Venita M. Greenfield, 85, of Columbia died Aug, 10, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Sept. 1, 1928 in Kirkwood, Mo., the daughter of the late Phillip and Johanna (nee Heutel) Wahlig. Mrs. Greenfield is survived by her children Larry (Barbara) Greenfield of Columbia, Harry (Sue) Greenfield Jr. of Waterloo and Donna (Roy) Kimbrell of Bellevue, Neb.; a brother, Richard Wahlig of Belleville; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry W. Greenfield; sisters, Mary Schierhoff, Louise Ratz, Lavern Eichenseer, Shirley Schulte and Phyllis Doerr; and brothers, George Wahlig and Ervin “Bob” Wahlig. Venita “Hookie” Greenfield worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone in Belleville for 35 years. After retiring in the mid-1970s she started her second career working side-by-side for 12 years with her husband Harry at Greenfield's Lounge and Restaurant in downtown Columbia. They retired to the Lake of the Ozarks. She returned to the Columbia area on the passing of her husband of 46 years. Venita will be cremated and her ashes, combined with those of her husband Harry, will be spread by the immediate family. A celebration of life is Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Acorns Golf Club in Wartburg. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois .
Gene T. Snyder, 89 of Columbia, died Aug. 9, 2014. He was born April 5, 1925, in Commerce Okla., the son of the late Hiram and Billie (nee Trout) Snyder. Gene married Bernice (nee Burke) Snyder in 1951 in Dover, NJ. In addition to his wife, Mr. Snyder is survived by his sons, Michael (Gwen) Snyder of Columbia and Eric Snyder of Waterloo; daughter, Linmarie (Tony) Mantia of Waterloo; grandchildren, Joshua Snyder and Kelly (Chad) Benzinger; and great-grandchildren, Ian Stanley and Belle Benzinger. He was preceded in death by a twin brother, Jack Snyder. Mr. Snyder served in the U.S. Marines during World War II and the Korean War - a member of the Third Infantry Batallion. Gene was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He had retired from Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home. Mr. Snyder was buried at with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the Chosin Few.
Bernell Violet Mueller, nee Ritter, 88, of Columbia, died Aug. 5, 2014, at Oak Hill in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Louis and Cora (nee Kremmel) Ritter. Bernell was baptized Nov. 22, 1925, by the Rev. J. Loose at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. She was confirmed at her church in 1939 by Rev. N. Hilderbrandt. Bernell married Marvin Mueller in 1945 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in St. Louis County with Rev. August K. Stenzel officiating. Mrs. Mueller is survived by her son, Rev. Ronald (Kathy) Mueller of Barron, Wisc.; daughters, Cheryl (Rev. Donald) Andrix of Norwood, Minn.; and Barbara (Rev. Royal) Boeder of Maeystown; grandchildren, Todd (Kristen) Andrix of Owatonna, Minn., Jenni (Michael) West of St. Paul, Minn., Ryan (Melanie) Mueller of Jenison, Minn., Joel Andrix of Norwood, Minn., Hanni (Tom) Cowley of Thorpe, Wisc., Aaron (Kaja) Mueller of Iowa City, Iowa, Ruth Boeder of Ypsilanti, Mich., Daniel Boeder of Maeystown, Benjamin Boeder of Red Bud and Luke Boeder of Maeystown; great-grandchildren Annika, Addison and Brynn Andrix, Abraham, Phoebe, Joseph and Mira West, Raelyn, Avery and Macy Cowley, Chase Mueller and Evelyn and Kean Mueller; and siblings, Marlyn (Herbert) Stemler, Ruby Asselmeier and Dale (LaVerne) Ritter, Sr.; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years; brothers, Clement, Harold and Wayne; and a sister, Berniece Lepp. Bernell worked as a telephone operator and office employee in St. Louis, but is most remembered as a beautician, working from her home. Mrs. Mueller attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, where she was active with the Sunday School, choir, Ladies Aid, Bible Studies, Couples Club and cleaning the church. She enjoyed hosting seminary students and clergy families, as well as cooking, baking, gardening and tending household plants, crocheting and family gatherings. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mrs. Mueller was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to Lutheran Hour Ministries.
George Pius Haas, 86, of Millstadt, died Aug. 8, 2014. He was born Dec. 20, 1927, in Piopolis, the son of the late Conrad and Teresa (nee Wuebbles) Haas. George married Lois (nee O’Dell) Haas in 1950. In addition to his wife, Mr. Haas is survived by his children, Everett Lee Haas of Belleville, David (Suzanne) Haas (Suzanne) and James (Marty) Haas of Millstadt, Richard (Sue) Haas of Arnold Mo. and Barbara (Markus) Teng of Kirkwood, Mo.; grandchildren Ryan (Emily) Haas, Beth (Jeff) Wilson, and Claire, Caroline and Catherine Teng; great-grandchildren Amelia Haas and Caden Wilson; and siblings John Haas and Frances Downs; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Tony and Joe Haas; and sisters, Ann Ott, and Louise, Betty and Helen Miller. Mr. Haas retired from Spectrulite Aluminum in 1992 after 37 years of employment. He was an accomplished carpenter and enjoyed helping family and friends with projects. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia with Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. Mr. Haas was buried at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Dorothy Bernice Touchette, nee Smith, 87, of Millstadt, died Aug. 7, 2014, at Freeburg Care Center. She was born Sept. 22, 1926 in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Winton and Adeline (nee Johnson) Smith. Mrs. Touchette is survived by her children Milton (Audrey) Touchette Jr. and Terry (Laura) Touchette; grandchildren, Steve (Michelle) Touchette, Milton Touchette III, John Touchette, Ashley (Tim) Hastey, Indiana Touchette, Erica Touchette and Melanie Touchette; and great-grandchildren Ashlynne Touchette, Camden Hastey, Grayson Hastey and Scarlett Hastey. She was preceded in death by her step-father, John C. Rudroff; her husband, Milton L. Touchette Sr.; sisters, Garnet Burns and Winifred Kenny; and grandsons, Rutger and Remo Touchette. Mrs. Touchette grew up in a time when milk was 14 cents, and lived through the Great Depression. She married her husband after his service in WWII and later saw a son off to Vietnam. She enjoyed playing gin rummy, bowling and making ice cream. Mrs. Touchette was a member of the American Legion and a devoted Democrat. She was proud to shake President John F. Kennedy’s hand in front of Fischer’s Restaurant. Funeral arrangements were handled by Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Memorials may be made in to Wounded Warriors.
Hetty Grant, nee Wolda, 55, of Columbia, died Aug. 9, 2014 at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born, Jan. 10, 1959 in Zuidlaren, The Netherlands. Mrs. Gant is survived by her husband of 33 years, David Grant; daughter, Angela (Scott) Davis of Waterloo; father, Hindrik Wolda; brothers, William “Wim” (Sharon) Wolda and Jacob “Jaap” (Mary Ann) Wolda; sister, Marianne (Scott) Snyder; niece, Javelyn Dempsey; and a nephew, Henk Wolda. She was preceded in death by her mother, Trientje (nee Smit) Wolda. Mrs. Grant was a paralegal at Sandberg, Phoenix and Von Gontard. She was a member of the St. Louis Legal Association and the Bar Association of St. Louis. She was an avid scrapbooker. Visitation and funeral were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo with Rev. Steve Neill officiating. Mrs. Grant was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary.
Telkah L. DeBourge, nee Liefer, 96, of Waterloo, died Aug. 7, 2014, in Waterloo. She was born March 23, 1918 in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Fred and Lydia Liefer. Mrs. DeBourge is survived by her children, Paul DeBourge and Ruth (Glen) Hearold; and grandchildren, Lauren and Keith Hearold; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis J. DeBourge; and a brother, Albert Liefer. Mrs. DeBourge was retired from Human Support Services. She attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo with Pastor Tony Troup. Mrs. DeBourge was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to the Monroe County Nursing Home Memorial Endowment Fund.
Milton H. Wild, 85, of Hecker, died Aug. 3, 2014, in St. Louis. He was born July 14, 1929 in Madonnaville, the son of the late Emil and Leona (nee Mueller) Wild. Mr. Wild is survived by his wife, Anita (nee Hoffmann) Wild; children, Deneen (Kris) Wild, Annette (Ray Jr.) Fausz and Diane (Robert) Schoenbeck; grandchildren, Brian (Sarah) Wild, Bradley Wild, Blake Wild (friend Heather Lyman), Brandon, Melissa and Justin Fausz, and Kaitlan, Kailey (friend Kyle Hemmer) and Kolan Schoenbeck; and brothers, Kenneth (Betty) Wild and Stanley (Betty) Wild. He was preceded in death by his step-mother, Rosalie Wild; and brothers, Charles Wild and Donald Wild. Mr. Wild served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was employed through Teamsters Local 600. Milton attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo with Pastor Tony Troup officiating. Mr. Wild was buried at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Wartburg. Memorials may be made to his church, the American Heart Association or to the Oak Hill Activity Fund.
Royce J. Cheney, 91, of Waterloo, died July 31, 2014 in Red Bud. He was born Feb. 6, 1923 in Harrisonville, the son of the late Thomas and Ida (nee Schmitt) Cheney. Mr. Cheney is survived by his wife, Helen (nee Josten) Cheney; children, David Cheney and Michael (Deborah) Cheney; a brother, Dale Cheney; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; along with a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law, nieces, nephew and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Bernice Cheney. Mr. Cheney attended St. Paul UCC in Waterloo. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Quernheim Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorials may be made to his church.
Glenda L. Parres, 91, of Columbia, died July 31, 2014 at St. Anthony's Medical Center. She was born July 3, 1923, in Mt. Vernon, the daughter of the late Wesley Squire and Kathryn (nee Austin) Jerome. Glenda married Joseph C. Parres in 1944 in Norfolk, Va. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Parres is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Alan) Unger of Columbia; grandchildren, Mason and Davis McDaniel; and a brother, Robert Squire of Columbia. She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Parres; her step-father, Clarence Jerome; and a sister, Ann Rehg. Glenda had worked as a bookkeeper for the Village of Sauget, Hunter Packing Co. and Jerome Chevrolet. She attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, where she was an active quilter. Glenda was a regular at the Training Room in Columbia. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at her church with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Parres was buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund.
