Eugene E. Wittenauer, 89, of Waterloo, formerly of Hecker, died April 12, 2010 in Waterloo. He was born Aug. 20, 1920, the son of the late Edward and Barbara (nee Grau) Wittenauer. Mr. Wittenauer is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marlene (nee Koch) Wittenauer; children, Jacki (Mike) Fisher of Webster, Tex., Judy (Chris) Haberl of Waterloo, Jeanne Steinbrenner of Fairport, NY., Jerry (Kris) Wittenauer of Waterloo, Janet (Terry) Mullarkey of Anthem, Ariz., and Jeff (Stacy) Wittenauer of St. Charles, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; four- great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law; and a brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters. Mr. Wittenauer was a veteran of World War II, spending 30 months in Newfoundland. He was a retired farmer and egg producer, a parish trustee at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church in Hecker, a lifetime member of the Hecker Community Center, lifetime member of the VFW and a long-time coach for Little League baseball and women’s softball. In 2000, he and his wife moved to Waterloo and became members of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Visitation is Friday, April 16 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral Mass is Saturday, April 17 at 12 noon at SPPS Church with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Wittenauer will be buried at St. Augustine Cemetery. Memorials may be made to SPPS grade school and church or Gibault Catholic High School.
Robert E. Upchurch, 81, of Columbia died April 12, 2010 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis County from complications of heart and kidney disease. Mr. Upchurch is survived by his wife of 62 years, Earline M. (nee Girard) Upchurch; daughters Debbie Greenley of Waterloo, Pam Hohrein of Millstadt and Susan Buesking of Dupo; a son, David Upchurch of St. Louis; a brother, James Upchurch of Dupo; sisters Catherine Harberding of O’Fallon, Mo. and Johanne Reynolds of Columbia; grandsons Jason, Richie, Jerrod and Joel; and great-grandsons Jack, Kyle, Gavin and Colin. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Eunice (Lane) Upchurch; a sister, Jeanette Gericke; and his best friend and brother, Carl Upchurch of Columbia. Mr. Upchurch grew up in Cahokia and was a longtime businessman. He lived in the Gilmore Lakes subdivision in rural Columbia since 1977. Mr. Upchurch graduated from Dupo High School and served as a military police officer in the early 1950s during the Korean War. He retired after 43 years of employment as a machinist for Union Electric (Ameren). He also owned and operated Upchurch Insurance Agency with the help of his wife. While residing in Cahokia, Mr. Upchurch was active in public service and he served on various boards and committees, including 45-years on the Cahokia Police Board and was also the commissioner of the Police Pension Board. He served as a director on the executive board of the Cahokia Bank for 20-years. In addition, he was instrumental in the planning and development of both the Bi-State Parks Airport and the Cahokia public pool and ice rink. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Mr. Upchurch was buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory Mausoleum in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the Major Case Squad in Cahokia.
Elmer F. Liefer, 90, of Red Bud, died Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Red Bud. He was born May 29, 1919, in Evansville, the son of the late Helen and Diedrich (nee Wolter) Liefer. Mr. Liefer is survived by his children, Dr. Allan (Louise) Liefer of Chester, Rick (LouAnn) Liefer of Red Bud and Terry (Justine) Liefer of rural Red Bud; grandchildren Heidi Liefer, Jon (Mary) Liefer, Chris (Shawn) Liefer, Gretchen Liefer, Garrick (Nichole) Liefer, Darren (Andrea) Liefer, Tim (Jessica) Liefer, Brandon (Tammy) Liefer, Dustin (Crystal) Liefer and Quinn Liefer; a brother, Homer (Alice) Liefer of Evansville; sister, Anita (Walter) Langrehr of Evansville; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elsie (nee Yud) Liefer, whom he married in 1944 in Chicago and died in 1995; his second wife, Viola (Hannebutt) Budde, whom he married in 1996 and died in 2006; children Judy and Randy Liefer; a brother, Ralph Liefer; and a sister, Viola Althoff. Mr. Liefer served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He was a farmer, a life member of the Red Bud Lions Club, a charter member of the North County Country Club, served on the Red Bud District 132 School Board and was active at his church, St. John Lutheran Church of Red, including holding many offices and its’ Men’s Club. Visitation was at Koch-Liefer Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St John's Lutheran Church with Mark Nebel and the Rev. Russell Koen officiating. Mr. Liefer was buried at his church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Frank L. Jones, 61, of Waterloo, died April 14, 2010 in Town and County, Mo. He was born Aug. 23, 1948 in Herrin, the son of the late William and Margaret Louise (nee Covert) Jones. Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, Mary Jones; children Rodney (Michelle) Jones, Timothy (Julie) Jones and Catherine (Russell) Kohnen; grandchildren Alison, Bryan and Sarah Jones, Cory and Julia Jones and Benjamin Kohnen. Mr. Jones was employed with Ameren/UE since 1974 as a certified welder. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 148, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Waterloo. And the Knifemakers Guild. Frank was an avid outdoorsman and craftsman. Visitation is Monday, April 19, from 10:15 a. m. to 11:15 a.m. at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church followed by a funeral mass with Father Stan Konieczny officiating. Mr. Jones will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to his church or Disabled American Veterans.
Lloyd A. Buettner, 67, of Waterloo, died April 14, 2010 in Waterloo. He was born Dec. 20, 1942, the son of the late Edwin and Stella (nee Goodell) Buettner. Mr. Buettner is survived by his wife, Ruth (nee Rust) Buettner; children Wendy (James) Maag, Lyle (Christine)Buettner, Renee (Doug) Minton; step-children Dale (Michelle) Rodenberg, Darryl (Chrissy) Rodenberg, David (Sandra) Rodenberg and Catherine Cotter; grandchildren Leah and John Maag, Luke, Cynthia and Logan Buettner and Gabriel and Anna Minton; step-grandchildren Allen Wild, Nicole Rodenberg, Brandy Rodenberg, Ellie Rodenberg, Sam Rodenberg, Rachel Rodenberg, Nathan Rodenberg, Nathan Rodenberg, Justin Rodenberg, Cassandra Rodenberg, Andrew Cotter and Lydia Cotter; a great-granddaughter, Carmin Rodenberg; sisters Bernice Fuller, Dianne Buettner and Barbara Goldschmidt; sister-in-law, Bernell Buettner; and a brother-in-law, Maurice Muench; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barbara (nee Wilson) Buettner; a sister, Dorothy Muench; and a brother, Don Buettner. He was am officer with Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg and a former draftsman at Professional Metals. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Saturday, April 17, at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. Mr. Buettner will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s Special Memorial Fund.
Raymond T. Shields, 81, of Waterloo, died April 16, 2010 in Waterloo. He was born Nov. 19, 1928 in Waterloo, the son of the late Albert and Rose (nee Goodman) Shields. Mr. Shields is survived by his wife, Thelma (nee Schmieg) Shields; children Dennis Shields, Diane (Kary) Eckrich, Denise (Robert) Eichelmann, David Shields, Debbie (Charlie) Siedle, Dana (Rick) Grossman and Dawn (Greg) Gregory; sister, Joyce (Vernon) Koester; and brothers Jerome (JoAnn) Shields, Albert Shields and Leon (Donna) Shields; along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by brothers Emmett and Cletus Shields. Mr. Shields was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Waterloo VFW. Visitation is Sunday, April 18, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mr. Shields will be buried at his church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice or Oak Hill’s Whispering Pines Activity Fund.
James E. Thompson, 59, of Millstadt, died April 16, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville. He was born Dec. 15, 1950 in Springfield, the son of the late Estale Wayne and Edna (nee Hammonds) Holland. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife of 36 years, Connie (nee Carron) Thompson; sons James and David Thompson; grandchildren Zachary and Tabbitha Thompson; a brother, Kevin Holland; sisters Mary Joe Guss, Sandra Floyd and Leona Evans; brothers-in-law Ron and Archie Carron; and sisters-in-law Sandra Clossen, Shirley Avellone, Wanda Sins, Geraldine Beelman and Carol Skaer; along with other relatives and friends. He was a United States Marine veteran who enjoyed fishing and mushroom hunting. A memorial service barbeque will be Sunday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at the Moose Lodge in Swansea. At Mr. Thompson’s request, a cremation was held.
Ray A. Huffman, 54, of Valmeyer, died April 17, 2010 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born June 3, 1955 in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the son of Bonita Huffman and the late Ray Huffman Sr. In addition to his mother, Mr. Huffman is survived by his wife, Diane Huffman; children Sharon (Terry) Marquardt, Bryan Huffman, Stephanie Huffman and Shannon (Brian) Eckart; grandchildren Hannah, Jonathan, Blake and Gabrielle; sisters Vonita (Rick) Bazzel, Nathan (Charnetta) Huffman and Jane (Wayne) Reed; and in-laws Carnel and Catherine Gilbert; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Douglas Huffman. Mr. Huffman was a member of H. Cattle Company and Rodeo Genetics, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Valmeyer, the Randolph County Saddle Club and Chester Eagles. Memorials may be made to the family. Visitation is Tuesday, April 20, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, April 21, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Jose Jacob officiating. Mr. Huffman will be buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Madonnaville.
Ervin “Ervie” Koester, 75, of Red Bud, died April 17, 2010 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He was born June 7, 1934 in Evansville, the son of the late Arnold and Malinda (nee Goedelmann) Koester. Ervie married Alpha G. Heifner on May 12, 1962 at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud. In addition to his wife, Mr. Koester is survived by his sons Jeff “Bubba” (Sharon) Koester and Rodney “Rocky” Koester, both of Red Bud; granddaughters Chelsea and Candace Koester of Red Bud; brothers Kenneth (Geraldine) Koester of Red Bud and Marvin (Ruth Ann) Koester of Ruma; a sister-in-law, Barbara Koester of Red Bud; and a brother-in-law, Ernest (Leona) Heifner of Stilesville; along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, brother, Roger Koester; and a sister in infancy. Ervie was a farmer who also worked as a fork lift driver for Snyder General in Red Bud. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud and the Randolph County Farm Bureau. Visitation is Thursday, April 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A memorial service will be Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at St. John Luther Church in Red Bud with Rev. Russell Koen officiating. According to his wishes, Mr. Koester’s body was donated to science. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran School in Red Bud.
Helen Marie Munton, nee Reinhold, 85, of Roanoke County, Va., died April 17, 2010. She was born April 27, 1924, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Clem and Anne Reinhold. Mrs. Munton is survived by her children, Rick (Peggy) Munton of Charlotte, NC., Joanne Thompson (husband Greg Sharp) of Salem, John (Meg) Munton of Roanoke and Betty Thompson (special friend Charlie Allen) of Roanoke; grandchildren Pam (Greg) Beall, Michelle (Andy) Schmidt, Shane (Angie) Thompson, Allen (Deliah) Munton and Michael Munton; great-grandchildren Tyler, Brittany and Hope Beall, Madeline and Mollie Thompson, Virginia and Noah Schmidt and Haley and Michael Munton; and a brother, Robert (Bernice) Reinhold of Waterloo; along with nieces and nephews. Mrs. Munton loved to read, travel, listen to music and find a good bargain. She enjoyed discussing current events, was fascinated by other cultures, and was always interested in the field of medicine. Per Mrs. Munton’s request, her body will be donated for medical research. A private memorial service was held. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
