Luann Kaye Stemler, nee Wikoff, 60, of Apex, NC, formerly of Maroa, died June 5, 2014 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, after a 22-month battle with ovarian cancer. She was born Aug. 12, 1953, the daughter of the late William and Mary Kelly Wikoff. Mrs. Stemler is survived by her husband of 39 years, Kenneth H. Stemler; daughters, Colleen Stemler and Nikki (Brian) O'Connell, both of Cary, NC; and grandchildren, Alexis (7) and Kallie (5) O’Connell. Mrs. Stemler graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Economics Education and a master’s in applied computer science. She taught the computer program at Maroa-Forsyth High School before teaching at Illinois State University. Luann finished her teaching career at Millikin University. Mrs. Stemler served 10 years as a Maroa-Forsyth School Board member, the majority of which was as president. She was a Sunday school teacher at Maroa United Methodist Church in Maroa and Merritts Chapel United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC. Luann belonged to the Decatur Quilt Guild, Frayed Edges Bee and the Carolina Longarm Association. Visitation and funeral were at Merritt's Chapel United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. Memorials may be made to her church.
Robert M. Baker, 90, of Waterloo, died June 6, 2014, at St. Anthony's Medical Center. He was born April 25, 1924, in Marinette County, Wisc., the son of the late Glenn and Ruth (nee Borden) Baker. He married Irene (nee Kjell) Baker in 1947 in Green Bay Wisc. She died in 2011. Mr. Baker is survived by his children, Craig (Kristine) Baker of Baton Rouge, La., Brian (JoAnn) Baker of Columbia, Carol (Karl) Merbach of Rapid City, SD., and Gary (Rhonda) Baker of Geneva; and sisters, Dorothy Nesbitt and Gwenn (Wallace) Menghenni; along with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald Baker. Mr. Baker served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed 50-years through the Sheet Metal Worker Union - Local 265. He was also a 50-year the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. Robert attended Hope Christian Church. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at Lakewood Memorial Park in Elgin. Memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Center in Washington Park.
Loren F. Holcomb Sr., 75, of Ruma, formerly of Freeburg, died June 7, 2014 in Ruma. He was born Nov. 21, 1938 in Walsh, the son of the late Harry and Selma (nee Kempfer) Holcomb Sr. Mr. Holcomb is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Lou (nee Van de Riet) Holcomb; children, Glenda Johnson, Lori (Michael) Baker, Loren "Fritz" (Anne) Holcomb Jr. and Jamie Williams; grandchildren, Jessie (Rich) Ward, Joel (Alli) Esker, Julie (Eric) Rohr, Josh Lawrence, Kyle Johnson, Luke Johnson, Chad, Whitney, Dalton and Delaney Baker, and Abby, Lauren and Brett Holcomb; 13 great-grandchildren; siblings, LaVerne Hinrichs, Rosella Hosick, Jeannine (Tom) Belt, Terry (Donna) Holcomb and Brenda "Pete" (Dave) Dressel; and sisters-in-law, Wilma Holcomb, Loretta Van de Riet and Shirley (Harold) Mitchell; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother, Harry G. Holcomb, Jr.; his in-laws, Fred and Theresa Mary Van de Riet; and brothers-in-law, Melvin Hinrichs, Dale Hosick and LeRoy Van de Riet. Mr. Holcomb attended St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma. He had retired from Conrail and the Ruma Zoning Board. Loren had coached at St. Joseph Catholic School in Freeburg and in the Freeburg Khoury League. He had played and coached fast pitch softball. After his retirement, Mr. Holcomb enjoyed camping and boating with his family and friends at Rend Lake. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ruma with Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Mr. Holcomb was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
William R. "Bill” Allen, 79, of Waterloo, died June 8, 2014 in St. Louis. He was born July 26, 1934 in Maldon, Mo., the son of the late John and Zora (nee Patterson) Allen. Mr. Allen is survived by his wife, Dorothy Allen; children, John Allen, Rose (Skip) Fisher and Nancy (Keith) Hubbs; grandchildren, Amanda, Jordan (Anna), Dustin and Drew Allen, Shaun and Angie Fisher and Kyle (Sarah), Joshua and Elizabeth Hubbs; a great-grandchild, Cash Allen; his brother, Don Allen; and a sister, Roma Layton; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Suzanne Allen; his brother, Jack Allen; granddaughter, Sarah Hubbs; and his dog Gypsy. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Memorials may be made to the Lupus Foundation, the American Heart Association or to Stray Rescue.
Josephine G. Reis, 85, of Waterloo, died June 9, 2014 at Life Care in Florissant, Mo. She was born Jan. 18, 1929, in Canada, the daughter of the late Frederick and Hazel (nee Hargrove) Powell. Josephine married Clifford C. Reis in 1966 in St. Louis. He died in 2008. Mrs. Reis is survived by her daughter, Pamela Stone of Florissant; step-daughters, Christine (David) Brading of Arnold, Mo., and Suzanne (Greg) Winter of Imperial, Mo.; grandchildren, Joseph, David, Carrie, Eric, Rick and Gregory, Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Bradley, Brieann and Liam. Mrs. Reis was a member of the Waterloo VFW Post 6504 Metzger-Crook Auxiliary, where she was a past-president. She attended St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Hazelwood, Mo. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Reis was buried at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.
Mathilda "Tillie" Kettler, 95, of Columbia, died June 9, 2014 at Columbia Rehab and Nursing Center. She was born Sept. 8, 1918, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Peter and Magdalena (nee Peterson) Hoffmann. Mathilda married Sylvester W. Kettler in 1949 in Paderborn. He died in 2007. Mrs. Kettler is survived by her friend, Don (Marilyn) Harris of Jackson, Mo.; and her niece, Mary Tune. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters. Mrs. Kettler was a homemaker who attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. Graveside service and burial were at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Memorials may be made to her church.
Betty A. Dudley, 80, of Columbia, died June 9, 2014 at Garden Place in Columbia. She was born Oct. 11, 1933, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Van Lester and Rosann (nee Braken) Avett. Betty married Edward L. Dudley in 1953 in East St. Louis. He died in 2007. Mrs. Dudley is survived by her daughter, Kay (Terry) Bryant of Wadesville, Ind.; a son, David (Jan) Dudley of Columbia; grandchildren, Greg (Stephanie) Bryant, Lisa (Bryan) Glaser and Kyle (Lori) Dudley; great-grandchildren, Isabel and Kathleen Glaser, Mackenzie Bryant, and Drake and Cache Dudley; and her sister, Norma Jean (Narvel) Slone of Hoyleton. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Katherine Bodine. Mrs. Dudley was a retired nurse for Dr. McCann and Dr. Cox in Belleville. She attended Tower View Baptist Church in Belleville. Betty was a member of the Salem, Mo., American Legion Auxiliary Post (past president and past state poppy chairman). Betty was active with Meals On Wheels and served as the senior council president at Garden Place of Columbia. Funeral was at the Beacon (formerly Canterbury Manor) in Waterloo with Rev. Steve Neill officiating. Memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House or the First Baptist Church of Waterloo - Building Fund.
Elfrieda W. Fauss, nee Doerr, 96, of Maeystown, died June 10, 2014. She was born Dec. 16, 1917, in Maeystown, the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (nee Sutter) Doerr. Mrs. Fauss is survived by her nieces and nephews, Ruth (James) Neusel, Pastor L. William (Lori) Hesterberg and Donald (Jodi) Doerr; and her cousins, Sarah Ann “Susie” Misplay. She was preceded in death by her husband, Monroe Fauss; a son, Warren Fauss; brothers, Richard and William Doerr; and her sister, Laurine Borcharding. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. John UCC of Maeystown with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Fauss was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. John UCC of Maeystown.
Dennis K. Williamson, 63, of Waterloo, died June 1, 2014 in Waterloo. He was born April 15, 1951 in E. St. Louis, the son of Phyllis Williamson and the late Lawrence Williamson. In addition to his mother, Mr. Williamson is survived by his wife, Diane Williamson; daughters, Kimberly (Todd) Jones and Stacy Taylor; grandchildren, Austin Jones, Derek and Landon Taylor; brother, Richard (Rita) Williamson; and a sister, Barbara Bugsch; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his father, he was preceded in death by his brother Larry Williamson; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Russell and June Miller. Mr. Williamson was employed for 34 years at Yellow Freight. He belonged to the Cahokia Masonic Lodge Emeth 1030. Visitation is Thursday, June 5, from 4-8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, June 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tipton with Father John Kizhakedan officiating. Mr. Williamson will be at Valhalla Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials made be made to the church.
Carla Jean Berghoefer, 54, of Waterloo, died June 2, 2014 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 2, 1959, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Elmer and Barbara (nee Faries) Berghoefer. Ms. Berghoefer is survived by her aunt and uncle, Carolyn and Bill Faries of Swansea; cousins, Jerry Berghoefer of Columbia, Tom (Barb) Marcheski of Red Bud, Teddy Howe of Iuka, Greg Faries of Belleville and Jeff Adams of Pensacola, Fla. She was preceded in death by her aunts, Genia Adams and Alice Yvonne Faries; cousins, Mitchell and Laura Faries and Gary Branson. Carla attended St. Paul UCC. She was a member of the Monroe County Human Support Services Social Skills Group, Choir Group and Special Olympics. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Ms. Berghoefer was buried at Valhalla Gardens Of Memory. Memorials may be made to Human Support Services.
