Violet Nagel, nee Kunkel, 89, of Fults, died Sept. 3, 2014 in Red Bud. She was born Jan. 16, 1925 in Prairie du Rocher, the daughter of the William and Mary (nee Carron) Kunkel. Mrs. Nagel is survived by her husband, Earl Nagel; children, James Nagel, Larry (Geovonna) Nagel, Connie (Bob) Esker, Cathy (Gary) Griffin and Vickie Nagel; his brother, Bill (JoAnn) Kunkel; her sister-in-law, Lorraine Junge; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Eric Allen. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Ralph Laufer officiating. Mrs. Nagel was buried at the St. John UCC Cemetery in Fults. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Jerome “Jerry” Hacker, 80, of Edina, Minn., formerly of Columbia, died Sept. 3, 2014. A memorial was held at Chapel Hills UCC in Edina. Arrangements were handled by Washburn-McReavy Services in Edina.
Arthur Ziebold, 96, of Red Bud, died Sept. 12, 2014, at Red Bud Regional Care. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St. Peter UCC in Red Bud with Rev. William Graves officiating. Mr. Ziebold was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church, Shriner’s Hospital or to the Alzheimer Association.
Richard W. McClellan, 67, of Valmeyer, died Sept. 5, 2014 at his home. He was born Nov. 13, 1946 in Sikeston, Mo., the son of the late Richard and Velma (nee Cates) McClellan. Mr. McClellan is survived by his wife, Jeanette McClellan; children, Marc McClellan and Wendy (Paul) Hill; grandchildren, Trevor and Ava McClellan, and Jeremy, Leah and Evan Hill; sisters, Cherry (Ray) Generous and Debbie (Steve) Crays; an aunt, Doris McClellan; and his cat, Valley; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Hunter McClellan; and a sister, Rosalind Saelig. Mr. McClellan served in the U.S. Army (9th Infantry 44th Medical Brigade) during the Vietnam War. He had retired from MAR Business Forms and was the longtime owner of Fountain Inn. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mr. McClellan was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or to St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Shirley J. Phelps, nee Bell, 77, of Waterloo, died Sept. 5, 2014 in Belleville. He was born March 3, 1937 in White Co., the daughter of the late Lawrence Bell and Florence Flota. Mrs. Phelps is survived by her children, Steven (Tonia) Phelps, Vickie (John) Kaiser and Tommy (Johanne) Phelps; grandchildren, Erin (Kyle) Griffith, Jennifer (Matt) Eckart and Michael Kaiser; great-grandchildren, Maci Kaiser, Lauren Eckart and Emma Eckart; sisters, Shelby Dunn, Donna Merlenbach and Janet (Alan) Easton; a sister-in-law, Mary Otten; and a brother-in-law, Ralph Phelps; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie W. Phelps; and brothers, Edward and Kenneth Bell. Mrs. Phelps enjoyed traveling, hiking, nature, reading, yard work and taking road trips in her Dodge Charger. Visitation and funeral were at the Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Phelps was buried at the Hecker City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Anetha C. Schiemer, nee Fischer, 99, of Columbia, died Sept. 10, 2014, at Columbia Rehab. and Nursing Center. She was born May 26, 1915, in New Hanover, the daughter of the late Henry and Katherine (nee Stumpf) Fischer. Anetha married Carl L. Schiemer in 1937 in New Hanover. He died in 1999. Mrs. Schiemer is survived by her daughter, June (Chris) Campos of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.; grandchildren, Christine (Richard) Semsel and Carlene (Steve) Kuske; and great-grandchildren, Anastasia and Michael Kuske, and Ryan and Samantha Semsel; along with nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Edna Harres, Hilda Eitmann, Victor Fischer and Raymond Fischer. Anetha and her husband Carl and brother-in-law Robert operated Schiemer Insurance Agency in Columbia. She attended St. Paul UCC in Columbia, where she was a quilter and member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also active in the Columbia Senior Center. Anetha enjoyed playing kloepper. Visitation and funeral were at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mrs. Schiemer was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul UCC - Stained Glass Fund or Shriner's Hospital For Children.
Evelyn Virginia Seacord, nee Barber, 90, of Columbia, died Sept. 12, 2014. She was born May 21, 1924, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late William Warren and Juanita Thelma (nee Tourville) Barber. Evelyn married William E. Seacord Jr. in 1944 in East St. Louis. He died in 2002. Mrs. Seacord is survived by her children, William W. (Carolyn) Seacord, Patricia Juanita Axe of Columbia and Charles E. (Sandra) Seacord of Columbia; grandchildren, Shanda (Jason) Hays of Hecker, Adam (Stephanie) Axe of St. Louis and Amy M. (Tom Jr.) Brown of Columbia; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Rain and Brecka Hays, Hugo and Ivy Axe, and Cole, Jacob and Emmett Brown; siblings, Louis (Donna) Barber of Pinckneyville, Robert Clark Barber of Columbia, Beverly Jean Garbuio-Gardner of Eureka, Mo., Ida M. (Donald) Nauman of Columbia and Judith A. (Clyde Ray) Butler of Collinsville; and sisters-in-law, Lorilee Barber of Collinsville and Pamela Barber of Smithboro; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, William John Barber, Sr., Harold Lee Barber Sr., Edward Lewis Barber, Byron James Barber and Ralph Harold Barber; a sister, Janet Marie Stram; brothers-in-law, Thomas (Mansueto) Garbuio-Gardner and George Stram; and sisters-in-law, Sophie Barber and Shirley Barber. Visitation and funeral were at the Lawlor Funeral Home with Pastor Travis Peterson officiating. Mrs. Seacord was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Norman E. Waterman Sr., 85, of Waterloo, died Sept. 13, 2014 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Jan. 18, 1929 in McClure, the son of the late Kenneth and Hazel (nee Reavis) Waterman. Mr. Waterman is survived by his wife, Patricia Jane (nee Marchildon) Waterman; children Norman (Karen) Waterman Jr., Kay Wiegand, Jan Reitz and Pamela (Donald) Muertz; grandchildren Pamela (Donald) Muertz, Chris (Kim) Walster, Tara (Kenny) Reitz and Tyler (Ashley) Reitz; 10 great-grandchildren; special niece Laura (Wayne) Coleson; and brother-in-law, Clement Marchildon; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister, Delores Bensa; and his brother, Marvin Waterman. Mr. Waterman was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was retired from the UA Steamfitters 439. Norman was a former member of Okeechobee Masonic Lodge, Shriners and DAV. He attended the First Baptist Church of Waterloo and St. John UCC of Maeystown. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastors Raymond Oxford, Steve Neill and Patrick Poole officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Pastor Steven Benke, 50, of St. Louis, died Sept. 11, 2014. Benke is survived by his fiancé, Kathleen Worthmore; children Kate and Rick Benke and Emily Worthmore; his parents, Richard and Carlee Benke; siblings Dawn (Joel) Conrad and Mark (Nicole) Benke; his grandmother, Viola Mutschink; and nephews Joshua Conrad and Andrew Benke. Benke was a pastor at Faith Lutheran Church of Columbia, Faith Lutheran Church of Oakville and the Jefferson Hills. Visitation was at Kutis South County Chapel. Funeral was at Faith Lutheran Church in Oakville. Memorials may be made to his children.
Evelyn B. Blank, nee Harres, 89, of Columbia died Sept. 1, 2014, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Jan. 2, 1925, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Fred and Marie (nee Stemler) Harres. Evelyn married Elmer E. Blank in 1951. He died in 1991. Mrs. Blank is survived by her children, Robert L. (Mary Sue) Blank and Diane (Dave) Silva, both of Columbia; grandchildren, Jessica (Brent) Neumeyer, Trent Blank, Brenna (Jon) Woodrome and Joe Silva; a great-grandchild, Leo Neumeyer; her brother, Kenneth Harres of Millstadt; and a sister, Mary Ann Dillenberger of Waterloo. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Tony Silva; and brothers Fredrick and Carol Harres. Mrs. Blank was a retired nurse from Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She attended St. Paul United Church of Christ, where she had been a long-time member of the orchestra and choir. Evelyn was also a member of the Columbia Woman's Club, Retired Nurses of Monroe County, Columbia Sister Cities, Columbia Senior Citizens, Red Hat Society, Order of the Eastern Star and Columbia American Legion Post 581’s Auxiliary. Visitation is Thursday, Sept. 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Friday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. Mrs. Blank will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul UCC Music Fund or Building Fund.
