Howard Ballheimer, Jr.
Feb 15, 2026
HOWARD BALLHEIMER, JR., 72, of Sparta, Illinois, passed away at 10:50 pm, Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born to the late Howard and Sylvia Ballheimer on December 1, 1953 in Belleville, Illinois.
Howard married Deborah Vickers on May 3, 1986 in Rockwood, Illinois; she survives.
He had worked at Burning Star 4 coal mine...
Mary A. Veach
Feb 15, 2026
MARY A. VEACH, 81, of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, passed away at 8:22 am, Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Three Springs Senior Living and Rehabilitation, Chester, Illinois.
She was born to the late Walter Robert and Dolly Myrtle (nee Wheat) Hooten on September 12, 1944, in Cottage Hill, Illinois.
Mary married Charles Paul Veach on June 7, 1965, in Murphysboro, Illinois; he...
Carol C. Kramer
Feb 13, 2026
CAROL KRAMER, 66, of Baldwin, Illinois, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Mercy South Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
She was born to the late George and Shirley (nee Shields) Seaney on April 28, 1959, in Champaign, Illinois.
Carol married Daniel Kramer on August 27, 2009, in Chester, Illinois; he survives.
Carol had been a homemaker.
Survivors:
Husband:
Daniel Kramer Baldwin, IL
2 Daughters:
Harlie...
William "Bill" Allen Heizer
Feb 11, 2026
WILLIAM “BILL” ALLEN HEIZER, 76, of Waterloo, Illinois, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born to the late Leo J. and Rosalie “Sally” A. (nee Heck) Heizer on September 19, 1949, in Red Bud, Illinois.
Bill married Diane Woods on December 10, 1993, in Belleville, Illinois;...
Lawrence F. Montroy
Feb 10, 2026
LAWRENCE F. MONTROY, 92, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 9:14 am, Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Memorial Hospital in Chester, Illinois.
He was born to the late J. L. and Cecelia (nee Moskop) Montroy on March 16, 1933 in Chester, Illinois.
Lawrence married Patricia Patterson on June 14, 1978 in Chester, Illinois; she survives.
He owned and operated Montroy Jewelry for 42...
William “Trader Bill” Benefiel
Feb 8, 2026
WILLIAM “TRADER BILL” BENEFIEL, JR., 72, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 1:08pm, Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born to the late William and Wilma (nee McCurdy) Benefiel on March 20, 1953 in Anderson, Indiana.
Bill was a construction worker, mechanic and owned Trader Bill’s in Chester, Illinois.
He was a member of the...
Virginia "Ginny" L. Katt
Feb 7, 2026
VIRGINIA “GINNY” L. KATT, 89, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 9:30 pm, Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Independence Care Center, Perryville, Missouri.
She was born to the late Rudolph and Gladys (nee Mizer) Feegle on January 24, 1937 in Chester, Illinois.
Ginny married Victor E. Katt on October 9, 1965 at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester; he preceded her in...
Eugene "Gene" R. Bedwell
Feb 4, 2026
EUGENE “GENE” R. BEDWELL, 63, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 1:31 pm, Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at Memorial Hospital, Chester, Illinois.
He was born to the late Clyde and Shirley (nee Lankford) Bedwell on August 17, 1962 in Perryville, Missouri and was raised on Kaskaskia Island.
Gene spent most of his life driving big rigs for Link’s, Beelman, Gilster Mary-Lee Corporation...
Rita Marie Johnson
Feb 4, 2026
RITA MARIE JOHNSON, 91, of Chester, Illinois, entered into the presence of her Lord on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at Three Springs Senior Living and Rehabilitation, Chester, Illinois.
She was born to the late Raymond F. and Marvel (nee Kintner) Richardson on May 20, 1934 in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Rita lived her life as a preacher’s kid, attending grade schools in...
Jeanne McLean Eastridge
Feb 2, 2026
JEANNE McLEAN EASTRIDGE, 95, passed away on Monday, February 2, 2026, at her home in St. Peters, Missouri, surrounded by the love of her family and friends.
She was born on September 6, 1930, in Chester, Illinois, to Carl and Jessie (née Reynolds) Parker. Jeanne’s life was truly blessed—filled with deep love, joyful laughter, and countless moments that will be remembered...
Ronald C. Kumke
Feb 2, 2026
RONALD C. KUMKE A.K.A. CRAPPIE KING, 87, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 7:32 am, Monday, February 2, 2026 at Randolph County Care Center, Sparta, Illinois.
He was born to the late Lewis and Wilma (nee Wittenbrink) Kumke on March 17, 1938 in Red Bud, Illinois.
Ronald married Jean Schoeppel on January 14, 1961 at Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in...
Joseph Lindell Johnson
Jan 31, 2026
JOSEPH LINDELL JOHNSON, 79, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 9:45 am, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at his residence.
He was born to the late Joseph A. and Opal (nee Gill) Johnson on December 20, 1946 in Murphysboro, Illinois.
Joseph married Marla Yazman on February 22, 1969 in Redwood City, California and celebrated 57 years of marriage; she survives.
He worked for Missouri...
Vicki Lu Smith
Jan 30, 2026
VICKI LU SMITH, 69, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 10:29 am, Friday, January 30, 2026 at her residence.
She was born to the late Milton and Louise (nee Monroe) Hofmeister on April 19, 1956 in Lebanon, Illinois.
Vicki married Timothy Smith on December 10, 1983; he survives.
She had worked at Solar Press, Spartan Light Metals and Gilster Mary-Lee Corporation.
Vicki was a...
John G Nicholson
Jan 27, 2026
JOHN G. NICHOLSON, 87, of Ellis Grove, Illinois, passed away at 7:15 pm, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Carlyle Healthcare and Senior Living, Carlyle, Illinois.
He was born to the late Glenn and Edna (nee Thomas) Nicholson on April 20, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri.
John had worked for Zanders Sporting Goods for over 20 years.
John enjoyed taking long drives and playing...
Sandra K Ashbaker
Jan 26, 2026
SANDRA K. ASHBAKER, 83, of Red Bud, Illinois, passed away at 6:15 pm, Monday, January 26, 2026, at Accolade Healthcare of Waterloo.
Sandra was born to the late Wilbert R. and Katherine (nee Snyder) Braun on July 21, 1942, in Red Bud, Illinois.
Sandra married Lloyd J. Ashbaker on March 16, 1962, in Clayton, Illinois; he preceded her in death on April...
Dorothy A. Renner
Jan 25, 2026
DOROTHY A. RENNER, 95, of Chester, Illinois, passed away at 4:53 pm, Sunday, January 25 2026 at Independence Care Center, Perryville, Missouri.
She was born to the late Benjamin and Lillian (nee Griffard) Moll on December 18, 1930 in Belgique, Missouri.
Dorothy married Aloysius Vallie Renner on June 23, 1951 in Belgique, Missouri; he preceded her in death on December 2, 2008.
She...
Jeffrey Lynn Taylor, Sr.
Jan 25, 2026
JEFFREY LYNN TAYLOR, SR., 72, formerly of Houston, Texas, passed away at 7:18 am, Sunday, January 25, 2026, at his son’s home in Red Bud, Illinois.
He was born to the late John Wilburn and Gladys Mildred (nee Owens) Taylor Sr. on January 17, 1954, on the army base in Heidelberg, Germany.
Jeff has over 30 years of experience in staging and...
Jennifer Nicole Page
Jan 24, 2026
JENNIFER NICOLE PAGE, 43, of Sparta, Illinois, passed away at 1:40 pm, Saturday, January 24, 2026 at her residence.
She was born to Alan and Teresa (nee Eadie) Page on May 31, 1982 in Decatur, Illinois.
Jennifer had worked in the food service industry.
She enjoyed drinking coffee, her cats, Windex and Jack, and feeding the birds. Jennifer loved to cook and spend...
Charles E Miller
Jan 23, 2026
CHARLES E. MILLER, 87, of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, passed away at 9:04 pm, Friday, January 23, 2026 at R & R Country Care, Ruma, Illinois.
He was born to the late Charles and Snowy (nee Hyder) Miller on July 19, 1938 in Southwest City, Missouri.
Chuck married Donna Joy Salmon on December 31, 1966 in Covington, Kentucky; she survives.
Chuck served in...
Gary Louis Kerkhover
Jan 20, 2026
GARY LOUIS KERKHOVER, 81, of Rockwood, Illinois, passed peacefully at home on, Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
He was born on March 15, 1944, in Red Bud, Illinois, to the late Louis J. and Wilma (nee Shemonic) Kerkhover.
Gary lived a life marked by care, steadiness, and loyalty to the people and places he loved. He found his greatest joy on his family’s...
