Judy V. Melliere nee Garleb, 66, of Prairie du Rocher, died November 2, 2005, in Prairie du Rocher. She was born September 9, 1939, in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late Felix and Ella Garleb nee Macke. She married Gerald Melliere in 1962. She is survived by her husband; children Suzanne (Mark) Wilson of Prairie du Rocher, Sandra (Mark) Ottoson of Waterloo, and Roger (Chrissy) Melliere of Prairie du Rocher; grandchildren Cynthia Wilson, Tiffany Wilson, Kenneth Wilson, Andrew Ottoson, Ashley Ottoson, Cassidy Melliere and Austin Melliere; brothers August (Donna) Garleb of French Village, Mo., and Leroy (Pat) Garleb of Valmeyer; aunts Vera Pflasterer of Waterloo and Leona Frank of Washington; father-in-law Xavier Melliere of Prairie du Rocher; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Joy (Bob) Stafford of Florissant, Mo., Fay (Delbert) Kueker of Prairie du Rocher, and Ron (Jeannette) Melliere of Modoc; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mrs. Melliere was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault. She was a homemaker and enjoyed reading and spending time with her family. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. Funeral services were at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault, Rev. Ralph Laufer officiating. She is buried at Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Renault.
Alfred E. Trost, 76, of Waterloo, died November 7, 2005, in Geneva. He was born November 1, 1929, in Harrisonville, the son of the late Fred W. and Elsie T. Trost nee Roth. He was married to Maxine Trost nee Politsch for 54 years. He is survived by his wife; children Wilma (Michael) Ruby of O’Fallon and Barbara (Mark) Ehrhardt of North Aurora; grandchildren Sarah (Matthew) Cundiff, Laura Ruby, Lisa Ruby, Alex Ehrhardt, Lauren Ehrhardt and Drew Ehrhardt; and a sister, brother, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. Mr. Trost was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. He was a lifetime member of Morris Lodge #787 and Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Southern Illinois. He was also a member of Ainad Shriners, and A.A.O.N.M.S. of East St. Louis, and he served on the Kolmer Memorial Cemetery Board. He retired as an Illinois State Apiary inspector and he retired from Union Electric after more than 30 years of service. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home. He is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Kolmer Memorial Cemetery Chapel Fund.
Lawrence W. Schmitz, 92, of Renault, died November 8, 2005, in Red Bud. He was born February 27, 1913, in Kidd, the son of the late John and Helena Schmitz nee Hoefft. He married the late Agnes E. Schmitz nee Schicker in 1940. He is survived by his children Ronald Schmitz, Kenny (Emily) Schmitz, Lynn (Michael) Riebeling, and Lisa (Kenneth) Sager; grandchildren Keith, Mathew, Andrew, Zachary, Caroline and Haley; brother Clarence (Pearl) Schmitz; and sisters-in-law Olive Bergman and Mildred Schmitz. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; grandchildren Angela and Jeffrey; and brothers Albert Schmitz, Celia Schmeig, Josephine Menke, Oscar Schmitz, Robert Schmitz, Vera Gregson and Delores Schmtiz. Mr. Schmitz was a member of Our Lady of Good Council Church. He was a retired carpenter of local 1361 and was a member of the Waterloo Knights of Columbia. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Our Lady of Good Council Church in Renault, Fr. Roger Karban officiating. He is buried at St. Mary’s cemetery in Renault. Memorials may be made to the Jeffrey Schmitz Memorial Fund through Our Lady of Good Council Church.
Linda F. Carle nee Wright, 63, of Columbia, died November 9, 2005, in St. Louis. She was born February 21, 1942, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late William Wright and Nellie (Ray) Volner nee Waterman of St. Louis. She married John J. Carle in 1964. She is survived by her husband, sons John J. Carle Jr. of St. Louis and Michael (Julie) Carle of Prairie du Rocher; daughter Carol (Del) Paris of Godfrey; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister Venus Wolff of Columbia; brother William (Joyce) Wright of Dupo; and other relatives and friends. Mrs. Carle retired from International Lighting in St. Louis. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia, Pastor William Groennert officiating. She is buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Jeanette Melba Wirth, 69, of Waterloo, died November 9, 2005, in Waterloo. She was born November 7, 1936, in Waterloo, the daughter of the late Albert L. and Clara M. Wirth nee Loehr. She is survived by her brothers Arthur (Wanda) Wirth of Waterloo and Royal (Shirley) Wirth of St. Louis; sister-in-law Leota (Herb) Roider of Waterloo; special friend Pat Buyat of Waterloo; and nieces, a nephew and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Herbert Wirth and friend Oscar Fehrenz. Ms. Wirth was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. She was a member of Human Support Services and a former member of Special Olympics. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. She is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo.
Thelma Faye Clifton nee Miller, 85, of Waterloo, died November 10, 2005, in Waterloo. She was born January 26, 1920, in Mill Creek, the daughter of Iven and Clara Belle Miller nee Dillow. She was married to the late Dwight L. Clifton; he preceded her in death in 1989. She is survived by her sons Lowell (Tina) Clifton of Waterloo, Charles (Sue Ann) Clifton of Lebo, Kan., Ralph (Veronica) Clifton of Monroe, Ga., and Larry Clifton of Perryville, Mo.; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and sisters Maxine Connelly of Monroe, Ga., and Mary Hahn of Sterling. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Joyce Clifton, one brother and two sisters. Mrs. Clifton was a charter member of Bethany United Methodist Church in Columbia. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Rob Morris Chapter #98. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral services were at Bethany United Methodist Church, Pastor Ron Chase officiating. She is interred at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church.
Gene Gray, 74, of Columbia, died November 10, 2005, in St. Louis. He was born June 6, 1931, in Mayfield, Kent., the son of the late Noah and Gertie Gray nee Givens. He married Joy M. Gray nee Calhoun in 1951. He is survived by his wife; daughters Karen (James) Mercer of Columbia, and Sharon (Brian) Thompson of Columbia; son Jeff (Donna) Gray of Waterloo; grandchildren Sarah (Josh), Jonathan (Elaine), Brandon, Jennifer, Andrew and Rebecca; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Billy Gray, sister June O’Brien, half-brothers Homer Stanfill and Joe Stanfill, and half-sister Mattie Mae Constantine. Mr. Gray was a member of First Baptist Church in Columbia. He was retired from Daimler-Chrysler in Fenton, Mo., as a tinner. He was a member of U.A.W. Local #110 in St. Louis. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral services were at First Baptist Church, Jonathan Peters officiating. He is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund or Missions Fund.
Mary D. Woods nee Dunham, 84, of Columbia, died November 10, 2005, in Waterloo. She was born May 26, 1921, in Macomb, the daughter of the late Carl N. and Marie Dunham nee Brown. She married the late James Carl Woods in 1945. He preceded her in death in 1967. She is survived by her daughter Marcy (Ron) Altschuh of Waterloo; grandchildren Patti Freeland, Conni Mether, Debbie (Mike) Anderson, Danny Altschuh and Kenny (Linda) Altschuh; great-grandchildren Kyle Freeland, Neil Freeland, Ashley Freeland, Angie Anderson, Mikey Anderson, Jerrod Kennedy and Klaiton Altschuh; great-great-grandchild Bryce Freeland; stepsons Dale (Doris) Woods and Don (Babe) Woods; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Betty (Junior) Oliver and Bonnie Miller; and brother Edward Dale Dunham. Mrs. Woods was a member of United Methodist Church in Cahokia. She retired from W.T. Grants. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home. She is interred at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to multiple sclerosis research.
Shirley M. Schmidt nee Hofstetter, 69, of Columbia, died November 11, 2005, in Columbia. She was born September 11, 1936, in East Carondelet, the daughter of the late Elmer and Julia Hofstetter nee Noble. She was married to the late Earl E. Schmidt. She is survived by her sisters Joann (Jerry) Woodward of Columbia and Edna (Ray) Wetzel of East Carondelet; nephews Edward Wetzel of Granite City and Elmer (Debbie) Wetzel of East Carondelet; nieces Caroline (Robert Jr.) Simcoke of St. Charles, Mo., Mary (Michael) Langford of Hartford, Ala., and Carrie (Michael) Quante of Columbia; six great-nephews and four great-nieces. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Rev. Mark Queener officiating. She is buried at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to Columbia Public Library.
Robert George Steahle Sr., 72, of Cahokia, died November 12, 2005, in St. Louis. He was born February 2, 1933, in St. Louis, the son of the late George and Kathryn Steahle nee Sickman. He married Helen Mae Steahle nee Ringling in 1955. He is survived by his wife; son Robert G. Steahle Jr. of Columbia; granddaughter Megan M. Steahle; great-granddaughter Addison Mae Steahle; and sisters June (Donald) Mabrey of St. Louis and sister Jeris (Ronald) Funk of East Carondelet. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Mathew Steahle, sister Jean Cromley and brother George Martin Steahle. Mr. Steahle was retired from Proctor and Gamble Manufacturing in St. Louis. She was a member American Legion Post #581 and Proctor and Gamble Retirees. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Fr. Mark Reyling and Fr. Gerald Hechenberger officiating. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Backstoppers, Catholic Charities or in the form of masses.
