Verda Barnett, 82, of Columbia, died March 11, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 3, 1925, in Ville Platte, La., the daughter of the late O’Neal and Celeste Fontenot nee Audroin. She was married to the late Nathan “Barney” Barnett. Mrs. Barnett is survived by her son Gary (Pattie) Heath of Millstadt; daughter-in-law Sherry Heath of Columbia; grandson James Heath of Columbia; brothers Ement (Aleda) Fontenot of Ville Platte, La., and Allen (Jennie) Fontenot of Houston, Tex.; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son James Heath, brothers Boco Fontenot and Calvin Fontenot, and sister Wovley Andrus. Mrs. Barnett was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Paderborn. She was also a member of Women of the Moose of Cahokia. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A cremation followed. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Ruth Virginia Weinel nee Love, 88, of Columbia, died March 11, 2008, at her residence. She was born Sept. 18, 1919, in Dupo, the daughter of the late James Olin Love and the late Rose Ann Love nee Wise. She married Art Weinel in 1941. Mrs. Weinel is survived by her husband; son Jim (Solveig) Weinel of Greensboro, N.C.; daughter Joan Love Gibbs of Columbia; sister-in-law Edna Dell Weinel of Columbia; along with other relatives and friends. Mrs. Weinel was a member of Columbia Women’s Club and The Gray Ladies. She was a most outstanding wife and mother, and was “one in a million” to those who knew her, maintaining her sense of humor to the end. Visitation and a memorial service were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Rev. William Groennert officiating. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Esther Katherine Illert nee Lepinsky, 93, of Columbia, formerly of Dupo, died March 12, 2008, in Columbia. She was born Jan. 2, 1915, in Columbia, the daughter of John and Bertha Lepinsky nee Toenjes. She was married to the late Phillip J. “Bobby” Illert. Mrs. Illert is survived by her foster sister Helen Mae Shea; foster brother Jim (Joan) Zoeller; foster sister-in-law Rita Zoeller; nieces and nephew Viola Frank, Helen Reichert, Vera Randle, Betty Smith and Roy E. Illert; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, foster brother Sylvester “Pete” Zoeller, and nephew F.W. Vogel. Mrs. Illert was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo. She worked at Dupo High School in the cafeteria and as a secretary for Illert Brothers Distributing, and she operated Esther’s Gift Shop in Dupo. She was a member of VFW Post 6368 Ladies Auxiliary in Dupo. Visitation was at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. A funeral Mass was at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fr. Paul Wienhoff officiating. She is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dupo.
Harry B. Whelan Jr., 84, of Millstadt, died March 12, 2008, in Belleville. He was born Sept. 9, 1923, in Sparta, the son of Harry B. Sr. and Pauline Whelan nee Brenke. He married Linda Whelan nee Crain in 1976. Mr. Whelan is survived by his wife; mother-in-law Margie Crain; brother- and sister-in-law Homer and Betty Duncan; along with many nieces and nephews and their husbands and wives, grand-nieces and –nephews, great-grand-nieces and –nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother William Whelan; sisters Frieda Klein and Louise Westhoff; father-in-law James E. Crain; and beloved dog Skoal. Mr. Whelan worked for his uncle’s accounting firm in Connersville, Ind., owned and operated a market on Bond Ave. in Centreville, and operated the Maytag Launderette at 40th and Waverly in East St. Louis. He was a trust officer for St. Louis Union Trust Co. – Boatman’s Bank in St. Louis. For many years he served as the accountant for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Centreville and was the accountant and trustee for St. Catherine Laboure in Cahokia. He earned degrees from Yale University, Washington University and St. Louis University. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II as a second lieutenant. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. A funeral Mass was at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Fr. Marvin Volk officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made in the form of Masses.
Ethel M. Offermann nee Braun, 83, of Columbia, died March 13, 2006, in Waterloo. She was born Nov. 16, 1924, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late John and Amanda Braun nee Fischer. She was married to the late Gilbert Offermann. Mrs. Offermann is survived by her children Gwen (Tom) Borsch of O’Fallon, Eric (Linda) Offermann of Fults, Gale (Steve) Dias of Columbia, and Roger (Jennifer) Offermann of Topeka, Kan.; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister Edna (Ed) Guessfeld of St. Charles, Mo.; along with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Gary Offermann, sisters Norma Roediger and Helen Kremmel, and brother Joseph Braun. Mrs. Offermann was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral service was held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Opal J. Winchester nee Miller, 66, of Waterloo, died March 13, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Feb. 8, 1942, in Pinckneyville, the daughter of the late Sylvester and Harline Miller nee Wynn. She was married to Jeffrey Winchester. Mrs. Winchester is survived by her husband; children Gwendolyn (Louis Bollman) Marlow of St. Louis, Kristina Marlow of Waterloo, and Regina (Larry) Wetzler of Waterloo; grandchildren Andrew Wetzler and Brad Wetzler; sister Ginger Marlow of Pinckneyville; brother Doug Marlow of Tamaroa; along with niece, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents Leona and Layman Wynn. Mrs. Winchester was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. She was a friend of animals and plants and was a member of the Missouri Botanical Society. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home. She is buried at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.
Shirley Mae Capps-Session nee Vincent, 79, of East Carondelet, died March 14, 2008, at her residence. She was born June 28, 1928, in Carbondale, the daughter of the late Shirley Vincent and the late Mae Fellner nee Sanders. She was married to the late Robert Capps. Ms. Capps-Session is survived by her children David Capps of Belgrade, Mo., Jerry (Gloria) Capps of Arcata, Calif., George (Ann) Capps of Paris, France, Patrick (Patty) Capps of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Mariellen (Richard) Wagner of Burke, Va.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Howard Sutton; along with relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, husband, and sisters Jane Sutton and June Cundiff. Ms. Capps-Session worked at Stofers Hotel in St. Louis as a banquet schedule manager for more than 20 years. Visitation and a funeral service were at Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home, Rev. Matt Friz officiating. She is buried at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Cedar Hill, Mo. Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America or Shriners of North America.
William C. Doerr, 89, of Columbia, died March 14, 2008, in Belleville. He was born Oct. 29, 1918, in Monroe County, the son of the late William C. Doerr and Lydia Doerr nee Brauch. He married Genevieve Doerr nee Grahlherr in 1943. Mr. Doerr is survived by his wife; daughters Geraldine (Ronald J.) Schilling of Waterloo, Cheryl (Glenn) Grayson of East Carondelet, Sandra Doerr of Columbia, and Susan (tom) Fohne of Columbia; grandchildren Donna (Mike) Olson, Diane Schilling, Daniel (Kelly) Schilling, Darryl (Laura) Schilling, Kevin Grayson, Matthew Grayson, Troy (Larine) Fohne, and Blake Fohne; eight great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Alma Stechmesser, Dorothy Arras, Helen Pflueger, Kenneth Doerr, George Doerr and Gary Doerr; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Edward Doerr, Raymond Doerr and Arthur Doerr; and sisters Bertha Schuchardt, Lydia Keim and Luella Spinks. Mr. Doerr is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. He was a former millwright with Cargill Inc. in Cahokia and retired from the Monroe County Nursing Home. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was at Immaculate Conception Church, Fr. Steve Gira officiating. He is buried at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund or in the form of Masses.
Winnefred D. Fiege, 90, of Columbia, died March 14, 2008, in Waterloo. She was born March 30, 1917, in Columbia, the daughter of the late Ferdinand Fiege and Elizabeth Fiege nee Miller. Ms. Fiege is survived by many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Delores Fiege. Ms. Fiege was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia, where she was active with the Women’s Guild, played the organ and sang with the choir. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service was at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. She is buried at St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia or the Columbia Public Library.
Hortense M. “Sis” Roy nee Niermann, 82, of Prairie du Rocher, died March 16, 2008, in Red Bud. She was born Sept. 27, 1925, in Prairie du Rocher, the daughter of the late William and Clara Niermann nee Wiegard. She married the late Ernest “Kok” Roy in 1946; he preceded her in death in 1999. Mrs. Roy is survived by her children Maxine (Robert) Weis of St. Louis, Mariann (Stanley) Wallach of Red Bud, Marvin (Gail) Roy of Prairie du Rocher, Doris (Bob) Heller of Prairie du Rocher, and James (Lisa) Roy of Mason, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Earl (Evola) Niermann of Columbia, John (Connie) Niermann of Red Bud, Robert (Evelyn) Niermann of Waterloo, Kenneth (Barb) Niermann of Red Bud, and Dorothy (Merlin) Boyd of Urbana; sisters-in-law Dorothy Niermann, Marcella Droste, Lucille Roy and Melba (John) Horning; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother Wilfred Niermann. Mrs. Roy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher. She was a homemaker, and avid quilter and a gardener. She loved to play cards and go to the casino. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral Mass was at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fr. Albert Kreher and Fr. Rafi officiating. She is buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairie du Rocher. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
