle (Jeff) Mehring of Red Bud, Michael (Kim) Koesterer of Smithton and Matthew (Tammy) Koesterer of Red Bud; a brother, Lee (Cathy) Demick Jr. of Red Bud; an aunt, Mary Sievers of Fort Thomas, Ken.; grandchildren Kelly Vines, Adam and Sarah Mehring, Nathan, Nicholas, Sophia and Lydia Koesterer and Kevin Crafton; and great-grandson, Camden Vines. She was preceded in death by aunts and uncles. Mrs. Koesterer was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Visitation is Friday, March 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Saturday, March 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ruma with Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Mrs. Koesterer will be buried at her church’s cemetery.
Frank Clarence Phelps, 83, of East Carondelet died March 17, 2010 at his residence. He was born Dec. 20, 1926 in Dupo, the son of the late Frank G. and Elvera Phelps. Mr. Phelps is survived by his children, Nancy (Robert) Prather of Stestson, Me., Deborah Taff of St. George, Utah, Denise (Dale) Orr of Columbia, Neil (Terri) Phelps of House Springs, Mo., and Jeff (Robin) Phelps of Columbia; grandchildren Josh and Barb Prather, Derrick and Mandy Lindsey, Matthew Middleton, Sam and Nikki Orr, Matt and Jamie Regensburger, Brian Phelps, Cody Phelps and Chad Phelps; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Marc Middleton. Mr. Phelps served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and the Army. He was employed as an operator for Monsanto for more than 30 years, and was a member of Christ UCC of Dupo and the Dupo VFW. Visitation is Saturday, March 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Christ UCC of Dupo. A funeral service will immediately follow with Rev. Kim Kelly. Mr. Phelps will be buried at Palmier Hill Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to his church.
Melba Jean “Jeanie” Happel (nee Eckart), 56, of Hecker, died March 17, 2010 in Belleville. She was born June 21, 1953, in Red Bud, the daughter of Esther (nee Kreher) Eckart and the late Edmund Eckart. In addition to her mother, Mrs. Happel is survived by her children, Donald (Stacy) Happel, Vicki (Jeff) Biffar, Nancy (Chad) Cowell and Richard (Sarah) Happel; a stepson, Bryan Happel; grandchildren Rachael, Seth, Brooke, Brady, Mason and Chase; and siblings Ralph (Kathy) Eckart, Mary (Larry) Schaltenbrand, Edmund “Eddie” (Melanie) Eckart, Marvin (Sandy) Eckart, Geri Griffin, Lori (Andy) Amann, Arnold (Angie) Eckart and Theresa (Jim) Stearns; along with aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her father, she was preceded in death by her husband William Happel; a brother-in-law, Dale Griffin; sisters-in-law Georgia Eckart and Carol Grennan; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sidney and Dorothy Happel. Mrs. Happel was the Postmaster at the Baldwin Post Office, a board member at the Hecker Public Library and a board trustee for the village of Hecker. She was a member of the Blessed Virgin Altar Sodality at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker and Napus. Visitation is Sunday, March 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, March 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker with Father Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Happel will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church, the Hecker Fire Department or the Leukemia Foundation.
Patsy Hall, 81, of Columbia, died March 18, 2010, at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born June 19, 1928, in Lilbourn, Mo., the daughter of the late Joseph and Katie (nee Clendenin) Christopher. She married James A. Hall in 1945 in New Madrid, Mo. He died in 1995. Mrs. Hall is survived by sons, Dennis (Cheryl) W. Hall of Valmeyer, Jimmie (Linda) E. Hall of Valmeyer; none grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Emma Duck of Sherwood, Ark. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by a daughter, Mona Hadley; brothers Jody Christopher and Louis Christopher; and sisters Gladys Adams and Edith Cook. Mrs. Hall was a retired intensive care nurse at Red Bud Regional Hospital. She attended Bethany United Methodist Church in Columbia. Visitation is Sunday, March 21, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, March 22, at 11 a.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Allynn Walker officiating. Mrs. Hall will be buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to her church.
Ronald Rehmer, 78, of Waterloo, died March 19, 2010 in new Hanover. He was born Dec. 30, 1931 in Columbia, the son of the late Albert and Ardel (nee Beckmann) Rehmer. Mr. Rehmer is survived by his wife, Maretta (nee Davis) Rehmer; children Randy (LeAnn Alexander) Rehmer, Kevin (Janet Weber) Rehmer and Rhonda Rehmer Barnes; grandchildren Jesse Rehmer, Jenna Rehmer, Zachary Barnes, Ray and Jennie Frame, Nicole Range, Stacey Dalton and Tracey (Pat) Ahrens; great-grandchildren Blake Frame and Alissa Wisely; sister, Anola (Roy) Henke; brother, Norman (Pat) Rehmer; brother-in-law, Leroy Davis; and sister-in-law, Lee Sullivan; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Rehmer was a veteran of the U.S. Army, served on the consistory at Zoar UCC, was a member of octet, the Kaskaskia Trail Chorus and the Columbia American Legion. Ronald was a carpenter, who had previously worked at Town and Country Auto Supply in Waterloo and was the former owner of Rehmer Hatchery in New Hanover. He was a life-long musician and woodworker. Visitation is Monday, March 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, March 23, at 10 a.m. at Zoar UCC in New Hanover with Pastor Carol Tag officiating. Memorials may be made to his church.
Carol L. Reinheimer, 67, of Columbia, died March 21, 2010, of ovarian cancer. She was born Aug. 11, 1942, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Joseph and Cornelia (Wander) Rard. She married Donald C. Reinheimer in 1982 in Columbia In addition to her husband, Mrs. Reinheimer is survived by her children, Larry (Vielka) Ahrens of Edwardsville, Melanie (Don) Harris of O'Fallon, Joseph Ahrens of Killeen, Tex, Anne (Joseph) Michalski of O'Fallon, Charles Minton of Belleville, Margaret Martino of Trenton and Eileen (Terry) Terschluse of Washington, Mo.; a brother, Joseph (Deborah) Rard of Livermore, Calif.; sister, Kathleen Lastarria (Breandon Isom) of Ballwin, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, two nieces; and two nephews. She was preceded in death by two daughters in infancy, Susan and Beth; and a brother, Paul Rard. Carol was a nurse for 40 years, had a lifelong commitment to social justice and a foster parent for more than 20 years. She also was a pen pal to women in the penal system through the Soaring Spirits Ministry. Carol enjoyed traveling, including trip to visit family and friends in California, Memphis, New Orleans, Branson, Kansas City, Chicago, England, Poland, Switzerland, Scotland, Greece and Australia. She loved gardening, quilting, crossword puzzles, bingo, bargain shopping, family history, telling stories, planning family reunions, her cat and ice cream. Visitation is Wednesday, March 24, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Thursday, March 25, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Reinheimer will be buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Society, Hospice of Southern Illinois, the ICS Education Fund or any ministry in pursuit of social justice.
Orval F. “Bud” Vogt, 79, of Waterloo, died March 21, 2010 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born June 26, 1930 in Waterloo, the son of the late Leo and Selma (ne Rehmer) Vogt. Mr. Vogt is survived by his wife, Geraldine (nee Hess) Vogt; children, Diane (Tom) Sendelbeck, Carol Vogt, Bonnie Vogt, Allen (Karen) Vogt, Brian (Cindy) Vogt and Linette (James) Hermanns; grandchildren Emily Green, Kelly Sendelbeck, Ashley Webb, Lauren Sendelbeck, Megan Vogt and Elayna Hermanns; great-grandson, Cameron Gillen; and a brother, Leland Vogt; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Herman Hess; mother-in-law, Florence Hess; grandson, J. P. LaCasse; a sister, Mary Ellen Kern; brothers-in-law Simon Kern and Robert Gregson; a sister-in-law, Corina Vogt; nephew, Paul Vogt; and niece, Vickie Gregson. Mr. Vogt was a veteran of the Korean War and a lifetime member of Waterloo’s Metzger Crook VFW Post 6504. He attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo and was a member of Carpenters Local 33. Visitation is Thursday, March 25, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, March 26, at 10 a.m. at the SPPS Church with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Vogt will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church, its school or masses.
