Leroy Mathews, 78, of Millstadt, died Sept. 4, 2009 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. He was born Jan. 15, 1931 in Columbia, the son of the late Leo and Alida (nee Eckert) Mathews. Mr. Mathews is survived by his wife Rosemary (nee Forbeck) Mathews; children Dan Mathews (special friend Barbara Brown) and Michael Mathews (special friend Doreen Downs), both of Millstadt and Nancy (Jac) Cates of Roodhouse; brothers Ralph (Catherine) Mathews, Harold (Janice) Mathews and Nelson (Joan) Mathews, all from Columbia; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and friends. Mr. Mathews served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was employed as a bookbinder with Graham Paper Company. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, the Millstadt VFW Post 7980 and the American Legion. Visitation and funeral were at Creason Funeral Home in Millstadt with Father Marvin Volk officiating. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church’s Building Fund or the grade school.
Peter J. Ganley Jr., 81, of Waterloo, died Sept. 15, 2009 in Red Bud. He was born March 21, 1928 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Peter and Frances (nee Walsh) Ganley. Mr. Ganley is survived by a godchild, Kathleen (Eric) Bingham, nee Kelley; along with cousins, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Ganley. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Patrick Church in Tipton with Father Jose Jacob officiating. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children’s Hospital or St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Jean Marie Metter, 72, of Columbia, died Sept. 18, 2009, at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born Jan. 10, 1937, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Arthur and Louise (Saul) Toenjes. She married Clemence J. Metter in 1956. He died in 1998. Mrs. Metter is survived by her children John (Stephanie) Metter of Monroe, Mich., James (Nancy) Metter of Columbia, Judy (Mark) Sharkey of Columbia, Joe (Teri) Metter of Columbia, Susan (John) Kowlok of LaPorte, Ind., Carl (Kathy) Metter of Westland, Mich., and Ann Thorburg of Waterloo; and brothers James (Carol) Toenjes of Bonne Terre, Mo., and Jay (DeAnna) Toenjes of Flagstaff, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Jack Toenjes. Mrs. Metter had been employed at West Park Bowl in Columbia and was a member of the American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary. A memorial mass will be Saturday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Arrangements were handled by Lawlor Funeral Home. Mrs. Metter donated her body to the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Immaculate Conception School’s Education Fund.
Father Harry Thomas Stout Jr., 58, of Du Quoin, died Sept. 18, 2009, at his residence of an apparent heart condition. He was born Aug. 9, 1951, in Cairo, the son of the late Harry Thomas and Sarah Ann (nee Baudino) Stout. Father Tom went to St. Joseph's Grade School in Cairo and attended Preparatory Seminary in Belleville. He earned a college degree from Quincy College and received his theology degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology. Father Tom was ordained as a priest on May 28, 1977. He has served parishes in Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin, St. Clare Catholic Church in O'Fallon, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, St. Joseph Catholic Church at Ridgeway, St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Du Quoin. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, was a Diocesan CYO moderator, a vocation director and a diocesan spiritual director of Teens Encounter Christ. He was also a member of the Priest Senate and was a former dean of the West Deanery. Father Stout is survived by his siblings Mary Helen (Jeff) Wissinger of Cairo, Nan (Tom) Hall of Centralia, John (Carol) Stout of Mounds, Bill (Sheila) Stout of Olmsted and Peggy Berryhill of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; aunts Elizabeth (Don) Turner of Cairo and Mary Eileen (Dick) Karcher Cairo; and an uncle,, Brother John Stout CSC of Notre Dame, Ind.; along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. The first visitation was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in DuQuoin. A memorial mass followed with Father Bob Flannery officiating. A second visitation was at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo. A mass followed with Bishop Stanley Schlarmann officiating. Bishop Edward K. Braxton provided Final Commendations. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud also celebrated a memorial mass in honor of the late Father Tom Stout. A reception followed at the parish center. Father Stout was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge. Funeral arrangements were handled by Searby Funeral Home in DuQuoin and Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo. Memorials may be made to one the churches Father Tom served or Teens Encounter Christ.
Robert W. “Snowy” Schneeberger, 87, of Columbia, formerly of Dupo, died Sept. 30, 2009 at Columbia Convalescent Center in Columbia. He was born March 3, 1922 in Dupo, the son of William and Anna (nee Hauser), Schneeberger. Mr. Schneeberger is survived by daughters Joanne (Bruce) Counce of Columbia and Judy (Marvin) Doerr of Dupo; grandchildren Julie (Scott) Rodemich of Columbia, Robyn (Kevin) McCarty of Kildeer, Jamie (Christopher) Wyse of Dayton, Ohio and Kevin (Andrea) Doerr of Columbia; great-grandchildren Ryan and Allison Rodemich, Madison and Mackenzie McCarty, and Brylee Doerr; and a sister, Jackie (Gene) Poettgen of Waterloo; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann (nee Cook) Schneeberger. Mr. Schneeberger was a World War II veteran, serving in the 64th Chemical Depot in Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He retired from Monsanto in Sauget after 38 ˝ years of employment. Mr. Schneeberger was a charter and life member of Sugarloaf Memorial VFW Post 6368 in Dupo. He belonged to Christ UCC in Dupo, Columbia Lodge 474 A.F. and A.M, Scottish Rite of Southern Illinois, Shriner’s Ainad Temple, Legion of Honor, Uniform Unit and Monsanto Local 12 Retiree Club. Visitation is Sunday, Oct. 4, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral was at Christ UCC in Dupo with Rev. Kim Kelly officiating. Mr. Schneeberger was buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to his church, Shriner’s Hospital for Children or Hope School Foundation.
Esther Catherine Frierdich, nee Wierschem, 91, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Belleville, died Sept. 22, 2009. She was born Dec. 31, 1917, in Madonnaville, the daughter of Anthony Wierschem and Magdalena (nee Vogt) Wiershem. She married Joseph Henry Frierdich in 1940. They had retired to Arizona. Esther most recently resided at the Citadel Assisted Living Community. In addition to her husband of 66 years, Mrs. Frierdich was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother. She is survived by her children, Charlotte(Doug) Volkman of Mesa, Ariz, JoAnn (Lawrence) Lennaman of Wildwood, Mo., Gary Lee Frierdich and Jean Jetter of Waterloo; a sister, Sally Smith of Waterloo; grandchildren Jennifer McCall, Shannon Devine, Sunny Frierdich, Tony Frierdich, Jacob Frierdich, Lara Lennaman, Stephanie Aponte and Hallie Lennaman; and 10 Great Grandchildren; along with nephews and nieces. She was an active member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Belleville, the Daughters of Isabelle, Women of the Moose, Southside Improvement Association and Queen of Mary Sodality. Visitation was at Melcher Funeral Home in Mesa, Ariz. Funeral was at Christ the King Catholic Church in Mesa Ariz. Mrs. Frierdich was buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Perigrine Chapel at Christ the King Catholic Church.
Verta B. Nicoletti, 90, of Columbia died Oct. 10, 2009 at the Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Nov. 18, 1918, in Columbia the daughter of the late William and Leona (Dannehold) Schneider. She was married to the late Ernest “Nick” Nicoletti and the late Earl Beasley. Mrs. Nicoletti is survived by her daughters Shirley (Willie) Eckert of Columbia and Jane (Richard) Sommer of Edwardsville; grandchildren Steve (Leslie) Eckert, Michael Eckert, Bob (Michelle Bieber) Eckert, Greg (Deanne) Sommer, Joan (Craig) Hackett and Gary (Jean) Sommer; and great-grandchildren Trenton, Madelynn, Allison, Emily and Lindsey Eckert, Maggie Perkins, Joseph Sommer, Rebecca and Grace Hackett, Alex, and Amber Sommer, along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Schneider; and a sister, Lillian Kumke. Visitation and funeral were at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer, officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Vernon Frierdich, 90, of Columbia, died Oct. 11, 2009. He was born Dec. 24, 1918 in Columbia, the son of the late Henry and Katharine (Mueller) Frierdich. He married Ruth (Loehr) Frierdich in 1950 in Columbia. Besides his wife, Mr. Frierdich is survived by his children, Thomas (Cindy) Frierdich of Columbia, Timothy (Gail) Frierdich of Waterloo, James (Gina) Frierdich of Columbia, John (Pam) Frierdich of Waterloo, Geralyn (Bernard) Kutz of Columbia and Mary Anne (Mike) Wachtel of Paderborn; special friend, Thomas Mangan of Columbia; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by siblings Alvin Frierdich, Bertha Mechler, Aloys Frierdich, Betty Frierdich and Marian Palmer; , along with a grandchild, Jennifer Sue Frierdich. Mr. Frierdich served with the U.S. Army Medical Corp. during World War II. He was a retired carman with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and he had also worked for more than 35 years at Daab's Drug Store in Columbia. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and American Legion Post 581. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral mass was celebrated at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception School Education Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Mildred Robison, 93, of Columbia, died Oct. 5, 2009, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center in Waterloo. She was born June 24, 1916, in Madison, the daughter of the late William and Annie Chosich. She married Albert Robison in 1955 in St. Louis, Mo. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Robinson is survived by seven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Katie Chosich; and a brother, Bernard Chosich. A graveside service was at St. John's UCC Cemetery in Granite City. Lawlor Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Edith Ludwig, nee Weis, 70 years, of Columbia, died Oct. 5, 2009. She was born Dec. 7, 1938, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Clarence and Irene (Poirot) Weis. She married Wilbur “Chuck” Ludwig in 1956 in Millstadt. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Ludwig is survived by a daughter, Lori (Lenny) Colbert of Red Bud; a son, Brent (Michele) Ludwig of Columbia; grandchildren Danielle (Ryan) Peterson, Allison and Miranda Colbert, and Grant and Gregory Ludwig; and sisters Arlene (Vernon) Wickel of Millstadt and Elaine (Jim) Schmidt of Columbia; along with other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by a son, Randy Ludwig; and a sister, Jeanette Kochman. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Columbia. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was Sat Faith Lutheran Church in Columbia. Mrs. Ludwig was buried at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church, the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis or Family Hospice of Belleville.
