Obituaries

Michael W. “Mike” Richter 58 of Breese died Thursday November 20, 2014 peacefully at his residence.

He was born October 6, 1956 in Breese to George and Leona (Timmermann) Richter: they preceded him in death.

Also preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Joseph and Virginia (Wolters) Ripperda.

He married Theresa Ripperda July 12, 1980 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Aviston and she survives in Breese.

Also surviving are his sons Jeremy (friend Sarah Schomaker) Richter of Breese, Corey (Angela) Richter of Glen Carbon, Christopher (Stephanie) Richter of Glen Carbon, Adam Richter of Breese,

A granddaughter Kate Leona Richter

Brothers and Sisters Marilyn (Jim) Rakers of Aviston, Kathy (Glenn) Loyet of O’Fallon, Paul (Carol) Richter of Omaha, NB, Frank Richter of Breese, Mark (Judy) Richter of Highland, Barbara (John) Barr of Highland.

Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Charles (Tina) Ripperda of Aviston, Donald Ripperda of Breese, Kenneth (Karen) Ripperda of Breese, Karen (Jim) Astroth of Breese, Beverly Ripperda of Breese, Lisa (Scott) Schuette of Highland, Pamela Powell of Beckemeyer.

Mike was a dairy farmer until 1999, there after he continued grain farming and raising livestock, which he continued while battling cancer.

Member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese and Knights of Columbus Council #2869 in Breese.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday November 25, 2014 at 11:00 am at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Patrick Peter officiating. Interment St. Dominic – St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese

Visitation will be held on Monday November 24 from 4 to 8 PM and Tuesday November 25 from 8:00 to 10:30 AM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or Mater Dei High School and will be received at the funeral home.

Knights of Columbus will hold services on Monday November 24 at 7 PM at the funeral home

Joenella M. “Jo” Bryan 78 of Germantown died Thursday November 20, 2014 at her residence.

She was born October 17, 1936 in Bartelso, IL to Joseph and Elizabeth (Peters) Beer: they preceded her in death.

She married Chief Yeoman James Ripperda December 29, 1967 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese and he preceded her in death May 15, 1993.

Surviving are her daughters Michelle (David) Ripperda of Aviston, Sheryl (Douglas) Smallwood of St. Peters, MO

4 grandchildren Travis and Rachel Ripperda, Bennett and Maxwell Smallwood

Brothers and Sisters, Jerome Beer of Indianapolis, IN, Bernice (Frank)_ Pollmann of New Baden, Virgil (Martha) Beer of St. Charles, MO, Betty (Erwin) Diesen of Bartelso, Tom (Cheryl) Beer of Overland Park KS.

Jo retired from Scoot Air Force Base after 30 years from the Budget Analysis Department.

Member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Germantown, NARFE, LIFT and friends group. She loved to travel, visiting 48 of the 50 states, and especially enjoyed cruises.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday November 24, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Germantown with Fr. James Buerster and Deacon Rich Bagby officiating.

Visitation will be Sunday November 23 from 2:00 to 6:00 PM and Monday November 24 from 8:30 to 9:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Germantown

Memorials can be made to the donor’s choice and will be received at the funeral home.

Jerry B. Berry 74 of Carlyle died Sunday November 16, 20914 at his residence.

He was born October 24, 1940 in Carlyle to Robert “Bob” and Pansy (McKenny) Berry: they preceded him in death.

He is also preceded in death by a son-in-law Reid Pontius, grandson Michael Berry and father and mother in law Walter and Wilma (Holthaus) Laux.

He married Arlene Laux August 26, 1961 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Carlyle and she survives.

Also surviving is a daughter Elizabeth Pontius of Orlando FL

3 grandchildren Nathan and Amber Ray and Jacob Swartz

Brother-in-law Richard (Lill) Laux, of Carlyle.

Sister-in-law Diane (Gary) Meyer of Carlyle

Jerry owned and operated Jerry Berry Contracting CO. in Carlyle. He enjoyed his dog “Blackie” and was an avid fisherman.

Member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Carlyle

All services are private

Memorials can be made to Vitas Hospice, Masses or Donor’s Choice and will be received through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is handling the arrangements.

Beverly C. Henss, nee Crews, 54, of Germantown, IL died Friday, November 14, 2014 at her residence.

She was born October 7, 1960 in Chicago, IL to Marjorie (nee Williams) Clay of Greenville, KY and the late Andrew Lee Crews.

On November 7, 1981 she married Paul Henss at St. Mary Catholic Church in Trenton, IL and they later divorced.

Surviving are her sons Brad (Laura) Henss of Highland, IL, Dr. Bryan (fiancée Lisa Renshaw) Henss of Denton, TX, and Nick (friend Kat McCrory) Henss of Germantown, IL; 3 grandchildren, Dakota, Kylyrr, and Amber; siblings, JoAnn (Earl) Wolff of O’Fallon, IL, Debbie (John) Tippett of Greenville, KY, Nancy (Eddie) Cook of Greenville, KY, and Drew (Julia) Crews of Arnold, MO; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

In addition to her father, she was also preceded in death by her step-mother, Phyllis Crews; step-father, John Clay; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arnold E. and Wilma (nee Wolf) Henss; and a sister-in-law, Mary Henss.

Beverly was a former member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Albers, IL.

She formerly worked at Farm Credit Services, but her true love was singing. Bev began singing with her family at a very young age and later was a vocalist with numerous bands in which she toured many venues throughout the St. Louis area. Her favorite group that she performed with in the past was the band VERTIGO and most recently she sang in the local area.

Local Funeral Services will be Monday, November 17, 2014 at 7:30 PM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese, IL with Deacon Glenn Netemeyer officiating. Visitation will be Monday, November 17, 2014 from 4:00-7:30 PM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese, IL.

Funeral Services will again take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Greens Chapel in White Plains, KY with Pastor Jeremy Teague officiating. Interment will follow in Greens Chapel Cemetery, White Plains, KY.

Visitation will take place from 4:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 and again on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 10:00-11:00 AM at Greens Chapel in White Plains, KY.

Memorials can be made to the Lupus Foundation of America and will be received at Moss Funeral Home, 535 N. 5th St., Breese, IL 62230 or Greens Chapel in White Plains, KY.

Greg R. Hemann, 90, of Breese, died Monday, November 3, 2014 at his home.

Mr. Hemann was born April 2, 1924 in New Baden, to Hermann and Cecilia (Hagen) Hemann; they preceded him in death.

He married Elvera “Mugsy” Poelker on October 7, 1947 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese; she preceded him in death on August 29, 1992.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Bernard “Ben” Hemann; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Al and Loretta Poelker.

Surviving are four sons, Jeff (Debbie) Hemann of Mattoon, Brad (Lynn) Hemann of Maryville, Mike (Sandy) Hemann of Breese, and Curt (Lori) Hemann of Breese; 12 grandchildren, Jami (Jimmie) Miller, Jason Hemann, Kim (Ed) Roley, Shannon (Steve) Phillips, Zachary, Caroline, and Nicholas Hemann, Scott and Lucas Hemann, Justin (fiancée Devon Creath) Hemann, Jessica (fiancé Tucker Schnerre) Hemann, and Jena Hemann; 7 great-grandchildren with another soon to arrive; and a sister-in-law, Stell Hemann of Indiana.

Greg retired from the Breese Journal as Pressman, Prepress Production, Ad Layout, Camera/Darkroom Supervisor and was a Veteran of the United States Army . He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Breese American Legion Post 252, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Concordia Saengerchor. He enjoyed playing baseball at a younger age, camping, and especially playing golf.

Memorial Mass will be Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Chuck Tuttle and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese with full military honors.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the donor’s choice and will be received at the church or t though Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is in charge of the arrangements.

Betty J. Wagoner 94 of Trenton died Saturday November 1, 2014 at Breese Nursing Home.

She was born June 24, 1920 Okmulgee, OK to Hugh and Bess (Arvin) McCord: they preceded her in death.

She married Donald Wagoner February 22, 1946 in Loogootee, IN and he preceded her in death August 4, 1997.

Also preceded in death by a son C. Steven Wagoner, sisters Virginia Ruth Deimeke, Margaret Wright, a brother Robert “Bud” McCord.

Surviving are her daughters Beth Ann (Robert) Neudecker of St. Peters, MO, Nancy A (husband Mark McClain) Long of Eaton CO.

6 grandchildren Jeffery (Angela) Neudecker, Stacey (Dr. Kern) McMurtrie, Scott Neudecker, Kelly (Chris) Jackson, Matthew (Dr. Stephanie) Long, Chris (Erin) Wagoner.

9 Great grandchildren Owen, Braden, Cameron McMurtrie, Madison, Harrison Neudecker, Colsen, Levi Wagoner, Hadley Jackson, Madelyn Long and anticipating the arrival of 2 more great grandchildren

Betty was a homemaker and member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Trenton

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Thursday November 6, at 10:00 am at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Rascher officiating. Interment St. Mary Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday November 5 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and Wednesday November 6, from 8:30 to 9:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to Breese Nursing Home Activity Fund and will be received at the funeral home