Laverne Wolfmeier nee Schlemmer, 67, of St. Genevieve, Mo., formerly of Waterloo, died Feb. 20, 2008, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Des Peres, Mo. She was born March 25, 1940, in Maeystown. She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father; Mathilda (nee Schlemmer) and Louie Kettler. She was married to Charles Wolfmeier. Mrs. Wolfmeier is survived by her husband; children Cheryl (Brian Henry) Wolfmeier of East Carondelet, Linda Darnell of Waterloo, Robert (Bonnie Copeland) Darnell of Dupo and Jeffery (April Meng) Darnell of Iberia, Mo.; grandchildren Christy Wolfmeier, Scott Wolfmeier, Christina Henry, Stacey Henry, Nicole (Shaun) Grant and April, Amy, Ashley, Anthony, Devin and Kimberlee Darnell; great grandchildren Sean Grant and Kyra Wildman; along with other relatives and friends. Visitation and a funeral service were at Valhalla Holten Funeral Home in Belleville, Rev. Allie McKnight officiating. She is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville.
Carl Emil Kuester, 76, of Millstadt, died Feb. 22, 2008, at his residence. He was born Aug. 23, 1931, in Sugar City, Colo., the son of the late Simon and Minnie Kuester nee Bauer. He was married to Ruth Kuester nee Eickhoff. Mr. Kuester is survived by his wife; children David (Jane) Kuester of Millstadt, Debra (Mark) Vendermyde of Forsyth, Karen Glenn of O’Fallon and Kevin (Karen) Kuester of Freeburg; grandchildren Will, Adam, Noah and Emma Kuester, Rachel Vendermyde, Ryan and Alex Glenn, Christopher, Daniel and Sarah Kuester; and sisters Selma Wiles of Oklahoma and Bernice Kuester of Tyler, Tex; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Charlotte Peterson, and brothers Elvin Kuester and Richard Kuester in infancy. A funeral was held at Zion Evangelical Church of Millstadt, Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. He is buried at Freivogel Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to Zion Evangelical Church or Parkinson Support Group of Belleville.
Lester Deffenbaugh, 93, of Columbia, died Feb. 24, 2008, in Columbia. He was born Oct. 27, 1914, in St. Louis, the son of the late Charles and Katherine Deffenbaugh nee Vollmer. He married Olivia (Mueller) Deffenbaugh in 1940. Mr. Deffenbaugh is survived by his wife; daughters Doris (David) Bound of Conway, Ark., Shirley (David) Asselmeier of Columbia, and Carol (Ben) Bergmann of Columbia; son Charles (Kimberly) Deffenbaugh of Columbia; sister Vera Maurer of Freeburg; grandchildren Todd (Melissa) Bound, Cindy Pitts, David “Buzz” Asselmeier, Brian (Wendy) Bergmann, Christopher (Kristy) Bergmann, Leslie (Corey) Dickerson and Adam Deffenbaugh; 11 great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandchild Charles Asselmeier, brothers Byron, Vernon, Dale and Homer Deffenbaugh; and sister Helen Wilson. He retired as the president of Monroe National Bank in Columbia after more than 37 years of service. He was a life member of the Columbia Gymnastic Association, a 50-year member of the Columbia Blue Lodge 474 AF and AM, American Red Cross, a past president of the Columbia PTA, Monroe County Farm Bureau, a charter member of the Toastmasters and Columbia Lion's Club, Scottish Rite, American Bankers Association and St. Paul UCC of Columbia. Visitation and a funeral service were at St. Paul United Church of Christ of Columbia, Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. He is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the church’s elevator fund.
William "Bill" Kennedy Sr., 77, of Prairie du Rocher, died Feb. 24, 2008, in Red Bud. He was born August 3, 1930, in Ames, the son of the late William and Leona Kennedy nee Laurent. He married Judy Hunter in 1966. Mr. Kennedy is survived by his wife; children Bill (Candy) Kennedy Jr. of Hecker, and Becky (Charlie) Cowell of Sparta; grandchildren Erin (fiancé Brian) Kennedy, Josh Kennedy, Allison Kennedy, Kayla Cowell and Jacob Cowell; step-grandchildren Jayne Kirkpatrick and Jim Heinz; step-great-grandchildren Jaxon and Trinity Heinz; siblings Darlene (Arthur) Frisch of Columbia, Paul (Rose) Kennedy of Waterloo, Marlene (Everett) DeRousse of Lee's Summit, Mo., Marin Kennedy of Prairie du Rocher, and Richard (Phyllis) Kennedy of Ruma; sister-in-law Jeanette Kennedy of Prairie du Rocher; along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Robert and Harold Kennedy, and sister Auvergne Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher . He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a farmer and he worked at Gateway FS in Prairie du Rocher for 48 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 622 and the Randolph County Farm Bureau. He also served on the Prairie du Rocher Fire Department Board. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral Mass was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prairie du Rocher, Fr. Tom Stout officiating. He will be buried with a military graveside service by American Legion Post 622 at the church's cemetery.
Randall "Mouse" Levin, 47, of Columbia, died Feb. 25, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Feb. 20, 1961, in East St. Louis, the son of John Levin and the late Norma Mae Levin nee Brown. Mr. Levin is survived by his brothers Scott (Lisa) Levin of Waterloo and Todd (Betty Graves) Levin of Waterloo; niece Zailey Levin; and nephews Clayton Levin and Zack Martychenko; along with other relatives and friends. He was a carpenter for John Levin Builders in Waterloo, member of Carpenter's Union Local 1997 of St. Louis, and was an avid outdoorsman. A funeral was held at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Mike Kumm officiating. He is buried at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made the Ocean Conservancy of Washington, D.C.
Mary Hippe nee Rickert, 86, of St. Louis, Mo., died Feb. 26, 2008, in St. Louis County, Mo. She was born Oct. 27, 1921, in Tipton, the daughter of the late George and Gertrude Rickert nee Crook. Ms. Hippe is survived by her nieces, nephews, cousins and special friend David Sahraman. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Lamar Wild and Richard Hippe, and brothers George Jr. and Edward (Yvonne) Rickert. She was a longtime member of Ste. Genevieve Dubois Church in Warson Woods, Mo., and a former co-owner of Gus T. Handge Painting Co. Visitation and a funeral service were at Quernheim Funeral Home, Fr. Jose Jacob officiating. She is buried at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Waterloo.
Albert Hornbostel, 95, of Columbia, died Feb. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. He was born Dec. 10, 1912, in Shiloh, the son of the late William and Minnie Hornbostel nee Nordmeyer. He married Virginia (Willis) Hornbostel in 1935. Mr. Hornbostel is survived by his wife; sons Ray (Linda) Hornbostel of Forney, Tex., Paul (Gail) Hornbostel of Caseyville and George (Dixie) Hornbostel of Columbia; foster son Peter (Sandi) Woolley of Columbia; sister Helen Grennels of Chester; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and 11 brothers and sisters. He was a retired maintenance man with the Columbia School District, a WWII Navy veteran, a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, American Legion Post 581 of Columbia and the Millstadt V.F.W. Post. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service was at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, Pastor Steven Theiss officiating. He is buried at the Percy Village Cemetery in Percy. Memorials may be made to the church’s building fund.
Deborah Simmons, 56, died Feb. 28, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 25, 1951, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Jacob Edgar Steppig and Patricia Steppig nee Mason, of Eldon , Mo., who survives her. She married Michael Lee Simmons in 1972. Mrs. Simmons is survived by her mother; husband; daughters Michelle (Tori) Bartlett of Hiram, Ga., Christine (Thor) Lohrberg of rural Waterloo and Jessica (Bradley) Sager of Dupo; sisters Mary (Robert) Golaszenski of Bonne Terre, Mo., and Rita (Charles) Kempf of Eldon, Mo., and grandchildren Tory, Thomas, Trece, Grant and Jacob. She was preceded in death by her father and granddaughter Taylor Thomas Bartlett. She was a longtime postal employee at the Columbia Post Office, with more than 30 years of service to the USPS. Visitation and a funeral service were at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Rev. Charles Kempf officiating. She is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Cathren Marie Hall-Friend, 78, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Jan. 4, 2008, at Canterbury Manor Nursing Home in Waterloo. She was born Feb. 22, 1929, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Leo Jesse and Mary Anna (Norman) Raymer. She married Norman Hall in Piggott, Ark., on Sept. 7, 1947. He died in 1981. She then married Harold "Happy" Friend on Dec. 7, 1985, in Ellsinore, Mo. He died in 2000. Survivors include daughter Deborah (Gary) Lavender of Waterloo; sons Howard (Joe Ann) Hall of Qulin, Mo., and Donne (Debbie) Hall of Gatewood, Mo.; brothers Ivan Lee Raymer and Melvin Raymer of Ellsinore; sisters Norma Roark and Jean Powell of Ellsinore, Jeardene Grant of Caruthersville, Mo., and Betty Magnall of High Ridge, Mo.; nine grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter, Evelyn Nance; and brothers Charles Lellan Raymer and Richard Andrew Raymer. She was a homemaker and member of the Ellsinore Community Pentecostal Church. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, embroidery, gardening and her church. Visitation was at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, Mo. A funeral was at Ellsinore Community Pentecostal Church, with Rev. James Huffman officiating. She was buried at White Mill Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo.
Charles Fisher, 80, of Columbia, died Jan. 5, 2008, at St. Joseph Hospital. He was born June 12, 1927, in St. Louis, the son of the late Henry Fisher and Larean (Drumb) Kraenkel. Survivors include his wife, Joyce (Gruen) Fisher; sons Kenneth (Cynthia) Fisher of Columbia and Kurt (Melanie) Fisher of Columbia; grandchild Craig Fisher; and sister, Louise (Sam) Losh of Piedmont, Mo. He was preceded in death by brothers Henry Fisher and Jennings Fowlkes; and sister, Alberta Fisher. He was a member of Destroyer Escort Sailors Assoc., Destroyer Escort Historical Museum, Crestwood Elks Lodge 2503 and McKinley Goldbugs Reunion Committee. He was retired from Sigma - Aldrich in St. Louis. He was a boxer at South Broadway Athletic Club in St. Louis, where he was Golden Gloves Champion from 1943 - 1944. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Rams fan who was also devoted to his family and friends. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Rev. Kristofer Avise-Rouse officiating. He was buried at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights. Memorials may be made to the USS Slater Endowments Fund or the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum in Albany, NY.
