Rita Ann Fletcher nee Glaudell, 80, of Cahokia, died Dec. 12, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 27, 1926, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Lee and Georgia Glaudell. She was married to the late William Fletcher Sr. Mrs. Fletcher is survived by her children Kathleen (Pete) Fourcault, and William (Julia) Fletcher Jr.; grandchildren Stephen (Jenny) Fourcault, Marissa Fourcault and Brenna Fletcher; great-grandchildren Cassie Robertson, Julie Shipman, Seth Fourcault and Blake Fourcault; sister Pauline Kurtz; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughter Jennifer Fletcher. Mrs. Fletcher was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia. She was a secretary for Edison Brothers in St. Louis. Visitation was at Dashner funeral Home in Dupo. A funeral mass was at Holy Family Church in Cahokia, Fr. Paul Wienhoff officiating. She is buried at Holy Family / St. Joseph Cemetery in Dupo. Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia.
Aurelia Marie “Nona” Ludwig nee Ruez, 98, of Prairie du Rocher, died Dec. 12, 2006, in Chester. She was born Sept. 11, 1908, in Prairie du Rocher, the daughter of the late Amadee and Jeanette Marie Ruez nee Peyrot. She married the late Albert Ludwig in 1931; he preceded her in death in 1985. Mrs. Ludwig is survived by her children Shelby “Cooney” Ludwig of Prairie du Rocher, Doris Kroupa of Affton, Mo., Donald “Doc” Ludwig of Prairie du Rocher, Mildred Bievenue of Ellis Grove, Audrey (Robert) Bryant of Agawam, Mass., Henry (Sharon) Ludwig of Belleville, Lola (Wayne) Klein of Prairie du Rocher, Logan (Ina) Ludwig of Bolingbrook, and Richard (Marilyn) Ludwig of Rockford; 17 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandson and one great-great-grandson; and sister Francis “Babe” Brewer of Mehlville. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Alva Ruez and Shelby Ruez, sisters Ruth, Lillian, Emma and Julia Mae, and granddaughter Dawn Ludwig. Mrs. Ludwig was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fr. Albert Kreher officiating. She is buried at St. Leo Catholic Cemetery in Modoc.
Goldie A. Rehmer nee Schrieber, 93, of Red Bud, died Dec. 13, 2006, in Red Bud. She was born Oct. 19, 1913, in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Oscar and Bertha Schrieber nee Buch. She married Walter Rehmer in 1934. Mrs. Rehmer is survived by her husband; daughters Darlene (Lee) Pour of Red Bud, and Mary (Ronald) Braun of Red Bud; grandsons Jeffrey Pour, Michael (Judy) Pour, Kurt Braun and Keith Braun; and great-grandchildren Matthew, Alicia, Travis and Brittney. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Bernice Rohlfing. Mrs. Rehmer was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Prairie and the Mission Society. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home. A funeral service was at Trinity Lutheran Church, Rev. Steven MacDougall officiating. She is buried at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Prairie. Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund or Trinity Lutheran Church Expansion Fund.
Valerie Ruth Masilonus, 90, of Millstadt, died Dec. 14, 2006, in Belleville. She was born Dec. 4, 1916, in Greenville. She was married to Tony Masilonus. Mrs. Masilonus is survived by her husband; daughter Cindy Baltz of Millstadt; grandchildren Jacob (Diane) Baltz, Neal Baltz and Eric Baltz; great-grandchildren Brayden Baltz and Abigail Baltz; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers. Mrs. Masilonus was a member of First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville. She was also a member of the Eastern Star. Visitation and a funeral service were at Strauss Funeral Home, Pastor Greg Stovell officiating. She is buried at Lakeview Memorials Gardens of Memory in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
David Freund, 59, formerly of Waterloo, died Dec. 15, 2006, in East St. Louis. He was born June 2, 1947, in Belleville, the son of the late Joseph George and Vivian M. Freund Sr. nee Grahlherr. Mr. Freund is survived by his siblings Sister Elaine Freund A.S.C. of Waterloo, Marcia (Clarence) Kloth Jr. of Walsh, Dr. Joseph (Valerie) Freund Jr. of Marietta, Ga., Stephen Freund of St. Louis, and Earl (Pamela nee Lloyd) Freund of Murphysboro; nieces and nephews Eric, Joshua, Justin, Andrew, Nicholas, Colin, Pamela and Beth; one great-niece; one great-nephew; good friend Doris Szarek of Sparta; and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Kurtiss Leroy Freund. Mr. Freund spent 42 ½ years in nursing homes, hospitals, shelter care residences, group homes and the home of good friends Doris and the late Charles Szarek of Sparta. He was an avid basketball fan and, until recently, could remember the stats of players from his high school basketball team days. His friendly demeanor was visible when he wanted to introduce a visiting relative or friend to each staff member at his place of residence. He tried to keep his mind alert as long as he could. His family thanks the caring staff of each of the homes where he was given care, especially the Atrium Health Care and Rehabilitation Center of Cahokia, where he last resided. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. He is buried at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the Scholarship Fund of Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo.
Nancy L. Howard nee Clements, 73, of Columbia, died Dec. 15, 2006, in Columbia. She was born Oct. 23, 1933, in Owensboro, Ky., the daughter of the late Augustine and Theresa Pearl Clements nee Stallings. Ms. Howard is survived by her children Jania (Robert) Frey of Columbia, Norman Howard of Columbia, Andrea (Donald) Eckert of Columbia, and Renee (David) Ivens of Columbia; grandchildren Michael (Melissa) Kohlenberger, Allison Eckert, Adam Eckert, Lauren Zoeller, Jessica Howard and Alexander Howard; great-grandson Michael Reeve Kohlenberger; brother Harold (Marilyn) Clements of Owensboro, Ky.; and sisters Mary Jane Roberts of Owensboro, Ky., Marjorie Early of Owensboro, Ky., and Helen Payne of Owensboro, Ky. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers George Clements, Louis Clements, Crawford Clements and Kenneth Clements. Ms. Howard was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Steve Gira officiating. She is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Washington University MS Research Center.
Floyd H. Meyer, 93, of Waterloo, died Dec. 15, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born May 14, 1913, in Valmeyer, the son of the late Alfred and Adelia Meyer nee Miller. He was married to Violet M. Meyer nee Loewe. Mr. Meyer is survived by his wife; sons Kenneth C. (Elizabeth) Meyer of Columbia, and David K. (Leslie) Meyer of Waterloo; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mildred Meyer of St. Louis; son-in-law Joe Van de Riet of Waterloo; and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Mary Elizabeth Van de Riet, and brothers Elwood Meyer and Glenn Meyer. Mr. Meyer was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tipton. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1334 and a former member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer. He was a charter member of Valmeyer Fire Department. He was also a member of Monroe County Farm Bureau and Maeystown’s Sportsman’s Club. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Fr. Jose Jacob officiating. He is buried at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill nursing staff for equipment.
Verna Joyce Wright, 56, of Des Moines, Ia., formerly of Columbia, died Dec. 15, 2006, in Des Moines, Ia. She was born Sept. 4, 1950, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Sherman and Myrtle Pulcher nee Buettner. She was married to William R. Wright Jr. Mrs. Wright is survived by her husband; children Angela Dickerson of Dupo, and Julie (Daryl Feltmeyer) Dickerson of Dupo; step-children Stephanie (Nathan) Stroup of Des Moines, Ia., Tim (Denise) Weight of St. Louis, and Kimberly (Christopher) Talbott of Newton, Ia.; 11 grandchildren; siblings Jane (Leroy) Washausen of Waterloo, Charlotte (Don) Mehrtens of Millstadt, Sherman D. (Barbara) Pulcher of Danville, Calif., Diane (Jamie) Murdock of Cahokia, Yvonne Henson of Waterloo, and Rhonda Little of Waterloo; mother-in-law Nellie (Ray) Volner of St. Louis; step-mother Ellavee Pulcher of Millstadt; brother-in-law John Carle of Columbia; sister-in-law Venus Wolff of Columbia; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother in infancy. Mrs. Wright was a member of Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt and Bluff Grange in Millstadt. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Darrell Weber officiating. She is buried at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia.
Klaus Josef Linke, 68, of East Carondelet, died Dec. 16, 2006, in East Carondelet. He was born July 26, 1938, in Berlin, Germany, the son of the late Karl and Anna Linke nee Langer. He was married to Viola Linke nee Bordewisch for 43 years. Mr. Linke is survived by his wife; daughters Janice Reeves of East Carondelet, Dawn (Milton) Cron of Belleville, and Robyn Linke of St. Louis; granddaughters JoLynn, JuliAnn, Nicole and JenniLee; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Roger Vail, and brother Gunther Linke. Mr. Linke was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo. He came to the United States in 1951 and became a U.S. citizen Dec. 30, 1958. He retired in 2002 after 35 years of service with Unisource / Georgia-Pacific. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Scott Air Force Base. Visitation and a rosary service were at Dashner Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fr. Gerald Hechenberger and Rev. Kim Kelly officiating. He is buried at Zion Bohnmeier Cemetery in Dupo. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo, Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
James Rehg, 82, of Brownsville, Texas, died Dec. 16, 2006, in Olmito, Texas. He was born Nov. 22, 1924, in Sugarloaf Township, the son of the late Nicholas and Clara Rehg nee Burg. He was married to Frances L. Rehg for 10 years. Mr. Rehg is survived by his wife; daughter Sharon (Raymond) Farro of California; grandsons Bradley Elkin, Andrew Elkin and James Kent Wagner; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ann Rehg nee Schulte; daughter Jeanne Wagner; infant son James Kent Rehg; brother Edward Rehg and sister Helen Mueth. Mr. Rehg owned a car dealership in Freeburg for many years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having joined in 1943 and serving in Italy during World War II. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 7980 in Millstadt and was a member of the American Legion Post 58 Freedom Farm in Freeburg. He was also a lifetime member of the machinist union. He lived most of his life in Illinois and traveled a lot to Germany. He lived in Arizona in the winters and traveled to Brownsville, Texas, before making a final move there in 1998. Visitation and funeral services were at Strauss Funeral Home, Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. He is buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to Odyssey Hospice of Brownsville, Texas, or Sunshine Haven in Olmito, Texas.
