William J. Branson, 52, of rural Red Bud, died March 15, 2013, in an truck accident. He was born May 29, 1960, in St.Louis the son of Clyde Branson and the late Jeanette (nee Foster) Branson. Besides his father, Mr. Branson is survived by his wife, Paula (nee Burnett) Branson; children, Jenna (Greg) Heidenreich, Adam Vogt and Travis Branson; and sisters. LaRita (Ronald) Mohl and Juanita (John) Roland; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Branson; and his grandparents. Mr. Branson was employed with Local No. 2 of the Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the NRA and the Maeystown Sportsman Club. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. John United Church of Christ in Maeystown with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mr. Branson was buried at St. John UCC Cemetery in Valmeyer.
Anthony A. Shields, 50, of Burksville, died March 15, 2013, at his residence. He was born April 9, 1962, in Red Bud, the son of Jerome and Joann Shields. Besides his parents, Mr. Shields is survived by his daughter, Sierra Shields; a sister, Lisa Shields (Robert Conaway); and brothers, Craig Shields (Rita Polka) and Bruce (Stephanie) Shields; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, Mark Shields; and his grandparents. Mr. Shields was employed at Laborer’s Local 196. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Madonnaville with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Shields was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sierra Shields Trust Fund.
Marian R. Schlemmer, nee Breuer, 87, of Columbia, died March 1, 2013, at Rosewood Care Center in Alton. She was born March 15, 1925, in Dupo, the daughter of the late Henry and Viola (nee Nolte) Breuer. Mrs. Schlemmer is survived by her children, Deanna (Don) Hall, Carole (John) Crum and Patricia (Don) Baker; grandchildren, James (Klare) Marzano, Jana (Brian) Birdwell, Andrew Crum, Aaron Crum, Kyle Baker, Katie Baker and Krista Baker; great-grandchildren, Lorenzo Marzano and Charles and Henry Birdwell; sisters, Esther (Adam) Mernick and Florence (Ralph) Brown; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Range and Laverne Remelius; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Schlemmer. Mrs. Schlemmer was a homemaker. She also had worked along with her husband in the real estate field and as a farmer. She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo and Columbia Sister Cities. Visitation was at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home. Funeral was at Christ UCC in Dupo with Rev. Jean Carmean officiating. Mrs. Schlemmer was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo or Human Support Services.
Carolyn Patterson, nee Pfeffer, 63, of Millstadt, died March 15, 2013, at her residence. She was born March 18, 1949, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Joe and Hilda (nee Brellinger) Pfeffer. Mrs. Patterson is survived by her husband of 40 years, Lawrence Patterson; daughter, Christy (Jeff) Rhodes; a son, Matthew (Pam) Patterson; grandchildren, Shelby Rhodes, Megan Rhodes, Hayden Patterson and Kaleb Patterson; brothers, Raymond (Pam) Pfeffer, Wayne (Pamela) Pfeffer and Glenn (Melody) Pfeffer; a sister-in-law, Betty Pfeffer; and an aunt, Florence Martin; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Pfeffer. Mrs. Patterson was a homemaker. Graveside service was at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt with Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Eugene “Goosey” Goessling, 70, of Waterloo, died March 19, 2013, in Belleville. He was born Dec. 19, 1942, in Waterloo, the son of the late Herman Adelia (nee Wagner) Goessling. Mr. Goessling is survived by his wife, Marlene Goessling; children, Wendy Goessling (fiance David Deterding), Todd Goessling and Kelly (Mark) Yochum; grandchildren, Jacki, Casey, Joe, Mark Jr., Mackenzie, Corey, Connor and Caleb; a sister, Dorothy (Richard O.) Steingrubey; and a sister-in-law, Ann Goessling; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a son, Corey James Goessling; brother, Harold C. Goessling; a sister, Marlene Fromme; and grandchildren, Adriana Yochum and Benjamin Lampitt. Mr. Goessling attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He was a member of the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois and sold real estate for more than 40 years. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Ron Weber officiating. Mr. Goessling was buried at the church’s cemetery.
Ruth Alma Gruenewald, nee Mueller, 81, of Millstadt, died March 20, 2013, at Barnes Jewish Hospital. She was born July 26, 1931, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Herbert and Alma (nee Ahrnes) Mueller, Sr. Mrs. Gruenewald is survived by her children, Linda (Robert) Germann of Millstadt, Carol (Al) Schlather of St. Louis, Diane (Michael) Germann of Millstadt, Dale (Krista) Gruenewald of Millstadt and David (Sharon) Gruenewald of Millstadt; grandchildren, Krista Germann, Tom Germann, Emily Berra, Katie Schlather, Matthew Germann, Cassie Wienhoff, Erica, Darren, Caleb Gruenewald, Sarah Gruenewald and Jacob Gruenewald; a great-granddaughter, Josephine Berra; and a sister, Helen Rey; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Lester Gruenewald; and her brother, Herbert L. Mueller. Mrs. Gruenewald attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt where she was active in the Women’s Fellowship. She was a member of the Bluff Grange and a charter member of Millstadt Sister Cities. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Gruenewald was buried at Mount Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to her church.
Marian F. “Mernie” Riney, nee Walsh, 84, of Waterloo, died March 21, 2013, in Red Bud. She was born Oct. 15, 1928, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Lloyd and Dora (nee McGuirk) Walsh. Mrs. Riney is survived by her children, Sherry (Kevin) Wilson and Terry Riney; and a sister-in-law, Lorraine Walsh; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her, husband, Francis B. Riney; and a brother, Russell Walsh. Mrs. Riney had volunteered at St. Anthony's Hospice. Visitation was at Oak Hill. A funeral followed with Chaplain Bill Sinak officiating. Mrs. Riney will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill - Whispering Pines (the Alzheimer's Unit).
Walter James Henneberry Jr., 79, of Waterloo, died March 22, 2013, in Chesterfield, Mo. He was born July 15, 1933, the son of the late Walter James Sr. and Charlotte (nee Kearney) Henneberry. Mr. Henneberry is survived by his wife, JoAnn (nee Sifford) Henneberry; children, James (Barbara) Henneberry and Vickie (Robert) Brooks; grandchildren, Jeff, Jennifer, Michael, Julie and Matthew; great-grandchildren Kylie, Isaiah, Keegan, Alexis, Elayna, Avery and Addison; siblings Dorothy Beckwith, Sandra Snuffin and Glenn Snuffin; and her dog, Maggie; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Henneberry had retired from the Northfork and Western Railroad and Hunter Packing. A private family memorial service was held. Quernheim Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association.
Jack E. Myrick Sr., 81, of Waterloo, died March 25, 2013, in St Louis. He was born July 8, 1931, in West Frankfort, the son of the late Louis and Anna (nee Sponsic) Myrick. Mr. Myrick is survived by his wife, Imogene (nee St. Hillier) Myrick; a daughter, Christina (Dave) Rhodes; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Joe) Yaekel, Emily Rhodes and Eric Myrick; and a sister, Delores Ranta; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by son, Jack E. Myrick, Jr.; and a sister, Phyllis Berg. Mr. Myrick served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He attended Immanuel Lutheran Church and was a member of the Waterloo VFW Post 6504. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Clark officiating. Mr. Myrick was buried at the Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Ian Michael Jerome, 23, of Waterloo, died March 27, 2013, in St. Louis from an extended illness. He was born Jan. 5, 1990, in Belleville, the son of Michael and Angela Jerome. Besides his parents, Mr. Jerome is survived by a sister, Rebecca Jerome; a brother, Jeremy Jerome; grandparents, Barry and Sharon Olson; aunts Michelle Ann Hudson and Lisa Renee (Jack) Hudnall; an uncle Scott (Christine) Olson; cousins, Elizabeth (Josh) Niebruegge, Sean Hudson, John Hudnall, Kirsten Olson and Tony Olson; and close friends, Brian Saul and David Welborn; along with great-aunts, great-uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Mary Elizabeth (nee Goeddel) Jerome and Joseph E. Jerome Jr. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor James Watson officiating. Quernheim Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Jerome Brothers Trust Fund or the Duchene Parent Project.
