Family Funeral and Obituary-Page 6
The obituaries on this page are of neighbors, and other people and families my parents and I knew in the Jersey County, Illinois area and in the surrounding counties, but are not related to my family.
Jerome G. Corbett
My father knew Jerome G. Corbett who owned the Ford Dealership in Hardin, IL and bought several vehicles from him over the years. I found this information on the internet at this website- http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet90/srgroups/sr/900SR0128LV.html regarding Jerome G. Corbett.
State of Illinois 90th General Assembly Legislation-90_SR0128 LRB9007623KBk SENATE RESOLUTION--WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to send their condolences to the family of Jerome G. Corbett of Hardin, Illinois, who passed away on October 20, 1997;
and WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett was born in Hardin, Illinois, on January 19, 1917; his parents were Bartholomew "Batty" and Margaret Fischer Corbett; on February 13, 1955 he married JoAn Dufner in Hermann, Missouri; and WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett attended Hardin High School and graduated from Routt High School in Jacksonville; Jerome Corbett attended St. Louis University and the University of Illinois; he played professional baseball for the St. Louis Browns organization, and will be remembered for being an exceptional athlete and scholar through both high school and college; Jerome Corbett served in World War II as an officer in the Far East Asia Command where he received a Direct Commission;
and WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett operated many family businesses including a Western Auto dealership, an International Harvester agency, a dairy, an ice house, a butcher shop, a grocery store, and Corbett Farms; he also owned Corbett Ford and Corbett Buick in Hardin and Dufner Corbett Motors in Hermann, Missouri; he was presently working in his wife's real estate and insurance business;
and WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett served the State of Illinois and the citizens of the 49th district as an Illinois State Representative; while serving in the House, Jerome Corbett was active in the Highway Study Commission and the Export Advisory Board; Jerome Corbett helped his district in the areas of highway improvements and bringing telephone service to many of the rural areas; and
WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett served as a Fifty Year member of the American Legion, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, a board member of the Calhoun County chapter of the American Cancer Society, a member of St. Norbert's Catholic Church, a fifty-year member of the Missouri Athletic Club, and served Calhoun County as the Democratic Chairman for twenty-five years;
and WHEREAS, Jerome Corbett will be remembered as a man dedicated to nature, to his community, to his faith, and to his family;
Jerome Corbett is survived by his loving wife, JoAn, his son, Dufner J. Corbett, his daughter, Kelly Ann Corbett, and his grandchildren, Margot and Christopher; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the death of Jerome Corbett; may he be remembered for his dedication to the things he believed in and cared about; and be it further RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jerome Corbett.
Glenn G. Varble
Glenn G. Varble, 81, of Pearl died Saturday morning, Jan. 15 , 1994, at his residence. Born June 5, 1912, in Woodville, he was a son of Leonard and Tina Schudel Varble. He married Bernita M. Cummings eb. 5, 1936. She died April 13, 1975. He later married Cora Alice Schaaf Dec. 18, 1975. She Survives.
He is also survived by two daughters, Carolyn Karben of Vancouver, Wash., and Glenda Gibbens of Eugene, Ore.; three sons, Adrian Varble of Eldred, Dale Varble of Reno, Nev.; two step-daughter, Carol Barnett of Mt. Sterling and Judy Roth of Fieldon, Bob Schaaf of Jerseyville, Charlie and Bill Schaaf, both of Fieldon and Jim Schaaf of Meredosia; 16 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; many stepgrandchildren; a sister, Edna Bailey of Mesa, Ariz.; and a brother, Delbert Varble of Alton.
Mr Varble was a lifelong farmer in Greene and later Pike County. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Carrollton. Memorials are suggested to the Glenn Varble Memorial Fund in care of Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Carrollton.
Charles Wesley Mundy
Died 04-30-1979. Dated 5/3/79: Services for Charles Wesley Mundy, 63, of rural Fieldon will be held at 1 pm Friday at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home with the Rev. Wilbur Cain officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery. His death occurred at 8:45 pm April 30 at Blu-Fountain Manor in Godfrey. Born in Jersey County March 7 1916 he was a son of Harvey V. and Rozena Crawford Mundy and was a laborer.
His survivors are his wife, the Former Julia Pitchford whom he married December 31,1938; one son, Harvey L. Mundy of Yuma, Arizona; three Daughters, Shiley Skaggs, Victoria, Texas, Nancy Birkenstock, Woodson Terrace, Missouri, and Lois Greenwell, Kane; 11 grandchildren. Also surviving are four Brothers, Roy Mundy, Alton, Al, Brighton, Robert, Eugene, Oregon, and Richard, Seattle, Washington; seven sisters, Betty of Arizona, Martha McQuagge, Washington, Aldora Miller, Eileen Crew, Lela Williams and Lillian Lamparter of Alton.
Visitation from 4 to 9 pm Thursday at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home where Masonic services will be conducted at 7 pm. The American Cancer society has been designated as a memorial.
Walter Ray Felter
Walter Ray Felter, 83, retired farmer and auctioneer of RR 4, Jerseyville, died Sunday at Jersey Community hospital. Services were held at Jacoby Brothers funeral home in Jerseyville. Rev. Carlton Christenson officiated and burial was in Grimes-Neely cemetery.
Mr. Felter was born January 25, 1889 in Jersey County the son of William & Emma (Rust) (Rusk?) Felter. Surviving are his wife, Nellie (Hunt) Felter; 1 sister, Mrs. Maude Mackeldon of Jerseyville; 1 niece, Mrs. Nadine Wallace of Peoria; and a sister in law, Mrs. Margaret Felter of Springfield.
Oliver Thomas Ferguson
Oliver Thomas Ferguson, Sr., 77 years, 5 months, 25 days, of Otterville, died at Jersey Community hospital where he had been a patient for 9 days. He was a retired caretaker of Pere Marquette park. Friends called at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Services were held at Gospel Assembly church with Rev. Harry W. Frazer officiating. Burial was in McDow cemetery. Mr. Ferguson, a son of the late Thomas E. & Alice (Lane) Ferguson, was born in Jersey County, January 7, 1888.
Surviving are his wife, Margaret (Kirchner) Ferguson; 2 sons, Pearl Ferguson of Bethalto and Oliver Ferguson, Jr., of Grafton; 3 daughters, Mrs. Murie L. Marshall of Grafton, Mrs. William Cox of Phoenix, AZ, and Mrs. Robert Woolsey of Jerseyville; 19 grandchildren; 9 g-grandchildren; 1 brother, Clifford Ferguson of Roxana, and 2 sisters, Mrs. Louisa Gardner of Jerseyville and Mrs. Alma Murphy of Jacksonville. 1 son, Thomas E. Ferguson, preceded him in death.
Mrs. Alberta M. Evans
Alberta M. Evans, 63, died at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug 14, 1987 at St Anthony's Hospital in Alton. She was born in Fieldon, a daughter of the late Isom and Adah Young Schaaf. On Dec 8, 1945 in Jerseyville she married Ward Evans and he survives.
Also surviving are a son David Evans of Jerseyville; two grandchildren; a brother, Charles Schaaf of Jerseyville and five sisters Sophia Miller and Margie Dilks of Jerseyville, Dorothy Mitchell of Winchester, Hazel Thompson of Kane and Rosemary Schaaf of Fieldon. Services were conducted at 10 a.m. today at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Hone in Jerseyville. The Rev. Jean Erb officiated. Burial was in Fieldon Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.
Ward "Cobb" Evans
Ward "Cobb" Evans, 93, formerly of Fieldon, died at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, at Jerseyville Manor Nursing Home after a brief illness. He was born in Potosi, Mo. on Oct. 5, 1909, the son of the late Henry and Lula Evans. After the death of his mother during childbirth, he was raised by his father, as well as his older brother and sister. He was employed as a truck driver for many years for the Fieldon Rock Quarry, which later became Valstad Quarry, retiring in 1971. He loved to spend time in his garden and watching sports, particularly baseball and wrestling. On Dec. 8, 1945, he married the former Alberta Schaaf in Jerseyville. They shared nearly 42 years together before she preceded him in death on Aug. 14, 1987.
Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, David and Carol Evans of Jerseyville; two grandchildren, Stacy and her husband, Duane Beiser of Okinawa, Japan and Chris Smith of Jerseyville; and three great-grandchildren, Wade and Meghan Beiser and Brittany Schulte. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Clifford Evans; and a sister, Esther Grayson.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Crawford Funeral Home (the Jacoby Funeral Home Chapel) in Jerseyville, where the Rev. Randy Cartwright will conduct services at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be at Fieldon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Mrs. Stella Davenport
Died 01-11-1953. Stella Davenport, 76 years, 1 months, 9 days, died at 1 :20 pm Sunday, November 1, at Boyd Memorial hospital in Carrollton following a few weeks illness. The deceased was a daughter of the late Henry C. & Mary (Reddish) Harmon and was born in Jersey County, September 24, 1877.
Mrs Davenport is survived by 2 daughters, Mrs. Lester Dabbs and Mrs. Carl Dehner of Jerseyville; 1 step-son Laverne Davenport of Fieldon; 5 grandchildren; 11 g-grandchildren, and 1 g-g-granddaughter, and 4 sisters, Mrs Joseph Slover and Mrs. Louis Houseman of Jerseyville, Mrs. Gertrude Black of Elsberry, Missouri, and Mrs. ?? G. Redstone of Miami, FL. Funeral services were held at Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville, Wednesday November 4, at 2 pm. Rev. Carl C. Moman officiated, with burial in Oak Grove cemetery.
Mrs. Margaret Ellen Frazer
Margaret Ellen Frazer, 79, died June 30, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Cope where she made her home. She was the daughter of the late F. W. & Catherine (Worthey) Dabbs, and was born in Jersey County, January 15, 1871. Her husband preceded her in death.
Surviving is 1 daughter, Mrs. George Cope, Jerseyville; 4 sons, Edward Frazer of Grafton, George Frazer of Jerseyville, Harry Frazer of Carrollton and Herbert Frazer of Fieldon; 1 brother, Oscar Dabbs of Fieldon and 1 sister, Mrs. Don Beach of Otterville. Visitation was at Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Services were held from Peace Evangelical & Reformed church in Jerseyville on July 2. Rev. J. W. Stoeker officiated and interment was in Otterville cemetery.
Mrs. Thelma "Sis" Kirchner
Thelma "Sis" Kirchner, 87, died at 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001, at the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehab Center. She was born March 26, 1914, in Jersey County, to the late Paul and Bertha (Borman) Gilleland. A beautician for 15 years and a salesperson for 15 years at Graham Variety, she retired in 1987. She was a member of the Women of the Moose, VFW and American Legion auxiliaries, all of Jerseyville and Jersey Community Hospital Auxiliary. On March 16, 1946, in Fieldon, she married Russell "Peck" Kirchner. He died Aug. 19, 1969.
Surviving are nieces and nephews, Phyllis and J.W. Medling of Eldred, Linda and Rick Freer, Aaron and Anthony Robeen, Andrea, Frank, Page, Tom and Nate Passaro and Casey Presley. She was preceded in death by a brother, Keith Gilleland. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services at 1 p.m. Friday at Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville. Memorials may be given to a charity of one's choice.
Mrs. Ruth V. Richey
Ruth V. Richey, 80, died at 12:40 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, at Jerseyville Manor. She was born Sept. 9, 1922, in Jersey County, to George F. and Lena (Cope) Frazer. She married Joseph Vincent Richey Dec. 5, 1942, in El Paso, Texas. He died Sept. 18, 1988. A homemaker, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville.
Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Donna Kay and Urban "Buddy" Postlewait of Jerseyville, Marsha R. and Dale Schroeder of Grafton; four grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a sister and brother-in-law, Marcella "Mickey" and Eugene Steinkuehler of Jerseyville; and two sisters-in-law, Helen and Phyllis Frazer, both of Jerseyville. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Michael Vincent Richey; and a brother, George E. Frazer.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services at noon Monday at First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville. Pat Schell will officiate. Burial will be at Fieldon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church. Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph J. "Jerry" Brangenberg
Ralph J. "Jerry" Brangenberg, 73, died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis. A son of the late Joseph Robert and Otelia (Goetz) Brangenberg, he was born Sept. 11, 1931, in Kampsville. He and the former Lura Mooney were married on Jan. 8, 1955, in Pittsfield. She survives. The Korean Army veteran retired as a grain and livestock farmer. He served on the R.E.A. board of directors for six years and served one term as Calhoun County Commissioner.
Besides his wife, surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Jane Brangenberg and Gary and Mary Brangenberg, all of Kampsville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy and Bill Klunk of Brighton and Connie and Terry Roundcount of Fieldon; seven grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; two brothers, Kenneth Brangenberg of Kampsville and Harold Brangenberg of Jacksonville. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Paul E. Brangenberg; and a sister, Evelyn Lynn.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hanks-Gubser Funeral Home in Hardin, where Brother Wilson Ramsey will officiate at funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Burial, with full military rites, will follow at Summit Grove Cemetery in Kampsville. Memorials may be given to a charity of one's choice.
Mrs. Betty Jean Frazer
Betty Jean Frazer, 64, died at 4:17 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2003, at Alton Memorial Hospital. The daughter of Ruth Christina (Renken) Dean of Jerseyville and the late Clay Roosevelt McAdams, she was born Jan. 5, 1939, in a log cabin near Grafton in Jersey County. Raised near Otterville, she married Marvin Herbert Frazer on Dec. 26, 1954, at the Hope Lutheran Church in Jerseyville. She and her husband chose to remain in Otter Creek Township, where they have raised their family. She was an election judge for the township for the past 20 years.
In addition to her mother and her husband, she is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly and Randy Manning of Columbia, Ill., Hope and Greg Bradley of Jefferson City, Mo., and Tina and Eric Trisler of Jerseyville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Herbert and Kim Frazer of Jerseyville and Marvin L. and Trisha Frazer of Jefferson City, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Christina and John Lyming of Jerseyville; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, Henry McAdams of Otterville and Donald and Roberta McAdams of Delhi. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jeanie Frazer.
Visitation will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Crawford Funeral Home (Jacoby Chapel) in Jerseyville. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Hope Lutheran Church in Jerseyville, with the Rev. Dr. Leslie Mitkos officiating. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville. Memorials may be given to the Jersey County Relay for Life.
Milton Richard Lowe
Milton Richard Lowe, 69, died unexpectedly at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001, in Alton. He was born July 12, 1932, in Rosedale to the late Charles and Cecelia (Cope) Lowe. After attending Medora High School, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. For more than 40 years, he was employed at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, retiring in 1995 as an inspector. He was a lifetime member of the Cottage Hills VFW Post. He married the former Georgia (Bruce) Crider July 1, 1976, in Godfrey. She survives.
Also surviving are a son, Dan Lowe of Bethalto; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda (Crider) and David Scheeler of Elsah and Janice (Crider) and Steve Murphy of Bunker Hill; a son and daughter-in-law, Phillip and Beth Crider of White Hall; nine grandchildren; and a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Louise Lowe of Meadowbrook. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Lowe, and four sisters, Orena Robinson, Almeda Bowker, Lola Wahl and Vera Hazelip.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Rev. Ray Robinson, his nephew, will officiate. He will be laid to rest, with full military graveside rites by the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 and VFW Post 4528, at the Rosedale Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the American Red Cross, to assist the victims of the recent terrorist attacks, through the funeral home.
William Walker
William Walker, a farmer in vicinity of Shiloh, was stricken 11 weeks ago with Brights disease. He passed to his reward on July 12. Honest, upright man, who leaves his wife, 2 sons, Henry and Louis; 1 daughter, Edna. Funeral from Shiloh M E Church with Rev Matthews of Grafton serving.
Louis J Walker
Died 30-11-1966. Louis J Walker, 80 years, 1 month, 17 days, who resided near Jerseyville, died November 30 at Jersey Community hospital. Mr Walker, a retired farmer, had been hospitalized for 7 days. He was born in Thomas County, KS, on October 13, 1886, a son of the late William & Emma (Segul) Walker. He had been a resident of Jersey County for many years.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs Gertrude (McCann) Walker of Jerseyville, 1 daughter, Mrs Jasper (Hilda) Blasa of Dow, 2 sons, Ralph Walker of Jerseyville and Clinton Walker of Centralia, MO, 11 grandchildren and 18 g-grandchildren. 1 sister, 1 brother and 2 grandchildren preceded him in death.
Visitation was at Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Services were held at Gospel Assembly Church with the pastor, Rev Harry Frazer and Rev Ronald Jeffries, Pastor of Union Forest Church, officiating Interment was in Valhalla Memorial Park.
Mrs. Gertrude B Walker
Died 26-02-1978. Gertrude B Walker, 86, of Jerseyville, died February 26, at Jersey Community hospital. She was born September 12, 1891 in Jersey County, daughter of Mr & Mrs John McCann. She married Louis Walker in 1909 in Otterville and he died in November 1966.
She is survived by 1 son, Ralph Walker, Jerseyville; 1 daughter, Mrs Hilda Blasa, Dow; 11 grandchildren, 23 g-grandchildren ; 1 brother, Leslie McCann of Jerseyville; and 1 sister, Mrs Vera Banfield of Grafton. 1 son Clinton, preceded her in death. Funeral services were held at Gospel Assembly Church, February 28. Rev Harry Frazer officiated and burial was in Valhalla Memorial Park. Arrangements and visitation was in charge of Jacoby Brothers Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
Earl C. Richey
Earl C. Richey, Sr., 82, of Medora, died at 5 pm Friday, November 28, 1986 at Jersey Community hospital. A retired farmer, born in Jersey County, he was a son of the late J. Vincent Richey & Elizabeth (Springman) Richey Smith. He married Alice (Kaufmann) Richey on January 16, 1928 in Alton, and she survives.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are 5 daughters, Esther Searls and Doris Elliott, both of Medora, Dorothy Loy of Patterson, California, Joann Taylor of Collinsville, and Loretta Farrell of Alton; 1 son, Earl C. Richey, Jr., of Medora; 24 grandchildren; 23 g-grandchildren; 5 sisters, Nell Gowin of Granite City, Loretta Doerr of East Alton, Alice Parton of Dow, Iva Osburn of Jerseyville, Annie Osburn of Grafton, 1 brother, Joseph Vincent Richey of Jerseyville; and 1 half-sister, Ethel Maroney of Marshalltown, IA.
Visitation will be from 5-9 pm Sunday at Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Visitation will continue there from 8-11 am Monday when the body will be taken to Bethel Baptist church, where visitation will continue from 12 noon until time of services at 2 pm Monday with Rev. Earl Clagg officiating. Burial will be in Medora cemetery. Memorials may be given to Medora ambulance service.
Dr. John Harland Houseman
Dr. John Harland Houseman, 78, died unexpectedly at 8:42 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, in the emergency room at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville. The only child of the late John Henry and Imogene (Mourning) Houseman, he was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Lime Kill Holler in Jersey County. A graduate of Jersey Township High School in 1940, he went on to attend Blackburn College in Carlinville, after which he enrolled in Washington University in St. Louis, where he obtained his dentistry education. After serving his internship in dentistry in the dental corps of the U.S. Navy, he returned to Jerseyville in 1948 and opened his own practice. He continued to serve the people of this area at his office for 48 years, before retiring in 1996. An active member of the community, he was a member of First Baptist Church in Jerseyville, the Jerseyville Masonic Lodge, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Temple of East St. Louis, Elks Lodge 954, Moose Lodge 695, American Legion Post 492, and a charter member of both Westlake Country Club and the Rotary Club of Jerseyville. He also served as a 50-year member of the dental professional organizations, through the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, the Madison District Dental Society, as well as serving as past president of the St. Louis Go-Kart Club. He married the former Dorothy (Culley) Heininger in December 16, 1951, at the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville, and they shared 30 years of marriage before her death Dec. 30, 1981.
Surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. John and Stephanie of Godfrey; two stepsons and their spouses, Gary and Gwen Heininger of Alton and Richard and Rosemary Heininger of Council Bluffs, Iowa; a stepson-in-law, Donald Dugan of Alton; two grandchildren, John G. Houseman and Valerie Houseman; nine stepgrandchildren, Dennis, Daniel, David and Duane Dugan, Todd Heininger, Toi (Heininger) Miller, Stephanie (Heininger) Kulecki, Richard Jr. and John Heininger; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and a very special friend, Marcella Mozier of Jerseyville. He was also preceded in death by as stepdaughter, Judy Dugan, and a stepgranddaughter, Debbie Dugan. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. Saturday until time of funeral services at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Jerseyville. The Rev. Ed Haun will officiate. Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville. Memorials may be made to the Foundation of Jersey Community Hospital or to the American Heart Association.
Mrs. Lillian Stiritz
Lillian Stiritz, 86, died after several years of declining health at 4:02 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville. She was born in Godfrey Township in Madison County on Oct. 26, 1918, one of three children born to Louis F. and Laura Violet (McCalla) Gerson. She married Anthony Stiritz at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton on May 3, 1941. Together, they shared 60 dedicated and loving years until his death on July 5, 2001. She graduated with honors from Alton High School and was employed at the Western Cartridge in East Alton during World War II. After her marriage, she spent the rest of her adult life engaged in farming, first in Godfrey, until she and her husband purchased a farm near Kane, where they spent the vast majority of their married life until moving into Jerseyville just a few years ago.
She is survived by nephews and nieces Charles Kaplan of Sinton, Texas, William Kaplan of Jefferson City, Mo., Elaine Kidd of Wood River, Gary Gerson of North Richland Hills, Texas, and Lois Neal of Hanahan, S.C.; and a host of loyal and loving caregivers, who allowed her to remain at home. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Regina Frances Stiritz; a sister, Edna Kaplan Rieger; and a brother, Emil Gerson. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where a prayer service will be conducted. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father D. Patrick Gibbons officiating. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be given to Masses or to the Jersey County Health Department.
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