Bessie Mae “Bess” Fudge nee Johnson, 82, of Red Bud, died Nov. 8, 2006, in Red Bud. She was born July 4, 1924, in Nashville, Tenn., the daughter of the late James and Verna Johnson nee Jones. She was married to the late George B. Fudge Jr. Mrs. Fudge is survived by her sons George (Marty) Fudge of New Athens, Jim (Lynn) Fudge of Johnson City, and Michael (Patti) Fudge of Cahokia; daughter Kathy (Stephen) May of Red Bud; 15 grandchildren 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers and five sisters. Visitation was at DeFabio Funeral Home. A celebration of life service was held at DeFabio, Pastor David Harbison officiating. She was cremated. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Grace Marie Ferry nee Hotto, 82, of Columbia, died Nov. 11, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born July 31, 1924, in North Dupo, the daughter of the late Harvey and Laura Hotto Riebeling nee Mehrtens. She was married to the late Donald Ferry; he preceded her in death I 1995. Mrs. Ferry is survived by her daughter Candy (Jeffrey) Hejna of Columbia; granddaughter Zoe Hejna of Columbia; and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Harvey “Buzz” Hotto, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Mrs. Ferry was a member of Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo. She worked for Phillips Petroleum in St. Louis for many years. She was a council member of Job’s Daughters Bethel 65, and Monroe Chapter of the Order of the Easter Star. Visitation was at Dashner Funeral Home. A funeral service was at Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo, Rev. Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Zion Bohnmeier Cemetery in East Carondelet. Memorials may be made to St. Louis Shriners Hospital.
Margaret L. Goeddel nee Meyer, 88, of Highland, formerly of Waterloo, died Nov. 11, 2006, in Alhambra. She was born Sept. 21, 1918, in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret Meyer nee Miller. She married the late Clarence Goeddel in 1940. He preceded her in death in 1982. Mrs. Goeddel s survived by her children Sandy (Pete) Feldmann of Highland and Joan Lloyd of Alhambra; grandchild Cindy (Bob) Corwin; great-grandchild Danielle Carter; sister Celestine Nobbe; and brother- and sister-in-law Melvin and Lucille Goeddel. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Dale Goeddel, five sisters and one brother. Mrs. Goeddel was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. She was also a member of the Waterloo Senior Center, and was a Senior Companion Program volunteer for 15 years. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service was held at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, Pastor Doug Roberts officiating. She is buried at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Lenora C. Niemietz, 92, formerly of Columbia and Hamel, died November 11, 2006 in Alhambra, IL. She was born September 3, 1914 in Omphghent Township, the daughter of the late Theodore and Emma Cassens nee Wolf. She married the late Robert F. Niemietz in September, 1940. She is survived by her children Ruth Ann (Leonard) Sedlacek of Edwardsville, Robert D. (Mary Ellen) Niemietz of Columbia, and William W. (Kim) Niemietz of Glen Carbon; 12 grandchildren - Lynn (Rodney) Jackson, Kim Sedlacek, Jeffery Sedlacek, Kent (Elizabeth) Ernst, Brian (Jasmine) Ernst, Amanda (Trent) Thrun, Michael Niemietz, Timothy Niemietz, Robert A. Niemietz, Mark Niemietz, Todd Niemietz, step-grandson Douglas (Lisa) Morkel; 12 great-grandchildren - Rachael Jackson and Erin Jackson, Tyler and Jacob Sedlacek, Olivia Ernst, Elissa, Heather and Emma Ernst, Maxwell Thrun, and step-grandchildren Matthew, Mallory and Meredith Morkel; nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Frederick Behrhorst, two brothers Walter and Alfred Cassens, her daughter Sharon K. Morkel, son-in-law James Morkel and granddaughter-in-law Melinda Ernst. Mrs. Niemietz was a member of Madison County Home Extension, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League in Hamel and the Alhambra-Hamel Senior Citizens Group. The family moved from their Hamel farm to Columbia in 1962, and she returned to Hamel after the death of her husband in 1976. While in Columbia she was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monroe County Home Extension, and was employed as cook at Immaculate Conception School and Parkview Elementary School. Visitation was at Dauderman Mortuary in Hamel. Funeral services were Nov. 14 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel with the Rev. William Weedon officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton. Memorials may be made to Hitz Memorial Home in Alhambra, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel or the Immaculate Conception Building Fund in Columbia.
Harry O. Sexauer, 83, of Waterloo, died Nov. 14, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born Aug. 23, 1923, in St. Louis, the son of the late Albert Sexauer and Ida Sexauer nee Steinmann. He was married to Edith Sexauer nee Mandville. Mr. Sexauer is survived by his wife; children Mary Helene (Herbert) Kranze of Ellisville, Mo., Margaret (Jesse) James of Glendale Heights, Elaine (John) Polizzi of Waterloo, and Steve (Glenda) Sexauer of Columbia; grandchildren Torie, Alex, Wendy, Samantha, Matthew, Ezekiel and August; great-grandchildren Grace and Kurtis; brother Elmer (Marilyn) Sexauer of Tampa, Fla.; sister-in-law Louise Kelsick of Ballwin, Mo.; and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Paula Sexauer nee Hohnbaum, brother-in-law Edward Kelsick, and nephew Glenn Sexauer. Mr. Sexauer was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, and was a member of Knights of Columbus #1334. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. He is buried at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.
Randall L. Cooper, 60, of Belleville, died Nov. 15, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born July 10, 1946, in Melrose Park, the son of William H. Cooper and the late June Cooper nee Lindstrom. He was married to the late Elizabeth Cooper nee Milder. Mr. Cooper is survived by his father; daughter Carmella (Dennis) Parks of Belleville; son Gary W. Jessen Jr. of Belleville; grandchildren Holly King and Heidi King of Belleville, Crystal Jessen of St. Louis, and Serkin Saviors of St. Louis; and sister Janet (Paul) Durham of Wheaton. He was preceded in death by his mother and wife. Visitation and a funeral service were at DeFabio Funeral Home in Waterloo. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Sarah Catherine Hamilton, 99, of Dupo, died Nov. 15, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born July 1, 1907, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the daughter of the late John W. and Elenora Hamilton Sr. nee Kempfer. Ms. Hamilton is survived by her brother Arlington Hamilton of Mobile, Ala.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mrs. Hamilton was a member of Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo. She was retired from Mercantile Bank in St. Louis as a telephone operator. She was a member of the Eastern Star. Visitation and a funeral service were at Dashner Funeral Home, Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo.
Elmer H. Wetzel Sr., 90, of Red Bud, died Nov. 16, 2006, in Red Bud. He was born Oct. 29, 1916, in Baldwin, to the late John and Frieda Wetzel nee Mehring. He married Laura Thelma Savage in 1944; she preceded him in death in 2003. Mr. Wetzel is survived by his children Fay Hartman of Red Bud, and Elmer (Donna) Wetzel Jr. of Red Bud; grandchildren Tracy (Keith) Buhrmeister, Toni (Troy) Guebert, Heidi Hughes and Mieke (Kevin) Hoock; great-grandchildren Kayla, Brittney, Keri, Trenton, Trysta, Cheyenne and Madilyn; and brothers Henry (Marge) Wetzel of Jennings, Mo., Orville (Jean) Wetzel of Bell, Mo., John Wetzel Jr. of Red Bud, and Harry Wetzel of Baldwin. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers Ralph Wetzel and Erich Wetzel, and sister Bernice Rice. Mr. Wetzel was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud. He was retired as a factory worker at the Singer Company in Red Bud after 30 years. He was also a retired farmer. He was a member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral was at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Rev. Russell Koen officiating. He is buried at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Reed Bud. Memorials may be made to Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School in Evansville.
Thomas Aaron Jeffery, 52, of Edwardsville, died Nov. 17, 2006, in Edwardsville. He was born July 9, 1954, in at a U.S. Army Hospital in Main, Germany, to Virginia Lee Jeffery of Cahokia and the late Estel J. Jeffery. He was married to Dana Rose Jeffery nee Dzurian. Mr. Jeffery is survived by his wife; children Thomas Aaron (Carolyn) Jeffery II of Troy, Andrew Dale (Karen) Jeffery of Collinsville, and Mark Allen (Jill) Jeffery of Bethalto; grandchildren Ryan Scott Jeffery, Jonathan Aaron Jeffery, Landon Dale Jeffery, and Olivia Aaron Jeffery, who will be arriving soon; grandmother Armentine Koch of Columbia; siblings Sherran Lee (Darrel) Price of Edwardsville, Bruce Allen (Debbie) Jeffery of Cahokia, and Keith Brian Jeffery of St. Louis; honorary father Frank M. Lexa; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father. Mr. Jeffery was a petroleum service specialist for 33 years for United Petroleum Service in St. Louis. He was a member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Local #562. Visitation was at Dashner Funeral Home. A funeral service was at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. He is buried at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Siteman Cancer Center in St. Lois or St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund in Columbia.
Eleanor A. Misplais nee Van Pelt, 89, of Columbia, died Nov. 17, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 3, 1917, in Modoc, the daughter of the late Lemuel and Ella Van Pelt nee Jones. She was married to the late Ashton Fraley Misplais. Mrs. Misplais is survived by her sons Ashton L. (Sharon) Misplais, Edward J. Misplais, and Van A. Misplais; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and Gordon Van Pelt; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Delora Dietz, and sisters and brothers. Mrs. Misplais was a member of American Legion Auxiliary #581 in Columbia. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Doug Roberts officiating. She is buried at St. John Cemetery in Fults.
