Irene O. Buss, nee Greatting, 94, formerly of Columbia, died Jan. 25, 2010, at Oak Hill Care Center in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 2, 1915, Waterloo, the daughter of the late William and Minnie (nee Fischer) Greatting. She was married to Clarence Buss. He died in 1990. Mrs. Buss was also preceded in death by her sisters Lillian Landgraf, Mildred Juengling and Helen Fox; and a brother, Roland Greatting. Surviving are a daughter, Erlene (Orville) Bievenue of Red Bud; grandchildren Sharon (Carl) Wilson of Sparta, John (Cindy) Bievenue of Millstadt and Gary Lee (Vanessa) Bievenue of Red Bud; and eight great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. Irene had played music for 57 years, beginning with at the age of 17, with the Buss Polka Band. She had worked at Society Brand Hat Company in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. A private family graveside services will be held at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia.
Orville E. Osick, 94, of Columbia, died Jan. 30, 2010 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. He was born Nov. 16, 1915, the son of the late Louis and Emma (nee Kirschner) Osick. He was married to the late Ida Osick (Foster), and together they celebrated 72 years of wedding anniversaries. Ida passed away on July 19, 2007. Mr. Osick is survived by his daughter, LaVerne (Dale) Ritter of Benton Ky.; a son, Lawrence (Carol) Osick of Millstadt; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; along with other relatives and friends. He was retired from Monsanto Chemical Corporation and had been a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ of Columbia and the Columbia Senior Citizens. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Osick will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Cecil Link, 75, of Marissa, died Jan. 31, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. He was born Dec. 5, 1934, the son of the late Robert R. Link and Myrtle O’Bryant. Mr. Link is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cecilia (nee Caito) Link (nee Caito); sons Dale (Chris Hudgens) Link and John (Lisa) Link, both of Waterloo; grandchildren Kim (Dave)Bosler and Payton Link; great-grandchild Bailey Bosler; brothers Charles Link of Macneville, Tenn., and James Link of Theodosia, Mo.; and sisters Jewell Knight of Branson, Mo., and Martha Mitchell of Mountain Home, Ark.; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by twin sons in infancy, Ronald and Donald Link; and a brother, Leo Link. Cecil was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He retired as a truck driver from Hartiage Trucking and was a member of Teamsters Local 600 and the American Legion. Visitation and funeral were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. Mr. Link was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Virginia M. Miles, 78, of Prairie Du Rocher, died Jan. 31, 2010 at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was born June 21, 1931 in Wattertown, Tenn., the daughter of the late Andrew and Maurice (nee Tramel) Davenport. Virginia married Robert H. Miles in 1946 in Waukegand. He died in 2003. Mrs. Miles is survived by her children Diana (Joseph) Catterson of Crawfordville, Ind., Ernst (Barbra) Miles of Milton, Fla., Robert (Carolyn) Miles Rockville, Tenn., Shirley (Art) Schirmer of Prairie du Rocher and Linda (Fred) Basher and Summerville, Mo.; 15 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Mary Heinemann, Mamie Green and Marie Gillogly; and a half-brother, Lester Hayes. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Visitation and funeral were at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud with Reverend Don Lyon officiating. Mrs. Miles will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Canterbury Manor Nursing Home’s Activity Fund.
JoAnn Barnes, nee Kirleis, 71, of Millstadt, died March 30, 2013, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Aug. 27, 1941 in Millstadt, the daughter of the late Eugene and Clara (nee Sutter) Kirleis. JoAnn is survived by her children Jennifer (Scott) Koopmann of Wichita, Kan., and Jeannine (Rick) Kochmann, Joseph Barnes, Joyce (Jerry) Tastad and Jodi (Michael Notter) Barnes, all of Millstadt; grandchildren Michael, Alexandra and Chance Koopmann, and Ryan Kochmann, Jake and Jordan Tastad; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Micnheimer; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and her "Old Ladies." She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, John J. Barnes; and a brother, Allen Kirleis. Mrs. Barnes attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt, where she was active in the Church Quilters. She was a member of AORN, the Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and Memorial Hospital Quilters. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Barnes was buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to her church or the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Association.
Donald L. Schmitt, 81, of Waterloo, died March 30, 2013, in Belleville. He was born Sept. 5, 1931, in Waterloo, the son of the late Peter and Marie (nee Koopman) Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt is survived by his daughter, Deanna (Gilbert L.) Birkner; grandchildren Danielle (Kyle) Doerr, Alexandra Birkner, Nicolette Birkner and Zachary Birkner; a great-granddaughter, Emelia Doerr; and a sister, Marjorie (Casper) Beelman; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by brothers Paul and Robert Schmitt; and a sister, Audrey Koesterer. A lifelong resident, Mr. Schmitt operated Schmitt’s IGA grocery stores in Waterloo and Red Bud for 35 years. Don served in the U.S. Army and earned a Bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University. He was a very dedicated member of the Waterloo Lion’s Club, serving two years as president as one year as zone chairman. Mr. Schmidt was also a member of the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, where he was recognized in 2000 with the organization’s Outstanding Community Service Award. Don was a founding member of the Human Support Services’ board of directors, chaired the Monroe County Public Building Commission for three years, served two years as the president of the SS. Peter and Paul Grade School board, helped found the Porta Westfalica Fest and organized the Waterloo Khoury League Baseball Foundation. There will be no visitation. By Mr. Schmitt’s request, his body was donated to the St. Louis University School of Medicine. Quernheim Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Funeral is Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m., at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. By his request his body was donated to St. Louis University School of Medicine. Memorials may be made to SS. Peter and Paul Grade School or to the Waterloo Lion's Club.
Jacqueline "Jackie" Hern, nee Bazzel, 75, of Belleville, died March 31, 2013, in Belleville. She was born Feb. 27, 1938, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Bessie (nee Cagle) Bazzel. Mrs. Hern is survived by her children, Patricia (Craig) Dye, Jeffrey (Chris) Hern, Angela (Mark) Donaldson and Timothy Hern; grandchildren Derek (Nikki) Reitz, Jayde Reitz, Zach (Becca) Hern, Bryan Hern, Beau Donaldson, Jenna Hern and Thomas Hern; and great-grandchildren Randi Reitz, Levi Reitz, Aryan Reitz and Justin Reitz. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry R. Hern; and a grandson, Jerod Reitz. Mrs. Hern was employed as an administrator for the Rosewood Care Center. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home. Mrs. Hern will be buried at the St. John Cemetery in Fults. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
JoAnn Barnes, nee Kirleis, 71, of Millstadt, died March 30, 2013, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Aug. 27, 1941 in Millstadt, the daughter of the late Eugene and Clara (nee Sutter) Kirleis. JoAnn is survived by her children Jennifer (Scott) Koopmann of Wichita, Kan., and Jeannine (Rick) Kochmann, Joseph Barnes, Joyce (Jerry) Tastad and Jodi (Michael Notter) Barnes, all of Millstadt; grandchildren Michael, Alexandra and Chance Koopmann, and Ryan Kochmann, Jake and Jordan Tastad; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Micnheimer; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and her "Old Ladies." She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, John J. Barnes; and a brother, Allen Kirleis. Mrs. Barnes attended Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt, where she was active in the Church Quilters. She was a member of AORN, the Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and Memorial Hospital Quilters. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Barnes was buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to her church or the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Association.
Sandra Vander Heyden, nee Smothers, 44, of Waterloo, died March 14, 2013, after battling cancer. She was born July 25, 1968, in Belleville, the daughter of James Smother and the late Kaye (nee Myers) Smothers. In addition to her father, Mrs. Vander Heyden is survived by her husband, Jeffrey Vander Heyden; daughter, Meranda Vander Heyden; brother, Jim “Smudge” (Lori) Smothers; nephews, Lucas and Derek Smothers; and best friend, Bonnie Ries; along with aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her mother, she was preceded in death by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Mrs. Vander Heyden was buried at the Waterloo City Cemetery.
Frank D. Gipson, 65, of Waterloo, died March 14, 2013, in St. Louis. He was born May 15, 1947, in East St. Louis, the son of the late Howard and Maudie (nee Willis) Gipson. Mr. Gipson is survived by his wife, Judith (nee Washausen) Gipson; son, Neal (Heather) Gipson; grandchildren, Grace, Hannah and Katie Gipson; a step-grandson, David Otten; siblings, Betty Davis, Nelson Gipson, Patricia (Omar) Ibrahim and Timothy Gipson; and in-laws, Raymond and Bertha Washausen; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Lee Davis. Mr. Gipson served four years in the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command (Vietnam Era). He was retired from the City of Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Mr. Gipson was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Waterloo or Life Network (Crisis Pregnancy Center).
