Lizette H. Petrasek nee Herrmann, 80, of Columbia, died May 30, 2006, in Columbia. She was born Sept. 26, 1925, in Monroe County, the daughter of the late William and Alvina Herrmann nee Mueller. She was married to the late Leonard J. Petrasek. Mrs. Petrasek is survived by her sisters Anna Szydlowski of Columbia and Wilhelmina Hillal of Bellridge, Mo.; nieces Michelle Merz and Shari Young; and grandnieces, a grandnephew and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Mrs. Petrasek attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She was a member of the Monroe County Historical Society and Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission, and was an American Red Cross volunteer. She was employed by Monsanto Chemical Co., in Sauget. Visitation and a funeral mass were at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Columbia Public Library, Immaculate Conception Education Fund, or in the form of masses.
Charles E. Stone, 86, of Red Bud, died April 1, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born October 25, 1919, in Illmo, Mo., the son of the late John Allen and Etta Mae Stone nee House. He was married to the late Florence C. Stone nee Lutker. Mr. Stone is survived by his son Carman (Colleen) Greenhill of Waterloo; grandchildren Daniel “Mitch” (Annette Riechmann) Greenhill of Red Bud, Michelle (Bob) Macal of Downers Grove, and Craig (Lisa) Greenhill, of Waterloo; son-in-law Chuck Gastellum of Albuquerque, N.M, sister Dorothy Kelso of San Jose, Calif.; sister-in-law Rosemary Lutker of Waterloo; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; daughter Maryann Gastellum, sisters Helen Carpenter and Mary Scheeter, and brother Frank Stone. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home. He is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Oak Hill (the former Monroe County Care and Rehab Center).
Bertha Louise Strauss nee Bratzel, 92, formerly of Millstadt, died April 1, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born July 25, 1913, in Hebron, N.D., the daughter of the late George V. and Katherine Bratzel nee Schmallenburger. She married the late William Strauss in 1933; he preceded her in death in 1994. Mrs. Strauss is survived by her daughters Suzie (Kermit) Mueller of Millstadt and Barbara (John) Smith of Frost Proof, Fla.; five grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister Irma Hecke of Millstadt, and good friends Mike and Sandy Lawlor. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Tobias Bratzel and Wendell Bratzel, and sisters Paula Metzger and Roberta Bieber. Mrs. Strauss was a past member of Zion United Church of Christ in Millstadt. She was a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary Post #7980 in Millstadt. She was an avid quilter at Concordia Church of Millstadt and for the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was the former owner and operator of Strauss Funeral Home in Millstadt. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Darrell Weber officiating. She is buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to Zion Evangelical Church or Columbia Nutrition Site.
Mildred L. Weiss nee Calhoun, 81, of Waterloo, died April 2, 2006, in Town and Country, Mo. She was born Dec. 17, 1924, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late James A. and Eulah Calhoun nee Seals. She was married to Ralph N. Weiss. Mrs. Weiss is survived by her husband; step-children Loretta (Chuck) Hall of Racine, Wisc., and Carolyn (Harold) Pastore of Montpelier, Vt.; grandchildren Dennis Armsted, Roger Pastore and Gina Pastore; great-grandchildren Stacy Armsted and Kellie Armsted; sister Joy Gray of Columbia; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Leo Stacy, one brother and two sisters. Mrs. Weiss was a member of First Baptist Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at First Baptist Church in Waterloo, Dr. Dennis R. Jones officiating. A graveside service was held at alto Pass Cemetery in Alto Pass. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waterloo Building Fund.
Ilene M. Juelfs nee Fischer, 72, of Fults, died April 3, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born January 20, 1934, in Maeys Station, the daughter of the late Ervin A. and Hulda M. Fischer nee Valentine. She was married to Earl A. Juelfs. Mrs. Juelfs is survived by her children John (Kathy) Juelfs of Columbia, Rick (Kathy) Juelfs of Winslow, Ark., and Diane (William) Nelson of Evansville; grandchildren Shannon, Bradley, Rachel, David, Donnie, Jamie and Dillon; step-grandchildren Bobby, Andy, Hunter and Cole; great-grandchildren Tayler and Sebastian; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Kathleen M. Stewart, and brother Raleigh Fischer. Mr. Juelfs was a member of Zion United Church of Christ of St. Joe. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Nancy Spier-Lee officiating. She is buried at Zion Cemetery in St. Joe. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Vincent P. Blust Sr., 86, of Renault, died April 4, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 17, 1920, in Lima, Ohio, the son of the late Edward and Luella Blust nee Phillips. He was married to the late Veda Blust nee Cissell. Mr. Blust is survived by his children Millie (Bill) Scherr of St. Louis, Mary (Robert) Frederick of Renault, Pat Blust of Ellisville, Vincent (Lynne) Blust of Arnold, Mo., Bill Blust of Fenton, Mo., Dave (Christie) Blust of St. Louis, Doug (Sue) Blust of Union, and Lillie Blust of Louisville, Kent.; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers Edward Blust and Robert Blust; and sister Bernice Moore. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers Vincent Edward, Norman, Ralph and Francis Blust; and sisters Mildred Kaufman, Blanche Moore and Naomi Lyshak. Mr. Blust was in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral was at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Renault, Fr. Roger Karban officiating. A graveside service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell, Mo. Memorials may be made to a hospice organization.
Selma M. Holcomb nee Kempfer, 94, of Columbia, formerly of Renault, died April 4, 2006, in Town and Country, Mo. She was born Jan. 30, 1912, in Reily Lake, the daughter of the late Henry and Lula Mae Kempfer nee Copple. She was married to the late Harry G. Holcomb Sr. for 56 years. Mrs. Holcomb is survived by her children E. LaVerne Hinrichs of Prairie du Rocher, Rosella M. Hosick of Columbia, Loren (Mary Lou) Holcomb of Ruma, Jeannine (Tommy) Belt of Columbia, Terry (Donna) Holcomb of Renault, Brenda “Pete” (David) Dressel of Marissa, and Diana (Tom) Bievenue of Evansville; daughter-in-law Wilma Holcomb of Renault; 26 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; 11 step-grandchildren; and 11 step-great-grandchildren; brother Russell Kempfer of Tilden and sister-in-law Lucille Kempfer of Percy; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Harry G. Holcomb Jr., one grandson, five brothers, five sisters, sons-in-law Melvin Hinrichs and Dale Hosick, and one grandson-in-law. Mrs. Holcomb was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbia. She started working at age 16 at the shoe factory in Evansville, then worked at the knitting mill in Chester, American Furnace at Red Bud, and finally for 10 years at St. Clements Hospital. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A celebration of life was held at First Baptist Church, Rev. Don Branson officiating. She is buried at Evansville Cemetery in Evansville. Memorials may be made to Relay for Life.
Robert "Babe" Thomas, 59, of Cahokia, died April 5, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born July 23, 1946, in St. Louis, the son of Phyllis Thomas nee Orlando of Morrilton, Ark., and the late Charles E. Thomas. He was married to Judith Ann Kutz nee Coffey. He is survived by his mother; wife; children Robert (Kerry) Thomas of Milan, Tenn., Tammy (Luis) Valdez of Riverton, Kevin L. Hardesty of Riverton and Randy W. Kutz of Riverton; nine grandchildren; sister Trudy (William) Dulton of Morrilton, Ark.; brothers Donald L. Thomas of Morrilton, Ark., and Phillip E. Thomas of Morrilton, Ark.; and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, brother Charles Thomas and sisters Mary S. Thomas and Juanita Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a demolition expert. Visitation and funeral services were at Harris Funeral Home in Morrilton, Ark. He is buried at Wolfe Cemetery in Morrilton, Ark.
Ardell K. Krebel nee Dieckmann, 89, of Waterloo, died April 7, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born July 12, 1916, in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late William and Lena Dieckmann nee Ritzel. She was married to the late Roy J. Krebel. Mrs. Krebel is survived by her daughters Shirley (Wilbert) Wheat of Waterloo and Kathleen (Clarence) Buthman of Elgin step-children Orvel (Ursula) Krebel of Waterloo, Kenneth (Linda) Krebel of Waterloo, and Diane Krebel of Waterloo; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; 16 step-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; Edward Plage; husband Roy Krebel; son William Plage; step-daughter Doris K. Kohler; step-sons Vernon J. Krebel and Darryl J. Krebel; step-grandsons James Frank Kohler and Keith Kohler; and brothers and sisters. Mrs. Krebel was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo and Waterloo Senior Citizens. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. She is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made t St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, Monroe County Care and Rehab Center or Southern Illinois Hospice.
Sean C. Schneider, 34, of Waterloo, died April 8, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 8, 1972, in St. Louis, the son of Marvin and Donna Schneider nee Koerber of Waterloo. Mr. Schneider is survived by his parents; sister Andrea (Brian) Dill of Waterloo; niece Savannah Dill; nephew Peyton Dill; step-grandmother Dorothy Koerber of Waterloo; and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Raymond and Luelle Koerber; paternal grandparents Fred and Elenora Schneider; and uncles Ronald Schneider and Glen Schneider. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Deacon Doug Boyer officiating. He will be cremated at a later date.
