Obituaries

Ray F. Becker 87 of Bartelso died Tuesday January 21, 2014 at S. Joseph Hospital in Breese.

He was born October 13, 1926 in Bartelso, to Henry and Cecilia (Jansen) Becker: they preceded him in death.

He married Sylvia Wolters October 8, 1952 at St. Francis Church in Aviston. She preceded him in death July 11, 1997.

Also preceded in death by a son Mark Becker, brothers Albert “Tossie” Becker, Bill Becker, a sister Mary Ann Rakers.

Surviving are his children Mike (Marilyn) Becker, Charlie (Karla) Becker, Ken (Donna) Becker, Randy Becker, Floyd Becker all of Bartelso.

6 grandchildren Scott Becker, Sarah (Kyle) Albers, Katie (friend Alex Gillispie) Becker, Lauren (Eric) Eversgerd, Aaron Becker, Jordan Becker. He was anticipating the arrival of his first great grandchild.

Siblings; Flo (Paul Dierkes of Germantown, Lucille (Frank) Kampwerth of Carlyle, Herman Becker of Bartelso, Don “Diesel” Becker of Bartelso, Barb (Bob) Robke of Germantown, Richard (Pat) Becker of Bartelso, Toni (George) Litzenburg of Carlyle.

Ray was owned and operated Becker Brothers Egg Co. in Germantown

Member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church and was a Eucharistic minister, usher and funeral mass server. Knight of Columbus Council 4745, Bartelso, 50 year member of the Bishop Althoff 4th degree Assembly, Catholic War Veterans, American Legion Post 976, Bartelso, 109 Club, Bartelso.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday January 25, 2014 at 10:00 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Bartelso with Fr. James Buerster officiating. Interment St. Cecilia Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday January 24 from 4 to 8 PM and Saturday January 25 from 8 to 9:45 am at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Bartelso.

Memorials can be made to St. Cecilia Catholic Church or Mater Dei High Scholl and will be received at the visitation or through Moss Funeral in Breese who is handling the arrangements.

David A. Wempe, 65, of Germantown, died Monday, January 20, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

Mr. Wempe was born August 9, 1948 in Breese to Virgil and Leanarda (Rosen) Wempe; they preceded him in death.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a grandson, Braxton Wempe; and a sister-in-law, Dang Wempe.

He married Barb Albers on September 25, 1970, and they later divorced.

Surviving are his sons, Todd (Brenda) Wempe of Germantown, Keith (Jennifer) Wempe of Germantown, and Tim (Amanda) Wempe of Bartelso; 8 grandchildren, Tiffany Budde, Michael (Bethany) Monteiro, Zachary Wempe, Adam Budde, Michael (Annie) Strate, Camden and Griffen Wempe, and Isabella Wempe; 7 great-grandchildren, Skyley and Parker Budde, Corrine and Jacob Engelmann, Samuel and Ella Strate, and Alivia Monteiro; a brother, Virgil “Sonny” Wempe of Shreveport, LA; a sister, Mary (Henry “Red”) Hoerchler of Breese.

Dave retired as an Aircraft Mechanic from Scott Air Force Base and he was a Veteran of the United States Army.

He was a member of the Clinton County Vietnam Veterans 269 where he was a past president, Breese American Legion Post 252, and a former member of the Germantown Kernel Nut Club.

Funeral Prayer Service will be Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 11:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Germantown with Fr. James Buerster officiating. Interment will follow at 1:00 pm at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 22, 2014 from 9:30-11:30 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.

The Breese American Legion will hold services at 10:30 am and the Vietnam Veterans will visit at 11:00 am Wednesday morning at the funeral home.

Flora M. Henken, 99, of Breese, died Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Carlyle Healthcare Center, Carlyle, IL.

She was born in Greencreek, IL on February 17, 1914 to Henry Casper and Louisa (Stephany) Weirich. She grew up in Aviston and Germantown. In 1931 she married Arthur B. Henken and he preceded her in death.

Flora is survived by two sons, Arthur G. (Sylvia nee Heimann) Henken of Carlyle and Leland (Beverly nee Lea) Henken of Bluffton, SC; nine grandchildren, Mary Jo (Mark) Kratschmer, Betsy (Paul) Bacon, Kathy (Mikel) Huelsmann, Terese (Robert “Bob”) Kasson, A.J. (Carol) Henken, Joseph (Cindy) Henken, Heather (John) McDermott, Lindsey (Ryan) Watson, and Eric (Victoria) Henken; 18 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Eleanor Henken of O’Fallon and June Gerhard of Maryville, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; a daughter, Phyllis Henken who formerly lived in St. Louis, MO; and siblings, Viola, Joseph, Henry “Hank”, Lucille, Hilda, Mary, Anna, Louise, Francis, Gertrude, and Charles; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Antonia, Sr. Bernardi, Mary, Sr. Benna, Frances, Clara, Joseph, John, Sr. Jude, and George.

Flora became more or less deaf in her early twenties, but regained her ability to hear with hearing aids. With experience and training, she later formed the Henken Hearing Co. dedicated to fitting aids for sale and maintaining aids with repairs and batteries for Qualitone hearing aids.

She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church and Altar Sodality, was the past Treasurer of the Breese Senior Citizens, and was the last of the charter members of the Daughters of Isabella Precious Blood Circle 718.

Flora was blessed with many years of life, enjoying the society of people at the senior meal site, bingo, and bunko games with generous help and concern of friends and relatives. She would want to say thanks.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 11:00 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 Thursday, January 23, 2014 from 9:00-10:45 am at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Dominic Church or to the Breese Senior Citizen Meal Site and will be received at church or through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is in charge of the arrangements.

David A. Weisenfeld, 62, of Breese, died Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

Mr. Weisenfeld was born August 20, 1951 in Breese to George and Frances (Abeln) Weisenfeld; they preceded him in death.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Ray Hilmes; a special nephew, Scott Detmer; a niece, Kris Huffstadt; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albin and Rose (Ratermann) Detmer.

He married Constance Detmer on October 9, 1976 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Beckemeyer; she survives in Breese.

Also surviving is his brother, Louis “Bud” (Marianne) Weisenfeld of Breese; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Theresa (Ken) Nordmann of Fairfield, Janet (Paul) Schmeink of Carlyle, JoAnn (Don) Thomas of Breese, Mike (Margie) Detmer of St. Rose, Philip (Joyce) Detmer of Breese, Diane (Virgil) Jansen of Germantown, Chester (Ellen) Detmer of Carlyle, Fred (Yulonda) Detmer of Breese, and Gary (Shirley) Detmer of Breese; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Dave retired from Weber Chevrolet and was the owner and operator of DC Banner in Breese.

He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and Holy Name Society in Breese, the Breese Historical Society, and he was a Corvette and John Deere enthusiast.
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Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 am 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 Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 8:30-10:45 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Christian Children’s Foundation, Mater Dei High School, or St. Augustine Church and will be received at the church or through Moss Funeral Home in Breese who is in charge of the arrangements.

Earl L. Strieker, 60, of Breese, died Monday, January 13, 2014 at his residence.

Mr. Strieker was born February 8, 1953 in Highland to Lawrence and Catherine (Hilmes) Strieker; they preceded him in death.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his father-in-law, Clarence Holtgrave.

He married Bonnie Holtgrave on September 30, 1978 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Aviston; she survives in Breese.

Also surviving are his children, Aften (Kyle) Zurliene of Aviston, Austin (Kristen) Strieker of Aviston, and Ariel (friend Brett Dierkes) Strieker of Breese; 3 grandchildren, Canaan and Nash Zurliene, and Nolan Strieker; brothers and sisters, Norman (Colette) Strieker of Germantown, Jim (Louise) Strieker of Bartelso, Donna (Jary) Huspek of Durham, NC, Von Strieker of Tyler, TX, Warren (Coleen) Strieker of Germantown, and Brenda Gebke of Keyesport; his mother-in-law Pauline (Hustedde-Holtgrave) Richter and husband Stanley “Butch” of Aviston; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Tom Holtgrave of California, Nancy (Rick) Kraeger of Germantown, Gary (Kathi) Holtgrave of Trenton, Brian (Linda) Richter of Aviston, Bruce (Missie) Richter of Aviston, Peggy (Paul) Martin of St. Louis, MO, and Cheryl (Dale) McKee of Highland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Earl was the owner and operator of Strieker Electric in Breese since 1986 and former co-owner of Marker Properties. Earl loved playing cards, taking vacations, making homemade wine, grilling and riding his motorcycle. He also enjoyed photography, bird watching, hunting, and just spending time with family and friends.

He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, January 17, 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 Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm and again on Friday, January 17, 2014 from 8:00-9:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

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

Christopher J. “Chris” Harper, 20, of St. Rose, died Sunday, January 12, 2014 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

Mr. Harper was born August 19, 1993 in Belleville, IL to Thomas and Mary Jean (Beckmann) Harper; they survive in St. Rose.

In addition to his parents, he is also survived by brothers, Thomas James (friend Kristi Burkett) Harper, II of Breese and Michael Eugene Harper of St. Rose; a niece, Cecilia Harper; maternal grandmother, Veronica (Vonder Haar) Beckmann of St. Rose and paternal grandmother, Mary C. (Prosser) Harper of Swansea; uncles and aunts, Lawrence (Colleen) Harper of Aviston, Ann (Dave) Henrichs of Highland, Lorraine (Keith) Cange of Swansea, John (Sherry) Harper of Fenton, MO, James (Chris) Harper of Tucson, AZ, Patricia Harper of Shiloh, and Susan (Bob) Zinn of Breese; and numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Eugene Beckmann; paternal grandfather, John Harper; and an uncle, Ronald Beckmann.

Chris graduated from Central Community High School in Breese in 1992 and previously worked at Outdoor Creations in Breese.

He was a member of St. Rose Church, St. Rose Development Club, West Gate Baptist Church Youth Group, and was a former Breese Knights of Columbus Squire. Chris had a true love for music.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm at St. Rose Catholic Church in St. Rose with Fr. Edward Schaefer officiating. Interment will follow in St. Rose Cemetery, St. Rose.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 pm and again on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 from 11:00 am-1:30 pm at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

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