Obituaries

Susan M. “Sue” Laux, nee Merian, 68, of Breese, died Friday, December 27, 2013 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Mrs. Laux was born February 1, 1945 in Breese to Marie (Pollmann) Merian-Gebke and Raymond Merian; they preceded her in death.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a sister in infancy, Mary Jane Merian; a brother, Lawrence Merian; a sister-in-law, Bernice Hellige; and a brother-in-law, Laverne Laux.

She married Burnell “Rookie” Laux on November 11, 1964 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese and he survives in Breese.

Also surviving are her children, Robyn (David) Snearley of Newton, Terry Wainscott of Breese, Christopher (Bobbie) Laux of Belleville, and Katie (Tavis) Lovell of Edgewood, KY; 6 grandchildren, Marcus (Crystal) Snearley, Nikole Snearley, Zak Snearley, Cody Wainscott, Austin Laux, and Lillian Lovell; a great-grandson, Isaac Snearley; a brother, Raymond “Butch” (Dorothy) Merian of Breese; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marcella (Ralph) Ashcroft of Pana, Laura Laux of Breese, and Richard (Peggy) Hellige of Breese; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sue retired as an Administrative Assistant after 32 years from the Clinton County Electric Co-op in Breese and was formerly on the Zoning Board for the City of Breese.

She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese. Sue enjoyed playing cards and bingo, and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan where she attended numerous games.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, December 31, 2013 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 in Breese.

Visitation will be Monday, December 30, 2013 from 5:00-8:00 pm and again on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 from 9:00-10:30 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to St. Dominic Church or to Mater Dei High School and will be received at the funeral home.

Patricia M. “Pat” Spihlman 73 of Trenton died Friday December 27, 2013 at Breese Nursing Home.

She was born September 20, 1940 in Breese to Walter and Leona (Zurliene) Richter: they preceded her in death.

She married Paul Spihlman July 4, 1960 at St. Augustine Church, Breese and he preceded her in death September 29, 2006.

Also preceded in death by brothers-in-law Jim Spihlman, Andrew “Red” Drees. Ed Rodgers

Surviving are her children Cheryl (Todd) Whitaker of Trenton, Steve (Kathy) Spihlman of Trenton, Diane (Dean) Mitts of Swansea, Mike (Patty) Spihlman of Valparaiso, IN

8 grandchildren Cory (Leah) Whitaker, Kelsey Whitaker, Andrea Spihlman, Joseph Spihlman, Alison Mitts, Rachel Mitts, Abigail Spihlman, Julia Spihlman

2 great grandchildren Nora and Grayson Whitaker

Sisters-in-law Florence Drees of Breese, Bernida Rodgers of Garvin OK, Shirley Spihlman of Trenton.

Pat retired from the Wesclin School District where she was a school bus driver for 26 years.

Member of St. Mary Catholic Church and Altar Sodality, Clinton County Homemakers Extension.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday December 31, 2013 at 10:00 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, Trenton. Fr. Joseph Rascher officiating. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Trenton.

Visitation will be Monday December 30 from 4 to 8 PM and Tuesday December 31 from 8 to 9:45 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton

Memorials can be made to America Diabetes Association and will be received at the funeral home

Esther R. Stevenson 96 of Jamestown died Friday December 27, 2013 at Breese Nursing Home.

She was born January 10, 1917 in Pierron to C. Elliott and Helen (Wagner) Gruenenfelder. They preceded her in death.

She married Charles F. Stevenson December 14, 1936 in Alton and he preceded her in death September 27, 1980.

Also preceded in death by a daughter Betty Lou Clymens, sons-in-law James Liening, Tom Katusich

Surviving are her children Dennis (Kate) Stevenson of Breese, Kenny (Janice) Stevenson of Pocahontas, Larry (Marie) Stevenson of Breese, Charlotte Liening of Jamestown, Charlene (John) Grapperhaus of Highland, Charles (Peggy) Stevenson of Breese, Sandy (Richard) Peters of Germantown, Jane (Mike) Koehler of Beckemeyer.

19 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Brothers Paul (Ethel) Gruenenfelder of KY, Bob Gruenenfelder of AZ.

Esther was a homemaker.

Funeral service Monday December 30 2013 at 2:00 PM at Moss Funeral home in Breese with Deacon Rich Bagby officiating. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Pierron.

Visitation will be Monday December 30 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be received at the funeral home.

Mary Ellen Bedard, nee Lager, 82, of Breese, died Monday, December 23, 2013 at Countryside Manor in Aviston.

Mrs. Bedard was born May 10, 1931 in Breese to Arthur J. and Agnes (Becherer) Lager; they preceded her in death.

She married Charles E. “Chuck” Bedard on December 2, 1950 in Breese; he preceded her in death on April 5, 1973.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a son, Mike Bedard; a brother, Jerome Lager; sisters, Marcella Kaido and Loretta Donaldson; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary Lager-Diekemper, John Kaido, Louis Schoendienst, Don Donaldson, Bill Nettles, Frank Becker, Ray Lager, and Dolly Keefe.

Surviving are her children, Connie Ebert of Aviston, Kathy (Mike) Zurliene of Albers, Larry (Betty) Bedard of Aviston, Don (Beth) Bedard of Breese, and Linda (Rick) Book of Breese; 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Theresa Marie Becker of Florissant, MO and Margaret Nettles of Carlyle.

Mary Ellen sold Avon and Tupperware products, co-owned and operated Skelly’s Gas Station in Breese, worked as a bookkeeper at Wick’s Lumber in Breese, was a former realtor in Belleville, and while in Florida raised ostrich and worked in collections at a hospital.

She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church and Altar Sodality in Breese and the Breese American Legion Post 325 Auxiliary.

Memorial Mass will be Monday, December 30, 2013 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 Sunday, December 29, 2013 from 2:00-5:00 pm and again on Monday, December 30, 2013 from 9:00-9:45 am at the Moss Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials can be made to Heartland Hospice, St. Jude’s or to the donor’s choice and will be received at the funeral home.

Dolores M. “Maisie” Satterfield, nee Witt, 88 of Trenton, died Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at Countryside Manor in Aviston, IL.

Mrs. Satterfield was born December 15, 1925 in Lookingglass TWP, IL to Oliver and Ida (Hoffman) Witt; they preceded her in death.

She married Charles Satterfield on April 27, 1946; he preceded her in death on November 26, 1988.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kayla Satterfield; a sister, Arline Wilburn; a brother, Harold Joseph Witt; a brother-in-law, John Wilburn; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Satterfield.

Surviving are her children, Larry (Phyllis) Satterfield of New Baden, Jack (friend Karen Isaak) Satterfield of Carlyle, and Linda (Robert) Roeber of New Baden; 5 grandchildren, Jami (Jeff) Brokering, Jason (Casey) Satterfield, Chad Satterfield, Cari Roeber, and Leah (Jonathan) Rovick; 5 great-grandchildren, Reid and Emmy Brokering, Cecilia and Alexander Satterfield, and Neve Satterfield; a brother, Wilfred “Bud” Witt of Trenton; a brother-in-law, Earl Satterfield of Wildwood, FL; nephews, Jon Wilburn of Berea, KY and Phil (Deb) Wilburn of Trenton; and a daughter-in-law, Darla Satterfield of Carlyle.

Dolores retired as a seamstress from Jim’s Formal Wear in Trenton.

She was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ and J.O.Y. in Trenton, Clinton County Red Hat Society, Clinton County Historical Society, and was a former volunteer at the Trenton Library and Christian Homecare Services.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Trenton with Rev. Gretchen Sterrett officiating. Interment will follow in Trenton Cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday, December 21, 2013 from 9:00-11:45 a.m. at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton.

Memorials can be made to Hannah’s Playground, Salvation Army, or to St. John’s United Church of Christ and will be received at the funeral home.

Roman F. Becker 90 of Bartelso died Saturday December 14, 2013 at his residence.

He was born February 23, 1923 in Bartelso, to Joseph and Otilliea (Hollenkamp) Becker: they preceded him in death.

He married Alvina Mensing September 23, 1947 at St. Augustine Church, Breese and she preceded him in death May 2, 1997.

Also preceded in death b y brothers Alfred Becker, Herbert Becker, brothers-in-law Ollie Rensing, Roman Weber, Vincent Mensing, Alvin Mensing, sisters-in-law Helen Becker, Rose Marie Woltering.

Surviving are his sisters Del Rensing of St. Louis, Dorothy Weber of Bartelso, Emma (Donald) McKee of Highland.

Sisters-in-law and brother-in law Joann Becker of Belleville, Rita Mensing of Breese, Bernita Mensing of Breese, Richard Woltering of St. Louis

Numerous nieces and nephews

His lady friend Florence Goestenkors of St. Rose.

Roman was retired local truck driver.

Member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Bartelso, Bartelso American Legion Post 976, Clinton County Farm Bureau.

Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday December 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Bartelso. Fr. James Buerster officiating. Interment St. Cecilia Cemetery, Bartelso.

Visitation will be held on Monday December 16 from 4:00 to 8:00 Pm and Tuesday December 17, from 11:00 am to 1:30 PM at the Moss Funeral Home in Germantown.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or St. Cecilia Church and will be received at the funeral home.