Ruth M. Harris nee Hoffmann, 91, of Columbia, died October 14, 2005, in Belleville. She was born June 11, 1914, in East Carondelet, the daughter of the late Hubert and Tillie Hoffmann. She was married to the late Clarence H. Harris. She is survived by her brother-in-law Omar Harris Sr. of Dupo, sister-in-law Mabel Hubbert of Montrose, Colo., and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Pastor Kim Kelly officiating. She is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Christ United Church of Christ in Dupo.
Gilbert Pershing Arnin, 86, of Columbia, died October 16, 2005, in Belleville. He was born October 27, 1918, in Columbia, the son of the late Arthur and Carolina Arnin nee Schneider. He married Edna Arnin nee Schneider in 1941. He is survived by his wife; daughter Gail (Galen) Riebeling of Columbia; grandchildren Chad (Lisa) Riebeling of St. Charles, Mo., Matt (Shelley) Riebeling of Columbia, and Lauren (James) Foran of Columbia; three great-grandchildren; sister Ruby Hammack of Chicago; and other relatives and friends. Mr. Arnin was retired from Scruggs Department Store in St. Louis as an electrician. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a member of American Legion Post #581 and the Columbia Historical Society. A graveside service was held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the American Legion Park Trust.
Richard E. Browne, 76, of Columbia, died October 17, 2005, in Columbia. He was born December 30, 1928, in Marion, the son of the late F. Earl and Augusta Ellen Browne nee Penrod. He married Doris M. Browne nee Rendleman in 1949. He is survived by his wife; daughter Sharon Lynn (Mark) Blair of Columbia; sons James E. (Linda) Browne of Mt. Vernon, William E. (Chris) Browne of Columbia, and David E. (Martha) Browne of Columbia; grandchildren Jason E. Browne, Wesley E. Browne, Steven E. Browne, Lynsey Browne, Dr. Joshua Blair, Stacey Blair, Corey E. Browne, Maci Browne, Carleas Parsons and Roy Browne; great-grandchildren Madelyn Browne, Jacob E. Browne and Trent A Browne; sisters D. Ann Brown of San Antonio, Tex., and Juanita Hall of Fallon, Nev., and brothers Robert Browne of San Antonio, Tex., and Kenneth Browne of Fairview Heights. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Vernon Browne and Paul Browne, and sisters Beatrice McDonald and Helen Richrock. Mr. Browne was a member of Citrus Valley Nondenominational Church in McAllen, Tex., where he spent his winters. He was retired from TRRA as a switchman with 37 ˝ years of service. He was a member of Columbia Blue Lodge #474 AF & AM, Lacefield Music Organ Club in St. Louis, and Show-Me LIFE Organ Club in St. Louis. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home. He is buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice or the First Baptist Church of Columbia Building Fund.
Geraldine A. Bradshaw nee Nobbs, 73, of Columbia, died October 18, 2005, in Columbia. She was born February 17, 1932, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Raymond and Hazel Nobbs nee Hart. She is survived by her daughter Michelle (Doug) Nelson of Columbia; grandchildren Brittany C. Stahr, Katie E. Stahr and Samantha L. Nelson; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Brian J. Bradshaw and brother Raymond Nobbs. Mrs. Bradshaw was retired from Evans & Dixon Law Offices as a legal secretary. Visitation and funeral services were at Lawlor Funeral Home, Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. She is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to Family Hospice.
Geneva M. “Jen” Lepp nee Reinhold, 81, of Waterloo, died October 21, 2005, in Waterloo. She was born December 24, 1923, in Valmeyer, the daughter of the late George J. and Rosa Reinhold nee Asselmeier. She was married to the late Arthur O. Lepp. She is survived by her son Timothy Lepp of Red Bud, sister Aurelia (Otis) Lutz of Waterloo, sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Catherine Reinhold of Waterloo and Betty and Bob Beasley of Columbia, Mo.; and nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Casey L. Lepp and brother Roger Reinhold. Mrs. Lepp was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. She was a past member of the Monroe County Cancer Society, and was a charter and lifetime member of St. Clement Hospital Auxiliary. She was an avid golfer and retired from Harrisonville Telephone Company in 1984. She was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II-SKIC, serving at the Navy Overseas Air Cargo Terminal at Oakland Naval Air Base. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo, Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ.
William E. Schneider, 80, of Prairie du Rocher, died October 22, 2005, in Belleville. He was born January 29, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the son of the late William H. and Katherine Schneider nee Brown. He married Betty Schneider nee DeBourge in 1950. He is survived by his wife; sons Robert (Carolyn) Schneider of Prairie du Rocher, and Ronald (Heather) Schneider of Shiloh; granddaughter Angela Schneider of Freeport; brother Edward (Lorna) Schneider of Prairie du Rocher; sister Bonnie Wild of O’Fallon; mother-in-law Emma DeBourge of Red Bud; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Schneider was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Renault. He worked as a mechanic and worked at Columbia Quarry for 20 years. He enjoyed restoring old cars and working in his garden. Visitation and funeral services were at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud.
Joe B. Pickering Sr., 67, of Vulcan, Mo., formerly of Waterloo, died Monday October 24, 2005, at is home in Vulcan. He was born December 16, 1937, in Tamms, the son of the late Sherman and Dorothy Pickering. He was married to the late Barbara Pickering. He is survived by his son Joe B. Pickering Jr. of St. Louis; daughter Elizabeth (Michael) Bivins of Waterloo; grandchildren Andrea Pickering, Jacob Pickering, Chelsea Bivins, Rachael Bivins, and Tanner Fry of Waterloo. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; and son Charles Pickering. He is buried in Vulcan. Memorials may be made to the Tanner Fry Trust Fund, care of Elizabeth Bivins, 6429 Old Red Bud Rd., Waterloo, IL, 62298.
Roberta A. Roy, 50, of Ruma, died October 26, 2005, in Red Bud. She was born July 28, 1955, in Mounds, the daughter of Edna Kerr nee Currie of Villa Ridge and the late Joseph Kerr nee Currie. She married Robert L. Roy in 1973. She is survived by her mother; husband; son Bryan (Michelle) Roy of Belleville; daughter April (Jim) Krejci of Ruma; siblings Nolan Kerr of Albuquerque, N.M., Carol (Kenneth) Caudle of Grand Chain, Bonita (Mike) Hancock of Villa Ridge, Jeffrey Kerr of Olmstead, Joseph (Johannah) Kerr of Villa Ridge, and Melba Kerr of Grand Chain; mother-in-law Lucille Roy of Prairie du Rocher; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, brother Leslie Kerr, father-in-law Aaron Roy, brother-in-law Dale Roy and sister-in-law Joy Roy. Mrs. Roy was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma, where she sang in the choir and was a reader. Visitation was at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud. A funeral mass was at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma, Fr. Richard Weidert officiating. She is buried at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Ruma.
Gregory F. Ruby, 81, of St. Louis, died October 26, 2005, in Clayton, Mo. He was born December 3, 1923, in Harrisonville, the son of the late Oliver J. and Esther Ruby nee Heidger. He was married to Katherine Ruby nee Morrison. He is survived by his children Donna (Michael) Chapman of Memphis, Tenn., Joanne Yakopovic of St. Louis, and Richard Ruby of St. Louis; grandchildren Cristopher Chapman, Kelly Chapman, Greg Trimble, Jennifer Yakopovic; great-granddaughter Harley Chapman; sisters Lois Allgire of Waterloo and Kathleen Vogt of Waterloo; and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mary Jane Eschmann, and brother Jerome S. Ruby. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A funeral mass was at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Msgr. Thomas Flach officiating. He is buried at SSPP Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.
Olga Elizabeth Henke nee Mueller, 99, of Waterloo, died October 27, 2005, in Waterloo. She was born July 5, 1906, in Foster Pond, the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Mueller nee Mueller. She was married to the late Theodore P. Henke. She is survived by her children Willis Henke of Waterloo and Roy (Anola) Henke of Waterloo; daughter-in-law Cora Ludwig; grandchildren Scott Henke, Lori Morton, Marla (Robert) Byrd, Troy Henke, Karen (Rick) Hoff and Kirsten (Nick) Bongiovanni; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother-in-law, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Marvin Henke, and sister and brothers. Mrs. Henke was a member of St. Paul United Church of Waterloo. Visitation and funeral services were at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo. She is buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to Zoar United Church of Christ in New Hanover.
