James Joseph Johnston Sr., 64, of Millstadt, died Feb. 17, 2014 at Belleville Care and Rehab. He was born, June 29, 1949 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Robert Everette and Mildred Rose (nee Slezak) Johnston. Mr. Johnston is survived by his wife, Patsy (nee Joseph) Johnston; sons, Jim (Beth) Johnston and Shawn Johnston; a daughter, Robin (David) Easton; grandchildren, Katie and Joey Johnston; and brothers, Robert (LuAnn) Johnston, Ricky (Kim) Johnston and Mike (Chong) Johnston; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Cynthia Johnston and Shirley Davis; and a nephew, Dwayne “Bubba” Johnston. Mr. Johnston was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a retired autoworker with 30 years of service at General Motors. He enjoyed fishing, model railroading and camping. A celebration of life was at the Floraville Grange. Memorials may be made to the family to assist with medical expenses.
Marie L. Baldridge, nee Hofstetter, 93, of Dupo, died Jan. 18, 2014 at Columbia Rehab and Nursing. She was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Dupo, the daughter of the late Herman and Freida (nee LePere) Hofstetter. Mrs. Baldridge is survived by her children, Kenneth Baldridge, David (Paula) Baldridge, Dennis (Marianna) Baldridge, Gary (Linda) Baldridge, Richard (Doris) Baldridge, Susan Link, Bob (Dana) Baldridge and Debbie Baldridge; and daughter-in-law, Catherine Baldridge; along with grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Baldridge; her son, Raymond Baldridge; and grandson, Michael Baldridge. Marie was a homemaker and attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Columbia. Visitation and funeral were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo with Rev. Matt Friz officiating. Mrs. Baldridge was buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice.
Edward S. Reiss, 78, of Waterloo, died Jan. 19, 2014, in Red Bud. He was born April 16, 1935 in Chicago, the son of the late Martin Harold and Sylvia (nee Shure) Reiss. Mr. Reiss is survived by his wife of 49 years, Vivian (nee Volkmann) Reiss; a son, Phillip (Antonia) Reiss; and a sister, Natalie Rosner; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Solomon Rosner. Mr. Reiss was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He played on the St. Louis Cardinals AAA baseball team in the late 1950s, and later worked as the business manager for the Pensacola, Fla., Senators. Mr. Reiss was employed as a postman in Chicago and Beverly Hills, Calif. He enjoyed telling stories of meeting actors Charlton Heston and Cyd Charisse. Edward was later employed as an electrical components draftsman and purchaser, designing printed circuit boards for early computer hard disk drives. He retired to Waterloo and worked at Rural King. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Jeffrey H. Guebert, 44, of Red Bud, died Jan. 20, 2014, in a farming accident in rural Prairie. He was born April 10, 1969, in Red Bud, the son of Harlin and Shirley (nee Melchers) Guebert. In addition to his parents, Mr. Guebert is survived by his wife, Teresa (Hooten); children, Hope and Jacob Guebert; a brother, Troy (Toni) Guebert; sister, Lara (Tony) Vause; and mother-in-law and father in law, Robert and Betty Hooten; along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mr. Guebert was a farmer and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Visitation and funeral were at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Steven McDougall officiating. Mr. Guebert was buried at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
Patricia L. Vogt, nee Matejka, 77, of Valmeyer, died Jan. 21, 2014, in St. Louis. She was born June 30, 1936, in Springfield, the daughter of the late Vincent and Agnes (nee Senalik) Matejka. Mrs. Vogt is survived by her husband of 58 years, Charles Vogt; children, Tim Vogt, Karen Vogt and Kathleen (Jim) Graves; grandchildren, Rebeccah, Jamie, Charles, Katrina and Anna Grace; a great-grandchild, Emily; brothers, Vincent (Jeanne) Matejka and James (Carol) Matejka; and an uncle, Leon Matejka; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her daughters Cynthia Vogt and Theresa Vogt (in infancy). Mrs. Vogt graduated from Lanphier High School in Springfield. She attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Valmeyer. Patricia was a member of TOPS and the Red Bud Senior Circle. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating.
Esther Allgire, nee Mar-quardt, 86, of Valmeyer, died Jan. 26, 2014 in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 22, 1927 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Kilian and Rose (nee Welzbacher) Marquardt. Mrs. Allgire is survived by her children, Barbara (Mike) Belosi, Elaine (Dennis) Knobloch and Rodney Allgire; grandchildren, Matt (Stacy) Belosi, Melissa (Brad) Beenders, Brian (Sara) Knobloch, Greg (Jaclyn) Knobloch and Andrea (Corey) Blackwell; great-grandchildren, Will, Anna, Molly, Sawyer, Tess, Christian, Joshua, Caleb, Graham, Lucas and Matthew; and sisters, Roseann Duffy, Theresa Keim and Shirley Langsdorf; along with sisters-in-law, niece, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by husband Earl F. Allgire; and a brother Clarence Marquardt. Mrs. Allgire attended St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer and was a member of the Valmeyer Senior Citizens. She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, quilting and fishing. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Mary Catholic Church in Valmeyer with Father Urban Osuji officiating. Mrs. Allgire was buried at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to her church or to the Oak Hill Activity Fund.
Marguerite Ann Martha Brandt, nee Thiele, 85, of Waterloo, died Jan. 30, 2014, in Waterloo. She was born Sept. 22, 1928 in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late William H. Thiele and Maria (nee Schwing) Kinney. Mrs. Brandt is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert Brandt; a daughter, Sonja (Jerry) Giffhorn; a grandson, Neil (Rachel) Giffhorn; a great-granddaughter, Josephine Marguerite "Josie" Giffhorn; and siblings Dorothy Brandt, Ray (Gladys) Thiele and Lee Kinney; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. John UCC in Maeystown with Pastor Patrick Poole officiating. Mrs. Brandt was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. John UCC of Maeystown or the St. Louis Society For The Blind.
Ruth E. Rippelmeyer, 93, of Waterloo, died Jan. 31, 2014. She was born Sept. 20, 1920 in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Charles and Dorthea (nee Nobbe) Rippelmeyer. Ruth is survived by her sister-in-law Kathleen Rippelmeyer; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by sisters, Helen (Arthur) Richter, Clara Rippelmeyer and Dorthy (Glenn) Prange; and her brother Carl Rippelmeyer. Ms. Rippelmeyer attended Immanuel Lutheran Church of Waterloo and was a member of the Peterstown House. Visitation and funeral were at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Tony Troup officiating. Ms. Rippelmeyer was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church.
Leland Nottmeier, 74, formerly of Waterloo, died Jan. 29, 2014. He was born Sept. 28, 1939 in Monroe County, the son of the late Armin and Bertha (nee Haltenhof) Nottmeier. Mr. Nottmeier was preceded n death by his wife, Patsy. He is survived by his siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tonya Kirchner, 41, nee Kruse, of St. Louis died Jan. 1, 2014. She was born June 15, 1972, in Belleville. Mrs. Kirchner is survived by her daughter, Haley Lauren Kirchner of Columbia; father and step-mother, Richard and Rita Kruse of Columbia; her mother, Carol Sager of Ava; step-father, Herman (Debbie) Mason of Dupo; and siblings, Michael Kruse of Columbia, Kim Kruse of Columbia, Brian Mason of Ava and Matthew Mason of Cahokia. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Walter and Dolores Kruse and Lester and Jessie Sager. Mrs. Kirchner was a flight nurse for ARCH Air Medical Service in St. Louis. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Haley Kirchner Trust Fund.
