Kenneth Schnepel, 71, of Red Bud, died Nov. 7, 2009, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Aug. 7, 1938 in Prairie, the son of the late Theodore and Erna (nee Schwier) Schnepel. Kenny married Jerolyn Bunny Fischer in 1959 in Waterloo. In addition to his wife, Mr. Schnepel is survived by his children, Angel (Jerry) Brown of Ruma, Michael Schnepel of Red Bud, Mark (Michelle) Schnepel of Waterloo and Sara (Nelson) Blengeri of Chicago; grandchildren, Ashly, Dany, Taylor, Jack and Wil; a sister-in-law, Carolyn (Pastor Ray) Offermann of Decatur; and a brother-in-law, Don Crook of Waterloo; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Barbara Crook. Mr. Schnepel was president of Audio Visual Service Center for 44 years. He loved his family, traveling, fishing and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud with Rev. Mark Nebel officiating. Mr. Schnepel was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church.
Florence Frances Farmer, nee Weisenborn, 76, of Columbia, died Nov. 3, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville from lung cancer. She was born June 10, 1933, in Dupo, the daughter of the late Omer Conrad and Viola Mildred (Bock) Weisenborn. She married Calvin Eugene Farmer in 1954 at St. Paul UCC in Columbia. He died in 1990. Mrs. Farmer is survived by a son, Allen (Wyona) Farmer of Columbia; a daughter, Sharon Petrowski of Columbia; grandchildren, Dawn (Brandon) Lewis, Eric (Kristin) Wilhelm, Amanda (Capt. John Thomas) Farmer, Bevin (Fiancé William Lewis) Petrowski and Bryna Petrowski; great-granddaughter Reagan Wilhelm; and soon-to-be-born great-grandson, Brandon Lewis; brothers Wayne (JoAnn) Weisenborn of Columbia and Harold Weisenborn of Overland Park, Kan.; sisters, Gloria Morton of Belleville and Barbara (Ed) Schutte of Columbia; and brothers-in-law, Alvin (Gladys) Farmer of Central City, Ky., and Rexall (Carol) Farmer of Tipp City, Ohio; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Erik Allen Wilhelm; a sister, Loretta Frazier; nephews and nieces, Mark Frazier, Susan (Frazier) Stalling, David Morton, Dianne Morton and Herschel Farmer. Mrs. Farmer was retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in St. Louis, Mo. Florence was an active member of St. Paul UCC in Columbia. She was in the Hand Bell Choir and the quilters group. She was also a member of Job's Daughters, Order of the Eastern Star, Columbia Senior Citizens, Monday Senior Citizen Bowling League and Monroe County Red Hat Society. She volunteered at the Columbia Convalescent Center and the American Red Cross. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. Mrs. Farmer was buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church’s construction fund or Family Hospice of Belleville.
Carl Mason, 68, of Belleville, died Nov. 12, 2009. He was born Nov. 22, 1940. Mr. Mason was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene A. Mason; and his father, Angus Mason. He is survived by his mother, Edith Mason; children Rhonda Kay (Rick) Gray of Dupo, Dawn Mason of St. Louis and Lisa (John) Link of Waterloo; grandchildren Jason and Jeremy Gray and Payton Link; great-grandson Joseph Gray; sister, Patricia (Kent) Gardner; nephew, Scott Gardner, and his niece, Stacey Gardner. Mr. Mason retired as a warehouse supervisor for Super Valu. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Dupo. Private burial were at Lakeview Gardens of Memory in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the American Cancer Society.
Imogene Bagsby, nee Ramage, 86, of Waterloo, died Nov. 6, 2009 is St. Louis, Mo. She was born July 20, 1923 in Bardwell, Ky., the daughter of the late Henry and Ura (nee Turk) Ramage. Mrs. Bagsby was preceded in death by husband, John Bagsby Sr.; four brothers and a sister. She is survived by her children, Terri Chambers, John Bagsby Jr., Janet Bagsby and Pam Meister; grandchildren, Tim Chambers, Charity Cotton, Andrew Bagsby and Deren Bagsby; great-grandchildren, Aniesa Bagsby and Jaycee Cotton; and a sister, Estelle Neal. Imogene was a member of the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo, the American Legion Post 747 Auxiliary and was an Avon representative. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral mass was at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mrs. Bagsby was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Hospice.
Daniel Stumpf, 48, of Valmeyer, died Nov. 3, 2009. He was born Dec. 28, 1960, in Centreville. He married Lynn (Hammer) Stumpf in 1995 in Columbia. In addition to his wife, Mr. Stumpf is survived by his parents, Donald and Deanna (Diel) Stumpf Sr.; a daughter, Denise (Rick) Whitehouse; siblings, Donald Stumpf Jr., Barbara (Grant) Richter and Timothy (Sheila) Stumpf; aunt, Luann (Ernie) P. Flota; an uncle, David (Bobbette) Stumpf, and two grandchildren; along with uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Mr. Stumpf was a former police officer who was currently a self-employed handyman. He was also an EMT with the Columbia Ambulance Service. Daniel was a soldier of the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel in St. Louis, where he served as president of the Men's Fellowship and was a member of the Corps Council. Visitation was at the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel. A memorial service followed with Major Bob Fey officiating. A private burial of ashes was scheduled to take place at a later date. Memorial may be made to the Salvation Army Gateway Citadel or Mary Culver Nursing Home For Blind Women in Kirkwood, Mo.
Leland “Gummie” Gummersheimer, 73, of Columbia, died Nov. 15, 2009. He was born June 23, 1936, in Columbia, the son of the late Emil and Olga (Kuni) Gummersheimer. He married Sandy (Lindhorst) Gummersheimer in 1965 in New Hanover. In addition to his wife, Mr. Gummersheimer is survived by his children, Laura (Stephen) Jackson of Lenzburg, Susan (David) Juelfs of Waterloo, Randy (Michelle) Gummersheimer of Columbia and Ryan (Sabrina) Gummersheimer of Columbia; grandchildren Erica, Andrew, Zander, Gavin, Madelyn and Makayla; great-grandchildren Damien and Jayce; a sister, Leola Eichelmann of Waterloo; and a sister-in-law, Violet Gummersheimer of Columbia; along with other relatives and friends. He was also preceded in death by brothers Emil Gummersheimer Jr., and Harold Gummersheimer; grandchildren Paul Jackson and Carter Gummersheimer; and a brother-in-law, Paul Eichelmann. Gummie was a retired operator at Casper- Stolle Quarry in Dupo. He bartended at local establishments, and loved working in the garage with his sons and their demolition cars. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Rev. Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Gummersheimer was buried at the Zoar UCC Cemetery in New Hanover. Memorials may be made to the Floraville UCC.
Bearl Charles Carrow, 97, died Oct. 27, 2009 at his home in Bonne Terre, Mo. He was born May 7, 1912, in French Village, Mo., the son of the late Charles and Caroline (nee Bequette) Carrow. Mr. Carrow married Grace (nee Rexroth) in 1936. She preceded him in death by seven weeks. They would have celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this year. Mr. Carrow is survived by his daughters Lois (James) Heise of Waterloo, Katherine (Glenn) Mueller of Arnold, Mo., and Betty (Andrew) Hoffee of Bonne Terre, Mo.; a son, Donald Carrow of Bonne Terre, Mo.; grandchildren Mark (Ellen) Heise, Steven Heise, Derek (Katherine) Heise, Cathy (Kevin) Whelan, Michelle Nunnally, Nancy (Troy) Connell, Jacqueline (Corey) Buckley and Bethany (Bryant) Caruthers; and great-grandchildren Dan and Michael Heise, Lauren, Jimmy and J.T. Heise, Adri-anna, Alex, Autumn and Ashlyn Whelan, Justin, Kyle and Brett Nunnally, Zachary and Dylan Connell, Harley and Patience Barton, Haydyn and Tyler Buckley and Zoe Caruthers; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to his wife, Mr. Carrow was preceded in death great-grandson Brandon Connell; one sister, Estelle McCarty; and a brother, Ernest Carrow. Mr. Carrow was retired from St. Joseph Lead Company, was an avid hunter, hunting well into his 90s on 40 acres of what was part of his family homestead for more than 200 years. He was also a lifelong Democrat, following in the steps of several generations. Mr. and Mrs. Carrow were recently the subjects of a column in the Post-Dispatch. Funeral services were at C.Z. Boyer Funeral Home in Bonne Terre. He is buried at his wife’s side at the Bonne Terre Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to HospiceCare Inc.
Eugene E. Biffar, 72, of Waterloo died Nov. 16, 2009. He was born Jan. 21, 1937 in Waterloo, the son of the late George and Martha (nee Reinhardt) Biffar. Mr. Biffar is survived by his wife, JoAnne (nee Carroll) Biffar; children Tom Biffar and Mary Biffar; grandchildren Alex and Adam Biffar; and brothers Lawrence Biffar and Sylvester (Leona) Biffar; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Michael Biffar; and sisters Marie Biffar, Loretta Schaefer and Priscilla Vogt. Mr. Biffar was a member of the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Garrison officiating.
Mabel Elizabeth Race, nee Durrer, 86, of Webster Groves, Mo. died Nov. 11, 2009. She was born Aug. 8, 1923 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Henry and Laura (Zweig) Durrer. Mrs. Race is survived by sons Robert J. Race Jr., Thomas J. (Lisa) Race, Richard F. (Lois) Race and William P. (Kim) Race; sisters Luella Crain, Pearl (Ernie) Reilly and Ruth Murphey; a brother, Ruben “Bill” (Betty) Durrer; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Race Sr.; and a brother, Harry Durrer. Visitation and funeral were at the Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves, Mo. Mrs. Race was buried was at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Paralyzed American Veterans of America.
Elizabeth Spihlmann, 74, of Columbia, died Nov. 17, 2009, at Memorial Hospital of Belleville. She was born March 4, 1935, in Trenton, the daughter of the late Otto and Clara (Daniel) Kues. She married Ralph Spihlmann in 1954. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Spihlmann is survived by her children, Barbara (Mark) Andrus of St. Louis, Mo., Larry (Susan) Spihlmann of St. Joseph, Darlene (Marvin Lloyd) Spihlmann of Waterloo and Michael (Stacey) Spihlmann of Columbia; siblings, Urban Kues of Breese, John Kues of O'Fallon, Mary Jane Korte of Trenton and Delores Lampe of Trenton; a sister-in-law, Grace Kues of Ft. Collins, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Joseph Kues, Dan Kues and Edmund Kues; and sisters, Johanna Van Hatten, Martha Baird and Sylvia Ratermann. Mrs. Spihlmann was a member of the Immaculate Conception Altar Sodality and the V.F.W. Auxiliary of Post 7983 in Trenton. Visitation was Friday, Nov. 20 at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. A cremation followed. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception School Education Fund.
