The Breese Journal from Breese, Illinois • 5

Breese Journal Thursday, August 20, 2009 Page 5A OBITUARIES Vernon Billhartz Vernon H. Billhartz, 72, of New Baden, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at his home. He was born Dec. 2, 1936, at New Baden, the son of Ida (Singler) and Henry Billhartz.

On Sept. 16, 1961, he married Jo Ann Mayer at St. Peter's Cathedral in Belleville, and she died Jan. 4, 1989. On Aug.

31, 1996, he married Pauline (Huelsman) Klostermann at New Baden. Vernon was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked for Ace Metal in New Baden, the Oakland Stove Foundry in Belleville, and the Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Hazelwood, as a test driver. After his retirement he worked for Local 325 at Hazelwood, Mo.

Vernon was a member of St. George Parish in New Baden, New Baden Knights of Columbus Council 10311, Bishop Althoff 4th Degree Assembly 193, Local 325 in St. Louis and New Baden Senior Citizens. He is survived by his wife; his children, Pamela Billhartz of New Baden, Cynthia (Vahe) Gregorian of St. Louis and Diana (Mike) Woolsey of Glen Carbon; two grandchildren, Braden and Brent Woolsey: three sisters, Ella Mae Voss of New Baden, Arlene (Hugo) Schulte of Belleville and Carol Ann Billhartz of Damiansville: five stepchildren, Daniel (Catherine) Klostermann of Highland, Joyce (Alan) Lande of Woodstock, and Yvonne (Phil) Hallemann and Brenda (Dan) Segrist of Pierron, and Jackie (Richard) Pitt of Jonesville, nine stepgrandchildren, Mallory and Adam Klostermann, Jonathan and Erica Lande, Jessica, Alicia and Amber Jo Hallemann, Samantha Segrist and Bradley Pitt; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Margie Billhartz of Breese, Genny and Virgil Endres of Branson, Dorothy Hasenstab of Belleville, Herb Huelsman of Seymore, Edna Niebur of Edwardsville, Evelyn Pakosta of Trenton, Connie Street of St.

Louis and Rita (Jim) Sullivan of Trenton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; a sister, Lucille Karpel; two brothers, Norbert Billhartz and Ralph Billhartz; brothers- and sisters-in law, Frankie Voss, Robert Karpel. Earl Hasenstab, Margie Huelsman, Mel Niebur and Fred Pakosta. Visitation was held Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. The Reverend Eugene Neff presided at the funeral services Wednesday at St.

George Church in New Baden. Interment was in Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Memorials may be made to Clinton County Relay For Life or Heartland Hospice and will be received at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hempenfu neralhome.com. Charles Gray Charles R. "Dick" Gray, 70, of Carlyle, died Friday, Aug.

14, 2009, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. He was born June 17, 1939, at Breese, the son of Mabel H. (Harris) and Charles R. Gray.

On Feb. 21, 1959, he married Carrie E. Sidwell, and they later divorced. On June 5, 1976, he married Jo Ann M. (Carrigan) Gebke, and she survives in Carlyle.

Dick served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He was a retired electrician and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 309 in Collinsville. He owned and operated Gray's Boat and Camper Storage in Carlyle since 1978. Dick was a member of Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 361, Salem; past member and Noble Grand of Sherwood Lodge 879, International Order of Odd Fellows; past member of KVS Sportsmen Club, ATA Amateur Trap Shooting Association and the Keyesport Fire Department.

He attended St. Mary's Church in Carlyle. Dick was an avid race car fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife; a son, Anthony W. "Tony" (Lisa) Gray of Patoka; a daughter, Debra (Gery) Long of Brownstown; a daughter-in-law, Lori Gray of Brownstown; two stepsons, Lawrence J.

"Larry" (Mary) Gebke of Vandalia and Duane (Tami) Gebke of Dalton City; a stepdaughter, Cheryl (Douglas) Campbell of Pierron; eight grandchildren, Trisha, Zachary, Zeke and Jonie Gray, Sara Boulyard, Amanda Bell, Jeremy Long and Monica Long; nine stepgrandchildren, Joseph, Holly, Connor, Kyle, Heather, Joshua and Hannah Gebke and Nicholas and Lauren Campbell; seven great-grandchildren, Courtney, Brook and Timmy Gray, Samantha, Colton and Blake Bell and Brya Long; three sisters, Octa Ann Hass of Grand Junction, Mary (Lee Roy) Barth of and Sue Hammond of Altamont; and two brothers, John (Jeannette) Gray of Beaver Creek and Ray (Vickie) Gray of Keyesport. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Timothy Z. Gray; and two grandchildren, Timothy W. Gray and Christian Gebke. Visitation was held Monday evening and Tuesday morning at Zieren Day Funeral Home in Carlyle.

Father George Mauck presided at the Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday at St. Mary's Church. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to.

the American Diabetes Association and will be accepted 'at the funeral home. Online expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family at www.zierenday.com. TRENTON CHIROPRACTIC Physical (Rehabilitation Therapy Center 224-9118 Chiropractic Curt Wesselmann, D.C. 24-Hour Gym NOW OPEN! Sports Injuries Back Neck Pain Licensed Post-Operative Hip Pain Physical Rehabilitation of Pain HIP, KNEE AND Knee Therapist SHOULDER Shoulder Pain On Staff Catherine Meier Catherine W. Meier, 99, of Breese, died Tuesday, Aug.

18, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 8, 1910, in Breese, the daughter of Josephine (Gollner) and Henry Bruegge. On June 21, 1938. she married Edward J. "Lefty" Meier at St.

Dominic's Church in Breese. Catherine worked in her father's furniture store and funeral home before she was married. She later founded the Excel Bottling Company with her husband where she worked to age 99. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Her positive attitude was an inspiration to her family and all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.

Catherine was a member of St. Augustine Parish in Breese, the Daughters of Isabella Precious Blood Circle 718. and was a charter member of the Breese Historical Society. She is survived by two sons, Paul (Carol) Meier of Chesterfield, and Joseph Meier of Breese; four grandchildren, Kathleen (Steve) Ludwig of Salem, William (Debbie) Meier of Breese, Amy (David) Hansfield of Wheaton and David (Alina) Meier of Breese; and 11 great-grandchildren, Alex. Gabrielle and Zachary Ludwig, Liam, Abby and Emmy Meier, Jacob, Noah and Olivia Hansfield, and Hannah and Ashton Meier.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Feb. 23, 1996; two brothers, Ferdinand Bruegge and Theodore "Ted" Bruegge; and two sisters, Marie Heyer and Louise Petermeyer. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese.

The Daughters of Isabella will pray the rosary at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. The Reverend Chuck Tuttle will preside at the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial Friday at St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Interment will follow at St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to All Saints Academy and will be received at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hempenfu Dustin Bowman Dustin Bowman died March 17, 2009. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Aug.

22, at Church of God in Carlyle. Call (618) 523-8184 for in- formation. William McCaw William O. "Bill" McCaw 58. of Highland, died Monday, Aug.

17. 2009. at New Memphis. He was born Aug. 13, 1951.

at Highland, the son of Eileen V. (Zbinden) and William O. McCaw Sr. On Oct. 3, 1987.

he married Nancy Ann Bastilla at Highland. Bill grew up in Highland and graduated from Highland High School in 1969. He worked at some gas stations for a while, then worked at Bennie Koch's Garage. Later he was employed by EF Trucking: in 1990 he worked for Head Line Express; and in 1993 was employed by Kelcor Trucking where he drove local routes in the evening. Bill loved to play music.

He started playing the fiddle at age 15 and played with his father and Jeannie Popkess as "The Two of Us." He also played with Ruth Marty annually on Labor Day in New Glarus. Wis. Bill loved hunting, fishing, cooking, making wine and beer, and spending time with his family and cousins, Cliff and Ronnie Zbinden and Mike Renspurger, and good friends Mark Riebold and Bill Braswell, on the Kaskaskia River at the clubhouse. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, C. (Paul) Schulz of Collinsville; a son, Robert O.

(special friend Carla A. Hoedebecke) McCaw of Highland; a grandson, Blake A. McCaw of Highland; a sister, Hedy (Leroy) Hock of Millersburg; a brother, James C. (Evelyn McCaw of Highland; his mother-in-law, Shirley J. (Hug) Bastilla of Highland; his maternal grandmother-inlaw, Della R.

(Beinecke) Hug; numerous cousins; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father on Dec. 21, 1973; his mother on March 12, 1997: his father-in-law, Robert F. Bastilla: and his maternal grandfather-in-law, Waldo E. Hug.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Friday at SpengelBoulanger Funeral Home in Highland. The Reverend Leonard Pye, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Highland, and the Reverend Polly McWilliams from Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Weldon Springs, will preside at the 11 a.m. memorial service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Meals on Wheels, or to the family. Condolences can be sent to the' family by visiting www. or by e-mail at Ann Cotton Ann Rose Cotton. 77. of Carlyle, died Monday, Aug.

10. 2009, at Carlyle Healthcare Center. She was born May 22. 1932. at Oklahoma City, the daughter of Edna (Melton) and O.B.

Cotton. Ann retired from Carlyle Unit 1 school system in 1994 after 30 years of service. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Carlyle where she served as the music director for many years. and a member of Illinois Retired: Teachers Association. She served on the Carlyle Cemetery Board.

Ann helped organize and served as the director of the first Christmas cantata in Carlyle. During her teaching career. she organized many singing groups. including the CottonPickers. She is survived "by a son.

Beau (Leann) Cotton of Carlyle: two grandsons, Ethan Cotton and Jacob Cotton; and two cousins, Vicky Morrow of Gainseville, Texas, and David Thomas of Claremore, Okla. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Carlye. The Rev. Keith Michaels will preside at the 11 a.m.

Celebration of Life Saturday at the church. In keeping with Ann's wishes, private family committal services were held Wednesday in Carlyle Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice or First United Methodist Church and will be received at Frerker Funeral Home, Carlyle, through which arrangements were made. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family at www.frerkerfuneral.com. Clyde Monken Clyde L.

Monken, 82, of Summerfield, died Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. He was born Dec. 30.

1926. at St. Morgan, the son of Ellen (Reiger) and Lawrence Monken. He married Jean Herman at Arkansas. He is survived by his wife; a son, Myron Monken of Louisiana; a grandson; and two sisters, Opal Manwaring of St.

Morgan and Joyce Geiger of Highland. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son. Stanley Monken; and a brother, Norman Monken. Visitation and the funeral service were held Tuesday at Moss Funeral Home in Trenton with the Reverend Gary Kniepkamp presiding at the service. Interment was in College Hills.

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2009. at Carlyle Healthcare Center. She was born Jan, 29. 1919. at St.

Louis. the daughter of Josephine (Koehler) and Anton Washford. On Aug. 30. 1941.

she married Paul J. Rohr at New Athens. Lucille received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and was a member of the SIUE Alumni Association. She had taught at St. Anthony School in Beckemeyer and retired from full-time teaching at St.

Augustine School i in Breese. Lucille then was a substitute teacher in the Carlyle area before teaching at Mater Dei High School in Breese. In her later years she did private tutoring. Lucille was a member of St. Mary Church.

Carlyle, where she had served as a Eucharistic minister. She was the Parish School of Religion director at St. Mary's for many years. She is survived by a daughter. Ruth (Paul) Thoms of Carlyle: three grandchildren; one great-grandchild: one stepgreatgrandchild: and her twin brother.

Robert Washford of Beckemeyer. She was preceded in death by her husband on Dec. 11. 1987. Visitation was held Thursday evening and Friday morning at Frerker Funeral Home in Carlyle.

Father George Mauck presided at the Mass of Christian Burial Friday at St. Mary. Church. Interment was in St. Mary Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Mater Dei High School Foundation Association Scholarship Fund and will be received at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family. at www.frerkerfuneral.com. DO YOU PREPARE MORE FOR FAMILY VACATIONS THAN YOU DO FOR COLLEGE? Having fun with your family is important. But nothing is more vital than your child's future.

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