John R. Grossmann, 66, of Waterloo, died April 27, 2006, in Waterloo. He was born Nov. 10, 1939, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Eugene and Adalia Grossmann nee Line. He was married to Dolores Grossmann nee Barker. Mr. Grossmann is survived by his wife; children Allen McElhattan; grandchildren Eric Grossmann, Jason Grossmann, Rebecca Grossmann, Jenna Grossmann, Jordan Grossmann, and Emily Grossmann; step-grandchildren Jesse Rodriguez and Sarah Yarbrough; sisters Janet (John) Hunnicutt and Joan Abaecherli; and brother Gene (Dorothy) Grossmann. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Grossmann was a member of Maeystown Sportsman’s Club and Fort Chartres Sportsman’s Club. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Darrell Jones officiating. He is buried at Burksville Cemetery in Burksville, Memorials may be made to the Burksville Cemetery Foundation.
George A. Manson, 88, of Columbia, died April 28, 2006. He was born April 22, 1918, in Murphysboro, the son of the late William H. and Ivo B. Manson nee McCoy. He married Anne Manson nee Rust in 1940. Mr. Manson is survived by his wife; children Donald (Karen) Manson of Bluffton, S.C., and Linda (Martin) Roider of Columbia; grandchildren Jeffrey (Mary) Manson of Raleigh, N.C., Scott (Tammy) Manson of Rock Hill, S.C., Angela (Robert) Luetkenhaus of Belleville, and Christopher (Kerri) Roider of Columbia; great-grandchildren Jordana Manson, Carena Manson, Jathen Manson, Alex Roider, Blake Roider, Anne Luetkenhaus, Joseph Luetkenhaus and Brandon Chamberland; and brother Thomas (Betty) Manson of Wildwood, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Henrietta (Harold) Hunziker and Doris (Paul) Mitchell. Mr. Manson attended St. Paul United Church of Christ. He retired after 35 years of service with Illinois Central Gulf Railroad as an electrician and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He was a 50-year member of the Gothic Lodge #852 A.F. & A.M. and Ainad Temple. He was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star – Rob Morris Chapter, of which he was a past worthy patron. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. He is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ or Family Hospice.
Lura A. Guttmann nee Reiner, 80, of Waterloo, died April 29, 2006, in Columbia. She was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Karbers Ridge, the daughter of the late James Frederick and Margaret R. Reiner nee Blanchard. She was married to George W. Guttmann. Mrs. Guttmann is survived by her husband and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mrs. Guttmann was a retired secretary with the Okaw Valley Council and was a member of VFW Auxiliary #85 in O’Fallon. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Augustine Church in Belleville, Fr. Andy Knopik officiating. She is buried at Valhalla Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, American Cancer Society or in the form of masses.
Norman L. Fults, 61, of Millstadt, died April 30, 2006, in Millstadt. He was born Feb. 1, 1945, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Neil and Hilda Fults nee Stechmesser. He was married to Cindy Fults nee Reeves. Mr. Fults is survived by his wife; daughter Kim (Jim) Pfershy of Millstadt; granddaughter Chelsea Pfershy; sisters Mary (Pat) Brueggemann of Hecker, Helen Godare of Waterloo, Darlene (Ben) Yancy of Waterloo, and Judy (Bob) Krebel of Fults; brothers Ronnie (Betty) Fults of St. Louis and Jerry (Patty) Fults of Millstadt; father- and mother-in-law Neil and Lavern Reeves of Evansville; aunts and uncles Eddie and Pearl Stechmesser of Waterloo and Alma Stechmesser of Columbia; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Russell Fults. Mr. Fults was retired from JC Hauling Co. in Millstadt. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Ivan Horn officiating. He is buried at St. John Cemetery in Fults. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Elmer E. Buss, 77, of Red Bud, died April 30, 2006, in Red Bud. He was born Feb. 6, l929, in Red Bud, the son of the late Calvin and Augusta Buss nee Koenig. He married Loretta Kelkhoff in 1959. Mr. Buss is survived by his children Susan L. (Wilfred) Harbaugh and Nancy Buss; sister Florence (Calvin) Brewer; sister- and brother-in-law Esther and Glen Williams; and cousins Dorothy Aitken and Pearl Luttman. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister- and brother-in-law Jeanette and Oscar Kelkhoff. Mr. Buss was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud. He was retired from the City of Red Bud utility department. He was a past treasurer of the rural fire department, a past treasurer and member of Red Bud Senior Citizens and a member of RSVP Council. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Visitation was at Koch-Liefer Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral services were at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Rev. Rory Seeger and Russell Koen officiating. He is buried at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Red Bud. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, St. John’s Lutheran School or Human Support Services.
James Travis Cotton, 73, of Swansea, died March 1, 2006, in St. Louis. He was born Dec. 11, 1932, in Valmeyer, the son of the late Oral Herman and Esther Marie Cotton nee LaSource). Mr. Cotton is survived by his children Lisa Schomber of Portland, Ore., Michael (Rhonda) Cotton of Springfield, Ore., and Tricia (Derek) Frazier of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Britton, Danielle, Jordan, Jacob, Dallas, Chase and Faith; sisters Pal (Ralph) Frank of Waterloo, and Bobbie (Jim) Mattern of Swansea; brothers Donald (Maureen) Cotton of Dallas, Tex., and Dwight (Virginia) Cotton of Indianapolis, Ind.; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Cotton was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in New Athens. He was a member of New Athens Lions club and was a past member of White Oaks Golf Club and a board member. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Calvary First Division. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor John Lukomski officiating. He is buried at St. John Cemetery in Valmeyer.
Alice G. Fromme nee Guttmann, 98, of Waterloo, died March 1, 2006, in Chesterfield, Mo. She was born June 25, 1907, in Harrisonville, the daughter of the late Charles H. and Anna S. Guttmann nee Miller. She was married to Albert H. Fromme. Mrs. Fromme is survived by her daughter Alberta Hohnbaum of Waterloo; grandson Larry (Cheryl) Hohnbaum of Waterloo; great-grandsons Jeffrey Hohnbaum and Daniel Hohnbaum; great-great-granddaughters Erin Hohnbaum and Sierra Hohnbaum; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson Joseph Hohnbaum in infancy; son-in-law Laurence Hohnbaum; sisters Anna Guttmann, Mary Boyer and Adeline Rusteberg; and brothers Charles Guttmann, August Guttmann, George Guttmann, Francis P. Guttmann and John Guttmann. Mrs. Fromme was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Valmeyer and St. Ann’s Altar Society. She was retired from Knaust Mushroom in Valmeyer. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at St. Mary’s Church, Fr. John Ssebitosi officiating. She is buried at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Church of Valmeyer and in the form of masses.
Lt. Col. USAF (ret) James Patrick May, 89, died March 1, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born August 19, 1916, in Burkesville, the soon of the late Alfred “Barry” and Helen May nee Cody. He was married to wife Marjorie for 60 years. Lt. Col. May is survived by his wife; children Mary Ann Thurkettle, Michael May, Bill (Marsha) May, Debbie (Bill) Spathelf, Craig May, Chris May, Joan May and Tina (Jim) Ankrom; grandchildren Mike Fluor, Time May, Dan (Lesa) May, Jason Thurkettle, Jennifer May, Cody May, Whitney Spathelf, Alexandra Spathelf and Alexis Ankrom; three great-grandchildren; brother Roy May of Waterloo; sisters Margaret Kaffai and Helen Frisch; and family friend Edward Thurkettle. Lt. Col. May was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1942 at Scott Air Force, continuing to Jefferson Barracks, where he was accepted for the flying cadet program and officer candidate school. Upon graduation as a 1st Lieutenant, he joined his first lying unit at Lowry Field in Colorado and was later assigned to the 8th Air Force in England, fighting Axis forces in World War II. Piloting at B24, he was shot down over Munich and evaded capture for 13 days. While a POW in Stalag Luft III, which was a camp comprised mainly of downed British and American pilots, was located 100 miles southeast of Berlin in current Poland, he marched in a blizzard and was transported by crowded cattle car through Germany. In the POW camp, he made cups from tin cans to welcome newcomers, and he traded his Red Cross cigarettes for candy. His WWII folder contained many thank you letters from parents he had written to share sightings of their sons. He was emaciated but alive at liberation in 1945. Lt. Col. May was also stationed at the Atomic Energy Commission, Scott Air Force Base, Reese Air Force Base in Texas and his final assignment was Lockbourne / Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Ohio. After retirement, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 17 years. He sold hundreds of Knights of Columbus raffle tickets annually, many to family and friends in Monroe County. He maintained a close relationship with Monroe County through local newspapers he received over the years. He was buried with full military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery near Pataskala, Ohio. In lieu of memorial contributions, Lt. Col. May asked friends to each perform a kind deed for another.
Donald J. Chlibec, 69, of Waterloo, died March 3, 12206, in Belleville. He was born Oct. 3, 1936, in Madison, the son of the late Frank and Anne Chlibec nee Houba. He is survived by his wife, Fern Chlibec nee McClain. Mr. Chlibec was retired from Thayer Aerospace. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Dawson Miller officiating. He is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo.
Rachel. B. Kocher, 31, formerly of Columbia, died March 5, 2006, in St. Louis. She was born May 20, 1974, the daughter of Roger and Donna Kocher nee Barnes. Ms. Kocher is survived by her parents; brother Don Kocher, and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Earl Kocher and Rose Kocher nee Tarpley; maternal grandparents Don Barnes and Ruth Barnes nee Bremer; older sister Carrie Kocher and paternal uncle Tom Kocher. Rachel was employed at Salon Elle in Chesterfield, Mo. She was a 1992 graduate of Gibault Catholic High School and a graduate of La Plante Beauty School. She lived her life to the fullest and brightened the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know her. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, Fr. Steve Gira officiating. She is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Gibault Education Fund of the Immaculate Conception School education Fund.
