Verna M. Theobald, nee Mueller, 88, of Waterloo, died March 30, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born June 15, 1922 in Renault, the daughter of the late Herman and Dora (nee Offermann) Mueller. Mrs. Theobald is survived by her children, Patricia Jones and Bonnie (Rich) Gill; grandchildren, Noelle (Ed) London, Michael Gill, Pamela Hammond and Jeanine (friend Shawn Lackie) Gill; sisters, Aleda Doelitzsch, Merdel (Wilbert) Haberl, Lynn (Homer) Kerr, Evie (Albert) Heldt and Karen (Neal) Rabe; brother, Ermett (Lena Maude) Mueller; sisters-in-law, Bernell Mueller and Esther Harbaugh; aunt, Elsie Offermann; and 11 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Theobald; great-grandchildren Joseph and Rebekah London; a brother, Marvin Mueller; son-in-law, Verne Jones; and brother-in-law, Elmer Doelitzsch. Mrs. Theobald enjoyed quilting and attended Immanuel Lutheran Church of Waterloo where she was a member of their Ladies Aid. Visitation is Friday, April 1, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo with Pastors Tony Troup and Matt Clark officiating. Mrs. Theobald will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School’s Scholarship Fund, the L.C.M.S Mission Sowers and Lamps Mission Work with American Indians and Eskimos.
Bernadine C. Barker-DeRousse, 84, of Millstadt, died March 30, 2011 at Oak Hill in Waterloo. She was born July 14, 1926, in Festus, Mo., the daughter of the late Bernie and Stella (nee Bowman) DeRousse. Mrs. Barker-DeRousse is survived by her children, John (Charlotte) Barker of Columbia, Barton Barker of Waterloo, Marie (Jim) Pyatt of Murphysboro, Jim (Lisa) Barker of Waterloo and Lou Ann (John) Wolz of Millstadt; grandchildren John Barker, Christy Barker, Hannah, Ashley and Jamie Barker, Justin and Brandi Pyatt, Jacob and Grant Barker, Caleb and Amiela Wolz, Zelina Neihaus and David Madden; seven great-grandchildren; and siblings Opal White of Madison, James (Lena Mae) DeRousse of Festus, Mo., Harriet Gamblin of Bonne Terre, Mo., Bernard “Tub” DeRousse of DeSoto, Mo., and John “Bill” (Betty) DeRousse of Festus, Mo. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bert Barker; her second husband, Bob DeRousse; daughters Mary Jane Schrieber and Estell Stirnaman; sons Jerry Rose and Leonard Kramer; and brothers Robert DeRousse and Albert “Jack” DeRousse. Bernadine had worked at the Monroe County Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was a member of Hope Christian Church and attended the Millstadt Senior Center. Visitation is Friday, April 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral is Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Darrell Jones officiating. Mrs. Barker-DeRousse will be buried at the Sheppard of the Hills Cemetery in Barnhart, Mo. Memorials may be made to the Millstadt Senior Center.
Rosemary C. DuClos, 92, of Red Bud, died March 31, 2011 at the Red Bud Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 11, 1918 in Ruma, the daughter of the late Clarence and Katherine (nee Buehler) Simpson. She married Alonzo Duclos in 1944 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ruma. He died in 1960. Mrs. Duclos is survived by children, Joyce (Tom) Ellner of Prairie du Rocher and Robert (Nolene) Duclos of Waterloo; grandchildren, Scott (Shirleen) Ellner of Edwardsville, Kris (Mike) Kennedy of Prairie du Rocher and Jenny Jones of Waterloo; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Cody Kennedy and Cassie Ellner. Mrs. DuClos had worked at Snyder General in Red Bud for 12 years and was also a waitress at the Little Cupboard in Prairie du Rocher and Dave and Joyce’s Country Kitchen in Red Bud. She attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud and was a member of the Prairie du Rocher American Legion Post 622’s Ladies Auxiliary. Visitation is Sunday, April 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Monday, April 4, 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Red Bud with Msgr. Dennis Schaefer officiating. Mrs. DuClos will be buried at her church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Betty J. Blakeslee, nee Wyman, 69, of Waterloo, died April 1, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born June 18, 1941, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Fred and Cindy (nee Sipes) Wyman. Mrs. Blakeslee is survived by her husband, Raymond L. Blakeslee; children, Fred (Janet) Blakeslee, Darline (Dale) Heck, Rick (Cheryl) Blakeslee, Ben Blakeslee and Randy (Mellisa) Blakeslee; grandchildren, Andrew Heck, Dale Heck Jr., Daniel Blakeslee, Kelsee Blakeslee, Makayla Blakeslee, Hanna Blakeslee, Steven Saunders, Chris Saunders, Alex Saunders and Phillip Saunders; step-grandchild Derek Heck; sister Iona Wyman; and brother Hershel Sipes; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Kaylee Blakeslee; brothers Fred, Guy and Clyde Wyman. Mrs. Blakeslee was a member of Grace Church in Chester. Visitation is Monday, April 4, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Grace Church in Chester. Funeral will immediately follow with Pastor Ron Coleman officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice or Grace Church.
Violet M. Meyer, nee Loewe, 95, of Waterloo, died April 1, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born June 17, 1915, the daughter of the late William and Elsie (nee Shook) Loewe. Mrs. Meyer is survived by her children, Kenneth C. (Elizabeth) Meyer of Columbia and David K. (Leslie) Meyer of Waterloo; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Mildred Meyer of St. Louis; and son-in-law, Joe Van de Riet of Waterloo; along with nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd H. Meyer; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Van de Riet and brother, Bob L. Phelps. Mrs. Meyer attended St. John UCC in Valmeyer and was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America, Hungry Eight Card Club and the Dupo Card Club. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor David Riebeling officiating. Mrs. Meyer was buried at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill.
Bernice E. (Stemler) Riebeling, 84, of Columbia, died April 2, 2011, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Oct. 8, 1926, in Fountain, the daughter of the late George J. and Lena C. (Voelker) Stemler. She married Carl A. Riebeling in 1945. He died in 2007. Mrs. Riebeling is survived sons, Terry (Aleta) Riebeling of Ames, Mark (Debbie) Riebeling of Columbia, Michael (Lynn) Riebeling of Ellis Grove and Steven (Sandy) Riebeling of Athens, Ala.; daughter, Janice (William) Schepers of Maeystown; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers Clarence and Homer Stemler. Mrs. Riebeling was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia and was retired from Weilbacher's Department Store in downtown Columbia. Visitation is Monday, April 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral is Tuesday, April 5, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Father Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Riebeling will be buried at her church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to masses or the Eugene Schorb Immaculate Conception School Education Fund.
Larry A. Esker, 68, of Sealy, Tex., formerly of Waterloo, died April 2, 2011 in Katy, Tex. He was born Nov. 17, 1942 in Waterloo, the son of the late Leo and Eleanor Esker. Mr. Esker is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nan Esker; daughters, Lisa (Charles) Matz, Tracy Rucker, Christy Brown, Michelle McDorman and Kim Esker; brothers, Clem, Donny, Bobby and Roger Esker; and grandchildren, Clayton, Quinton, Coy, Cody, Christopher, Myles, Maddy, John, Jenna and McClain. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ray, Denny and Joey Esker. Larry was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and was employed as a truck driver. Visitation and funeral were in the Chapel at Davis Greenlawn Funeral in Rosenberg, Tex. Mr. Esker was buried at the Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg, Tex.
Patricia Toal, nee Barner, 80, of Waterloo, died April 2, 2011 in Richmond Heights, Mo. She was born Sept. 23, 1930, in Joplin, Mo., the daughter of the late Erwin A. and Ida (nee Panhorst) Barner. Mrs. Toal is survived by her children, Russell (Elizabeth) Toal and Nancy (Kent) Ritzel; grandchildren, Beth (Noel) Goeddel, Sarah Elder, JT Welsch, Lindsay Welsch, Alex Welsch, Adam Ritzel, Adam (Jessica) Toal, Laura Toal, Zack Toal and Rebecca (Nate) Wallace; great-grandchildren, Lucy and Violet Goeddel and Archer Wallace; sisters, Carol McGloshen and Rosemary Harris; sisters-in-law, Alice Barner, Mary Toal and Imogene Toal; and brothers-in-law, Earl Wilson and Jack (Ruth) Toal; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She preceded in death by her husband, Lee Toal; a daughter, Barbara Lee Kingston; step-mother, Lucille Barner; sister, Imogene Wilson; and a brother, Robert Barner. She was a member of St. Paul UCC in Waterloo where she was an organist for 30 years. Visitation is Tuesday, April 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, April 6 at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor Dick Sparrow officiating. Mrs. Toal will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association.
Elaine Michelle Gloodt, 60, of Sparta, died April 5, 2011 in Sparta. She was born Aug. 19, 1950, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Melvin Joseph and Emma (nee Hoffman) Berkel. Ms. Gloodt is survived by her children, Brian Cullon Jr. of Waterloo, Heather (David) Donahue and Jacqueline (Charles) Gipson; grandchildren, Joshua Cullon, Kevin Donahue, Emalie Donahue, Daniel Klingeman, Abigayle Gipson and Andrea Gipson; brothers, Niel (Julie) Berkel and Kevin (Carla) Berkel; and sisters, Lucille (Charles) Woodcock and Deanna (Roger) Davinroy. Ms. Gloodt was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation is Friday, April 8, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association.
Adrian “Junior” Beard Jr., 78, of Pocahontas, died April 7, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Aug. 23, 1932, in Cairo, the son of the late Adrian Sr. and Eulah (Ramage) Beard. Mr. Beard is survived by his wife of 55 years, Deanna (Sauerhage) Beard; sons Dr. Darryll (Ruth Ann) Beard and David (Mary) Beard, both of Waterloo; daughters, Ellen (Brad) Bode of California and Cheryl (Michael) Pruss of Glendale, Mo.; grandchildren, Graham, Dallas, Brittany, Molly, David Jr. ”D.J.”, Thomas, Makenzie, Max and Ellen; and sisters, Edith Waterman of Fairview Heights and Joyce (Kenneth) Royer of Pocahontas. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Thomas, Charles, Eugene, Billy and Edward Beard; and sisters, Mary Richie, Betty Bieri and Barbara Childerson. Adrian served in the U.S. Army, being stationed in Germany from 1953-1955. He was a member of the Waterloo VFW Post 6504 and a 43-year member of Ironworkers Local 392 in East St. Louis. Adrian loved to work in his yard and garden, bowl and tell stories. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and how he loved and cared for his family. Visitation is Sunday, April 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kassly Mortuary in Fairview Heights and Monday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Zoar United Church of Christ in New Hanover. A funeral will immediately follow at Zoar UCC with Pastor R.J. Morgan officiating. Mr. Beard will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
