Obituaries

Alvera R. “Vera” Mannhard, nee Rakers, 81, of Trenton, died Saturday, February 1, 2014 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville.

Mrs. Mannhard was born April 25, 1932 in Breese to Herman and Mary (Koerkenmeier) Rakers; they preceded her in death.

She married Maurice Mannhard on October 11, 1950 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese; he preceded her in death on September 12, 1994.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Mannhard; a grandson, Mark Lappe; sisters, Marcella Seifert, Irene Rakers, Marie Grapperhaus, and Rita Deiters; brothers, Paul Rakers and Edmund Rakers; a sister-in-law, Mary Ann Rakers; and brothers-in-law, Alvin Grapperhaus, Ferd Deiters, and Dick Markus.

Surviving are her children, Sherlyn (Donald) Lappe of Breese, Susan (Kevin) Kraemer of Florissant, CO, and Matthew (Christine) Mannhard of Trenton; 5 grandchildren, Tim (Christi) Lappe, Craig Lappe, Schvonne Kraemer, Josh Kraemer, and Mitchell Mannhard; 3 great-grandchildren, Lily and Emma Lappe, and Christopher Kraemer; a sister, Ceil Markus of Aviston; brothers, Jerome (Millie) Rakers of Carlyle and Andrew Rakers of Beckemeyer; a sister-in-law, Johanna Rakers of Trenton; and a special friend, Roman Wilke of St, Rose.

Vera was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Altar Sodality in Trenton.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 11:00 am 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 Tuesday, February 11, 2014 from 9:00-11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to the donor’s choice and will be received at the church or through Moss Funeral Home in Trenton who is in charge of the arrangements.

Ruth A. Wood, nee Woolever, 79, of Breese, died Sunday, February 2, 2014 at her residence.

Mrs. Wood was born August 9, 1934 in Wayne City, IL to Noel and Zelma (Buchanan) Woolever; they preceded her in death.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by brothers, Harold and Howard Woolever; a son in law, Bernardo Tehandon; and a sister-in-law, Cleta Woolever.

She married Byford E. Wood, DVM on August 15, 1951 in Wayne Co, IL; he survives in Breese.

Also surviving are her children, Jerry (Melanie) Wood of Smithton, LuAnn Wood of St. Rose, IL, Vance Wood of Beckemeyer, IL and Tracy Vicente of Centralia, IL; 5 grandchildren, Keith (Leah) Wood, Erin Wood, Adrian Tehandon, Sarah Mueller, and Trindad Vicente; and 2 great-grandchildren, Drake and Betsy Wood; a step-grandson, Jorge (Fabian) Tehandon; 2 step-great-grandchildren, Jacinia and Gerardo Tehandon; and a sister-in-law, Donna Woolever of Blue Mound, IL.

Ruth was a homemaker and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary, and the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary.

Ruth has donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine and a private memorial service will take place at a later date.

Memorials can be made to the Donor’s choice and will be received through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is in charge of the arrangements.

Dorothy A. Masching, nee Huelsmann, 94, of Breese, died Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Breese Nursing Home.

Mrs. Masching was born September 1, 1919 in St. Rose to John and Mary (Poettker) Huelsmann; they preceded her in death.

She married Leroy “Bud” Masching on May 21, 1946 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese; he preceded her in death on April 26, 2001.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Bertha Rakers; and brothers, Theodore, Otto, Edward, Cyril, Ferd, Frank, and Lawrence Huelsmann.

Surviving are her children, Richard (Pam) Masching of Millstadt, Tom (Micki) Masching of Carlyle, Jim (Geri) Masching of Breese, Judy Masching of Roswell, GA, Bob (Terri) Masching of Quitman, AR, Margie (Bob) Crow of Trenton, and Janet Masching of Breese; 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Helen Donovan of Normal.

Dorothy retired from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, was a homemaker, and an avid quilter and pinochle player. She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church and Altar Sodality, Breese American Legion Post 252 Auxiliary, Daughters of Isabella Precious Blood Circle 718, and St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Patrick Peter officiating. Interment will follow in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 5, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm and again on Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 8:00-9:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

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

The Breese American Legion Auxiliary will hold services at 7:00 pm Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Harold L. “Hunka” Piro, 69, of Newton, IL and formerly of Sandoval, IL and Carlyle, IL, died Monday, January 27, 2014 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL.

He was born April 5, 1944 in Breese to Frederick and Della Morgan; they preceded him in death.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter, Tammy King; and grandsons, Alex Randant and Allan Wempe.

He married Judith Ellisor and she survives.

In addition to his wife, he is also survived by his children, Scott (Felicia) Harlan of South Carolina, Margie King of Nashville, IL, Jesse King of Lufkin, TX, Joseph (Karen) King of Sandoval, Donald (Vicki) King of Centralia, and Jeffrey King of Sandoval; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Francis Morgan of Anna, IL, Freddy Morgan of Indiana, and Wanda (Lenny) Wilson of McLeansboro, IL.

Harold was a lifelong farmhand.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation was held and a private interment will take place in Posey Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society and will be received through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is in charge of the arrangements.

Cyril Herman Voss of Breese departed this life peacefully after a 6 year battle with cancer on January 26, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Cyril was born in Breese on May 10, 1930

Cyril married Eleanor A. Laux October 10, 1951 at St. Felicitas Catholic Church, Beaver Prairie.

Cyril served in the U.S., Army with the Aviation Engineer Battalion as a Grader Operator from 1952 – 1954. After his military service, he started his farming in Beaver Prairie. Cyril retired from farming in 1997, and continued to help his sons on the family farm. He was a member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau, St. Felicitas Catholic Church in Beaver Prairie where he served as an Extraordinary Minister. Cyril served the Wheatfield Twsp Road District for 40 years, serving as the Road Commissioner for 32 years. He was a past member of the Clinton County Twsp. Officials. Cyril was instrumental in the formation of the Wheatfield Twsp Fire Department. He was an active member of the Fire Department for 20 years. Cyril was a director for the Breese Mutual Insurance Company for 20 years. He participated in the Just Faith Social Ministry Group. He was a member of the Breese American Legion Post 252, Breese Knights of Columbus, American Farm Heritage Museum, and a member of the St. Louis Metro Polka Club. He also participated in the Clinton County Relay for Life and the Plow for a Cure.

Cyril leaves his loving wife and family Eleanor (Laux) Voss of Breese, Dale (Carolyn) Voss of Pierron, Dennis (Amy) Voss of Carlyle, Jim (Donna) Voss of St. Rose, Glen (Denise) Voss of Carlyle, Leon (Julie) Voss of Breese, Peggy (Craig) Timmermann of Aviston, Lynn (Dave) Meddows of Trenton.

Grandchildren Audra (friend Dave), Erica (Rob), Stephanie (Stacy), Amanda (Jeremiah), Erin (Chad), Jamie, Kelly, Nick (Angela), Chris (Kayla), Zach, Luke, Leann, Kyle (friend Carli), Megan (friend Kyle) Amber, Ryan, Cami and 6 great grandchildren.

Also survived by his siblings Theodolinda “Lin” Jansen, Jerome Voss, Armella Wych, Clarence Voss, Leonard (Betty) Voss, Theodore Jr (Laura) Voss,

Sisters-in-law Bertha Voss, Helen Kniepmann

Preceded in death by his parents Theodore B. and Clara G. (Huene) Voss, a son in infancy Charles Gerard, grandsons Blake Voss, Nathan Meddows, a sister Del Becker, His father–in-law and mother-in-law Julius and Cecilia (Dumstorff) Laux, his bothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lorraine Voss, Bernard Becker, August Jansen, Aron Wych, Leonard Laux, Raymond Kniepmann, Vincent Voss, Steve and Dorothy Haselhorst

Funeral mass of Christian burial will be Friday January 31, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Felicitas Catholic Church in Beaver Prairie with Fr. Larry Nickels officiating. Interment St. Felicitas Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday January 30, from 4 to 8 PM and Friday January 31 from 8 to 9:30 AM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Breese American legion services will be held on Thursday at 7:00 PM and Knights of Columbus at 7:30 PM at the funeral home.

Memorials can be made to St. Felicitas Catholic Church Cemetery Fund, TIP Hospice, Catholic Urban Programs.

Cyril J Poettker, 88, of Breese died Saturday January 25, 2014 at Breese Nursing Home

He was born July 1, 1925 in Aviston to Herman and Mary (Strieker) Poettker: they preceded him in death.

He married Dolores Holtmann on July 18, 1950 at St. Bernard Church in Albers and she preceded him in death April 1, 2013.

Also preceded in death by brothers, Joseph Poettker and Cletus Poettker; a sister, Sr. Doris Poettker, HSSF; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Alvera Poettker, Ralph Netemeyer, Raymond Holtmann, Loretta and Calvin Schwend, Bill Spaeth, Ronald Huegen, Alice Toennies, and Clarence and Isabelle Holtmann.

Surviving are his children, Shirley (Leon) Langenhorst of St. Rose, Doris (Brandon) Phillips of Centralia, Ken (Terri) Poettker of Centralia, Sharon (Michael) Bacca of Orlando, FL, Deb Lake of Breese, Jerry (Laura) Poettker of St. Charles, MO, Dennis (friend Sandy Munro) Poettker of Mascoutah, and Lori Hankins of Breese; 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dolores Netemeyer of Albers and Marie (Clarence) Plocher of Highland; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, David (Dot) Holtmann of New Baden, Adrian (Trudy) Toennies of Trenton, Mary Ann Spaeth of Trenton, Ruth Huegen of Trenton, and Adeline Holtmann of Germantown.

He was a Veteran of the United States Army, and at the beginning of his service he was in Company L 318 infantry A.P.O. #80 through November of 1945. Once he was in Nuremberg, he stood guard at the Nuremburg Trials while he was in Company L 26th infantry A.P.O #1 from December 1945-March 1946. Towards the end of his time in the war, he was in 144th Armored Signal Co. from March 1946-April 1946.

Cyril retired from Scott Air Force Base as a Medical Technician and he was also a dairy, grain and live stock farmer.

He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese and Albers American Legion Post 1026.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Fr. Patrick Peter officiating. Interment will follow in St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 28, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm and again on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 8:00-9:45 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

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