The Rev. John G. Klocker, who served Annunciation Catholic Church in Webster Groves for the past 10 years, died of a heart attack on Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, while vacationing in Las Vegas. He was 72.
Before his appointment to Annunciation, Father Klocker served at 10 other parishes in the St. Louis area. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1958, and served Annunciation as the parish's senior priest.
Among his duties at Annunciation, Father Klocker taught religion classes to children at the elementary school, and taught children how to serve Mass.
"As a teacher, he made it easy for children to understand the Gospel, " said the Rev. Denny Schabb, pastor of Annunciation Church. "He was a prayerful man himself, with a great love for life. Some say he had the best roses in Webster Groves with his rose garden out back. He always said they were not for picking, but for everyone to enjoy."
Father Klocker served in the army in Korea during the Korean War. He was the second son in his family to enter the priesthood. Older brother, The Rev. Harry R. Klocker, who died in November 2000, was a Jesuit priest at St. Louis University.
"Father Klocker had a great wit, and he was known among both the kids and adults for his sense of humor, " Father Schabb said. "His family was all from St. Louis, and they were all very close. His three remaining siblings were frequent companions of his."
Father Klocker was the youngest son of the late Harry and Regina Klocker, and brother of Annette Curtin, Ralph Klocker, Mary Meyer and the late Rev. Harry R. Klocker, S.J. He was a brother-in-law of the late Laverne Klocker, Neil Curtin and Bill Meyer. He was a dear uncle, great uncle and great great uncle.
One of Father Klocker's last official acts at Annunciation was to celebrate Sunday Mass, which included the blessing of the new church vestibule.
Visitation will be from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, with the funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, both at Annunciation Catholic Church, Elm and Glendale in Webster Groves. Archbishop Justin Rigali will celebrate the mass.
Memorials can be made to Our Lady's Inn, 4223 S. Compton, 63111, or a charity of your choice.
Theodore Knickmeyer, former vocational teacher and guidance counselor with the Kirkwood School District, died Friday, June 28, 2002. He was 83 years old.
Mr. Knickmeyer moved to the St. Louis area from El Paso, Texas, when he was three years old. He was an Eagle Scout and scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, and served as an Army pilot in World War II.
Mr. Knickmeyer began his teaching career with the St. Louis Public Schools, teaching industrial arts, coaching swimming, and working as a guidance counselor.
His 17-year stint with the Kirkwood School District began in 1969, when he joined the staff at Kirkwood High School. In 1973 he moved to North Junior High (North Middle School), as a counselor, and remained there until his retirement in 1986.
Mr. Knickmeyer is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Knickmeyer; three daughters, Janet Brune of Union, Mo., Kathy Lewman of Moscow, Russia, and Sally Macher of Diboll, Texas. He was the grandfather of eight.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, July 7, at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, Social and Environmental Concerns, 100 East Adams, 63122.
Stella E. Knight (nee Lenz), died Monday, Oct. 21, 2002.
Mrs. Knight was the wife of the late Wyman Victor Knight; mother of Joyce (Richard) Hoehne and the late Loretta Heller; grandmother of Chris, Craig, Debbie, Michael, Rick and Victor; great-grandmother of Christopher, Gene, Kaitlyn, Nicholas and Victoria; sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend.
Visitation was held Oct. 23 at Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood, with funeral services there on Oct. 24. Interment, Valhalla Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Lucille L. Knopp, (nee Kirchner), fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, died Monday, July 8, 2002.
Mrs. Knopp was the wife of the late Joseph R. Knopp; aunt of Frank (Sharon) Nickl, Marianne Croghan, Jackie (Math) Kammerer, Peggie (Jack) Hegeman, Lorraine (George) Cruise and Norman (Dorothy) Fischer; great-aunt and great-great aunt.
A funeral Mass was held Wednesday, July 10, at Church of the Little Flower, 1264 Arch Terrace. Interment at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Little Flower School, 1275 Boland Ave, St. Louis, Mo., 63117, would be appreciated.
Visitation was held prior to Mass at Little Flower Church. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood.
Marie Krumm, a long-time Kirkwood resident, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002. She was 88 years old.
Ms. Krumm was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood. She was the daughter of the late Clara (Raaf) and John C. Krumm; dear sister of the late John, George (Lillian), Otto and Minnie Krumm and Clara (Carl) Wagner.
A funeral service was held Monday, April 8, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood. Interment was at St. Lucas Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Raymond S. Kuehn, 87, died Friday, June 7, 2002.
Mr. Kuehn, formerly of Webster Groves, was a WWII Navy and Naval Reserve Veteran. He taught junior high math in Champaign, Ill., and in 1955 began his banking career with Manchester Bank, until his retirement in 1992. He was a member of Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Kuehn was the beloved husband of the late Louise (nee McMath) Kuehn; father of Kathy Kuehn of Lincoln, Neb.; brother of the late Edgar, Carl, Elmer Kuehn, Clara Dahmer, Eva Clark, and Alma Parrish; uncle, cousin and friend to many.
Memorial services were held at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church. Interment was private in Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens. Arrangements through Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves. Donations may be made to the Presbyterian Children's Home, 608 Pine Street, Farmington, Mo, 63640.
Ferdinand Julius LeClerq, of Kirkwood, died Sunday, March 24, 2002. He was 88 years old.
Mr. LeClerq was a U.S. Navy Veteran, and member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood. He worked as a scheduler in the aircraft industry.
Mr. LeClerq was preceded in death by his parents, Anna (Bosichorn) and Ferdinand Paul LeClerq. He is survived by his wife, Clara Anna (Duever) LeClerq, his son, Steven LeClerq, and two grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at Concordia Lutheran Church; interment at National Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Concordia Lutheran Church Building Fund, The Nature Conservancy, or a charity of one's choice.
Cedric Jerome Lemmie, former Kirkwood resident, died Tuesday, July 16, 2002. He was 47 years old.
Mr. Lemmie was born July 9, 1955 in St. Louis, Mo., and grew up in Kirkwood. He was baptized at First Baptist Church of Meacham Park, and would later graduate from Kirkwood High School.
He quickly developed a special interest in music, which blossomed into a passion. He initially chose the saxophone and played in the Kirkwood High School Band and orchestras, as well as a local group, The Mean Green Scene. He also played the flute and piano.
Mr. Lemmie (affectionately known as "CD"), pursued higher education at the University of Missouri, Columbia, earning a degree in physical education in 1978. While attending Mizzou, he maintained his love of music by participating in the university bands, Marching Mizzou and Mini Mizzou. He later completed a bachelor of music education at the University of Missouri in 1982, and a master's degree in music from Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1987.
Mr. Lemmie moved to the Long Island, N.Y., area and taught elementary school students in the Uniondale school system. He eventually moved to the high school to become the musical director of the ninth grade band and the jazz band.
While abroad in Venezuela, Mr. Lemmie met his future wife, Raiza. They married on Aug. 29, 1998. On July 12, 1999, the two welcomed a son, Gabriel.
Over the years, Mr. Lemmie battled a recurring spinal problem. Within the past few months he underwent major corrective surgeries, and died of resulting complications.
Mr. Lemmie is survived by his wife Raiza and son Gabriel; his parents, James and Betty Lemmie; siblings Fred Williams, Beverly Martin, Christopher Lemmie and Anita Lemmie; nieces and nephews Lesli, Amaris, Kailen, Miles, Asha, Logan and Omari; his in-laws in Venezuela; a grandmother, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues and students.
A memorial service was held Saturday, July 27, at First Baptist Church of Meacham Park in Kirkwood, with the Rev. Oliver J. Lemmie, pastor, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cedric Lemmie Scholarship at Uniondale High School, 933 Goodrich St., Uniondale, N.Y., 11553-2499. Please contact the school at 516-560-8831 for details.
Luella Jane Letko of Shrewsbury died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002.
Mrs. Letko was a beautician for over 60 years in Webster Groves and Kirkwood. She was the wife of the late Anthony "Tony" Letko for 57 years; mother of Sandra J. Hermerding and Patricia A. Martin; grandmother of Dee (David) Clark and James (Lisa) Hermerding; great-grandmother of Kylie and Allie Clark and Taylor and Clayton Hermerding; sister of Harvey (Harriet) Decker and the late Aaron Decker.
Funeral services were held at Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves. Interment, Sunset Memorial Park.
