Loretta Mae Rapp Thien, 80, of Columbia, died June 9, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born April 24, 1928, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Julius Rapp and the late Margaret Mary Rapp nee Ampleman. She married the late Willis Thien in 1969; he preceded her in death in 2003. Mrs. Thien is survived by her siblings Dolores Ann Rapp ASC of Ruma, Virginia (Howard) Bjornson of Highland, Joseph Vincent (Jo Ann) Rapp of Hillsboro, and Robert Leonard (Donna) Rapp of Pocahontas; along with 18 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister Margaret Mary Rapp. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She is buried at the Old St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Immaculate Conception Church in Columbia.
Winona Timmons, 82, died June 6, 2008. She was born Aug. 31, 1925, in Marceline, Mo., the daughter of the late Charles Riley and the late Rowena Davis. She married the late John Timmons Jr. in 1979; he preceded her in death in 1997. Mrs. Timmons is survived by her children James (Brenda) Knox of Dupo, George Knox of Columbia, Sharon (Larry) Hosick of Columbia, and Marsha Hansen of Mundelein; step-daughter Bonnie (Doug) Gerken of Holgat, Ohio; 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; dear friend Rosella Hosick of Columbia; brothers Roy (Stephanie) Riley of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Bob (Dottie) Riley of Booneville, Ark., and Richard Wilcox of Booneville, Ark; and her friends at the Valmeyer Senior Complex. Mrs. Timmons was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter Betty Jo Knox, and eight brothers and sisters. Visitation and a memorial were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Jonathan Peters officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Mary Arras, 63, of Dupo, died June 9, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born April 8, 1945, in East Carondelet, the daughter of the late John Arras and Lillian Arras nee Schnell. She has been married to Lawrence Thurman for 18 years. Mrs. Arras is survived by her husband; son Dennis (Jessica) Dixon of Grand Rapids, Mich.; grandchildren Noah R. Dixon, Rylan C. Dixon, and Makenna L. Dixon; brother Jude (Dixie) Arras of East Carondelet; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Joel Arras, Ezra Arras and John Arras; and sister Ruth Collins. Visitation and a funeral service were at DeFabio Funeral Home.
Charles V. Piotraschke, 60, of St. Louis, died June 12, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Oct. 30, 1947, in St. Louis, the son of Alice Rapp nee Wendel of Waterloo and the late Virgil Piotraschke. Mr. Piotraschke is survived by his mother; sister Adele Lewis of Waterloo; brother Lawrence Piotraschke of Nashville; and nieces Jennifer (Mark) Omohundro and Kellie Lewis. She was preceded in death by his step-father Valentine “Rudy” Rapp. There will be no services.
Louise A. Kohnz nee Koening, 87, of Waterloo, died June 13, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Jan. 18, 1921, in Schnaittach, Germany, the daughter of the late Johann and Anna Koenig nee Loos. Mrs. Kohnz is survived by her children Gerald (Deborah) Linker of Bethalto, Deborah (Phillip) Lamm of Granite City, Jackie Paul) Hoffmann of Fults, and Jenny (Kevin) Candler of Waterloo; grandchildren Larry Brown, Jason Linker, Scott (Melissa) Linker, Amy Lamm, Matt (Laura) Hoffmann, Robin Hoffmann, Leslie Hoffmann, Kyle Hoffmann and Kendall Candler; great-grandchildren Kathryn Brown and Rylie Linker; sister-in-law Reta Koenig of Altdorf, Germany; and niece Anna Marie Fischer of Altdorf. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Jerome B. “Jerry Linker, who preceded her in death in 1972; second husband Floyd. A. Kohnz, who preceded her in death in 2007; and twin brother Walter Koenig. Mr. Koenig was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was also a member of St. Clement’s Hospital Auxiliary. She came to Valmeyer from Germany in 1948 after World War II. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service was at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastor Tony Troup officiating. She is buried at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Deborah A. Langston nee Toenjes, 44, of Waterloo, died June 15, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Aug. 12, 1963, in Ted Bud, the daughter of John (Diann) Toenjes. She was married to James Langston. Mrs. Langston is survived by her parents; husband; children Jennifer Langston and Jared Langston; brother Michael (Karen) Toenjes; and sister Lisa Becker; along with a step-brother, step-sister, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Fr. Don Blaes officiating. She is buried at SS. Pete rand Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the family.
Lorena Philomena Steele, nee Brucker,93, of Dupo died June 18 at Dupo. She was born Sept. 23, 1914 on a farm near Perkins, Mo. Lorena worked as a seamstress in St. Louis. Until attending public school, she spoke only German. She attended Oran High School where she played girls' basketball. She was active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo and was a former president of the mother's club at Sacred Heart School. She loved sports and organized softball games during the summer when her children were young. Lorena was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Wilson Steele, whom she married in 1938; her parents, Martin and Anna (nee Bettea) Brucker; sisters Bert and Alma; and brothers Albert and Raymond. Survivors include her children, Ron, Sandy and Gary; grandchildren Chris, Cindy, Paula, Josh, Warren, Timmy, Scott, Shaun, Beck and Michael; and great-grandchildren Scott, Lauren, Jamie, Jerrod, Katherine, Bruce, Wendy, Kaylee, Brianna, Shaun, Christopher, Cody, Emily, Calib, Gabriel, Leanna and Landan; along with other relatives and friends. Visitation was at the Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. A funeral mass was celebrated Saturday, June 21 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Father Paul Wienhoff officiating. Burial was at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville. Memorials may be made to Hurlers Disease.
Frank M. Englerth, 91, of Waterloo, died June 19, 2008, in Waterloo. He was born June 28, 1916, in Smithton, the son of the late Albert and Barbara Englerth nee Karban. He was married to the late Viola L. Englerth nee Einwich. Mr. Englerth is survived by his children Dorothy (Ronald) Hofstetter of Columbia, and Allan (Paulette) Englerth of Valmeyer; grandchildren Jeff Englerth, Jennifer (Brad) Whelan, Jamie (William) Riechmann, and Scott (Lynda) Hofstetter; great-grandchildren Cole, Emily, Laurie, Courtney and Evan; sister Josephine Rieso; sister-in-law Leona Englerth; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Mary Becherer, and brothers Clarence Englert and William Englerth. Mr. Englerth was a member of the Monroe County Farm Bureau. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral was at Quernheim, Pastor Kenneth Knobloch officiating. He was buried at Waterloo Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Monroe County Farm Bureau or Oak Hill.
Victoria (Guebert) Schrader, 84, of Columbia, died June 21, 2008. She was born May 16, 1924, in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Victor and Ruth (Schuette) Guebert. She was married to Clifford Schrader in 1947. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Susan (Rick) Stemler of Columbia; brother, Richard (Twila) Guebert of Red Bud; and sister, Suzanne Fred of Salem; along with other relatives and friends. She was retired teacher from the Millstadt Consolidated School District. She was a member of the Monroe County Retired Teachers Association, Columbia Women's Club, Friends of the Library and St. Paul Lutheran Church of Columbia. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral service was Wednesday, June 25, 11 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mrs. Schrader was buried at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church's Lutheran Building Fund or Hand Bell Fund, or the Columbia Public Library.
Oliver Ratz Jr., 84, of Red Bud, died June 23, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Sept. 7, 1923 in Red Bud to the late Oliver and Olga (nee Schrieber) Ratz. He owned and operated Ratz Motors in Red Bud for 34 years. He married Lois Jane Ackermann in 1948 at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Bud. In addition to his wife, Mr. Ratz is survived by children William (Julie) Ratz and Carolyn (Richard) Cooper, both of Red Bud; and grandchildren James Ratz, Angela Cooper, Jonathan Ratz and Rebecca Cooper; along with cousins and friends. Mr. Ratz was a Air Force veteran of World War II, was the mayor of Red Bud from 1953 to 1957, a past chairman at St. John Lutheran Church of Red Bud, a member of the church's Men's Club and the Red Bud American Legion, a former member of the National Auto Dealers Association, former Red Bud Park Board and Chamber of Commerce member and served on the board of First National Bank and First State Bank of Red Bud. He received the Red Bud Chamber of Commerce Citizen of Achievement Award in 1988. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was at St. John Lutheran Church, with Rev. Russell Koen officiating. He was buried at the church's cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church.
