Obituaries

Cyril J. Athmer 86 of Breese and formerly of Aviston died Friday April 18, 2014 at Faith Countryside Homes in Highland

He was born May 10, 1927 in Trenton to Frank and Mary (Gebhart) Athmer: they preceded him in death.

He married Thelma “Timmy” Fuhler August 24, 1948 at St. Francis Church, Aviston. She preceded him in death October 20, 1990.

Also preceded in death by a grandson Ian Elliott, son-in-law Randall Elliott, brother Norman Athmer, father-in-law and mother-in-law Herman & Bertha (Stoff) Fuhler, brothers-in-law an d sisters-in-law Eugene Lohman, Jerome Hagen, Raymond Foppe, Herman Fuhler Jr., Raymond Buscher, Marie and Clarence Albers, Jeanette Perkes, Viola and August Wellen, Ralph Fuhler, Arnold Moss

Surviving are his children Connie Frankovich of Breese, Sandy (Mike) Renspurger of Highland, Peggy Elliott of Highland, Daniel (Deborah Kay) Athmer of Aviston, Joni (Pete) Wilken of Aviston, Susie Dulle of Highland, Craig (Missy) Athmer of Highland

9 grandchildren Melanie (David) Holden, Heather (Brian) Luitjohan, Michael (Lynn) Renspurger, Michele (Gary) Toennies, Tyler Elliott, Shaun (Storm) Wilken, Casey (Greg) Jasper, Melissa (fiancé Clint Beckmann) Dulle, Tiffany (Joey) Santiago

15 great grandchildren

Sisters Cleopha Lohman of Aviston, Shirley Moss of Aviston, Marilyn Hagen of Breese, Donna (Jim) Elliott of Davenport IA.

Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bernice “BC” Foppe of Aviston, Edna (Cyril) Markus of Glen Carbon, Irene Buscher of Aviston, Elmer “Buddy” Perkes of Breese, Don (Jane) Fuhler of New Baden, Joann Fuhler of Highland.

Cyril retired after 34 years with the U.S. Postal service in Aviston and Mt Olive. Cyril was an Army Veteran.

Member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Breese, Knights of Columbus Council #2869 past grand knight and financial secretary and District Deputy Breese, Bishop Althoff 4th degree Assembly, American Legion Post 252, Breese, Honorary member of the Aviston Fire Department, Breese Lions Club and past president.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday April 22, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese. Fr. Chuck Tuttle and Deacon Bob Lippert officiating. Interment St. Francis Cemetery, Aviston

Visitation will be Monday April 21 from 4 to 8 PM and Tuesday April 22 from 8 to 9:45 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Research, Hospice of Southern Illinois, Cure JM Foundation, and Multiple Sclerosis Society and will be received at the funeral home.

Frank A. Theising, 89, of Breese, IL, born June 29,1924 in Bartelso, IL, to Frank and Rose (Bergmann) Theising, died April 17, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, IL.

He married Mary “Dolly” Glaub on June 29, 1948 at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Breese; she survives.

In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his daughters, Polly, Pat, and Julie; sons, Frank and Tom; 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Joe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Rosa Theising; a brother Ray; sisters Marie, Rose, Elsie, Fran, and Josephine; and a great-granddaughter Elizabeth.

Frank served in the Army during World War II as a rifleman with the 132nd Infantry Regiment of the Americal Division in the South Pacific region where he earned a Combat Infantryman Badge and two Bronze Star medals. After the suspension of hostilities in August of 1945, Frank returned to his pre-war profession as a land surveyor with the 657th Topo Battalion as Party Chief for land surveys in Japan and much of South Korea. He was discharged from the Army in November of 1946 as a Staff Sergeant.

In May of 1955 he joined the Engineering firm Sverdrup & Parcel of St Louis and was involved in bridge construction across most major rivers in the eastern half of the United States, from Kansas to the Atlantic Coast, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel crossing and construction of the high level Bridge of the Americas across the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. He was resident engineer for the construction of the world’s largest VSTOL wind tunnel for Lockheed Georgia Company, a number of projects for Anheuser Busch including relocation of the Refrigerated Cabinet Division to Conway, AR, the new Miller Brewery at Eden, NC, “from cow pasture to beer production in 11 months”. He was also resident engineer for construction of launch facilities for the Trident submarine at Groton, CT, and Trident service facilities at King’s Bay, GA. He retired from Sverdrup November 1990 as Construction Manager.

He was a member of American Legion Post 252 in Breese, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Carlyle, the Knights of Columbus and Catholic War Veterans at Bartelso, and was a member of the Heritage Foundation.

His funeral service will be private service.

Kraig S. Hudson 64 of Pocahontas died Tuesday April 8, 2014 at his residence.

He was born October 20, 1949 in Dixon, to James and Eleanor (Lyons) Hudson: they preceded him in death.

Also preceded in death by a ½ brother Kelly Kappler and a ½ sister Charlee Ruhe

He married Wanda Elling January 4, 1980 in Edwardsville and she survives in Pocahontas.

Also surviving are his sons Nicholas Hudson of Glen Carbon, Tyler Hudson of Pocahontas

Brothers and sisters Kirk Hudson of Dixon, Keane (Sally) Hudson of Dixon, Kandys (Harold) Queisser of Coronado, CA Krystal Pennington of Warrenville

Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Tom Elling of Centralia, Lloyd Elling of Sidney BC, Canada, Lois (George) Zollner of Breese, Lyle (Janet) Elling of Trenton, Ellen (Rick) Isert of Highland, Bob Elling of Breese Walter Francis Elling of Philadelphia, PA

Kraig was retired Laborer and member of the Laborers Local 397 Edwardsville

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

Janelle K. Ruth, 63, of Summerfield, died April 3, 2014 at her home.

Ms. Ruth was born June 3, 1950 in Belleville to LeRoy and Mabel (Ranz) Ruth; they preceded her in death.

She married Alvin Schmitt on August 19, 1983 in Trenton; he preceded her in death on April 22, 2007.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herbert and Elvera (Holtman) Schmitt; and sisters-in-law, Marlene “Sis” Schmitt and Connie Schmitt.

Surviving are her children, Cheryn (fiancé Ryan Veath) Schmitt of Breese and Roy (Katie Parker) Schmitt of Summerfield; a granddaughter, Brooke Parker; her fiancé, Wally Cychner of Summerfield; sisters, Dolores (Elton) Leppke of Carrington, ND, Gwen (Bernard) Feldt of Trenton, and Gail Ruth of Breese; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Floyd Schmitt of Trenton, Juanita (Dean) Zurliene of Summerfield, Laura Litteken of Trenton, Dee (Jim) Emig of Bartelso, and Bernard (Charity) Schmitt of Highland.

Janelle retired from AT&T as a communications dispatcher.

Visitation will be Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to the family’s wishes and will be received at the funeral home.

Eugene E. Kohlbrecher, 70, of Trenton, died Friday, March 28, 2014 at Carlyle Healthcare Center.

Mr. Kohlbrecher was born February 17, 1944 in Trenton to Alphonse and Irene (Peters) Kohlbrecher; they preceded him in death.

He is survived by brothers, Jerry (Sandy) Kohlbrecher and Charles (Samaleen) Kohlbrecher all of Trenton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gene retired from purchasing at Lane Bryant Woman’s Clothing Stores, was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Trenton, Trenton Knights of Columbus Council 2932, and a veteran of the US Army.

Memorial Mass will be Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Church in Trenton with Fr. Joseph Rascher officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Trenton.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 2, 2014 from 9:30-10:45 am at St. Mary’s Church in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to Western Clinton County Senior Services and will be received at the church or through Moss Funeral Home in Trenton who is in charge of the arrangements.