Dorthia Wild nee Benton, 83, of Waterloo, died Feb. 16, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Oct. 31, 1924 in Owensville, Mo., the daughter of the late Joseph and Alice Benton nee Naugle. She was married to the late Erwin Wild. Mrs. Wild is survived by her daughters Bonnie (James) Hoffman of Waterloo and Ruth Wild of St. Charles, Mo.; grandchildren Kevin (Rhonda) Hoffman and Brian (Angie) Hoffman; great-grandchildren Cassie, Kayla, Ryan, Morgan, Mason and Marisa Hoffman; and sister-in-law Eileen Naugle of Rockbridge. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters and brothers. Mrs. Wild was a member of Zion UCC of St. Joe’s Women's Guild. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service was at Zion UCC Church in St. Joe, Pastor Nancy Spier-Lee officiating. Memorials may be made to the church.
Meeky Rusteberg, 83, of Fults, died Feb. 17, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Feb. 5, 1925, in Eminence, Mo., the daughter of the late Arthur and Ellen Nichols nee Williams. She was married to Marcellus Rusteberg. Mrs. Rusteberg is survived by her son Curtis Rusteberg of Waterloo; grandchildren David Lee Rusteberg, Rebecca Patricia (William) Huddleston, both of Waterloo; great-grandchild Arthur Lee (Jennifer) Rusteberg of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; sisters Caden Huddleston of Maryville, Helen Garrett and Mary Witker; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and one brother. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. She was buried at Monroe City Cemetery.
Leslie Brinkman, 99, of Columbia , died Feb. 18, 2008, in Columbia. He was born Oct. 31, 1908, in Okawville, the son of the late John Brinkman and the late Jane Brinkman nee Friend. He married the late Vera Brinkman nee Krewinghaus in 1940 in St. Louis; she preceded him in death in 2007. Mr. Brinkman is survived by his nieces and nephews Gene Brinkman, Shirley Kocher, Doris Duvall, Nancy (Gene) Tepe, JoAnne (Clyde) Schubert, Terry (Chris) Krewinghaus, Carol (Bob) Wetstein, Frank Majnerich and Terry Majnerich; brother-in-law Earl (Ruth) Krewinghaus; sister-in-law Pearl Majnerich; and other relatives and friends. He was a retired civil servant at Scott Air Force Base. Visitation and a funeral service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Rev. William Groennert officiating. He is buried at the Oddfellows Cemetery in Oakawville. Memorials may be made to Christ Community Lutheran Church in Columbia.
Willis Henke, 76, of Waterloo, died Feb. 18, 2008, in Belleville. He was born Nov. 5, 1931, in Waterloo, the son of the late Theodore and Olga Henke nee Mueller. Mr. Henke is survived by his brother Roy (Anola) Henke of Waterloo; nieces Lori Morton of Waterloo, Marla (Robert) Byrd of Waterloo, Karen (Rick) Hoff of Wentzville, Mo., and Kirsten (Nat) Bongiovanni of Fairfax, Va.; nephews Scott Henke and Troy Henke, both of Waterloo; great-niece, Erin Polacek; and great-nephews Ted Polacek and Zachary Byrd. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Marvin Henke. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Dawson Miller officiating. He is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to New Harmony Church of Waterloo.
Vernon Hoepfinger, 88, of Columbia, died Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, in Columbia. He was born May 8, 1919, in Dupo, the son of the late Harry Hoepfinger and Lena Hoepfinger nee Rehg. Mr. Hoepfinger is survived by his daughter Darlene Hoepfinger of Caseyville; sisters Carolyn (Omar) Harris Jr. of Columbia and Mildred Brewster of Belleville; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Helen Hoepfinger nee Pearson, second wife Doris Hoepfinger nee Beeler, brother Harold Hoepfinger, and sisters Bernice Bieller and Viola Fauerbach. Mr. Hoepfinger was a member of Sterling Baptist Church in Fairview Heights. He was also a member of Columbia Blue Lodge 474 AF and AM and the Shriners. He was a retired switchman with the Terminal Railroad in East St. Louis. Visitation and a funeral service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Randy Loeschen officiating. He is buried at St. Paul Evangelical Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Sterling Baptist Church or the Animal Protective Association of St. Louis.
Mary Ellen Kern nee Vogt, 79, of Tipton, died Feb. 18, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Sept. 22, 1928, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Leo and Selma Vogt nee Rehmer. She was married to the late Simon Kern. Mrs. Kern is survived by her daughter Karen Mavers of Waterloo; grandchildren John (Charlene) Ahne of Waterloo, Christopher Ahne of Jacksonville, Fla., and William Robert Ahne of Waterloo; great-grandchildren Nicole Ahne, Tess Ahne, Brittani Ahne, John S. Ahne and Bethanie Ahne; brothers Orval “Bud” (Geraldine) Vogt of Waterloo and Leland (Corina) Vogt of Waterloo; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Mrs. Kern was a member of St. Patrick's Church in Tipton. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick's Church in Tipton, Fr. Jose Jacob officiating. Memorials may be made to the Monroe County Relay for Life or St. Patrick's Education Fund.
Norma Lindemann nee Sopp, 97, of Waterloo, formerly of Dupo, died Feb. 19, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Oct. 18, 1911. She was married to the late Lloyd Lindemann. Ms. Lindemann is survived by her son William (Clara) Lindemann of Las Cruces, N.M.; daughter Joan (Arland) Nottmeier of St. Louis; grandchildren Kate Nottmeier, Carl Nottmeier, Eric (Tracy) Nottmeier and Alex (Jennifer) Nottmeier; great-grandchildren Reese Nottmeier, Sloan Nottmeier, Turner Nottmeier and Hudson Nottmeier; sisters-in-law Norma Sopp and Elva Sopp; and god-daughter, Linda Frisch; along with nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers Otto Buehler, Oliver Sopp and Russell Sopp. Mrs. Lindemann was a member of Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo and the Christ UCC Women’s Guild, Dupo Volunteer Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary and the Monroe County Home Extension. She was a secretary at Dupo High School and East Carondelet Grade School. A funeral service was held at Christ UCC of Dupo, Rev. Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Christ UCC of Dupo Elevator Fund, Oakhill Memorial Fund or A.C. Daugherty Library Fund.
Donald Reis, 77, of Columbia, died Feb. 20, 2008, in Columbia. He was born August 9, 1930, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Carl and Hilda Reis nee Habermehl. Mr. Reis is survived by his special friend Marcella “Sally” Schmittling of Waterloo; daughters Jerri (James) Standing of Creve Coeur, Mo., Donna Reis of Minneapolis, Minn., and Susan Mueller of Edwardsville; sons Steven (Teresa) Reis of Columbia and John (Renee) Reis of Valparaiso, Ind.; eight grandchildren; brother David (Margaret) Reis of Fla.; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Reis, and sister Rose Marie Nottmeier. He was a retired mechanic at Ryder Trucking in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation and a funeral service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. He is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Laura Thomas, 94, of Breese, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. She was born June 28, 1913, in Columbia, the daughter of late Herman and Christina Osterhage nee Klohr. She married Alvin Thomas on August 17, 1940; he preceded her in death in 1995. Mrs. Thomas is survived by her son David (Jan) Thomas of Aviston; daughter-in-law Rosalie Thomas of Centralia; grandchildren Diane (Art) Mucciante of Presque Isle, Mich., Lynn (Mark) Featherling of Centralia, Rodney (Corina) Thomas of Bartlett, and Scott (Kathy) Thomas of Aviston; great-grandchildren Rosalie, Brianna and Bruno Mucciante, Megan and Jacob Featherling, and Jessica, Gavin, Caleb, Collin and Griffin Thomas; and twin sister Myrtle Jung of Millstadt. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Alan Thomas, brother Raymond Osterhage, and great-grandson Arthur Alan Mucciante. Mrs. Thomas was a member of St. John United Church of Christ of Breese and the Women’s Fellowship. She was a homemaker and co-owner of Western Auto Supply in Breese. Visitation was at Moss Funeral Home in Breese. A funeral service was held at St. John UCC in Breese, Rev. Lisa Hart officiating. She is buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church.
Robert Reed, 63, of Waterloo, died Feb. 23, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 27, 1944, in St. Louis, the son of the late George and Esther Reed nee Noonan. He was married to Sandra Reed. Mr. Reed is survived by his wife; children Kelly (Brett) Schipkowski of Edwardsville, John Reed of Waterloo, and Katherine “Katt” Reed of Waterloo; grandchildren Olivia Reed and Kendra and Zachary Schipkowski; sister Sharon (Steve) Dodson of Mehlville, Mo., Tom Reed of Orlando, Fla., and Dan (Cheryl) Reed of Ballwin, Mo.; sisters-in-law Sharon Gustafson, Bobbie (Doug) Isham and Gloria (Steve) Klopf; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Matt Friz officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
