All Obituaries

Linda L. Mueller, nee Toolen, 75, of Waterloo, IL, died July 24, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. She was born July 1, 1946, in St. Louis, MO. She is survived by her children Cherie (Jim) Lambert and Jennie (Darin) Juenger; grandchildren Emma (Jesse) Hoxworth, Hanna Meaders, Tristan Juenger, John & Emily Lambert; sister Judy Yarbrough; best friend Alice Rodgers; nieces; nephews; and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband Larry Mueller, parents John & Mildred (nee Kunkel) Toolen,...

Kevin  James Olson, 32, of Waterloo, IL, died July 20, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. He was born August 12, 1988, in Joliet, IL. He is survived by his mother Victoria Casey; step-father Winston Casey; brothers Klinton (Sheila) Olson and Spencer Casey; grandfather Jerry Johnson; great grandmother Dorothy Turner; step-grandmother Connie Casey; aunt Gina Johnson (Shawn Harden); niece Natalie Olson; great aunts and great uncles Dodi (Gerry) Ludtke, Clint Murphy, and Barbara Kozlo; step aunt and...

Edith G. Oettle, nee Jones, 91, of Waterloo, IL, died July 23, 2021, in St. Louis, MO. She was born July 14, 1930, in Buncombe, IL. She is survived by her children Rita (Bob) Basinger, Lannie (Jean) Oettle, Gregory (Roni) Oettle, Joe (Diane) Oettle, Terry (Marilyn) Oettle, and Bryan (Vickie) Oettle; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins and friends. She preceded in death by her husband William B. Oettle; parents Dolph and Mable (nee Perry) Jones As an expression of...

David J. Rhodes, 67, of Waterloo, IL, died July 21, 2021, in Shiloh, IL. He was born April 8, 1954, in St. Louis, MO. He is survived by his wife Christina A. Rhodes (nee Myrick); children Elizabeth (Joseph) Yaekel; and Emily (Joey) Ruppert; grandchildren Colin, Joseph "J.J.", and Olivia Yaekel; sister Linda Nowlin; mother-in-law Imogene Myrick; nieces; nephews; and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph B. & Eileen (nee Suntinger) Rhodes; father-in-law...

Ellen L. Harbaugh, passed away peacefully, as the sun was setting on May 9, 2021 at the age of 77.  Ellen was born in Belleville, IL on December 17, 1943 to Henry and Veranda Stork. She graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Southern Illinois University, and attended graduate school at Kansas State University. She worked at Little Grassy Lake, near Carbondale,  IL in the early 60’s, and helped to establish a day camp held at Camp...

Joseph C. "Joe" Racine, 87, of Waterloo, IL, died July 11, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. He was born July 25, 1933, in West Frankfort, IL. He is survived by his wife Mary L. (nee Wittenborn) Racine; sons Glenn A. (Nancy) Racine, John Kyle (Janis) Racine, Sean Racine; grandchildren Lauren (Mike) Dixon, Emily (John) Audrain, Ashley (Cole) Ruiz; great grandchildren Kane Dixon, Camryn Ruiz, John Joseph Audrain, Lillianna Audrain; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; and cousins. He is...

Michael  Richard Klein, 58, of Waterloo, IL, died July 17, 2021, in Waterloo, IL at home, surrounded by his family. He was born September 27, 1962, in Red Bud, IL. He is survived by his wife Judy A. Klein (nee Crook); children Amanda (Dan) Henderson, Jeremy (Amanda) Klein, Bethany (Austin) Hoggard; grandchildren Tate Long, Kenadie-Renee Williams, Jaxon Williams, Charlotte Klein, Everleigh Klein; mother Margaret Klein - Schaefer; siblings MaryJo (Mark) Sanzottera, Steve (Joan) Klein,...

Kelia A. Van de Riet, nee Swonger, 77, of Waterloo, IL, died July 14, 2021, in St. Louis, MO. She was born August 30, 1943, in Madison Lodge, KS. She is survived by her husband Joe Van de Riet; children Jeff (Tracy) Dougherty, Kim (Mike) Gool, Pam (Joe) Messmer, Tricia Durbin; stepchildren Zoe (Ray) Weakly, Angie (Will) Gregson, Susan (John) Novack, and Jill (Glenn) Wehrheim; grandchildren Megan, Shannon, and Joey Dougherty, Cory, Josh, and Ryan Gool, Mindy (Dave) Kramer, Nathan (Chelsea)...

Roger  L. Muertz, 57, of Modoc, IL, died July 12, 2021. He was born April 18, 1964, in Red Bud, IL. He is survived by his son Edward P. Muertz; parents Richard "Dicky" and Nancy (nee Koch) Muertz; sister Tammi (David) Eschmann; aunts; uncles; nieces and nephews Brittany, Courtney, Heather, Nicole, Danielle, and Cody; great nieces and great nephews; cousins; and friends. Roger is preceded in death by his daughter Randi Muertz and brother Ricky R. Muertz. He was a member of...

Reese Leigh Wild, 9 months, of Valmeyer, IL, died July 9, 2021, in St. Louis, MO. She was born October 1, 2020, in St. Louis, MO. She is survived by her parents Blake and Heather Wild, nee Lyman; maternal grandparents Russell & Donna Frazer; paternal grandparents Deneen & Kris Wild; aunts and uncles Brian (Sarah) Wild, Brad Wild (fiancé Chelsea Nabers); and cousins. The family would like to give a special thank you to St. Louis Children's Hospital and all of the staff...

Edward L. "Bob" Kelley, 92, of Waterloo, Illinois, died July 11, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. He was born August 24, 1928, in Tipton, IL. He is survived by his children Kay (Dale) Haudrich, Kerry (Kathy) Kelley, Kris (Deneen) Wild, Karl (Delonda) Kelley, and Kora (Les) Hurley; 15 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; brother-in-law James Devine; nieces; nephews; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter J.  & Mary Evelyn  (nee Walsh) Kelley Sr., wife...

Patricia K. Cheek, nee Freise, 69, of Evansville, IL, died July 6, 2021, in Red Bud, IL. She was born January 11, 1952, in St. Louis, MO. She is survived by her husband George D. Cheek; children Shannon M. Butler, Angela (Kirk) Howell, and George Cheek Jr.; grandchildren Deanna (Mike) Parker, Amber (Dwayne) Butzen, Dylan Cheek, Teya Poyor, Zachary Cheek, and Hayden Cheek; great grandchildren; sister Mildred Moats; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces; nephews; and cousins. Pat is...

Mary E. Crimm, nee Hyde, 97, died May 5, 2021, at Oak Hill, Waterloo. She was born August 2, 1923, in Orrick, MO, the daughter of George and Katherine Hyde. On August 12, 1942, she married the late Willard Crimm. They had five children who all survive her: Margie Lindhorst of Columbia, Phillip (Janet) Crimm and Kathryn (David) Riebeling of Fults, Bill Crimm of Maeystown, and Carole (Gary) Rahn of Millstadt.  Mary enjoyed sewing, playing bridge, flower gardening, setting a fancy table...

David L. "Dave" Antry Sr., 85, of Waterloo, IL, died July 4, 2021, in Belleville, IL. He was born September 1, 1935, in Marion, IL. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Antry; sons David (Cyndi) Antry, Jr., Charles (Debbie) Antry, and Robert Dale (fiancé Karen) Antry; grandchildren Michael Antry, Kayla Antry and Abigail Antry, and Victoria Antry & Jessica (Alejandro) Cuellar; brother Vern "Skip" (Sally) Antry; and many nieces and nephews. David is preceded in...

Ronald R. Upchurch, 84, of Waterloo, IL, died June 26, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. He was born October 15, 1936, in Princeton, IN. He is survived by his wife Rosemarie Upchurch nee Feldmeier; children Scott (Julie) Upchurch and Laura (Darryl) Schilling; grandchildren Michael Upchurch, Ethan Schilling, and Tate Schilling; nieces; nephews; and cousins. Ron is preceded in death by his parents Roy Headley & Margaret (nee Horrell) Upchurch and brother Jack Upchurch He was a Mason and member of...

Earl R. Jackson, 97, of Waterloo, IL, died June 25, 2021, in Osage Beach, MO. He was born July 5, 1923, in Taylor Spring, IL. He is survived by his 4 children Joyce (Jim) Tripp; Kenneth (Isabell) Jackson; Dennis (Paula) Jackson; & Don Jackson; 7 grandchildren; 5 step grandchildren, several great grandchildren; several step great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren; nieces; & nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife of 75 years Ruth Mildred Jackson (nee Jarvis);...

Darlene C. Wetzler, nee Schmitz, 91, of Renault, IL, died June 23, 2021, in Waterloo, IL. She was born August 22, 1929, in Renault, IL. She is survived by her children Danny (Joyce) Wetzler, David (Brenda) Wetzler, & Brenda Keeling; 7 grandchildren Stacy (Troy) Melliere, Neal (Stefanie) Wetzler, Jennifer (Justin) Evans, David (Amanda) Wetzler, Ashley (Travis) Terveer, Mike Keeling, and Eric (Jennifer) Keeling; 13 great grandchildren; nieces; nephews; & cousins. She is preceded in...

Terry F. Heller, 66, of Red Bud, IL, died June 21, 2021, in Columbia, IL. He was born September 25, 1954, in Red Bud, IL. He is survived by his mother Joyce L. Heller (nee Koch); sister Donna (Don) Gariglietti: niece & nephew Carrie Hahn & Greg (Dana) Hahn; great nieces Josie & Kelly; uncle & cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Francis H. Heller. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church - Renault, St. John Lutheran Church Men's Club, Red Bud Lion's...

Rev. Allen J. "Al" Kitson, 91, of Red Bud, Illinois, died June 14, 2021, in Red Bud, IL. He was born January 1, 1930, in Plymouth, WI. He is survived by his  children Sondra (Tim) Wittmann, Deen (Tim) Hartley, Kris (John) Lanman, and Tami (Bret) Ries; grandchildren Heather, Jeff, Melissa, T.J., Mandi, Krista, Brandon, Micah, Alexandra, Becki, and Victoria; great grandchildren Kaylee, Madelyn, Erin, William, Maranda, Alicia, Klaudia, Emma, Addyson, Josiah, Isaac, Analynn,...

Ruth Ann  Elizabeth Meister, nee Schaefer, 83, of Benton, IL, died June 2, 2021, in Benton, IL. She was born March 2, 1938, on her family’s farm in Waterloo, IL to Emil and Adelia (Anderson) Schaefer.       Ruth Ann graduated from Waterloo High School, Class of 1956.      She married Vernon Meister on September 28, 1957 at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Waterloo, IL.      Ruth Ann loved her family dearly, and was a...