Herbert Probst, 90, of Hecker, died May 5, 2008 in Red Bud. He was born Oct. 9, 1917 in Hecker to the late William and Bertha (nee Koerber) Probst. Survivors include stepchildren James (Theresa) Higgins, Steve (Alice) Higgins, John (Lisa) Russo, Anthony (Mary) Russo and Constance (James) Treiber; and brother William (Myrtle) Probst of Waterloo; along with numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Celestine (nee Neff) Probst; second wife, Mildred (nee Milster) Probst; daughter, Gail Ruhmann; and brothers Robert and Hugo Probst. He was the former owner of Probst Egg Co., and a member of Swansea Moose Lodge, Waterloo Senior Center and Red Bud Senior Center. Visitation was Tuesday, May 6, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was Wednesday, May 7, 10 a.m., at the funeral home, with Father Robert Gore officiating. Mr. Probst was buried at St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Hecker. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Marjorie Massie, 87, of Dupo, died May 2, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Jan. 12, 1921 in Scott City, Mo., the daughter of the late Gordon and Iva Estella, nee Jones, Tapp. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Henry Lee Massie; and brothers and sisters. Survivors include sons Charles (Karen) Massie and Gary (Sandy) Massie; daughter, Beverly (Mike) Pulcher; and grandchildren Robert Lee Massie, Paul Scott Massie, Matthew Massie, Keith Massie and Michele Hicks; along with 11 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, May 7, 9 a.m. to noon, at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. A funeral service followed at the funeral home with Rev. Paul Rose and Rev. Wayne Walborn officiating. Mrs. Massie is buried at Palmier Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Evangel Assembly of God Church in Columbia.
Brent Stayton, 48, of Red Bud died May 5, 2008, at Red Bud Regional Hospital after a two-year battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 18, 1959, on the family farm in Carlinville, the son of Dean and Helen Stayton. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree. In addition to his parents, he is survived by wife, Lois Stayton of Red Bud; daughters Ashley, Brooke (fiance Alex Bunte) and Morgan Stayton, all of Red Bud; grandmother, Mildred Mayes of Palmyra; brothers Brad (Cindy) Stayton and Baron (Suzanne) Stayton, both of Carlinville; nieces and nephews Derek, Dane, Damon, Megan, Drew and Jillian Stayton; and in-laws Peter and Joyce Olroyd of Carlinville; along with brothers-in-laws, uncles and aunts. He was preceded in death by grandfather Al Mayes; and uncles Henry Mayes and Jack Stayton. Visitation was Wednesday, May 7, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral was Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Red Bud with Rev. Dennis Morgan officiating. Graveside service was May 8, 4 p.m., at Charity Baptist Church Cemetery in Carlinville. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Red Bud Building Fund.
Ronald Hinton, 57, of Columbia, died May 9, 2008 at his residence. He was born Nov. 13, 1950 in Sparta, the son of the late Ralph Hinton and Dorothy, nee Poston, Hinton. In 1969 he married Margaret (Smolley) Hinton in Nashville, Ill. He was employed by Columbia Unit #4 School District. In addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by daughters Marla (Danny) Weihl and Tammi (Jim) Paxton, both of Columbia; and grandchildren Adam Weihl, Samantha Paxton and Karli Paxton; along with other relatives and friends. Visitation was Monday, May 12, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. A memorial service followed at Lawlor's with Fr. Carl Scherrer and Pastor Jon Peters officiating. Memorials may be made to BJC Hospice in Alton.
Gary J. Kleinschmidt, 56, of Millstadt died May 12, 2008 at his residence after a battle with cancer. He was born March 7, 1952 in Belleville, the son of the late Milton and Izora “Dude” (Rujawitz) Kleinschmidt. He married Ann (Limestall) Kleinschmidt in 1976. She survives him. Besides his wife, he is survived by his sons, Doc (Michelle) Kleinschmidt, and Tyler Kleinschmidt; sister, Sharon (Robert) Skaer of Millstadt; in-laws, Roy and Mae Limestall of Columbia; and brothers-in-law, Dennis (Nancy) Limestall of Schaumburg and Gary Limestall of Columbia; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Kleinschmidt was active with the Mon-Clair Baseball League and was the general manager of the Columbia Saints Baseball team. He was a retired grade school teacher for the Dupo Public School District. After his retirement, he returned to his great passion, growing vegetables on the family farm, cooking daily meals and eating together as a family. A funeral service was held at Kleinschmidt Ball Field, with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Memorials may be made to the Columbia Saints Baseball Team.
Howard Scott Lively, 99, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died May 15, 2008, at The Lutheran Home. He was born Sept. 6, 1908, in Murphysboro, the son of the late Connie and Alma Lively nee Bolby. He married the late Loretta Siebert in 1938; she preceded him in death in 1990. Mr. Lively is survived by his sons Gary Lively of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Donald Lively of Bloomingdale; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; and sister Wanda Waters of Percy. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and two brothers. Mr. Lively was a bank teller, a salesman for So-Good Potato Chip Co. in St. Louis, owned a chicken farm and a restaurant in St. Louis County, ran a dairy farm in Waterloo and was the former owner and operator of Cape Egg and Feed Co., in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation was at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home. A funeral was at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Rev. David Hulshof officiating. He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Olivia E. Deffenbaugh, 92, of Columbia, died May 16, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Dec. 17, 1915, in Millstadt, the daughter of the late Edward and Emma Mueller nee Remelius. She married the late Lester Deffenbaugh in 1940; he preceded her in death on Dec. 24, 2007. Mrs. Deffenbaugh is survived by her children Doris (David) Bound of Conway, Ark., Shirley (David) Asselmeier of Columbia, Carol (Ben) Bergmann of Columbia, and Charles (Kimberly) Deffenbaugh of Columbia; grandchildren Tod (Melissa) Bound, Cindy Pitts, David “Buzz” Asselmeier, Brian (Wendy) Bergmann, Christopher (Kristy) Bergmann, Leslie (Corey) Dickerson and Adam Deffenbaugh; 11 great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandchild Charles Asselmeier, and brothers Arthur Mueller and Edward Mueller. Visitation was at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, followed by a funeral, Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Lawlor Funeral Home handled the arrangements. She is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul UCC Elevator Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Doris Jean Phelps, 81, of Columbia, died May 16, 2008, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center. She was born Dec. 3, 1926, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Elmer and Ernestine Reichert nee Kellerman. She married William Phelps in 1946 in Columbia. Mrs. Phelps is survived by her husband; daughter Cindy Heldt of Columbia; granddaughter Sarah Heldt of Yellow Springs, Ohio; and brother William (Mary) Reichert of Altus, Ohio. Visitation and a funeral service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Jonathan Peters officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis.
Ruth Mae Gibson, 79, of Red Bud, died May 17, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Modoc, the daughter of the late George and Caroline Rudloff nee Roth. She married the late Charles Gibson in 1960; he preceded her in death in 1966. Mrs. Gibson is survived by her daughters Donna (Dale) Kirkley of Waterloo and Kathy Birke of Red Bud; and grandchildren Shannon (Ian) Birke, Scott (April) Kirkley, Alicia Kirkley and Nicole Chastain. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Corrine, Etta, Philomeana, Olivia, Lena, Elise, Bernice, Rosella, Taletha and Lorrine; brothers Gervase and Carol; and grandson Eric. Mrs. Gibson was a housekeeper who also worked as a janitor at Snyder General in Red Bud and a cook at the Clementine Residence in Red Bud. Visitation and funeral were at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud, Rev. Mark Nebel officiating. She was buried at St. Leo Catholic Cemetery in Modoc.
Sandra M. Akin nee Mathews, 46, of Waterloo, died May 18, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 19, 1961, the daughter of Dale Mathews of Waterloo and Delores Mathews nee Campbell of Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was married to Douglas Akin. Mrs. Akin is survived by her parents; husband; daughter Kailah Akin; brothers and sisters Linda (Keith) Lenox of St. Louis, Debbie (Jeff) Battin of Waterloo, Daniel Mathews of St. Louis, Dale Mathews of Waterloo and Mike Mathews of Waterloo; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother Robert D. “Odie” Mathews. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was at St. Augustine Church in Hecker, Fr. Robert Gore officiating. She is buried at St. Augustine Cemetery in Hecker.
