Hilbert H. Harres, 78, of Columbia and formerly of Belleville, died Feb. 17, 2012. He was born Aug. 4, 1933, in Belleville, the son of the late Albert and Hilda (nee Steffen) Harres. He married Carole (nee Sheets) Harres in 1954 in Belleville. In addition to his wife, Mr. Harres is survived by his son, Jack (Gwendolyn) Harres of Columbia; a daughter, Donna (David) Lang of Columbia; grandchildren, Dustin Harres, Alex Harres and Joshua Lang; and a nephew, Joe Bassy of Columbia. He was preceded in death by his sister, Betty G. Bassy. Mr. Harres served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a retired negative engraver for Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center in St. Louis, Mo. Hr. Harres was a past master of St. Clair Lodge 24 AF and AM in Belleville and attended Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. Visitation is Monday, Feb. 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m., at his church with Pastor William Hesterberg officiating. Mr. Harres will be buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to his church or to Family Hospice of Belleville.
Jason A. Luhr, 30, of Waterloo, died Feb. 19, 2012 in Waterloo. He was born Dec. 20, 1981, the son of Jay (Betty) Luhr and the late Linda (nee Markus) Luhr. In addition to his father, Mr. Luhr is survived by his sister, Kacie Luhr; brothers Carson Luhr and Wyatt Luhr; grandmother, Dolores Markus; girlfriend, Breanna Altes; and niece, Rouxlin Sutton; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his mother; he was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Alois and Twyla Luhr; and maternal grandfather, Camillus Markus. Mr. Luhr was an engineer / superintendent for Luhr Brothers. Visitation is Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo with Pastor Dick Sparrow officiating. Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Willard T. Kleyer, 85, of Waterloo, died Feb. 19, 2012 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Sept. 14, 1926 in Waterloo, the son of the late Nelson and Josephine (nee Brauch) Kleyer. Mr. Kleyer is survived by his sons Maurice (Jeanne) Kleyer and Don (Shirley) Kleyer; grandchildren Kimberly (Eric) Saur, Kristin Kleyer (Andrew Mangum), Michelle Dutkiewicz and Jonathan Kleyer; great-grandchildren Rosalynn and Deena Dutkiewicz and Reagan Saur; and a brother, Nelson (Delores) Kleyer; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Roselyn (nee Weber) Kleyer. Mr. Kleyer attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. He was a longtime member and former director of the Monroe County Fair Association. Visitation is Monday, Feb. 20, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Dale Maxfield. Mr. Kleyer will be buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Monroe County Fair Assoc.
Joann C. Dietz, nee Korte, 77, of Waterloo, died Feb. 19, 2012 following an extended battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 1, 1934 in Belleville, the son of the late William and Josephine (nee Thien) Korte. Mrs. Dietz is survived by her husband, Donald Dietz; children Kevin (Sharon) Dietz and Jim Dietz; grandchildren Scott and Mallory Dietz; sisters Doris Chaput, Pat Stock and Margie (Dennis) Holle; a brother, Dennis (Llana) Korte; and sisters-in-law Mary Toal, Sister Dorothy Dietz and Margie Reinhold; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Ohl; and brothers Norman and Bill Korte. Mrs. Dietz attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo where she was active in the Mary and Martha Society. Joanne graduated from DePaul School of Nursing. She was formerly employed in the surgery unit of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville, for 20 years as a registered nurse and nurse’s aide instructor at the Monroe County Nursing Home and then 13 years at Hospice of Southern Illinois. For the past 14 years she was employed at Diehl Florist. Visitation is Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Thursday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Dale Maxfield officiating. Mrs. Dietz will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the SS. Peter and Paul Church building fund or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Roberta Jean Hull, nee Long, 66 of Dupo, died Feb. 23, 2012 in Columbia. She was born Dec. 8, 1945 in Pittsfield, the daughter of the late William “Homer” and Rue Ann (nee Mitchell) Long. Mrs. Hull is survived by her husband, Ronald Hull, whom she married on May 13, 1967; a son, Wade Hull of Waterloo; a daughter, Yvonne Hull (fiancé: Randy Hoselton II) of Columbia; grandchildren Cameron Hull, Sarah Hull, Morgan Hull and Bryce Hull; and sisters Georgia (Bob) Reeves and Dorothy (Don) Gibson; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Long. Roberta was a homemaker and had worked as an artist/colorist for CPI in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation is Monday, Feb. 27, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. At her request, Roberta will be cremated following the visitation.
Mildred M. Oestringer, nee Fricker, 99, of Waterloo, died Feb. 24, 2012 in Waterloo. She was born Aug. 14, 1912 in Bond County, the daughter of the late Victor and Mary (nee Spengel) Fricker. Mrs. Oestringer is survived by her children, Louise (Robert) Nobbe and Russell (Joy) Oestringer; grandchildren Brian (Dina) Nobbe, Janet (Larry) Goessling, Scott (Anna) Oestringer and Lori (Matt) Hubbs; great-grandchildren Doug Nobbe, Kelly (Chris) Black, Amanda Bergkeger, Johnathan Oestringer, Jacob Hubbs and Luke Hubbs; great-great-grandchildren Carson Black, Owen Black and Cooper Black; and a sister Margaret Springs; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund J. Oestringer; and sisters Erna Stecklin, Verna Oswald and Genevieve Plog. Mrs. Oestringer attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Father Dale Maxfield officiating. Mrs. Oestringer will be buried at St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery in Highland. Memorials may be made to her church or to the Oak Hill Activity Fund.
Judith Kay Drury, nee Huddleston, 69 of Columbia, died Feb. 28, 2012 at (St. John’s) Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo. She was born Nov. 3, 1942 in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Vernon Huddleston and Daisy Huddleston-Horsley. Mrs. Drury is survived by her husband of 50 years, Walter Drury; a daughter, Kathleen (Bryan) Jacob of Columbia; a son, John (Amie) Drury of St. Louis, Mo.; grandchildren Mikayla Jacob and Morgan Jacob; and a brother, Stephen (Debra) Huddleston of Columbia. Judith worked more than 50 years as a registered nurse who also volunteered for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Columbia American Legion Post 581 Ladies Auxiliary. A memorial service will be Monday, March 5, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. A luncheon will follow at the ICS cafeteria. At Judith’s request, she was cremated. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Willie Thomas Phillips, 91, of Osseo, Wis., formerly of Columbia, died Feb. 29, 2012 at the home of his daughter in Osseo. Mr. Phillips was born Aug. 14, 1920 in Zalma, Mo., the son of the late Thomas and Ancie (Gaines) Phillips. Mr. Phillips is survived by his daughters, Patsy (Dan) Sondag of Valmeyer and Sherry (LaVerne) Boullion of Osseo; and grandchildren Greg Wheat, LaShell Lentz, Lance Boullion, LaBrena Boullion, Garrett Kohnz, Stephanie Shields, Travis Phillips-Ervin, Thomas Phillips-Ervin and Alex Whitehead. He is further survived by ten great-grandchildren, Logan and Ariana Wheat, Alyssa Boullion, Garrison, Ethen and Collin Shields, and Garren and Hannah Kohnz, Tessa and Avery Ervin. He was preceded in death by his son, Terry; a brother, Willard; and sisters Avis Varvell and Edna Clark. Mr. Phillips was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from April 1940 until March 1941. He entered the U.S. Army on Nov. 15, 1942 and served in the Philippines until his honorable discharge on Jan. 9, 1946. Mr. Phillips married Maxie Fowler, but they later divorced. He then married Stella Benthall and they resided in St. Louis, Mo., and Columbia. Willie was employed at Laclede Gas Co. in St. Louis, Mo., until he retired in 1986. He moved to Osseo in September 2008. Willie enjoyed fishing, hunting and was an active member of his church in Columbia. Visitation is Saturday, March 3, from 12 noon to 3 p.m., at Schiefelbein Funeral Home in Osseo. A funeral will immediately follow. Mr. Phillips will be buried at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner.
Ronald E. Nowak, 69, of Columbia, died March 1, 2012 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Feb. 17, 1943, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Joseph and Alice (Hogard) Nowak. He married Helen (Detjen) Nowak in 1969 in Crosstown, Mo. In addition to his wide, Mr. Nowak is survived by his children, Karl (Donna) Nowak of Columbia, USN Cmdr. Kendra Nowak of Gurnee and Krista (Chuck) Walsh of Ft. Myers, Fla.; sisters Donna Weaver of Fallbrook, Calif., Muriel Saldana of Dallas, Tex., and Janise Rasberry of Wynne, Ark.; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Quintin Nowak. Mr. Nowak served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He had owned and operated a local heating and cooling business and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia and the Dupo Coin Club. According to his wishes, Mr. Nowak gifted his remains for scientific study. A memorial service will be Sunday, March 4, at 1 p.m., at his church with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Daniel Cieslinski, 68, of Columbia, died March 2, 2012 at his residence. He was born June 20, 1943, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Chester and Gertrude (Jasinski) Cieslinski. Mr. Cieslinski married Ruth (Ehlert) Cieslinski in 1964 in St. Louis. In addition to his wife, Daniel is survived by his children, Cheryl Cieslinski of St. Louis, Mo., Becky Cieslinski of Columbia, Daniel (Heather) Cieslinski Jr. of Denver, N.C., and Susan (Thomas) Haggerty of Waterloo; grandchildren Travis and Brianna Self; and brothers Dave (Ginnie) Cieslinski of St. Louis, Mo., and Gary Cieslinski of Mt. Vernon; along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Cieslinski.
Mr. Cieslinski retired after 34 years from Continental Can Co., in St. Louis, Mo. He was a member of United Steelworkers, Missouri Operation Clean Stream and the NRA. Visitation is Monday, March 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, March 6, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Radom. Mr. Cieslinski will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Leoneda Walker, 78, of Waterloo, formerly of Ruma, died March 3, 2012, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born March 31, 1933 in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (nee Kueker) Hanebutt. Mrs. Walker is survived by her sons, Ricky (Janet) Walker of Evansville and Darrin Walker (friend Terri Schaffner) of Prairie du Rocher; siblings Roland (Margaret) Hanebut of Red Bud, Verna (Tony) Hennrich of Chester, Geneva (Kenny) Stellhorn of Red Bud and Marlene Deterding of Prairie du Rocher; grandchildren Monica Walker, Luke Walker and Ryan (Dawn) Walker; and great-grandchildren LeAnn, Zachary and Adam Walker; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brothers Elroy, Melvin, Firmin and Floyd (in infancy) Hanebutt. Mrs. Walker was employed for 18 years at Spartan Printing in Sparta. She attended St. John Lutheran Church in Ruma. Visitation is Monday, March 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral is Tuesday, March 6, at 11 a.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Ruma with Rev. James Leistico officiating. Mrs. Walker will be buried in the church’s cemetery.
