Mary L. Lark, 90, of Columbia, died April 7, 2014 at de Greeff Hospice House, St. Louis. She was born Nov. 21, 1923, in Millstadt, the daughter of the late William and Irene (nee Weible) Dohrman. Mary married Vernon Lark in 1943 in Millstadt. He died in 1988. Mrs. Lark is survived by her daughter, Ruth Ann Mitchell of Columbia; a son, Larry (Phyllis) Lark of Williamsfield; grandchildren, Tammy (Darren) Hines, Holly Dreher and Jamy (Mark) Lindsey; great-grandchildren, Brayden and Kelton Hines, Max Dreher, and Meri, Brock and Bryce Lindsey; brother, Raymond Dohrman of Millstadt; sister, Irene (Marvin) Skaer of Millstadt; and a brother-in-law, Mel (Phyllis) Lark of Belleville. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence, William and Norman Dohrman; and a son-in-law, James O'Neal Mitchell. Mrs. Lark attended Zoar UCC in New Hanover where she had been active with the Women's Guild, and had belonged to many area card clubs. She was a retired sales clerk at Vogt's IGA in Columbia. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor R.J. Morgan officiating. Mrs. Lark was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Zoar UCC of New Hanover or de Greeff Hospice House.
Roberta J. Hern, nee Orrell, 85, of Waterloo, died April 10, 2014, in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Casey, the daughter of late George and Faye (nee Swim) Orrell. Mrs. Hern is survived by her children, George (Linda) Hern, Susan (Sam) Kohler and Craig (Kim) Hern; grandchildren, Lesa (John) Barchet, Sandy (David) Rodenberg, Chad (Carol) Hern, Tony (Becky) Morrow, Jennifer (Dax) Fuente, Katie Zipfel, Tyler (Candice) Zipfel, Eric Hern and Kyle Hern; sisters, Marian Maag and Georgia "Sugar" (Ervin) Borcharding; and 10 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by husband Orvel F. Hern; and a sister, Lois Rexinger. Mrs. Hern attended St. Paul UCC in Waterloo. She was a member of the Waterloo VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor Thelma Burgonio-Watson officiating. Mrs. Hern was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.
Carolyn Fay Agne, 71, of Columbia, died April 1, 2014 at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis. She was born June 9, 1942, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Jesse Otto and Stella (nee Nickles) Pilcher. Mrs. Agne is survived by her husband, Alderman James Harold Agne; sons, James Aaron (Jacqueline) Agne of Riverside and John Barron (Jennifer) Agne of Peekskill, N.Y.; granddaughters, Stella Bickman Agne, and twins Alexandra and Daniela Agne; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Curt Allen Agne, Terry Marvin Agne, Joan Louise English Agne and Janet Sue Agne-Dick; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Agne graduated from the University of Missouri, earning degrees in English and Art. During her early years she worked as a clothing and shoe designer. Carolyn also worked for Darcy Advertising, where she received the St. Louis Darcy Award. She taught art at Central Junior . High School in Belleville where she was known as "Miss Pilcher." Carolyn was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority at the University of Missouri and St. Paul UCC in Columbia Visitation is Friday, April 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mrs. Agne will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.
Ruth Laura DeBay, nee Mueller, 78, died March 15, 2014, in Surprise, Ariz. She was born Nov. 30, 1935, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Arnold and Leona (nee Meyer) Mueller. Her cousin, Myron Roever (founder of MAR Graphics), introduced her to Ray W. DeBay, whom she married in 1953. He preceded her in death, as did her older brother Ronald. Ruth grew up and attended Valmeyer High School in her mother’s hometown. Ruth left Valmeyer and lived in Tacoma, Wash., for 60 years. She worked at Lilyblad Petroleum Company, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department, Madigan Army Hospital and volunteered with the Red Cross. Ruth was well liked by the staff and they created a part-time position for her so she could travel. Ruth traveled the world and also served as president of Loners on Wheels (Nor’West Lo W’s) for two years. She also enjoyed snow birding in Arizona with her friends. Mrs. DeBay is survived by her children, Christy (Darrell) Larsen, Kimberly (Mark) Aloisio, Ray (Michelle) DeBay, Kathy Irey and Amy (Mark) Cornish; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and her lifelong best friend Imogene Yarbrough. A memorial service is planned for June.
Donald H Steingrubey, 80, of Fayetteville, Ark., formerly of Waterloo, died March 17, 2014. He was born Aug. 5, 1933 in St. Louis, the son of the late Harry and Thelma (nee Hall) Steingrubey. Mr. Steingrubey He is survived by his children, Sandy (Alan) Burch and Keith Steingrubey; brothers, Harry (Maxine) Steingrubey, Richard (Dorothy) Steingrubey and Francis (Adele) Steingrubey; and sisters, Bonnie (the late Harold) Berry, Patricia (Gaillard) Krewer, Dorothy (the late Vernon) Matzenbacher and Thelma (Ralph) Ruhmann; along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Steingrubey; and his son, Donald Steingrubey, Jr. Mr. Steingrubey served in the Korean War and was a veteran of the Air Force Reserve. He attended the Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ark. A memorial has been planned for a later date.
Floyd H. Brand, 85, of Waterloo, died March 19, 2014 in Red Bud. He was born March 13, 1929, in Waterloo, the son of the late Henry and Leona (nee Goeddel) Brand. Mr. Brand is survived by his children, Ross Brand, Pamela (Terry) Larsen, Kurt A. (Mary) Brand and Carole Nobbe (Jim Sumner); sister, Joyce Koetting; brother, Willis Brand; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Brand; son-in-law, Dane Nobbe; sister-in-law, Irma Brand; brother-in-law, Jerome Koetting; and a niece, Marilyn Underwood. Mr. Brand was the former owner of Brand Shoe Land, Floyd's Bar and was a pipefitter. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker with Father Von Deeke officiating. Mr. Brand was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church.
Vivian L. Thoma Daab, 85, of Columbia, died March 20, 2014 at Oak Hill. She was born Dec. 10, 1928, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Robert Elmer and Lillian (Lewis) Chaffin. Mrs. Daab is survived by her children, Judy (Dan) Lecocq of Murphysboro, Robert (Gail) Thoma of Columbia, Virginia Stumpf of Columbia and Harold (Mary Jo) Thoma of Columbia; and step-children Marlene (Carol) Daab of Columbia and Fred Daab of Spartanburg, SC; along with nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her, first husband, Frank A. Thoma; second husband, Vernon "Stein" Daab; a daughter, Theresa Thoma; and sisters, Dorothy Haynes, Shirley Birkner and Veda Mae Shawver. Mrs. Daab attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She had been a medical assistant at Dr. Frederick Gebhardt's office and a clerk at Weilbacher's Department Store. Vivian was a member of the Columbia American Legion Post 581 Ladies Auxiliary. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Daab was buried in the church’s cemetery.
Frank W. Boo, 95, of Columbia, died March 20, 2014 in Columbia. He was born Aug. 9, 1918, in Waterloo, the son of the late Fredrich and Celesta (nee Jehling) Boo. Mr. Boo is survived by sons, Dennis (Alicia) Boo of Cullowhee, N.C., and Gary W. Boo of Columbia; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Boo served in the U.S. Navy from 1937 to 1957, retiring as a chief warrant officer. His tours of duty included serving in World War II as senior yeoman to Admiral Frank Fletcher aboard the USS Yorktown, CV5 and the USS Saratoga, CV3, during the Naval battles of Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal. He was also a veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Boo was a member of the Columbia American Legion Post 581. A memorial service was planned for a later date. Mr. Boo was cremated according to his wishes. His remains were interred in the family plot in Waterloo.
Phyllis Lee Chilovich, 59, of Mt. Olive, died March 21, 2014, at Carlinville Area Hospital. She was born Dec. 28, 1954, in Litchfield, the daughter of the late Tony Joseph and Elda Anna (nee Thomsen) Chilovich. Ms. Chilovich is survived by a sister, Carolyn (Frank) Heigert of Carlinville; a brother, Dave (Margie) Chilovich of Sorento; a niece, Jennifer Heigert of Windsor, Calif.; nephews, Jeffery (Nan) Heigert of Mackinaw, and Jac and Tim Chilovich of Sorento; and two great-nieces, Jaclyn and Julia Heigert. After Phyllis graduated from Mt. Olive High School in 1973, she earned a bachelor's degree in education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1978. “P.C.” taught at Valmeyer High School for 33 years, retiring in 2011. While at V.H.S., P.C. was the yearbook advisor and prom coordinator. She was named an Honorary Valmeyer Alumni during the 2013 VHS Alumni Banquet. Ms. Chilovich was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church where she was baptized and confirmed. She was also a member of the Valmeyer Pinochle Club. P.C. loved animals and was an avid sports fan, especially of the University of Illinois and Cardinals baseball. She also played the drums in the Mt. Olive, Staunton and Gillespie city bands. Visitation and funeral were at Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive with Rev. Daniel Barbey officiating. Mrs. Chilovich was buried at the Mt. Olive City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Adopt-A-Pet, Hospice of Southern Illinois or the Mt. Olive City Cemetery.
Delma E. Schulmeister, nee Prange, 95, of Waterloo, died March 22, 2014. She was born Jan. 24, 1919 in Fults, the daughter of the late John Paul and Bertha Elizabeth (nee Sprankel) Prange. “Grandma Shoe” is survived by her children, Carol (Larry) Schmalenberger and Robert (Tara) Schulmeister; grandchildren, Jon Schmalen-berger (friend Lisa May); Amy (Ryan) Hopfinger, Erin (Steve) Hoffmann and Lauren Schul-meister (fiance Colby Jensen); great-grandchildren, Logan Hopfinger, Austin Hopfinger, Adler Hoffmann, Adler Hoffmann and Ryan Hoffmann; a niece, Sonja Freeman; and nephews H.R. (Sally) Gentsch and Paul Prange; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Schulmeister grew up on a farm in Fults. After moving to Waterloo she waitressed at the Bee Hive Restaurant and a telephone operator for the Harrisonville Telephone Comp-any. Delma was known to many locals when she worked for many years at Schulmeister Bakery in downtown Waterloo. She was preceded in death by her husband nearly 50 Years, F. Robert “Bix” Schulmeister; and a daughter, Brenda C. Schulmeister. A private service was at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Thelma Burgonio-Watson officiating. Mrs. Schulmeister was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church, St. Paul UCC in Waterloo.
