Gilbert E. Birkner, 85, of Hecker, died Oct. 9, 2009 in Hecker. He was born Feb. 28, 1924, the son of the late Oscar and Appolonia (nee Kreher) Birkner. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hedwig (nee Macke) Birkner; children LuAnn (Frank) Gregson, Gilbert L. (Deanna) Birkner and Jonella (Michael) Donius; son in law, Dane Wittenbrink; grandchildren Jeanne, Kyle (Amanda) Wittenbrink, Angela (Ryan) Szymarek, Dayne Wittenbrink, Scott (Lyndall) Gregson, Dr. Kristi (Jason) Moore, Katie Gregson, Danielle (Kyle) Doerr, Alexandra Birkner, Nicolette Birkner, Gilbert "Zach" Birkner and Andrew and Timothy Donius; and brothers Leo Birkner and Allan (Mary Lou) Birkner; along with six great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Evelyn Wittenbrink; and sisters Irma Lehr and Muriel Langenstein. Mr. Birkner was a retired farmer, a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Hecker’s Holy Name Society, a charter member of Waterloo’s Sister Cities of Portaloo, the Hecker Community Center, St. Clair County Farm Bureau, a retired Prairie du Long Township trustee and the Citrus Ridge Neighborhood Association. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Hecker with Father James Blazine officiating. Mr. Birkner was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church, Hospice of Southern Illinois or Gibault Catholic High School.
Mildred Laub, nee Hesterberg, 93, of Columbia, died Oct. 6, 2009 in Belleville. She was born Sept. 22, 1916 in Maeystown, the daughter of the late William and Ida (nee Trost) Hesterberg. Mrs. Laub is survived by a son, Ronald (Katherine) Laub; grandchildren Jessica and Zachary Laub; a brother, Wilbert “Whip” (Florence) Hesterberg; and a special cousin, Imogene (Charles) Yarbrough; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Laub; sisters Ardell Andres and Ida Kuergeleis; and brothers Earl, Ralph and Harold Hesterberg. Mrs. Laub was a member of St. John UCC in Valmeyer, the Columbia Senior Citizens and Valmeyer Senior Citizens. She volunteered at the Monroe County Nursing Home. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. John UCC of Valmeyer with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Laub was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Marybelle Doxey, 96, of Millstadt, died Oct. 30, 2009 in Waterloo. She was born April 18, 1913 in Cottage Home, the daughter of the late Ephraim Marcus and Lona Edna (Denning) Noel. She married Willie Joe Doxey on May 16, 1931. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Doxey was preceded in death by her step-father, Logan Telus Mann; step-brother, Virgil E. (V. Margaret) Mann; step-brother, H. Wayne (Jane) Mann; step-sister, Roza J. (Mann) Howerton and her husband Louis; nephews Lloyd W. Mann and William Howerton; and a niece, Ludene (Howerton) Klein. She is survived by nieces and nephews, Emma Jean (Mann) Howerton and Willard Krick, Pat Mann and G. Clint Phillips; great-nephews and great-nieces, great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces; and a great-great-great niece and cousins. Mrs. Doxey graduated from high school in Carterville. She came to St. Louis around the age of 16 and worked in a shoe factory. Later, she was a manager of several well-known ladies clothing shops in downtown St. Louis. Marybelle was a caregiver who took care of her parents in their elder years, she took in numerous family members during the Depression until they were able to get back on their feet and all throughout her life she took care of or helped anyone in any way. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Private burial was at Oakwood Cemetery in Carterville. Memorials may be made to Cottage Home Baptist Church and Tennessee Baptist Church
Herbert O. Roider, 85, of Waterloo, died Oct. 31, 2009 in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 15, 1924 in Red Bud, the son of the late Peter and Mathilda (nee Yackle) Roider. Besides his parents, Mr. Roider was preceded in death by sister Luella (William) Polacek; brothers Anton (Laura) Roider, Alvin, Clarence and Harold Roider; sisters-in-law Lena Mae Rahn and Lois Kirkley. He is survived by his wife, Leota (Wirth) Roider nee Kirkley; step-children Leon (Diana) Wirth, Nancy (Gary Gene) Gilbert, James (Donna) Wirth, Betty (Carl Jr.) Brandenburger and Lori (Don) Dillenberger; step-grandchildren Dawn Wirth, Leon (Michelle) Wirth, Jason (Yurika) Wirth and Angela (Brett) Crawford, Beth (Mark) Heusohn, Gary (Carrie) Gilbert, Corey (Amy) Wirth, Kelly (Brian) Hartmann, Chris Howell, Brandy (Tom) Clements, Cheri (Clinton) Mudd, Jennifer (Byron) Falkenhain, Jamie Branden-burger, Brad and Aimee Dillenberger; and brothers-in-law Jess (Kay) Kirkley and Orville Rahn Sr;. along with 19 step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Roider retired from the City of Waterloo where he was superintendent of the sewer plant, a former grounds maintenance man at the Waterloo Country Club and was a driver for Bode's Sodes and also the Waterloo Milk Company. Mr. Roider was a member of Waterloo Sportsman's Club and played on the kloepper clubs at Willie’s West End, Wartburg Inn and in Burksville. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Roider was buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family medical expenses or to the St. Paul UCC Family Emergency Fund.
Goldie E. Fausz, 84, of Red Bud, formerly of Prairie du Rocher, died Oct. 15, 2009 at Red Bud Nursing Home. She was born March 5, 1925, in Prairie du Rocher, to the late Harry and Mary (Deterding) DuFrenne. She married Kenneth Fausz on Oct. 1, 1947 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher. He died in 1991. Mrs. Fausz is survived by her children, Terry (Dawn) Fausz, Karen (Cardell) Young and Peggy (Don) Buettner; grandchildren, Aaron Buettner, Jessica Buettner, Kyle (Abby) Buettner, Candy Young and Ken Young; and sister-in-law, Lorraine (Gilmore) Melliere. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Evelyn Moll and Eileen Krebel. Mrs. Fausz was a homemaker. She also cleaned the rectories as St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester. She was a member of St. John’s the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud and a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral mass was at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Msgr. Dennis Schaefer and Father Daniel Jurek officiating. Mrs. Fausz was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorials can be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church and Human Service Center in Red Bud.
Ellen Schult, nee Avara, 84, of East Carondelet, died Oct. 18, 2009 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Sept. 11, 1925 in Jonesburg, Mo., the daughter of the late Odis and Jessie (nee Wood) Avara. Mrs. Schult was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Schult Sr.; and brothers, Melvin and Robert Avara. She is survived by daughters, Sandra (Joe) Landfried of Columbia and Susan (Tim) Chew of Millstadt; sons, Robert (Jean) Schult Jr. of Ava, Donald Schult of Columbia and Danny (Kelly) Schult of Millstadt; grandchildren, Michael Landfried, Tony (Christy) Schult, Mark (Amy) Schult, Jeff Schult, Julie (Rod) Reichert, Jeanne (Mike) Burkhalter, Daniel Schult, Courtney Schult and Rowdy Rossing; and 12 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mrs. Schult was a homemaker and member of the Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis. Visitation and funeral were at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Mrs. Schult was buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Columbia Convalescent Center’s Activity Fund.
Mary Lee Ray, nee Albertson, 87, of Red Bud, died Oct. 15, 2009 at the Red Bud Nursing Home. She was born April 21, 1922, in Leeper Mo., the daughter of the late Walter and Gertrude (Gilbert) Albertson. She married Virgil Ray in 1938 in Williamsville, Mo. He died in 1977. Mrs. Ray is survived by her children, Barbara (Don) Roth, Bill (Mary) Ray, Rick Ray, Sue (Paul) Ellner, Terry Ray, Connie (Ron) Mulholland, Kim (Dan) Miller and Nancy (Michael) Brown; sisters, Margie Tubb, Nora Brown and Sharon (Jimmy) Moore; and brothers, John(Opal) Albertson and Bob Albertson; along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a step-father, Clinton Bumler; sons Jerry and Chuck Ray; daughter, Sherry Bachelier; brothers, James Albertson and Carroll “Bill” Albertson; granddaughter, Tracy Bachelier; and grandson, Rick Ray Jr. Mrs. Ray was a homemaker until 1980 before going to work at Gilster Mary-Lee Corporation in Chester. In addition to being a housewife, she supplemented the family income by taking on many odd jobs, such as ironing, scrapping corn, babysitting and picking pecans. She was always the first one up each morning and the last to bed at night. Later in life, Mrs. Ray enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mary loved babies, maintaining a clean house even with so many children, cooking and her ever-present gentle smile. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Prairie du Rocher. After moving to Red Bud she attended the First Baptist Church in Red Bud. Visitation was at Welge–Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at the First Baptist Church in Red Bud with Rev. Tim McIntye officiating. Mrs. Ray will be buried at the Ellis Grove City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the building fund at First Baptist Church in Red Bud or to Alzheimer’s disease research.
Oscar Mills McGuire, 94, of Columbia, died Oct. 21, 2009, at deGreeff Hospice House in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Dec. 23, 1914, in Celeste, Tex., the son of the late Fred and Hope (Mills) McGuire. He married Sarah (O'Guinn) Reis McGuire in 1978 in Dupo and was a retired foreman with Mobil Oil Corp. in the East St. Louis refinery of Mobil Oil Corp. In addition to his wife, Mr. McGuire is survived by his daughter-in-law, Judy McGuire of Queen Creek, Ariz.; grandchildren, Terri McGuire and Tammy McGuire; step-children, Mary Ann (David) Rodenberg of Columbia, Monica Kettler of Columbia and Joe Reis of Millstadt; step-grandchildren, Mike and Sarah Rodenberg, Kevin and Adam Reis and Corey Kettler; a brother, Kenny (Gloria) McGuire of Wheeling, WV.; a sister, Barbara (Eddie) Saba of Huntsville, Ala.; along with five great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Dorothy McGuire; son, Lance McGuire; sisters Anna Moi Jones, Mildred Mitchell, Laverne Hamilton and Katherine Vawter; and a brother, Fred McGuire. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service followed with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mr. McGuire was buried at Valhalla Gardens Of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Sunnyhill Inc., which serves the developmentally disabled.
Richard J. “Dick” Valentine, 60, of Waterloo, died Oct. 20, 2009 in Waterloo. He was born July 31, 1949 in Red Bud, the son of Josephine Riechmann and the late Vernon Valentine. In addition to his mother, Mr. Valentine is survived by his wife, Bonnie (nee Jehling) Valentine; children, Lana (Steven) Reichert, John (fiancé Kim Stellhorn) Valentine, Janese Valentine and Denise (Josh) Robinson; grandchildren, Bailey, Abigail and Carlie Reichert, Dakota Valentine and Lorelei Oleson; brother, Dennis (Luann) Valentine; and sisters, Anna (Darrell) Glaenzer and Patti (Rich) Dependahl; along with an uncle, aunts, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mildred and Lester Jehling. Mr. Valentine was a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA42). He was employed as a body repairman at Broadway Ford in St. Louis and was a member of Mechanic's Union District 9. Visitation was Thursday, Oct. 22 at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was Friday, Oct. 23 at the funeral home with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mr. Valentine was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Family Hospice or the donor’s choice.
Richard L. Nunning, 81, of Columbia, died Oct. 22, 2009 in Belleville. He was born Dec. 7, 1927 in Hurst, the son of the late Lemuel and Rosalie (nee Tiola) Nunning. He is survived by his wife, Ann (nee Curcuro) Nunning; a son, Brian Matthew Nunning; and a daughter, Paula Ann Nunning. He was preceded in death by his brother, Lemuel John "L.J." Nunning. Mr. Nunning was veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked for the Wabash Railroad and later retired as a locomotive engineer from the Norfolk Southern Railroad. Richard was a 50-year member of the Columbia Masonic Blue Lodge 474 A.F. & A.M. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Visitation was Sunday, Oct. 25 at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Funeral was Monday, Oct. 26, at St. Peter’s Catholic Cathedral in Belleville with Fr. John Myler officiating. Mr. Nunning was buried with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
