Ronald Otten, 72, of Dupo, died Feb. 22, 2009, at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital in East St. Louis. He was born March 2, 1936 in Dupo, the son of the late Walter and Edna (nee Rusteberg) Otten. Mr. Otten is survived by his wife, Sue Otten; a son, Ricky (Cindy) Otten; grandson, Trent Otten; a brother, Gary Otten; and a nephew, Steve (Rachel) Otten; along with other relatives and friends. Mr. Otten worked as a chauffeur at the Columbia Quarry's Dupo Plant for 18 years. He also was the owner and operator of R & R Auto Detailing. He was a trustee for the Village of Dupo for four years and was a member of the Dupo American Legion Post 485, Teamsters Local 50, IAM Mechanist for Eastern Airlines for 24 years at Lambert Field. Private funeral services were held. Arrangements were handled by Dashner-Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo. According to his wishes, Mr. Otten was cremated. Memorials may be made to the Parents and Friends Fund at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Columbia.
Helen Larsson, nee Hill, 72, of Waterloo, died Feb. 21, 2009, in St. Louis, Mo. She was born March 4, 1936 in Los Angeles, Calif., the daughter of the late Arthur and Vivian (nee Grabman) Hill. Mrs. Larrson is survived by her children, Renee Miller of Waterloo and Dan (Robin) Larsson of Arnold, Mo.; a sister, Sandy Churchill of California; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger Larsson. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. A memorial service followed with Pastor Dennis Jones officiating. Memorials may be made to Hope Christian Church.
Frederick O. Renner, 75, of Cahokia, died Feb. 19, 2009, surrounded by his friends and family. He was born Aug. 26, 1933 in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Renner is survived by his wife of 56 years, Shirley (nee Kuebler) Renner; his children, Frederick C. (Susan) Renner of Cahokia, David (Elizabeth) Renner of St. Louis, Mo., Joan Renner of Cottage Hills and Judee (Tom) Sliment of Waterloo; a sister, Ruth (Wesley) White of Fremont, Calif.; sisters-in-law Judith (Tom) Zimmermann, Norma (Lloyd) Taaffe and Karen (Doug) Owen; grandchildren April, Steve, Rob, Chelsea, Rachel, Sarah, Andrew, Jon, Dylan, Alex, Nathan, Colleen and Quinn; and great-grandchildren Bailey, Grayson, Ethan, Mabry, Hudson and Nola; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick J., and Edna (nee Brockett) Renner; in-laws Charles and Clara (nee Buschulte); and twin sons, James and Thomas Renner. Mr. Renner served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He retired from Springmeier Shipping Company in 1984. In his retirement, he and Shirley enjoyed spending time at the Sonnenberg YMCA in Belleville. Visitation is Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Memorials may be made to Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
Alice Welsch, nee Wuertz, 101, of Waterloo, died Feb. 18, 2009. She was born Oct. 29, 1907 in Madonnaville, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (nee Collette) Wuertz. Mrs. Welsch is survived by her children, Joseph (Barbara) Welsch of Bettendorf, Iowa, Duane Welsch of Claremont, Calif., Janice Welsch of Macomb, Jackie Welsch of New Baden, Kathleen Tourville of St. Louis, Mo., Ruth Koblenz of St. Louis, Mo., and Michael Welsch of Waterloo; a sister, Anne Wuertz; 8 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hugo Welsch; an infant daughter, Mary Catherine Welsch; sisters Margaret Dunn, Rose Wierschem, Helen Nieman, Clara Ricker and Mary Roever; and brothers John, Edward and Joseph Wuertz. Mrs. Welsch was a member of the Mary and Martha Society at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Waterloo, was a former volunteer at the Monroe County Nursing Home volunteer and was a founding member of Monroe County Council for the Handicapped. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Waterloo, Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mrs. Welsch was buried at Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery in Madonnaville. Memorials may be made to the Human Support Service of Waterloo or Community Link.
Alexander C. Wallace III, 75, of Columbia, died March 1, 2009. He was born October 9, 1933, in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Alexander C. and Janet (Cowan) Wallace Jr. He married Yvonne "Bonnie" (nee McCraw) Wallace on Dec. 28, 1976, in Belleville. Mr. Wallace served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was retired from home improvement sales and was an ordained minister, a part-time missionary and a member of Invigorate Church in Columbia. In addition to his wife; Mr. Wallace is survived by a son, Andrew Wallace of Columbia; a daughter, Bonnie Woodard of Valley Park, Mo.; grandchildren Kayla Waters and Kristen Stucker; and a great-grandchild, Kendra Galle. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Dina Stucker; and a brother, William Wallace. Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia. A funeral service was at Lawlor’s, with with Theresa Garcia officiating. Mr. Wallace was buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Seeds of Fire Ministry in Columbia.
Esther Giffhorn, 87, of Columbia, died March 9, 2009 at Columbia Convalescent Center. She was born Sept. 5, 1921, in Burksville, the daughter of the late Fred and Mamie (nee Schmidt) Koch. Mrs. Giffhorn is survived by her sons Gary (Kate) Mueller of Columbia, Kenwood (Ellen) Giffhorn of Carlisle, Penn., and Lowell (Coco) Giffhorn of Poway, Calif., a brother, Delbert Koch of Columbia; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Eileen Hoerr of Waterloo; along with other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Mueller; second husband, Edgar Giffhorn; a brother, Raymond Koch; half-brother, George Hoerr; and a half-sister, Freida Rippelmeyer. She was a member of St. Paul UCC of Columbia, where she was a Sunday school teacher and active in the Jr. Women's League. She had worked as a salesperson for Weilbacher's Department Store in downtown Columbia. Visitation was Friday, March 13 at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., at St. Paul UCC of Columbia, with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mrs. Giffhorn was buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church or the Alzheimer's Association of St. Louis, Mo.
Warren Hoock, 87, of Columbia, died March 10, 2009, at Mary Queen and Mother Skilled Nursing Center in St. Louis, Mo. He was born March 13, 1921, in East Carondelet, the son of the late Adam and Bessie Viola (nee Walker) Hoock. He married Elizabeth (nee Bonn) Hoock in 1948. She died in 2001. Mr. Hoock is survived by a daughter, Sherry (Michael) Duffy of Waterloo; a son, Michael (Maureen) Hoock of Shrewsbury, Mo.; grandchildren Ryan (Melinda) Duffy, Bobby Hoock and Colin Hoock; great-grandchildren Austin Michael Duffy and McKenzie Shea Duffy; and brothers Ralph (Dorothy) Hoock of Columbia and Lee (Evelyn) Hoock of Murphysboro; along with other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Kenneth Duffy; and sisters Mildred Scoggins, Dorothy Masterson and Armida Williams. Mr. Hoock served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was retired from Robertson Farm Supply in East St. Louis. He was a member of St. Paul UCC in Columbia, American Legion Post 581 in Columbia, the VFW Post 7980 in Millstadt and a master rosarian in the American Rose Society in Millstadt and the Rose Society of Greater St. Louis. Visitation was Thursday, March 12 at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral was Friday, March 13, at Lawlor's, with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Hoock was buried at Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the American Rose Society.
Lester Taake, 91, of rural Columbia, died March 11, 2009, at his residence. He was born Oct. 14, 1917, in New Hanover, the son of the late Fred and Mary (Bieber) Taake. He was a farmer in the New Hanover area. Mr. Taake is survived by a brother, Roy (Edna) Taake of Columbia; two nephews; and a niece; along with a great-niece and great-nephew. He was preceded in death by brothers Raymond and Delbert Taake; and a sister, Esther Jokisch. Visitation was Saturday, March 14 at Lawlor Funeral Home. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m., with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Mr. Taake was buried at Zoar UCC Cemetery in New Hanover. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.
Caroline Schanz, nee Heimsch, 94, of Waterloo, died March 10, 2009, in Columbia. She was born March 6, 1915, in Miles Prairie, the son of the late William and Caroline (nee Kraft) Heimsch. Mrs. Schanz is survived by her daughters, Caroline Edwards of Fountain, and Christine Schanz of Columbia; a granddaughter, Caroline Edwards Woodcock; and three great-grandchildren; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lenard Schanz. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was Thursday, March 12, 2 p.m., at Quernheim's, with Pastor Matt Friz officiating. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.
Lacy Bell, 78, of Belleville, died March 9, 2009. She was born Sept. 12, 1930, in Lumberton, NC., the son of the late Dan and Isabelle (nee Chavis) Bell. Mr. Bell is survived by his wife, Mary (nee Pringle) Bell; children Lesley (Dan) Angenend, Matthew (Misty) Bel and Melissa (Sabian) Chaney; grandchildren Christian, Bryn and Aidan Mundloch, Ethan Angenend and Eden Bell; sisters Elva Lee Finley, Margaret Chavis, Rebecca Bell and Paulette Dial; and brothers Leo Bell, William Earl Bell, Paul Bell, David Earl Bell and Freddie Bell; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers. Mr. Bell was retired from the U.S. Air Force, was retired from the Belleville Post Office and was a member of the First Assembly of God. Memorials may be made to the Book of Hope. Visitation was Friday, March 13 at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at 12 noon, at the funeral home, with Pastor David Raynaud officiating. Mrs. Bell was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo.
