Rosemary M. (Gelling) Absheer, 90, of Waterloo, died Oct. 8, 2011 at Canterbury Manor Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 23, 1921, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late William and Rose (Briedenbach) Gelling. She was married to Bert Franklin Absheer. He died in 1996. Mrs. Absheer is survived by her siblings June Craig of Waterloo, Patsy Field of St. Louis, Mo., Gail Dixon of Waterloo, Albert (Marty) Williams of Prairie du Rocher, Wayne (Peggy) Williams of Farmington, Mo., Kenneth (Sharon) Williams of Festus, Mo., Vicky (Darrell) Dixon of St. Louis, Mo., and Lana (Myron) Sutton of Waterloo; along with nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Jean Lewis, Jackie Bish and Violet Ford; and brothers, William Gelling and Edward Nathaniel Williams. Visitation is Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral will immediately follow with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Absheer will be buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.
David A. Buehler Sr., 61, of Valmeyer, died Oct. 11, 2011 in St. Louis, Mo. He was born Jan. 4, 1950, in St. Louis, the son of the late Louis Henry and Alama Clara (nee Metz) Buehler. Mr. Buehler is survived by his wife, Joan (Nee Norman) Buehler; children, Shannon (Scott) Snodgrass, David A. Buehler Jr. and Lance Lewis Buehler; step-son, Stanley Charles Clement; sisters Diane Ramey and Barbara Buehler; a brother, Paul (Delores) Buehler; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; along with aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by two brothers; and step-daughter Cynthia "Cindy" Clement. Mr. Buehler was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He retired from Gateway Western Railroad in East St. Louis and was a member of the Cahokia Masonic Lodge. Mr. Buehler enjoyed horseback riding and fishing. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements were handled by Quernheim Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Donna L. Wetzel, 65, of Columbia, died Oct. 13, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born Aug. 29, 1946, in Belleville, the daughter of the late Arnold and Leola (Saul) Moergen. She married Larry C. Wetzel in 1964 in Belleville. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Wetzel is survived by her sons, Todd (Christina) Wetzel and Scott Wetzel, both of East Carondelet; a daughter, Courtney (Ben) Frizzelle of Columbia; grandchildren, Zachary and Dylan Wetzel and Kendal Frizzelle; mother-in-law, Viola Wetzel of Columbia; and brother, Dan (Sharon) Moergen of Columbia. She was preceded in death by son, Joel Michael Wetzel. Donna was the former owner of Memory Lane Floral and Gifts in Columbia. She attended St. Paul UCC and was a member of the Columbia American Legion Post 581 Auxiliary. Visitation is Sunday, Oct. 16, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Monday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul UCC in Columbia with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mrs. Wetzel will be buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Mark W. Heidenreich, 20, of Columbia, died Oct. 14, 2011 as a result of an automobile accident on Route 3 in Cahokia. He was born May 11, 1991, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of John and Brenda (Coker) Heidenreich of Columbia. In addition to his parents, Mr. Heidenreich is survived by a sister, Laura (Adam Stumpf) Heidenreich of Columbia; and a brother, Matthew Heidenreich of Columbia; along with aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends. Private family services will be held. Lawlor Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Mr. Heidenreich will be buried at the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital For Children.
Herbert F. Bense, 90, of Columbia, died Oct. 15, 2011. He was born March 24, 1921, in Ruma, the son of the late Hermann and Theresia (Miller) Bense. He was married to the late Ida M. (Waller) Bense. Mr. Bense is survived by a niece, Sue Lewis of Columbia; brother, Edward J. Bense of Waterloo; and cousins, Roy (Bernice) Hensler, Sadro Wooley, W.A., Ray, Anita, Cliff, and Roy Bense; along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Mr. Bense served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was a member of the Dupo VFW Post 6368. Herbert was a retired heavy equipment operator with Union Electric. He attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. Visitation and funeral were at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia with Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. Mr. Bense was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church’s Building Fund.
Helen L. Gault, nee Crocker, 90, of Waterloo; died Oct. 16, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 16, 1921 in Caledonia, Mo., the daughter of the late Arnold Jesse and Pearl Josephine (nee Kitchell) Crocker. Mrs. Gault is survived by her daughter, Elaine (Charles) Hesse; grandchildren Sarah (Jamie) Gregson and Lisa (Jason) Niebruegge; great-grandchildren Charley Renee Gregson, Damon Gregson, Jesse Niebruegge and Lola Niebruegge; and a sister, Eileen Blankenship; along with a sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by a brother Clinton Crocker, and a grandson, Charles Hesse III. Mrs. Gault attended First Baptist Church in Waterloo. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and the Monroe County Home Extension. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at First Baptist Church in Waterloo with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Mrs. Gault was buried at the Burksville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Edward J. Harbaugh, 82, of New Athens, died Oct. 18, 2011 in Waterloo. She was born March 29, 1929 in Red Bud, the son of the late William and Elsa (nee Maurer) Harbaugh. Mr. Harbaugh is survived by his wife, Esther (nee Theobald) Harbaugh; children, Ken (Sandy) Harbaugh, Joe Harbaugh, Virginia "Ginger" (Gary) Alexander, Jim Harbaugh, Cheryl Harbaugh, Dave Harbaugh and Mike (Krista) Harbaugh; grandchildren Kurt, Jake, Hannah and Noah Harbaugh; and sisters Mary Krakowiecki and Alvera Raby; along with sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Karen Harbaugh (1975); and a brother, Raymond Harbaugh. Mr. Harbaugh served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne during the Korean War. He attended St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker where he participated in the Holy Name Society. Mr. Harbaugh was a lifelong farmer who served as a trustee for Prairie du Long Township and worked for Harbaugh Brothers Custom Butchering. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hecker with Father Von Deeker officiating. Mr. Harbaugh was buried in the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to masses at his church or to the Alzheimer's Association.
Shirley M. Eckert, nee Beasley, 71, of Columbia, died Oct. 22, 2011 at de Greeff Hospice House in Concord, Mo. She was born Jan. 2, 1940, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Earl and Verta (Schneider) Beasley-Nicoletti. She married Joyce "Willie" Eckert in 1960 in Columbia. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Eckert is survived by her sons, Steven (Leslie) Eckert of Columbia, Michael Eckert of Pawnee and Robert (Michelle) Eckert of Columbia; a sister, Jane Sommer of Edwardsville; and five grandchildren. Mrs. Eckert had been employed at the Columbia Unit 4 School District. She enjoyed sports of all kinds, professional as well as her grandchildren's games, and loved spending time with her Bunco and card club friends. Visitation is Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Eckert will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church of Columbia Building Fund or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Peggy Rippelmeyer, nee Nottmeier, 46, of Valmeyer, died Oct. 22, 2011 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born July 9, 1965 in Thief River Falls, Minn., the daughter of Paul and Diane Nottmeier. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Rippelmeyer is survived by her husband, Scott Rippelmeyer; children Jamie (Bryan) Schmitz and Nolan Rippelmeyer; sisters Debbie (Chuck) Floarke and Denise (Carl) Wuertz; her mother-in-law, Joyce Rippelmeyer; and sister-in-law, Karla Schultheis; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Nolan Rippelmeyer. Mrs. Rippelmeyer attended St. John UCC of Valmeyer. She was employed at Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. and Cabinet Ministry. Visitation is Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m., at St. John UCC in Valmeyer with Pastor David Riebeling officiating. Mrs. Rippelmeyer will be buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.
Leslie Lynn Meyer, nee Conway, 59, of Waterloo, died Oct. 23, 2011 in Red Bud. She was born Sept. 7, 1952 in St. Louis. Mrs. Meyer is survived by her husband, David Meyer; children Tamara Cecena and Jason Price; grandchildren Madison, Abby and Kady Cecena; father, Dearl (Wilma) Conway; and brother, Dennis (Shirley) Conway; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, Milblene Conway; and a sister in infancy. Mrs. Meyer attended St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tipton. She was a retired nurse at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Visitation is Monday, Oct. 24, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m., at the funeral home with Father John Kizhak officiating. Mrs. Meyer will be buried at the St. John UCC Cemetery in Valmeyer. Memorials may be made to Red Bud Regional Hospital or the Red Bud Nursing Home.
