John Suttles
Decatur
John Stewart Suttles, 19, of Decatur, died in a swimming accident at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (June 14, 2001) in Lake Decatur.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 in the Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville. The Rev. Dan Eloe will officiate. Private family visitation will be held on Monday. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville. Memorials can be made to the John Stewart Suttles. Memorials Fund at any Union Planters Bank.
John was born Feb. 15, 1982 in Ypsitanti, Mich., the son of James and Patricia Johnson Suttles.
Surviving are his parents of Decatur; sisters, Tonya Cloud of Norfolk, MO and Amanda Suttles of Decatur; grandparents, Rose Hunter and husband John of Milton, Ind. and Irene Johnson of Ypsilanti, MI; nieces nephews; and cousins.
He worked in his father's home repair business, was a Futures Student and loved to fish.
Jessie Groves
Windsor
Jessie L. Groves, 93, of Windsor died at 5 a.m. Sunday (June 17, 2001) in Mattoon Health Care Center.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor, with the Rev. Richard Eident officiating. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Ash Grove Cemetery, Windsor. Memorials can be made to the Windsor Christian Church.
She was born April 29, 1908, in Neoga, the daughter of Pearl and Susie Rockwell Plummer. She married Chester Groves July 4, 1937, in Mattoon. Mrs. Groves assisted her husband in his ministries of the Christian churches in Mason, Latonia, Elkville, Patoka, West Salem, Marshall, Toledo, Jerseyville, Griffin, Ind., and Marshall Avenue Church in Mattoon. He preceded her in death in August 1984.
Surviving are her daughter, Clara Jane Bell and husband Bob of Windsor; grandchildren, Terry Bell and wife Diane of Windsor; Barry Bell and wife Toni of Windsor; Sherry Finley and husband Jeff of Charleston; great-grandchildren, April Bell, Robin Bell, Regan Finley, Devan Finley, and Katie Bell.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
She was a member of Windsor Christian Church and Ladies Aid of the church, Senior Bowling League, Effingham, and was a volunteer and key lady at Heartland Christian Village, Neoga.
Wendell Specht
Cowden
Wendell H. Specht, 85, of Cowden died 3:30 a.m. Saturday (June 16, 2001) in Shelbyville Manor.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in Mound Cemetery, Cowden. Visitation will be one hour before services in Lockart & Sons Funeral Home, Cowden. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Mr. Specht was born Sept. 2, 1915, in Shelby County, the son of John and Vella Christy Specht.
Surviving are his daughter-in-law, Barbara Harris of Cowden; granddaughters, Courtney Doty of Shelbyville and Karissa Specht of Cowden; sisters, Frieda Rieger of Rialto, Calif.; Lorene Roadarmel Cowden.
He was preceded in death by three wives, one son, and one sister.
He retired from Oliver Corp. in Shelbyville after 20 years and later retired from Norge-Fedders Corp. in Effingham.
Wilda Boos
Shelbyville
Wilda Boos, 92, of Fairfield, Iowa, died Sunday a.m. (June 17, 2001) in Nelson Nursing Home in Fairfield, Iowa.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Lutheran Church in Fairfield. Visitation from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tuesday in Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield. Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church in Fairfield.
Wilda Ogden was born on Aug. 13, 1908 in Jefferson Co., Iowa, where she lived, all of her life. She married Harry Boos in 1929 and was married 57 years until his death in 1987.
Among survivors are daughter, Eleanor Gaunt and husband Roy of Shelbyville; grandson, Bryce Gaunt and wife Becky and their son Davis of Phenix City, Ala. and grandson, Bruce Gaunt and wife Shanda and their daughter Evelyn of Round Lake Beach, IL.
She was an active member in the First Lutheran Church of Fairfield, where she was in the women's group and was a Bible Study leader until recent years.
Harry Burgener
Moweaqua
Harry Wooters Burgener, 83, of Moweaqua died 5 a.m. Monday (June 18, 2001) in his home.
Services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in Little Flock Baptist Church, Moweaqua, with the Rev. Wayne London and Father Robert Porter officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Seitz Funeral Home, Moweaqua, and one hour before services in the church. Burial will be in Little Flock Cemetery, Moweaqua, with military rites by Moweaqua American Legion Post 370. Memorials can be made to the Little Flock Baptist Church or St. John's Hospice.
Mr. Burgener was born Feb. 11, 1918, in Moweaqua, the son of Fred 0. and Lenoa Wooters Burgener. He married Mary Kay Porter March 5, 1946, in Decatur. She survives.
Also surviving are sons, David E. of Longview, Texas; Haldon W. and wife Janet of Assumption; Gerald W. and wife Sherri of Litchfield; Frederick J. and wife Sue of Moweaqua; daughter, Elizabeth A. Patton and husband Jerry of Mahomet; grandchildren, Jenny Peterocelli of Mokena; Amy Burgener, of Davies, Fla.; Lisa Dorman of Mokena; Matt Burgener of Moweaqua; Josh Burgener of Assumption; Melissa Poland of Maroa; Nick Burgener of Moweaqua; Alex and Katie Patton, both of Mahomet, Jericka Burgener of Litchfield; step-grandchild, Shaun Wilkins of Birch Tree, Mo.; five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.
He was a life member of Little Flock Baptist Church and was a grain and livestock farmer. He was past president of Moweaqua School Board and Federal Land Bank. He was also a World War II veteran serving as a staff sergeant in the European and Alaskan Theatres.
Earl Phelps
Shelbyville
Earl E. "Gene" Phelps, 72, of Shelbyville died at 12 p.m. Monday (June 18, 2001) in St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Lockart & Son Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville with military rites by VFW Post 4829, Shelbyville. Memorials can be made to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association.
He was born Aug. 30, 1928 in Shelbyville, the son of Luther and Bertha Spracklen Phelps. He married Barbara Woods April 30, 1955 in Shelbyville. She survives.
Also surviving are daughters, Jeanne Coventry of Herrick, Kathy Isley and husband Dennis of Shelbyville, Vicki Phelps of Milwaukee, Wis., and Terri Phelps of Shelbyville; son, Russell Phelps and wife, Diana of Reno, NV.; sisters, Betty Stephens and Irma Atkinson both of Shelbyville; brothers, Charles Phelps of Shelbyville, Herb Phelps and wife Ruby of Shelbyville, Adrian Phelps and wife Owen of Mattoon; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Cecil and Alan and son-in-law, John Coventry.
Mr. Phelps first managed Route 16 Mobil Service Station in Shelbyville and worked for Connelly's Lumber Co. in Shelbyville. He was an over the road truck driver for the McBride Trucking Co. in Decatur and Mattoon for 30 years. And since 1983 has worked for the Lockart & Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
He was a member of the Teamsters and served in the U S. Navy Sea Bees in Alaska, Philippines, and Guam.
Amelia Weddle
Pana
Amelia "Millie" Weddle, 93, Pana, died Monday (June 18, 2001) in Heritage Manor.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home, Pana. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with Eastern Star service at 8 p.m. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Pana.
She was born Aug. 2, 1907 in Pana, the daughter of Adolf and Ida Herchel Alde, deceased. She married Kirk Weddle June 23, 1928 in Pana He died March 13,1983.
Surviving are son, Gene of Pana; daughter, Joyce Griffin of Pana; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and five sisters.
She was a homemaker and a member of the St. John's United Church of Christ, Pana, Arcana Chapter Order of Eastern Star.
Kenneth Knop
Stewardson
Kenneth Knop, 75, Stewardson, died Tuesday (June 19, 2001) in Lynncrest Manor in Effingham.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. June 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stewardson. Burial will be in Stewardson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 - 8 p.m. June 21 at Stewardson High School gymnasium. Memorials can be made to Stewardson Cemetery, Lynncrest Manor in Effingham and the Ken Knop Baseball Scholarship Fund.
He was born Feb. 22, 1926, the son of Fred and Estella (Oltmann) Knop. He married Grace (Spannagel) Knop June 7, 1953.
Surviving are sons, Kevin and Kyle Knop; daughters Glenda Burgh, Kenna Wirth, Kimberly Webb; brothers, James Knop; sisters, Betty Albrecht, Lucille Best, and Carol Selfslaughs; 10 grandchildren; and 4 step-grandchildren.
Mr. Knop was a school teacher in Breese from 1950-1952. He taught and coached in Stew-Stras school from 1952-1982. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church Stewardson, Strasburg Lions Club, American Legion Post 611, Stewardson Historical Museum, the AARP/NRTA & Shelby County, Retired Teachers. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946.
Martha Blair
Stewardson
Martha Evelyn Blair, 73, of Stewardson, died at 11:05 p.m. Sunday (June 24, 2001) in Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur.
Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday June 27 in Stewardson Cemetery. The Rev. Andrew Procell will officiate. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday in Lockart and Sons Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Memorials can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church of Shumway.
Mrs. Blair was born Dec. 15, 1927 in Effingham Co. the daughter of John and Mary Beals Carroll. She married Gerald Blair. He preceded her in death in 1989.
Surviving are sons, Ed Friese of Mode, David Friese of Stewardson and Michael Blair of Shelbyville; sister, Lois Kyle of Effingham; four grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one son Danny, five brothers, and two sisters.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Shumway.
