Obituaries

Jane F. Vahlkamp, nee Richter, age 87 of Breese, born August 21, 1928 in Breese, a daughter of the late Kasper and Rose, nee Heimann, Richter, died Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Aviston Countryside Manor.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John B. “Jack” Vahlkamp, whom she married October 25, 1950 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese and he died February 3, 2004; a sister, Estelle Kueneke; brothers, Ray Richter, Norbert Richter, Richard Richter, and Casper Richter; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Rose, nee Wilken, Vahlkamp; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Art Kueneke, Louisa Richter, Flora Richter, Dorothy Richter, Dorothy H. Richter, Colette Vahlkamp, Gene Niemeyer, and Paul Fehrmann.

Surviving are her children, Alan Vahlkamp and wife Janet of Walnut Hill, Julie Huels and husband Joe of Carlyle, Lisa Tebbe and husband Carl of Nashville, and Rose Huelskamp and husband Gerard “Shorty” of Breese; grandchildren, Leagha Woerner, Erika Thompson and husband Matt, Erin Amason and husband Jared, Alie and Abie Vahlkamp, Zachery, Cody, and Ashley Huels, Nick, Casey, and Max Tebbe, Colton, Dawson, and Adison Huelskamp; great-grandchildren, Alexius, Aurora, Aslyn, Jase, and Abel; her siblings, Lorene Niemeyer and R. Joe Richter and wife Barbara all of Breese; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Willene Fehrmann, Rose Marie Husmann and husband Ray of Breese, Lillian Fleckenstein and husband Jack of New Milford, CT, Fred Vahlkamp and wife Mary Jo of Decatur, Vernon Vahlkamp and wife Helen of Carlyle, Mary Huwa of Wheat Ridge, CO, and Lee Love and husband Dan of Albers; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Vahlkamp was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and St. Monica Altar Sodality in Breese, Daughters of Isabella Precious Blood Circle 718, Breese American Legion Post 252 Auxiliary, Clinton County Farm Bureau, former member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and Clinton County Homemakers Extension, former president and office holder of the St. Ann Sodality in Carlyle, and was a past 4H Leader for 7 years.

Jane along with her husband worked on their dairy farm in Carlyle until retirement and moved to Breese in 1995. She was an avid sewer, and later sewed over 200 quilt tops for church and also hand quilted. In addition to sewing and quilting, she also enjoyed embroidering, crocheting, spending time with her grandchildren, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Chuck Tuttle and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Interment will follow in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 19, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 8:00-10:30 a.m. at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to St. Monica Altar Sodality, Pro-Life National Right to Life, or the American Lung
Association and will be received at the funeral home.

The Breese American Legion Auxiliary will hold services at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Daughters of Isabella Tuesday
evening at the funeral home.

JoeAnn Woldark, nee Coffin, age 85 of Breese, born January 5, 1931 in Shawnee, OK, a daughter of the late Orville and Ivy, nee Cole, Coffin, died Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. Woldark, whom she married May 24, 1965 in Lawton, OK and he died June 16, 2005; a son, Otis “Jack” Holtsclaw; daughters-in-law, Terri Holtsclaw and Yvette Holtsclaw; a granddaughter, Crystal Holtsclaw; sisters, Imogene Coffin and Jessie Coffin; and brothers, Sam Coffin, Austin Coffin, and Zachary Coffin.

Surviving are her children, Craig Guilliams of Granite City, Scott Holtsclaw of Salem, OR, and Chuck Woldark of Highland; 9 grandchildren & 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Cleavy Coffin of Paris, TX.

Mrs. Woldark retired from the Civil Service as a Logistics Technician and was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Patrick Peter and Deacon Linus Klostermann officiating. Interment will follow in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese.

Visitation will be Friday, January 15, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, January 16, 2016 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to St. Dominic Catholic Church and will be received at the funeral home.

Mildred C. Hitpas 97 of Breese died Monday January 11, 2016 at Breese Nursing Home.

She was born August 25, 1918 in Little Prairie to William and Elizabeth (Kreke) Kueneke: they preceded her in death.

She married Joseph Hitpas April 13, 1940 at St. Mary Catholic church in Evansville, IN. He preceded her in death August 23, 1996.

Also preceded in death by bothers Clarence Kueneke, Arthur Kueneke, sister Evelyn Nordmann, brothers-in-law Frank Nordmann, Horton Harris, Edwin Hitpas, Leo Hitpas, sisters-in-law Estelle Kueneke, Marcella Kueneke, Mary Hitpas, SR. Mary Emeline Hitpas S.S.M.

Surviving are her children Fr. Joseph Hitpas OMI of Waubun, MN, Thomas (Diane) Hitpas of Westminster, CO, Daniel Hitpas of Breese, Gary (Donna) Hitpas of New Baden, Jill (Scott) Grabinger of Centennial, CO

6 grandchildren Cassie (Dan) Varel, Corran (Chris) Huber, Callyn (Brent) Terveer, Michael (Sarah) Grabinger, Lindsay (Rick) Otipoby, Amanda Hitpas.

9 great grandchildren Delaney, Reese, Grady Varel, Charlie, Jack, Henry Huber, Addison, Bailey Grabinger, Luke Otipoby.

A sister Mary Ann “Dolly” Harris of Pasadena, TX

Sister-in-law Vera Hitpas of Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Mildred worked for the department of Agriculture for over 30 years. She was a volunteer at St. Dominic Catholic Church and grade school as financial office manager. She enjoyed genealogy family research, avid reader, very musically talented and enjoyed football.

Member of St. Dominic Catholic church and Altar Sodality.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday January 19, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Dominic Catholic
Church in Breese. Fr. Joseph Hitpas, Fr. Patrick Peter, Fr. William Hitpas and Deacon Linus Klostermann con-celebrating. Interment St. Dominic St. Augustine Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday January 19, from 9:00 to 10:50 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic church in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Oblates of Mary Immaculate, St. Dominic Church, Mater Dei high School or All Saints Academy and will be received at the visitation or through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is handling the arrangements.

John I Gebke 87 OF Bartelso died Sunday January 10, 2015 a Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

He was born January 9, 1929 in Bartelso to John and Mary (Mueller) Gebke: they preceded him in death. Also preceded in death by a daughter Susan Torragorssa, son-in-law Jeff Richter, brothers Arnie Gebke, Roam Gebke, Art Gebke, Eugen Gebke, sisters Josephine Kapp, Mary Winkeler, brothers-in-law Harold Kapp, Frank “bud” Winkeler, Marcel Frerker, sisters-in-law Irene Gebke, Dorothy Frerker.

He married Betty Frerker July 23, 1948 at St. George Catholic church in New Baden, she survives in Bartelso.

Also surviving are his children Joe Gebke of Lindell, MO, Cindy (Tom) Fuhler of Trenton, Sally (Buddy) Pennington of Sandoval, Agnes (Herman) berkemann of Trenton, Roseann (Tom) Van Atter of Carlyle, Karen (David) Linder of Hoffmanm, Carla Richter of Trenton, Kathy (Mike) Abernathy of Hoffmanm

18 grandchildren Christine and Mike Torragorssa, Brian Berkemann, Adam and Jacob Fuhler, Beth Pennington, Jenn (fiancée Josh Verell) Berkemann, Jason (Amanda) Berkemann, Megan and Madison Van Atter, Andy (Ashley) Linder, Cassandra Linder, Kari (Jeff) Hurst, Jonathan, and Remington LKindeer, Katie and Carson Richter, Evan Abernathy

7 great grandchildren

A brother Al (Rosann) Gebke of Breese

Sister-in-law Joan Gebke of Germantown

John was a retired serviceman from Gus Unverfehrt Supply and grain and hog farmer.

Member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Bartelso, American Legion Post 976, Bartelso and Catholic Holy Family Society.

Funeral mass of Christian burial will be Friday January 15, 2016 at 22:00 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Bartelso with Fr. George Mauck officiating. Interment St. Cecilia Cemetery. With full military honors accorded.

Visitation will be Thursday January 14 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and Friday January 15 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home, Germantown. Memorials can be made to the donor’s choice and will be received at the funeral home.

Luke R. Korte, age 16 of Breese, born January 9, 1999 in St. Louis, a son of Richard and Lisa, nee Richter, Korte, died Monday, January 4, 2016 at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis after generously helping others as an organ and tissue donor.

Luke was currently a Junior at Central Community High School in Breese where he participated in Cross Country and Future Farmers of America (FFA). He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese, Breese Youth Ministry, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), worked part time at Hellige’s Market in Breese, and enjoyed deer hunting and dirt track racing.

Surviving are his parents, Rich and Lisa Korte of Breese; a brother, Nicholas Korte of Breese; his maternal grandmother, Martha, nee Kruep, Richter of Breese; uncles and aunts, Steve Richter and wife Louise of Breese, Darlene Berberich and husband Ron of Trenton, Marvin Richter and wife Stacie of Breese, Pam Wellinghoff and husband Mike of Trenton, Teri Hall and husband Jeff of Breese, Ruth Korte of Trenton, Jean Fountain and husband John of Vero Beach, FL, Dori McIntyre and husband Dick of Carlyle, Rita Drees and husband Dennis of Trenton, Rosemary Thornton of Trenton, Charlie Korte of Breese, and Lynn Korte of Trenton; and numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Paul “Bandy” Richter; his paternal grandparents, Edmund and Leola, nee Lohman, Korte; an aunt, Julie Korte; an uncle, Terry Thornton; and a cousin, Eric Drees.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Patrick Peter, Fr. Chuck Tuttle, Deacon Linus Klostermann, and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Interment will follow in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and again on Thursday, January 7, 2016 from 8:00-9:30 a.m. at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Per the family’s request and in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Foundation and will be received at the funeral home.

Ralph Brown, age 61 of Breese, born February 1, 1954 in Breese, a son of Maurice and Dorothy, nee Langhauser, Brown, died Saturday, December 26, 2015 at his home.

Ralph was the current owner and operator of Bestway Equipment in Breese and was a member of St. Dominic Church in Breese, and was a former volunteer with the Breese Fire Department. He enjoyed dirt track racing, but most of all spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Surviving is his wife Marilyn, nee Wilke, Brown of Breese, whom he married September 10, 1977 at St. Rose Church; his daughters, Michelle Leslie and husband Matt and Melissa Kleine and husband Aaron all of Carlyle; 6 grandchildren, Hannah and Maya Leslie, Kayla Klein and special friend Nick Conrad, Allyssa, Jace, and Aiden Kleine; his mother, Dorothy Brown of Beckemeyer; his siblings, Marilyn Diekemper and husband Ray of Carlyle and Marlin Brown and wife Myra of Beckemeyer; his mother-in-law, Pauline Wilke of Aviston; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Pat Mueth and husband Norb of Mascoutah, Judy Heimann and husband Ed of Aviston, Ronald “Butch” Wilke and wife Bonnie of St. Rose, Connie Barciszewski and husband Vince of St. Rose, and Rita Zurliene and husband Keith of Trenton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Brown and his father-in-law, Vincent Wilke.

Private Visitation and Funeral Services will be held at Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to the Breese Fire Department or the donor’s choice and will be received through the funeral home.