Laverne Diekemper, nee Sommer, 76, of Waterloo, died April 5, 2009. She was born Jan. 29, 1933 in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Joseph and Octavia (nee Haberl) Sommer. Mrs. Diekemper is survived by her husband, Paul James Diekemper; children Ralph (Lee) Diekemper of Harrisburg, Penn., Eric (Ami) Diekemper of Edwardsville; Ellen (Howard) Heavner of Valmeyer; Jean Diekemper of St. Louis, Mo., Martha Diekemper of St. Charles, Mo., and Matt Diekemper of Dupo; grandchildren Ryan (Sarah) Heavner, Anna (Sean) Gibney, Andrew, Joseph and Jonathan Heavner, Danielle Diekemper, Kathryn, Emily and Allison Diekemper and Ashtin Diekemper; and siblings Norene Becker of Waterloo, Jeannette Theobald of Nashville, Mary (Ron) Wallace of Elsberry, Mo., Richard (Jane) Sommer of Edwardsville, Robert (Joan) Sommer of Kent, Wash., and Dorothy (Chris) Homeier of Springfield; along with sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Sommer. Mrs. Diekemper attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo where she was a member of the Mary and Martha Society and a former trustee. She was also a member of the Waterloo American Legion's Ladies Auxiliary and Belleville Board of Realtors. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Waterloo with Monsignor Thomas Flach officiating. Mrs. Diekemper was buried at the church's cemetery. Memorials may be made to masses at her church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Kevin J. Farmer Sr., 56, of Waterloo, died April 5, 2009, in Belleville. He was born May 19, 1952 in St. Louis, Mo., the son of the late Thomas Farmer and Theresa (nee Turner) Jamison. Mr. Farmer is survived by his wife, Roberta (nee Marquardt) Farmer; children Bob Koch of Waterloo, Gina (Dave) Jennings of Waterloo; Samantha (Clay) Hedrick of Ellington, Mo., Rhonda (John) Hanegan of Columbia; Melissa (Keith) Bass of Ellington, Mo., and Kevin (Kezia) Farmer Jr. of Ellington, Mo.; and a sister, Patricia (Jerry) Brown of Valmeyer; along with 11 grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law; nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Farmer was a member of the Valmeyer American Legion Post, Maeystown Sportsman's Club and was a Lifetime Member of the NRA. Visitation and funeral were at Quernheim Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Neill officiating. Mr. Farmer was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo.
Kate Culver, 89, formerly of Lincoln, Mass., died April 3, 2009, at Faith Countryside Homes in Highland. She was born Jan. 6, 1920, in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of the late Dr. Royal and Helen (Thomas) Schaaf. She married Dr. Perry James Culver. He died in 2006. Mrs. Culver is survived by a daughter, Robin (Wilson) Groves of Brownsville, Vermont; a daughter, Rev. Sheldon Culver of Highland; sons Dr. Perry (Kit) Culver Jr. of Prairie Village, Kan., Devore (Holly) Culver of Providence, Rhode Island; grandchildren Emily, Silas, Gordon and Sam Culver; and a brother, Royal (Mildred) Schaaf of Califon, New Jersey; along with other relatives and friends. Mrs. Culver was a member of the First Parish Church of Lincoln, Mass. She was active in the League of Women Voters, Massachusetts General Hospital Auxiliary, the Alliance for Democracy and other peace and justice organizations. Visitation was at St. Paul UCC of Columbia. A memorial service was held with Pastor Bob Goddard officiating. Memorials may be made to the Wellesley College Scholarship Fund, the Alliance For Democracy or St. Paul UCC of Columbia.
Ralph Roschnafsky, 69, of Wartburg, died April 7, 2009, at his residence. He was born Feb. 22, 1940, in Wartburg, the son of the late Joseph and Lucille (nee Buettner) Roschnafsky. Mr. Roschnafsky is survived by his children Lisa (Troy) Redman of Imperial, Mo., and Randy (Dana) Roschnafsky of Waterloo; grandchildren Lauren and Kyle Redman; a sister, Joyce (Dan) Parsons of Webster Groves, Mo.; a brother, Kurt (Becky) Roschnafsky of Waterloo; nephews Joel and Ryan Roschnafsky; former wife, Linda Roschnafsky of Millstadt; and his constant companion, his dog Sawdust. Mr. Roschnafsky was a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg, the 9 a.m. McDonald's Coffee Club, the Shed Peanut Crew, Millstadt Fire and Ambulance Department and United Mine Workers of America. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wartburg with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. He was buried at the church's cemetery. Memorials may be made to his church's Parsonage Expansion Fund.
Florence Hansell, nee Guillory, 76, of Sparta, died April 9, 2009. She was born April 20, 1932 in Blanks, La., the daughter of the late Morris and Noelie (nee Marks) Guillory. Mrs. Hansell is survived by her husband, Denver Hansell; children David (Penny) Hansell of Townsend, Mont., and Myra Thibodeaux of Sparta; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; a sister, and a brother-in-law; along with nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by two brothers. There were no services. Arrangements were handled by Quernheim’s.
Barbara Eschmann, 91, formerly of Columbia, died April 10, 2009 at Oak Hill Care Center in Waterloo. She was born Oct. 18, 1917, in Columbia, the daughter of the late John and Catherine (Thoma) Eschmann. Mrs. Eschmann is survived by a sister, Sophie Eschmann of Waterloo; and nieces and nephews Raymond (Marcel) Wierschem, Robert (Virginia) Wierschem, Darlene (Joseph) Knese, Mary Ellen Wierschem, Louise (Warren) Myers and Robert (Sylvia) Eschmann; along with great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces; and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Frank (Helen) Eschmann; and sisters Pauline (Ray) Wierschem and Dorothy (Walter) Lehr; and a nephew, John Eschmann. Mrs. Eschmann was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. She had worked at Midwest Card Co., and Mavrakos Candy Company in St. Louis, Mo. A memorial service was held at Oak Hill Care Center in Waterloo with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Eschmann was buried at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to her church's building fund.
Margaret Jane Bearden, 80, of Waterloo, died April 14, 2009, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis, Mo. She was born March 30, 1929, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Clarence and Margaret (Fleischmann) Wurtz. Mrs. Bearden is survived by a son, Michael (Kathy) Burke of Columbia; a daughter, Renee Williams of Columbia; son, Bruce (Patricia) Bearden of Ft. Worth, Tex.; six grandchildren; and a brother, Clarence (Frances) Wurtz of Fairview Heights; along with other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Edward Burke; second husband, Charles Bearden; and a sister, Virginia (Elmer) Dix. Mrs. Bearden was a retired legal secretary at Evans and Dixon Law Offices in St. Louis, MO. She was a member of the Red Hat Ladies of Waterloo. Visitation and funeral were at Lawlor Funeral Home with Fr. Carl Scherrer officiating. Mrs. Bearden was buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Belleville. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association.
Geraldine Roscow, nee Welsch, 81, of Waterloo, died April 16, 2009. She was born Sept. 16, 1927, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of the late Walter and Jane (nee Gorman) Welsch. Mrs. Roscow is survived by daughters Jane (Curtis Black) Smith and Patti Bauer (special friend Bret Reynolds); grandchildren Clinton Smith, Angela Smith, Megan Bauer and Alex Bauer; great-grandchildren Seth Richard and Shyann; and a sister, Margaret (Don) Kemner; along with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford "Pete" Roscow. Mrs. Roscow was a member of the Sewing Club at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Waterloo with Father Osang Idagbo officiating. Mrs. Roscow was buried at the church's cemetery.
Melvin Goeddel, 86, of Waterloo, died April 15, 2009. She was born Aug. 27, 1922, in Waterloo, the son of the late Jacob and Clara (nee Schlemmer) Goeddel. Mr. Goeddel is survived by his wife, Lucille (nee Stumpf) Goeddel; children Lonnie (Linda) Goeddel and Brenda (John) Shrewsbury, both of Waterloo; grandchildren Scott (Sally) Goeddel, Denise (Fran) DeLaCruz and Laura (Andrew) Gipson; and great-grandchildren Hannah Egbert, Andrew DeLaCruz and Alex DeLaCruz; along with sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Clarence Goeddel; and a sister Pearl B. Mathews. Mr. Goeddel was a member of St. Paul UCC of Waterloo. Visitation was at Quernheim Funeral Home. Funeral was at St. Paul UCC of Waterloo with Pastor Mary Beth Hartenstein officiating. Mr. Goeddel was buried at Kolmer Memorial Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be made to his church or Canterbury Manor.
Myrtle Jung, nee Osterhage, 95, of Millstadt, died April 14, 2009 at her granddaughter's home in Tuscola. She was born June 28, 1913, in New Hanover, the daughter of the Herman and Christiana (nee Klohr) Osterhage. Mrs. Jung is survived by her daughter, Kathryn (Roger) Davis of Columbia; grandchildren John (Teresa) Davis of Tuscola, Jim (Beth) Davis of Vero Beach, Fla., and Joy (Chris) Moore of Tuscola; great-grandchildren Alyssa and Marc Davis, William "Wil" Davis, Hunter and Logan Kobylanki and Keenan Moore; and step-brothers Wilbur Miller and Lester (Dorothy) Miller; along with nieces, nephews, cousin, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, William "Butch" Jung who died in 1971; a brother, Raymond Osterhage; and a sister, Laura Thomas. Mrs. Jung was a homemaker and was an avid card player at the Millstadt Nutrition Center. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt and the American Legion Post 502 in Millstadt. Visitation was at Strauss-Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt. Funeral was at Zion Evangelical Church in Millstadt with Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Mrs. Jung was buried at Mount Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt. Memorials may be made to her church.
