Virgil Kirchoff of rural Waterloo died this morning, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 at an assisted living center in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending at Quernheim Funeral Home.
Edna Salome Shondy, nee Ebersohl, 89 of Millstadt, died Jan. 10, 2011 at the Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Dec. 13, 1921 in St. Clair Township, the daughter of the late Louis and Katherine (nee Scharf) Ebersohl. Mrs. Shondy is survived by her husband of 71 years, Earl Shondy; a son, Gary Shondy of Columbia; grandchildren Sherri (Dale) Vogt of Paderborn, Amy (Mike) Webster of John’s Creek, Ga., and Chris (Sherry) Shondy of Lake Zurich; great-grandchildren Megan and Derek Vogt, Mitchell, Matthew and Jack Webster, and Kate and Gavin Shondy; and sisters Amanda Ruhrmann and Clara Fuerer; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Karen Shondy; brothers Albert, Oscar, Bill and Louis Ebersohl; and sisters Olinda Mueller, Florence Stoll, Hilda Mueller and Ardella Mueth. A homemaker, Ednda attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt. She was a members of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Millstadt American Legion Post 502 Ladies Auxiliary (past-president); and the Millstadt Sister Cities. Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral is Friday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Shondy will be buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to her church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Merrill R. Weller, 66, of Columbia, died Jan. 10, 2011. He was born Feb. 15, 1944, in Galesburg, the son of the late Ralph and Marcella (Tesson) Weller. Mr. Weller is survived by his wife, Sharon (Byers) Weller; daughters Jill (Bob) Dickerson and Liz (David Hornal) Goodrich, both of Columbia; grandchildren Katie, Maggie, Cole, Will and Nick; a brother, Bob (Tina) Weller of East Carondelet; sister, Marlene Weller Hartman of Columbia; mother-in-law, Helen Byers of Columbia; and special niece, Lisa Weller; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a grandchild, Jackson Weller Goodrich; brother, Kenny C. Weller; and his father-in-law, Russel Byers. Merrill served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Waterloo Country Club, Columbia Gymnastic Association (Turners), Bricklayers Local 1 in St. Louis, Mo., where he worked as a Masonry Estimator; a past-president of the Columbia Moose Lodge and a former member of the Columbia Jaycees. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 14, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Weller will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul United Church of Christ of Columbia’s Capital Development Fund or the David C. Pratt Cancer Center at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
Virgil L. Kirchoff, 75, of Waterloo, died Jan. 10, 2011 at McKnight Place in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Sept. 28, 1935 at the family farm in Cleghorn, Iowa, the son of Grace Kirchoff (nee Gilbert), 99, of Cherokee, Iowa, and the late Lester Kirchoff. Mr. Kirchoff is survived by his sons, David Kirchoff (Vicki) of St. Louis, Mo., John Kirchoff of Chicago and Ben Kirchoff of O’Fallon; a sister, Arlene; and grandchildren Harry, Nick, Katherine, Drew and Sydney Kirchoff; the mother of his children and special friend, Fairlyn Mooradian; and lifelong friend, Janet Walkup. He was preceded in death by a sister , Alice Cedar; and a granddaughter in infancy, Gabrielle Kirchoff. Virgil’s early life was centered on farming and the outdoors. He attended a one-room, rural elementary schoolhouse in Cleghorn, Iowa (population 222). In high school, Mr. Kirchoff was involved in athletics and choir. He was an accomplished a cappella singer and his baritone voice helped him win a state competition. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Iowa State University, alternating one semester as a student and the next at home working the farm. While at ISU, he played on the Cyclone football team and was president of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After college graduation he began working for Lennox Heating. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Kirchoff was employed by Moto Inc. (FKG Oil). He worked his way up the company ladder and served for many years as CEO as well as chairman of the board. Under his guidance, the company grew from a handful of stations with $40,000 of annual revenue into one of the largest independent gas companies in the Midwest. Mr. Kirchoff was a board member of the First National Bank of Belleville, Magna Bank, Semi-Bulk Systems, PBS Channel 9 and the St. Louis Petroleum Organization. He enjoyed art, symphony and classical music and nature. His legacy was in his personal botanical garden and Waterloo home he called Creekhaus, where the guestbook has been signed by individuals from several continents. Mr. Kirchoff was cremated. A celebration of life service will be Saturday, Jan. 15, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Clair Country Club in Belleville. There will be an 11 a.m. tribute followed by lunch. Memorials may be made to the Waterloo Rotary Club, the Sheridan Stars 4-H Club of Cleghorn, Iowa or the SWIC Foundation Fund.
Norma Christine Hern, nee Gibbs, 91, of Waterloo, died Jan. 10, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 6, 1919 in Pocahontas, the daughter of the late Aldrew and Edith (nee Collier) Gibbs. Mrs. Hern is survived by her children, Gloria (Charles) Goldschmit, Gary Wayne Hern, Larry Dean Hern, Roger David Hern, Glenda (Dennis) Brock, Sharon (Larry) Caswell and Shawn (Mike) Christmann; 17 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Roy E. Hern, who she married in 1936; a son, Royce Hern; sisters Nell Glover and Marie Hunsicker; brothers Dale Gibbs and Raymond Gibbs; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Hern was a member of the Greater St. Louis Dalhia Society and attended Assembly of God Church in Renault. Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 16, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Hern will be buried at the St. John UCC Cemetery in Fults. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill.
Ruth S. (Metter) Schneider, 78, died Jan. 11, 2011 at the Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born April 23, 1932, in Columbia, IL, the daughter of the late Walter and Alma (Wirth) Metter. She married Lloyd Schneider in 1964 in Millstadt. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Schneider is survived by her children, Lillian (Kevin) Koenigstein and Russell (Tina) Schneider, both of Columbia; grandchildren Loren and Kaitlyn Koenigstein, and Lucas Schneider; and a brother, Clarence (Myrt) Metter of Columbia; along with nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Ruth attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt. She was member of the Bluff Grange, Order of the Eastern Star, St. Clair County Farm Bureau (a past Farm Woman of the Year award recipient) and was named an Honorary FFA, where she was a past-treasurer for the FFA Alumni. Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Friday, Jan. 14, at 1 p.m., at the funeral home with Pastor Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Schneider will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church or the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.
June A. (Mullen) Mitchell, 83, of Columbia, died Jan. 14, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Sept. 3, 1927, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Dorothy (Day) Mullen. She was married to the late Edward B. Mitchell. He died in 1993. Mrs. Mitchell is survived by her sons, Terry Mitchell of Columbia, Thomas (Maggie) Mitchell of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Robert Mitchell of Smithton; grandchildren, Shanna (Ernie) Doiron, Lindsay Mitchell, Tommy Mitchell, Brandon Mitchell and Billy Mitchell; a great-grandchild, Miles Doiron; and a sister, Dorothy Best of Bonne Terre, Mo. Private graveside services were held at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Howard "Pete" Riechmann, 88, of Columbia, died Jan. 15, 2011 at a hospital in St. Louis, Mo. following a stroke. He was born July 21, 1922 in Valmeyer, the son of the late George and Louisa (nee Kruse) Riechmann. Mr. Riechmann is survived by his wife, Melba (nee Ritzel) Riechmann; children Jane (Patrick) McCarthy and John (Patricia) Riechmann; grandchildren Daniel (Gayle) McCarthy, Michael (Kristin) McCarthy, Mary (Ben) Neff, William (Jamie) Riechmann and Kate (Brad) Edler; great-grandchildren Alyssa, Mallory and Isabelle McCarthy, Morgan and Riley McCarthy; Troy and Drew Neff; and Evan and Lily Riechmann; step-great-grandchild, Cole Matzenbacher; a brother, Roy (Alberta) Riechmann; and brother-in-law, Paul (Sarah) Ritzel; along with sisters-in-law, niece, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Oliver and Elmer Riechmann. Mr. Riechmann was very involved with his church, St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer, where he was a former church trustee and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. In addition, Pete was a president of the Illinois Polled Hereford Association, president of Monroe Service Co., chairman of the Monroe County Republican Committee, vice-president of the Monroe County Fair Association and a director of Magna Bank in Columbia and the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Visitation is Sunday, Jan. 16, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mr. Riechmann will be buried at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the St. Mary Building Fund or masses at his church.
Doris Mae Goepfert, nee Voelkel, 84, of Belleville, died Jan. 17, 2011 surrounded by her family. She was born July 2, 1926, the daughter of the late Peter and Clara (Kloess) Voelkel. Mrs. Goepfert is survived by her sons, Alan (Jane) Goepfert of Millstadt and Kent Goepfert of San Diego, Calif.; and a daughter, Jane (Todd) Kramer of Waterloo; grandsons Todd and Brad Goepfert and Adam Kramer; granddaughters Jenna and Anne Goepfert and Larissa Armbruster; and a brother, Robert (Nell) Voelkel. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Voelkel; and a sister, Lucille Butz. Doris was a homemaker and retired clerk at Bollmeier's Hobby Shop. She attended St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Child Study Guild for more than 50 years. Visitation and funeral were at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home in Belleville with Rev. Drew Kramer officiating. Mrs. Goepfert was buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville.
Audrey S. Hartman, nee Sherman, 91, of Waterloo, died Jan. 19, 2011 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Oct. 11, 1919 in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Harry and Hazel (nee Tufford) Sherman. Mrs. Hartman is survived by a daughter, Mary Louis (William) Schmidt; cousins, nieces and nephews, along with their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death her husband, Carlisle G. Hartman. A remembrance gathering will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Quernheim Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Missouri Botanical Garden or First Church of Christ, Scientist in Kirkwood, Mo.
