Gary Lowell Gaither, 53, of Columbia, died July 27, 2004, at his residence. Mr. Gaither married Carol Ann Gaither nee Bauer in St. Louis in 1972; she survives him. He was born December 27, 1950, in East St. Louis, the son of Robert A. and Mildred C. Gaither nee Latta. He is survived by his parents; wife; sons Brian M. (Michelle) Gaither, of Columbia, and Aaron B. (Amber) Gaither, of Belleville; grandchildren Owen Gaither and Alexander Gaither; brothers Robert (Vicki) Gaither, of Cleveland, Tex., Duane (Linda) Gaither, of St. Louis, and Leonard (Judy) Gaither, of Springfield; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Gaither served in the Maries and was a Vietnam veteran. He was a civil engineer with H.L. Yoh, in St. Louis. He enjoyed scuba diving and participated in dives around the world. His visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Her funeral mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia, Father Carl Scherrer officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation or St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Carol L. Nobbe nee Boehne, 69, of Waterloo, died July 26, 2004, at Waterloo. Mrs. Nobbe was married to Carl H. Nobbe; he survives her. She was born January 10, 1935, in Wartburg, the daughter of the late Oswald and Edna Boehne nee Schneider. She is survived by her husband; sisters Ardelle (Frank) Hodgson, of Centerville, Ohio, and Jenny (Ray) Jung, of Waterloo; brother Russell (Marilyn) Boehne, of Collinsville; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, a great-great-nephew and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Laverne L. Kohlmeier. Mrs. Nobbe was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, where she was a member of the choir and served on the board of church properties. She was also on the Wednesday night golf league. She was a retired owner of the Bee Hive Bowl and Restaurant. Her visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Her funeral was at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastors Tony Troup and Kyle Sandersfeld officiating. She is buried at St. Paul Evangelical Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo or BJC Hospice.
Hilda K. Buettner nee Schaefer, 84, of Sullivan, Mo., formerly of Columbia, died July 23, 2004, at Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan. Mrs. Buettner was married to the late Charles H. Buettner; he preceded her in death in 1978. She was born July 28, 1919, in Maeystown, the daughter of the late Alfred and Rosa Schaefer nee Mueller. She is survived by her daughter Karen (Thomas) Hensley, of Sullivan, Mo.; son David (Pam) Buettner, of Neenah, Wis.; grandchildren Aaron (Carrie) Buettner, Michael (Joleen) Buettner, Alisa Terrell, Tina Hensley and Jason (Dawn) Hensley; sister Helen Ahrens, of Columbia; niece Susan (Tom) Kuergeleis, of Columbia; great-grandchildren Jessica Terrell, Adam Terrell, April Irby, Samantha Bloodworth, Kristyna Hensley and Jack Buettner; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Mrs. Buettner was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. She was a member of Columbia Senior Citizens and many local card clubs. She played piano and organ, and taught piano lessons. Her visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastors William Groennert and Greg Cook officiating. She is buried at St. John’s Cemetery in Fults.
Vera L. Kohlmeier nee Wolf, 76, of Waterloo, died July 20, 2004, in Columbia. Mrs. Kohlmeier was married to Wilbert Kohlmeier; he survives her. She was born September 20, 1927, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Herman Louis and Emma Wolf nee Stickann. She is survived by her husband; children Ardis (Robert) Henerfauth, of Prairie du Rocher, Dean (Susan) Kohlmeier, of Waterloo, and Aron (Myrna) Kohlmeier, of Houston, Tex.; granddaughter Lindsey Kohlmeier; sister Irene (Harlan) Wentzel, of Collinsville; brother Harry Wolf, of Waterloo; sister-in-law Christa Wolf, of St. Louis; and other sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Nelson Wolf. Mrs. Kohlmeier was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo. She founded Porta Westfalica-Germany and Waterloo Sister Cities Organization, served as the state coordinator of Sister Cities, and she was a chapter and state FHA mother. She was also a former member of the Western Egyptian Board of Directors, Waterloo Planning Commission, Monroe County Historical Society, Peterstown House and the Southern Illinois Tourism Council. She received the highest civilian service honor bestowed by the German government, Verdienstkruetz, for her service to the country. Her visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Her funeral was at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastor Kyle Sandersfeld officiating. She is buried at Waterloo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Waterloo Sister Cities or Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo.
Bill H. Saul, 65, of Waterloo, died July 20, 2004, in Waterloo. Mr. Saul was married to Nelda “Nel” R. Saul nee McCollough; she survives him. He was born October 11, 1938, in Jones Ridge, the son of the late Elmer and Mary Saul nee Leinecke. He is survived by his wife; children Beth (Jim) Bicklein, of Waterloo, Becca (Cort) Hubbard, of Columbia, and Brian Saul of Waterloo; step-children Joan Curry, of Tucson, Ariz., and Linda (Peter) Vastola, of St. Louis; grandchildren Sarah Bicklein, Luke Bicklein, Daniel Bicklein, Patrick Vastola, Emily Vastola and Andrew Vastola; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, an uncle and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother. Mr. Saul was a member and elder of Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. He was a retired principal of Waterloo Public School, as well as a teacher and administrator for more than 30 years in the Waterloo and Belleville school districts. He was a member of Lion’s Club and an adjunct family member of SWIC. He was a retired naval reserve captain who served as a Blue & Gold officer for the Naval Academy for many years and he was a volunteer AARP tax preparer. His visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. His funeral was at Concord Presbyterian Church, Pastor Will Hesterberg officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo.
Vida Goldgar nee Daab, 74, of Atlanta, formerly of Columbia, died July 18, 2004, in Atlanta. She was born October 18, 1929, the daughter of the late John A. and Adele Marie Daab nee Schein. She is survived by her son David (Constance) Goldgar of Salt Lake City, Utah, Dirk (Mary Ellen Curtin) Goldgar of Pennington, N.J., Dean (An) Goldgar of Covington, Ga.; daughter Deborah Barber of Alpharetta, Ga.; sister, Adele Fox of Cincinnati; and eight grandchildren. Mrs. Goldgar was a member of The Temple in Atlanta. She began a career in journalism in 1973, following a conversion to Judaism in the 1950s. Following her divorce she began working full-time at the Southern Israelite, eventually becoming the paper’s editor and publisher. In 1979, Goldgar purchased the paper and later sold it, but she rarely missed her column deadline until just a few weeks before her death, when she became seriously ill. Goldgar’s columns and reporting are widely credited with helping build bridges in Atlanta’s Jewish community, said friends. Goldgar was proud of her faith, telling friends and reporters, “This is what I was and I was proud of it.” In a 40-year career in Jewish journalism that spanned 1964 to 2004, Goldgar reported from Beirut in the middle of the Lebanon war, walked with more than one American president and with several Israeli prime ministers. She became the first woman president of the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA) and she was the first woman president of the Atlanta chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. “She always wrote with intellect and heart,” said Alvin Sugarman, former senior rabbi of The Temple. Her funeral was at The Temple. She is interred at Memorial Park in Atlanta. (Information, photo courtesy of Southern Israelite and Dressler’s Jewish Care of Eternal Light.)
Judith A. Stechmesser nee Langhans, 61, of Columbia, died July 14, 2004, at her residence. Mrs. Stechmesser married Glenn E. Stechmesser in Columbia in 1961; he survives her. She was born July 28, 1942, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Oliver and Louise Langhans nee Schmidt. She is survived by her husband; sons Scott Stechmesser, of Columbia, and Michael (Becky) Stechmesser, of Columbia; daughter Nicolle (Alan) Nolte, of Columbia; grandson Robert Nolte; brother Ron (Shirley) Langhans, of Columbia; sister Mary (Paul) Hillestad, of Columbia; and mother-in-law Alma Stechmesser, of Columbia. Mrs. Stechmesser was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. She worked at Rapp Insurance Agency in Columbia and was a member of Columbia Gymnastic Association Ladies’ Auxiliary. She served as past Honor Queen and Guardian Secretary with Jobs Daughters Bethel #65 in Columbia. Her visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Her funeral was at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Her family would like to extend special thanks to her two hospice nurses, Jackie Buesking and Roberta Baldwin, for their special care. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia.
Otillia M. Gummersheimer nee Theobald, 93, of Columbia, died July 8, 2004, at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis. She was born October 8, 1910, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Abraham and Otillia Theobald nee Frierdich. Mrs. Gummersheimer was married to the late Clarence W. Gummersheimer; he preceded her in death in 1985. She is survived by her sons Roy Gummersheimer, of St. Louis, Gene (Wanda) Gummersheimer, of Columbia, Jim (Orpha) Gruen, of Trinity, Fla.; grandchildren Wade (Amy) Gummersheimer, John Gruen, Laura Gruen and James Gruen; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandchildren Daniel Scott Gummersheimer and Ryan David Gummersheimer; brother Herman J. Frierdich; and sisters Lucille Woodcock and Edna Sander. Mrs. Gummersheimer was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. Her visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association of St. Paul United Church of Christ.
Walter H. Hoffman, 85, of Waterloo, died July 7, 2004, in Belleville. He was born September 15, 1918, in Fults, the son of the late John and Anne Hoffman nee Pottoff. Mr. Hoffman was married to Eileen Hoffman nee Thiele. He is survived by his wife; children Terry (Dana) Hoffman, of Marion, and Randall (Patty) Hoffman, of Long Beach, Calif.; grandchildren Aaron (Amber) Hoffman, Angela (John) Barwick, Melissa (Rich) Arco, Clar (Dara Schowri) Hoffman and Allison Hoffman; great-grandchildren Jaylee, Taylor and Hayley; and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Lydia Hoffman; brothers Ferd Hoffman, Emil Hoffman, John Hoffman, Harold Hoffman and Louis “Peggy” Hoffman. His visitation and funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Pastor Chris Hucker officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barrack’s National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo or the American Cancer Society.
Joan Marie Koen nee Perry, 44, of Waterloo, died July 7, 2004, at Waterloo. She was born October 6, 1959, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Dorothy Perry nee Jansen. Mrs. Koen was married to Gary Koen. She is survived by her husband; children Jessica Koen, Rebecca Stone, Garrett Koen and Christopher Stone; brothers Kevin (Kathy) Perry and Tom (Sheila) Perry; sisters Karen (Bill) Green and Fran Wagner; step-mother Emma Lee Perry; mother-in-law Wanda Koen; sisters-in-law Sandy (Bill) Snyder and Pamela (Bob) Hoock; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and father-in-law Ray Koen. Mrs. Koen was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Her visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Her funeral mass was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. She was buried at Jefferson Barrack’s National Cemetery.
