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.
Orville Rahn Sr., 89, of Prairie du Rocher, died Nov. 18, 2009, at his residence. He was born Aug. 31, 1920 in Ruma, the son of the late William and Frieda (nee Eggers) Rahn. Orville married Lena Mae Kirkley in 1930 in St. Joe. She died in 2007. Mr. Rahn is survived by his children, Orville (Becky) Rahn Jr. of Staunton, Joyce (Ronnie) Kuergeleis of Fults, Bonnie (Glen) Meyer of Prairie du Rocher and Allen Rahn (fiancé Brenda Warshol) of Prairie du Rocher; brothers, Ken (Jeannie) Rahn and William (Phyllis) Rahn, both of Maeystown; a sister, Leona Kent of Ames; sisters-in-law ,Leota Roider and Waterloo and Dodie Rahn of Millstadt; a brother-in-law, Jess Kirkley (friend Kay Hicks) Millstadt; grandchildren, Joey (Jennifer) Rahn, Becky (Brittin) Hardin, Wesley (Andrea) Kuergeleis, Rachel (Paul) Russell and Jennifer Smith; great-grandchildren Mason, Madison, Morgan, Hadley, Rieley, Noah and Sydney; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by brothers, Harold and Norman Rahn. Mr. Rahn served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a farmer and member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau. Visitation was Friday, Nov. 20 at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was Saturday, Nov. 21, at Welge-Pechacek with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Rahn was buried at Gilbert Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the American Cancer Society.
Corina M. Vogt, nee O'Bryan, 73, of Waterloo, died Nov. 21, 2009, at St. Louis, Mo. She was born June 21, 1936 in Booneville, Mo., the daughter of the late parents Milton O'Bryan and Woodrow (nee Travis) Griffith. Mrs. Vogt is survived by her husband of 52 years, Leland Vogt; children Angela Fieldler, Debra Koch, Cathy (Trin) Daws, Mark Vogt. Mary Vogt and Becky (Lynn) Dunlap; a brother, Harry (Shirley) O’Bryan; step-father, Harry Griffith; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Paul L. Vogt; granddaughter, Rachel A. Wittenauer; and a brother, Donald O'Bryan. Corina and her husband, Leland, founded Vogt Builders in 1957. They retired in 1998, giving Mrs. Vogt time for interior and exterior design work. She was also involved in the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Mary and Martha Society throughout her children’s years at the grade school. She was also a member of Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. Mrs. Vogt volunteered as a counselor at the Family Care Center in Waterloo and enjoyed breeding and raising thoroughbred horses with her husband in Centralia. Visitation was Monday, Nov. 23, at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo with Pastor Will Hesterberg officiating. Mrs. Vogt was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Concord Presbyterian Church.
Eugene Courtney, 89, of Columbia, died on Nov. 22, 2009. He was born June 8, 1920, in Beulah Ky., the son of the late Eden and Mogale (Anderson) Courtney. Besides his parents, Mr. Courtney was preceded in death by his first wife, F. Estelle Courtney; daughter, LaDonna Courtney; son, Terry Courtney Sr.; two sons in infancy, Randall and Ronald Courtney; and a brother, Howard Courtney. He is survived by his second wife, Betty (Tilton) Skipper Courtney, whom he married in 1995 in St. Louis, Mo.; a daughter, Rhonda (Wayne Scott) Courtney; daughter-in-law, Patricia Courtney; son-in-law, Charles Harrison; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; along with other relatives and friends. Mr. Courtney served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Columbia and had retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was at First Baptist Church in Columbia with Pastor Jonathan Peters officiating. Mr. Courtney was buried at Beulah Baptist Cemetery following cremation. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society.
Curtis J. Heusohn, 31, of Valmeyer, died Nov. 27, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Nov. 30, 1977 in Red Bud, the son of John and Rebecca (nee Lloyd) Heusohn. In addition to his parents, Mr. Heusohn is survived by his children, Kailey and Cody Heusohn; brother, Mark (Beth) Heusohn; sister, Jamie Heusohn (fiance Michael Whelan); and a nephew, Marcus Heusohn; along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Alfred and Marie (nee Borcharding) Heusohn; maternal grandparents, George and Gloria (nee Mitweide) Lloyd; an uncle, James Heusohn; and cousin, Nick Heusohn. Mr. Heusohn was employed at Gateway FS, Kemper Landing. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Fritz officiating.
Gary Joseph Wessel, 55, of St. Louis, Mo., died Nov. 29, 2009 in Monroe County. He was born Nov. 17, 1954 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Joseph and Ida Mae (nee Walling) Wessel. Mr. Wessel is survived by his sisters, Mary Wessel of St. Louis, Mo., Juanita (David) Signaigo of Waterloo and Beverly (Tony) Rose of Elizabethtown, Ky.; along with nieces and nephews. Private services were held.
Thomas Patrick Brennan Jr., 48, of Waterloo, died Nov. 30, 2009, in St. Louis, Mo. He was born May 23, 1961 in East St. Louis, the son of Thomas and Rose Marie Brennan of O’Fallon. He married Catherine (nee Shields) Brennan in 1989. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Brennan is survived by his children, Alicia Brennan of Prairie du Rocher, Thomas P Brennan III of Hardeeville, SC, Tara (Mike) Menard of Jacksonville, Fla., Kayla (Josh) Boyer of Columbia and Jayna Brennan of Waterloo; brothers, Mike (Julia) Brennan of Collinsville and John (Doris) Brennan of Smithton; a sister, Kathleen (Julia) Brennan of Curringhan, Ky.; grandchildren Chelsea and Madison Blissenbach of Prairie du Rocher, Baunee Brennan and Thomas Brennan IV, both of Hardeeville, SC., Brice, Tyler, Devin and Dustin Menard of Jacksonville, Fla.; his mother -in-law, Charlotte Shields of Waterloo; along with nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Jay Brennan; and father-in-law, Cletus Shields. Mr. Brennan graduated from O’Fallon High School, loved his pet Venus, the outdoors, yard work and was a member of the American Pool League Association. Visitation was at DeFabio Funeral Home in Waterloo. Mr. Brennan was buried at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the University of Wisconsin Clinics and Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Otis Earl Ainsworth, 76, of Waterloo died Nov. 15, 2009 at his home surrounded by family. He was born Oct. 5, 1933 in Laurel, Miss. He married his wife Joan (nee Balzer) Ainsoworth in 1954 at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville. In addition to his wife, Mr. Ainsworth is survived by his sons John Ainsworth of Belleville, Jerome (Victoria) Ainsworth of Freeburg and Michael (Kris) Ainsworth of Belleville; a daughter, Mary (David) Baldree of Waterloo; grandchildren Zachary and Benjamin Ainsworth, Emily and Kiel Ainsworth, Amelia, Elizabeth and Alison Baldree; great-grandchildren Andrea Ainsworth and Kennadi Lanter; a half-sister, Imogene (Robert) King; half-brothers Rex Allen, Grady Wayne (Dyne) Ainsworth, Nobuko (Ray) Bassett and Morris (Odie Faye) Westbrook. Mr. Ainsworth served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carriers Bonhomme Richard and Kearsarge during the Korean War. He was awarded his high school diploma in 2007 from the superintendent of schools in Jones County, Miss. under a special program from the Veterans Administration. He was a retired diesel mechanic who was a member of International Association of Machinists Lodge 777. Mr. Ainsworth was an avid woodworker who was also a member of the Catholic Holy Family Society, American Legion Post 58 and Freedom Farm. Visitation was at the George Renner and Sons Funeral Home in Belleville. A funeral service was at St. Michael Catholic Church in Paderborn. Mr. Ainsworth was buried at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Michael D. Foster, 28, of Miami Beach, Fla., formerly of Columbia, died Dec. 1, 2009. He was born Aug. 3, 1981, in Kirkwood, Mo., the son of Monte and Nancy (Rick) Foster of Columbia. In addition to his parents, Mr. Foster is survived by his sisters, Nicole Foster of Chicago and Natalie (Nicholas) Smith of St. Louis, Mo.; great-grandmother Alma Glenn of Columbia; and grandparents William and Dorothy Rick of Waterloo; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by grandparents, John and Sylvia Foster Jr. He was employed as a carpenter for the Green Company and was a member of Carpenter's Local 72 in Miami, Fla. Visitation is Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, from 4 p.m. to 8 pm., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mr. Foster will be buried at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous.
Ray W. Smith, 64, of Marissa, formerly of Valmeyer, died Dec. 1, 2009 in Belleville. He was born Sept. 19, 1945, the son of the late Harley E. and Mary (nee Phalin) Smith. He is survived by his wife, Linda (nee Baker) Smith; and children, Linda Lopez, Angela Skiles, David Smith, Randy (Angela) Smith Sr., Shelly Smith; along with 12 grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and pet cat “Bud.” He was preceded in death by a grandson, brothers and a sister. He belonged to the Illinois Sheriff’s Association. Visitation and the funeral were at Quernheim. Mr. Smith was buried at the Beaucoup Cemetery in Nashville.
