Marie Reuter Cosgrove of Shrewsbury died Sunday, May 9, 2004. She was 88.
There was nothing that Mrs. Cosgrove wouldn't do for her children and grandchildren. She once carried a fully-roasted, 15-pound turkey on a flight from her home to Chicago so that she could help her daughter with Thanksgiving dinner. She also regularly traveled with jars of her homemade jams and preserves, a craft learned from her mother and practiced for more than 60 years.
In addition to her culinary skills, Mrs. Cosgrove loved playing the piano and playing cards. She had a passion for the honky-tonk ragtime tunes that she learned as a child growing up in Freeburg, Ill. As a teenager, she played ragtime piano in radio broadcasts in St. Louis.
Mrs. Cosgrove was also an avid Bridge player, competing regularly in local tournaments and earning Master points in Duplicate Bridge. She most enjoyed playing cards with her grandchildren, teaching them not only to play Bridge, but also Canasta, Spite and Malice, Hearts, FreeCell and Crazy Eights.
Mrs. Cosgrove was expert in ceramics and stained glass window making, but she will be remembered most by family and friends for her seamstress skills. After her days of making prom and formal dresses for her two daughters were over, Marie then turned her attention to her eight grandchildren, making robes and blankets for them. When her grandchildren had had enough, she started making blankets for friends and their children, and finally for people she had never met by becoming part of a national distribution of baby blankets called Project Linus.
At age 70 she took swimming lessons so that she could swim with her grandchildren. She also taught typing and shorthand in the community schools for many years, and was elected as the first woman trustee of the St. Louis Public School Retirement Board.
Mrs. Cosgrove was preceded in death by her husband James P. Cosgrove, whom she married April 29, 1943, and who died Nov. 5, 1986; her parents, Joseph and Edna (nee Etling) Reuter; a sister, Dorothy Reuter; and a sister-in-law, Gladys Martin Reuter.
She is survived by her three children, Colleen (Greg) Goodman, Mary (Robert) Cosentino and John (Maggie) Cosgrove; a brother, Robert Reuter; and eight grandchildren, Megan Goodman; James, Peter and Tim Cosentino; and Joe, Pete, Ted and Tom Cosgrove.
A funeral Mass was held May 13, at Cure of Ars Catholic Church in Shrewsbury. Visitation was held at Gerber Chapel, Webster Groves. Interment, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Freeburg, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Birthright, Inc., 2206 Brentwood Blvd., St. Louis, Mo., 63144; or Masses, c/o Genesis Young Adult Mass Group.
Howard John Hughes of Webster Groves died Monday, May 17, 2004. He was 79.
Mr. Hughes was born Sept. 5, 1924, in Richmond, Mo. He was a chemist, and served in the U.S. Army from May 4, 1943 until March 12, 1946.
Mr. Hughes was the father of John and Ray Hughes; grandfather of Noah and Michael; and the son of the late Howard Ray Hughes and the late Juanita Starrett.
Funeral services were held May 21, at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church Chapel. Interment, Sunny Slope Cemetery, Richmond, Mo.
Wayne L. Schwatka of Shrewsbury died Thursday, May 20, 2004. He was 74.
Mr. Schwatka was born in Fargo, N.D., on April 7, 1930. He served in the Army from May 12, 1949, until May 21, 1952.
Mr. Schwatka was the owner/operator of Webster Saw and Knife Company. He was the husband of Chie Owada; father of Leroy Schwatka, Debbie Parker and Susan Rudd; and brother of Edith Wilt.
Funeral services were held May 25, at Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves. Interment, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Jane F. Ward of Shrewsbury died Sunday, May 16, 2004. She was 83.
Mrs. Ward was born Jan. 8, 1921, in St. Louis, Mo. She was the wife of the late Oliver W. Ward; mother of William F. Ward and Nancy Laycock; sister of the late Ruth Wilhelmi; and grandmother of five.
Funeral services were held May 20, at Webster Hills United Methodist Church; visitation was at Gerber Chapel, Webster Groves. Interment, Forever Oak Hill, Kirkwood.
Roy Bamber, local historian and editor of the Kirkwood Historical Quarterly Review for 23 years died suddenly Thursday, May 12, at his home in Kirkwood.
Mr. Bamber was an active volunteer at the Kirkwood Historical Society, and had received many awards for his historical writings. He also edited the Glendale Historical Review for 20 years, writing many articles for both publications.
Mr. Bamber had a great interest in music. He played the guitar and the banjo, and was an arranger for several bands, including the Letter Carriers Band and the Italian Community Band, led by Ollie Raymand.
On Tuesday, June 14, the Letter Carriers Band will perform Mr. Bamber's arrangement of "Kirkwood My Home Town" as a tribute to him. This musical piece was written by Betty Phillips, and she will play the piano and sing her number with the band at the Strawberry Festival at Mudd's Grove, 302 W. Argonne in Kirkwood.
Mr. Bamber, a 1953 Kirkwood High School graduate, went on to receive a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He received a masters degree in Psychology from S.I.U. Edwardsville, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Mr. Bamber was a college professor for 27 years, starting at Monticello College in Godfrey, Ill., which later became Lewis and Clark Community College.
He was the son of the late William and Irene Bamber; father of Roy, Ben (Lyndell), Jim and Carolyn Bamber; grandfather of Ryan, Alicia and Joshua; brother of Ken Woernole; uncle and friend.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 17, at Kutis South County Chapel. Interment, Forever Oak Hill Cemetery.
Betty Brookman (nee Ruthven), formerly of Webster Groves died Wednesday, May 11, 2005.
Mrs. Brookman was the wife of the late Glennon L. Brookman Sr.; mother and mother-in-law of Gerald R. (Darlene), Terrence R., Glennon L. Jr. (Jackie), Helen M., Alice C. Jernigan (James Scott); grandmother of Holly A., Bryan R. Brookman, and the late Douglas and Dennis Brookman; sister of John W. Ruthven; aunt and friend to many.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 19, at First United Methodist Church of Webster Groves. Interment, Valhalla Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Webster Groves, 600 N. Bompart, Webster Groves, Mo. 63119; or Phi Mu Foundation, 3558 Habersham, Tucker, Ga. 30084.
Ann Banjak (nee Andor), formerly of Webster Groves died Friday, April 15, 2005.
Mrs. Banjak was the wife of the late George Banjak; mother of George (Betty) Banjak; grandmother of Mark J. Banjak and Teri A. Martin; great-grandmother of Lauren Martin and Keith Martin; sister of the late Peter L. Andor; aunt and friend to many.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 30, 9 to 10 a.m., at Gerber Chapel, 23 W. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.; entombment to follow at Mt. Hope Mausoleum.
Memorial contributions may be made to Webster Gardens Lutheran Church, 8749 Watson Road, Webster Groves, Mo. 63119.
Dominic Barbush of Webster Groves died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. He was 91.
Mr. Barbush was a resident of Bethesda-Dilworth at the time of his death. A pre-World War II veteran, Mr. Barbush was a longtime standing member of IBEW #1. The highlight of his career was working on the construction of the Gateway Arch. He was also an avid bowler and golfer.
Mr. Barbush was the husband of the late Viola and Dorothy Barbush; father of Rosalie (Rudolph) Arnold, Joseph (Sondra) Barbush, Georgia (Terry) Sandlin, John (Emily) Barbush, Mary Jo (Larry) Weiss, and Michael (Mary) Barbush; grandfather of 12; great-grandfather of 11; brother of the late Mary Berutti and Joseph Barbush; brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to many.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Webster Groves. Interment, Benald Cemetery, Benald, Ill. Masses are preferred for memorials, or contributions may be made to Hospice of Bethesda-Dilworth, c/o Jamie Aukskainis, 9645 Big Bend Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63122. Arrangements by Gerber Chapel.
Peter Brian Barrett of Kirkwood died Friday, May 27, 2005, of colon cancer. He was 50.
Mr. Barrett was an assignment manager for KMOV-TV, Channel 4. He was the husband of Kim Williams; father of Sam and Jenny; son of Dr. James W. and the late Margaret Barrett; brother of Jim and Chris Barrett and Amy Fee.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, May 31, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Kirkwood. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to BJC Hospice, 9890 Clayton Road, 63124; or the Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, 11132 Ventura Blvd., Suite 401, Studio City, Calif., 91604.
Dorothy Barthels, a lifelong resident of Webster Groves died Sunday, May 29, 2005. She was 94.
Ms. Barthels was the daughter of Edwin and Henrietta (nee Allbrecht) Barthels. Her many friends and cousins will miss her.
Funeral services were held June 1, at Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves. Interment, Forever Oak Hill Cemetery.
Frieda Bean (nee Schaefer) of Webster Groves died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005.
Mrs. Bean was the wife of the late Arthur M. Jr.; mother of William A. (Stephana) and John A. (Christine) Bean; grandmother of Laura, David, Anna, Ben, Justin and Joe; sister-in-law and aunt.
A memorial service was held Jan. 8, at First Congregational Church of Webster Groves. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-2454; or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Gerber Chapel.
Charles L. (Chuck) Belloli, a longtime Monsanto Company executive and resident of Webster Groves died suddenly on Friday, Oct. 14, 2005. He was 53.
Mr. Belloli was born in St. Louis and grew up in the Hill area of the city. He was a graduate of McBride High School, received his bachelors degree in chemistry from Washington University, and his masters of business administration from the University of Houston.
For the past 31 years, Mr. Belloli has worked in finance and human resources positions across the businesses of Monsanto at locations in the Houston area and in St. Louis. He most recently was the Global Director of Benefits, responsible for the overall design and administration of employee benefits for Monsanto.
Prior to this position, Mr. Belloli held numerous roles in finance at the company.
Mr. Belloli was a longtime member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves. Along with currently serving as the treasurer of Emmanuel, he was treasurer of Emmanuel Church Foundation. He had been on the vestry of Emmanuel, had led the stewardship campaign and was active as a lector, an usher and intercessor. He was a director of the Diocesan Investment Trust of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri.
Mr. Belloli was very involved with community outreach organized work through Monsanto, the United Way and his church. He was also very active with the CSP Tideriders swim team. For the last two years, he was a leader in the organization and administration of the Art and Air Festival that has been held in Webster Groves to benefit local charities of Webster Groves and surrounding communities.
Mr. Belloli is survived by his wife, Pam, and their two sons, Ethan and Elliot; a brother, Robert (Shirley) Belloli; a sister, Dorothy (John) Downs; nephews Chris and Jeff Belloli, Ed Downs, David (Ellen) Downs; and niece Laura (Mike) Waisner. He was the son-in-law of Bill and Patricia Ellis; brother-in-law and cousin.
Funeral services were held Oct. 18, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Arrangements through Gerber Chapel, Webster Groves. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 9 S. Bompart, Webster Groves, Mo. 63119; the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110; or to the United Way, www.stl.unitedway.org.
