Elmer J. Venhaus

Sunday, July 12, 2015 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Monday, July 13, 2015 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Moss Funeral Home, Trenton

Monday, July 13, 2015

10:00 a.m.

St. Mary Catholic Church, Trenton

Elmer J. Venhaus, age 92 of Trenton, born February 28, 1923 in Aviston, a son of Bernard and Catherine, nee Dall, Venhaus, died Thursday, July 9, 2015 at his residence.

Mr. Venhaus retired as the head groundskeeper at Cardinal Creek Golf Course on Scott Air Force Base. Elmer was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Men’s Sodality, an Honorary Life Member of the Trenton Knights of Columbus Council 2932, and a former member of the Trenton Fire Department. He enjoyed camping, deer hunting, watching Cardinal Baseball, and spending time with his family.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marie, nee Trame, Venhaus, whom he married August 20, 1947 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Trenton and she died December 29, 2003; a son, David Venhaus; brothers, Edward Venhaus, Lawrence “Pep” Venhaus, and Ludwig Venhaus; sisters, Marcella Venhaus, Frieda Kohlbrecher, Florence Holtgrave, and his twin, Alma “Sis” Rohling; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Blanche Venhaus, Joseph Kohlbrecher, Cletus Holtgrave, Edmund Rohling, August Trame, Henry Trame, Edwin and Irene Trame, Lawrence and Irma Trame, Arnold and Odelia Trame, Eugene and Esther Trame, Theodore and Margaret Trame, and Joseph Trame.

Surviving are his children, Mary Blaney and husband Larry, Dennis Venhaus, and Sharon Ritzheimer and husband Brad all of Trenton; a daughter-in-law, Janet Venhaus of Trenton; his grandchildren, Lisa Wessel and husband Mark, Lynn Gall and husband Chad, Ryan Venhaus and wife Bobbe, Adam Venhaus and wife Allie, Travis Venhaus and wife Amy, Cole and Alex Ritzheimer; 7 great-grandchildren, Ellie and Carson Wessel, Anna and Bennett Gall, Ava and Reece Venhaus, and Hayden Venhaus; his siblings, Bernard “ Junior” Venhaus and wife Rosemary of Aviston, Vera Tonnies and husband Larry of Trenton, and Esther “Essie” Kues of St. Louis; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Trame of Mattoon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, July 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Trenton with Fr. Joseph Rascher officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Trenton.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 12, 2015 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and again on Monday, July 13, 2015 from 8:00-9:30 a.m. at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to the Sugar Creek Fire Protection District or to the Sugar Creek Ambulance and will be received at the funeral home.

The Trenton Knights of Columbus will hold services at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral