Paul Edward Julius, 81, of Dupo, died April 2, 2008, in Waterloo. He was born Feb. 8, 1927, in Dupo, the son of the late Herman and Mary Julius nee Maupin. Mr. Julius is survived by his brother Vernon Julius of Olympia, Wash.; sister Ruth Kohlenberger of Dupo; special friend Rita McLain of Dupo; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Margaret Brown. Mr. Julius was retired from Monsanto in Sauget. He was a charter member of VFW Post 6368 in Dupo. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II in the 511th Parachute Infantry Division.
Marguerite M. Heap, 94, of Red Bud, died April 4, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born June 24, 1913, in Smithton, the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Benedick nee Schanz. She married the late Edwin Heap in 1933; he preceded her in death in 2001. Mrs. Heap is survived by her nieces and nephews Curt (Betty) Benedick of Smithton, Gordon Benedick of Smithton, Jim (Joan) Woods of Smithton, Sharon Kaiser of Smithton, Dave (Jackie) Benedick of Ballwin, Mo., Charles Christian of St. Louis, Mary Scheurle of Overland, Mo., and Gary (Rosemarie) Fitzgerald of Millstadt. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Kate, Olivia, Olga, Irma, Anna and Lillian; and brothers Leroy, Walter and Wilbert. Mrs. Heap was a member of The United Church of Christ in Smithton and she was a homemaker. Visitation and a funeral service were at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud, Rev. Greg Doussard officiating. She is buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Red Bud Senior Citizen Club.
Vincent J. Bommarito Jr., 50, of Waterloo, died April 7, 2008, in Columbia. He was born June 21, 1957, in St. Louis, the son of Elsie Bommarito of Joliet and the late Vincent J. Bommarito Sr. He was married to Linda Bommarito nee Benne. Mr. Bommarito is survived by his wife; children Melissa (David) Allen of Waterloo, Stephanie Bommarito of Waterloo, Aaron Bommarito of Waterloo, and Ryan Bommarito of Waterloo; brother Salvatore (Arlene) Bommarito of Texas; sister Patricia (Paul) Norris of Naperville; father- and -mother-in-law Harold and Florence Benne of Waterloo; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents. Mr. Bommarito was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and United Auto Workers Local 136. Visitation and a funeral service were at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastor Tony Troup officiating. He is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo.
Katherine Mae "Kate" Koerber nee Wild, 74, of Waterloo, died April 7, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born May 6, 1933, in Belleville, the daughter of the late George and Margaret Wild nee Egger. She married Hubert G. Koerber Sr. in 1952; he preceded her in death in 1999. Mrs. Koerber is survived by her children Hubert (Christy) Koerber Jr. of Waterloo, Debbie (Tim) Sanson of Swansea, Kathy (Gary) Dahm of Swansea, and Linda (Don) Traiteur of Millstadt; grandchildren Jennifer (Shawn) Monnich of Canton, Douglas Sanson of Swansea, Pamela (Matthew) Patterson of Smithton, Thomas Dahm of Swansea, Donald Traiteur Jr. of Millstadt, Lauren Traiteur of Granite City, John Traiteur of Mt. Vernon, Katie Traiteur of Millstadt, Alyssa Koerber of Waterloo, Megan Koerber of Waterloo, Madison Koerber of Waterloo and Kiley Koerber of Waterloo; great-grandchildren Austin Monnich and Hayden Patterson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother George Wild. Mrs. Koerber was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Floraville. She was retired from Paddock Industries and was a member of Modern Woodmen of America. Visitation and a funeral service were at Creason Funeral Home in Millstadt, Rev. Matt Friz officiating. She is buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association or Heartland Hospice.
Alma Caroline Stechmesser nee Doerr, 93, of Columbia, died April 7, 2008, in Columbia. She was born April 27, 1914, in Columbia, the daughter of the late William and Lydia Doerr nee Brauch. She was married to the late Arnold Stechmesser; he preceded her in death in 1981. Mrs. Stechmesser is survived by her sons Glenn E. Stechmesser of Columbia, and Arnold E. (Donna) Stechmesser of St. Louis; grandchildren Scott (Kim) Stechmesser, Michael (Becky) Stechmesser, Nicole (Alan) Nolte, and Beth Seago; great-grandchildren Nate, Eli, Robert and Theo; siblings Dorothy Arras, Helen Pflueger, Kenneth E. Doerr, Eugene L. Doerr, George R. Doerr and Gary L. Doerr; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter Evelyn R. Stechmesser; brothers Edward Doerr, Raymond Doerr, Arthur Doerr and William Doerr; and sisters Bertha Schuchardt, Lydia Keim and Luella Spinks. Mrs. Stechmesser was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. She worked in the kitchen at the Columbia Gymnastic Association for many years. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service was at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia.
John W. Gossett, 75, of Columbia, died April 9, 2008, in Columbia. He was born Oct. 5, 1932, in Shawneetown, the son of the late John M. Gossett and the late Mildred Gossett Rampenthal nee Frields. He was married to Freda Gossett nee Sims. Mr. Gossett is survived by his wife; children Michael (Kim) Gossett of Fenton, Mo., Steven (Sharon) Gossett of Millstadt, Laurie (Wayne) Gummersheimer of Columbia, and Linda (Keith) Sanders of Waterloo; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers-in-law Thomas Hubbard of Belleville, and Ben (Doris) Sims of New Douglas; sister-in-law Wilma Vartanian of Belleville; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Carole Hubbard. Mr. Gossett was a member of American Legion Post 581. He was retired from Ethyl Petroleum in Sauget. Visitation is Sunday, April 13, at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Monday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m., at Lawlor. He will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Family Hospice of Belleville or the Columbia American Legion Park Endowment Fund.
Darrell Edwin Grohmann, 63, of Waterloo, died April 9, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 21, 1945, in Belleville, the son of the late William Arthur and Frieda Magdalena Grohmann nee Matzenbacher. He was married to Nancy Grohmann nee Haudrich. Mr. Grohmann is survived by his wife; children Ryan (Dawn) Grohmann of Waterloo and Renee Grohmann of Belleville; grandchildren Ashley, Aaron (his hunting buddy), Ande and Abby Grohmann; sisters Lucille Georg of Waterloo, and June (Earl) Espenschied of Freeburg; brothers- and sisters-in-law Dale (Kay) Haudrich of Waterloo, Janice Toenjes of Waterloo, Marilyn Haudrich of Hecker, and Norma Hahne of New Athens; uncle and aunt Edwin and Shannon Matzenbacher of Waterloo and Rose Matzenbacher of Red Bud; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Arlene Hahne, and brothers-in-law Willard Georg and Fred Hahne. Mr. Grohmann was a member of Hecker Sportsman Club, Hecker Community Center, and Monroe County Longbeards. He was employed at Columbia Quarry. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was at St. Augustine Church in Hecker, Fr. Robert Gore officiating. He was buried at St. Augustine Cemetery in Hecker. Memorials may be made to SS Peter and Paul School or the Violence Prevention Center.
Wanda Faye Buckman nee Bledsoe, 72, of Waterloo, died April 10, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 25, 1935, in Thebes, the daughter of the late Amos Franklin and Lucy Bledsoe nee Shaver. She was married to the late Charles Buckman. Mrs. Buckman is survived by her children Charles Buckman Jr., Teresa (Brian) Tucker, Pam (Glenn) Crook, Karl (Candace) Buckman, and Jason (Erica) Buckman; grandchildren Charles III and Katie Buckman, Nicholas and Lauren Tucker, Jesse and Curtis Crook, Zachary and Isaac Buckman, and Jenna and Andrew Buckman; sister Blanche (Winston) Wehmeyer; sisters-and -brothers-in-law J.C. and Geneva Buckman, and Virginia and Norman Elliot; along with nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brothers Frank, Roy and Lloyd Earl Bledsoe. Mrs. Buckman was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and Mary and Martha Society in Waterloo, and St. Mary's in Palmdale, Calif. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Aide, and the Historical Society in Thebes. Visitation is Friday, April 11, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Quernheim. Memorials may be made to Duke Hospice in Durham, N.C.
Frieda K. Steinmann nee Koch, 89, of Monroe City, died April 10, 2008, in Columbia. She was born March 3, 1919, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Gustav and Anna Koch nee Wernicker. She was married to the late Alvin "Guy" Steinmann. Mrs. Steinmann is survived by her children Patricia (LeRoy) Garleb of Valmeyer, Sandra J. (Ken) Hill of St. Louis, and Kenneth (Sandy) Steinmann of Waterloo; grandchildren Kim (Steve0 Chappuis, Kurt (Catie) Steinmann, Kerry (Robin) Steinmann, Karla Bivins (George Obernagel), Keith (Angela) Garleb, Kevin (Carol) Garleb, Brian (Susanne) Garleb, Christine Hill, and Katie (Christopher) McCracken; and sister Dorothy Woodcock of Waterloo. Mrs. Steinmann was a member of the Waterloo Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and was past secretary of Monroe City Cemetery. Visitation is Saturday, April 12, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Quernheim, Aaron Luecking officiating. She will be buried at Monroe City Cemetery in Monroe City. Memorials may be made to Waterloo Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Ruth F. Vogt nee Berry, 84, of Waterloo, died April 11, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born May 15, 1923, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Charles and Freida Berry nee Cissell. She was married to the late Erwin R. Vogt. Mrs. Vogt is survived by her daughter Susan Ward and granddaughters Katie DeBonis and Beth DeBonis; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Mrs. Vogt was a former member of Monroe County Home Extension. Visitation is Tuesday, April 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. at Quernheim, Pastor Matt Friz officiating. She will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Gibault Catholic High School.
