Obituaries

Claudia Baker, age 71 of Beckemeyer, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Claudia was born in East St. Louis on February 1, 1954, a daughter of the late Ebbie and Betty (Ponder) Colston. She married Larry Baker on May 13, 1988, and he survives in...

Penelope "Penny" Jo Behrens, age 82, of Bartelso, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in O'Fallon, IL, surrounded by her loving family. Penny was the devoted wife of Benjamin Behrens and a loving mother to five children.
Penny was born on March 4, 1943, to Benard and Sylvia...

Debra Ann Birks, lovingly known as Debbie, was born on May 4, 1960, in Pasadena, California. She passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, surrounded by her cherished husband, Brian Birks, and her beloved daughters, Jessica Hugo and Jennifer Brinkman.

Debbie was a remarkable stay-at-home mom...

Carl Frederich Brammeier, age 85, of Carlyle, passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025, at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese, IL, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 25, 1940, in Sandoval, Illinois, to Emil and Quinta (Knolhoff) Brammeier. On October 3, 1964, he united in marriage with Louise Selma...

William "Bill" R. Clark, age 74, of Shattuc, passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on December 1, 1951, in Centralia, Illinois, to William O. and Adeline (Hollenkamp) Clark Sr. He married the love of his life, Nancy Barnes, on September 9, 1972, at St. Mary's...

Timothy Jay Conrad, age 63 of Salem, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Deaconess Illinois Crossroads Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois with family by his side.

Timothy was born on June 4, 1962, in Corydon, Indiana, the son of Harold Keith and LuEllen (Nuss) Conrad. He married Billie June (Spindler)...

Larry E. Crouch, age 80, of Breese, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese. Born on September 5, 1945, in Portsmouth, Virginia, he was the cherished fourth son of Thomas W. Crouch and Ruth Savannah (Hopkins) Crouch. Larry lived a remarkable life marked by...

Judith L. Davenport, age 71 of Highland, IL passed away peacefully with family by her side at St. Joseph Hospice care in Highland, IL on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Judy was born in Breese, IL on September 3, 1953, daughter of the late Walter G. and Leotus M. (Hemann) Stevenson. She is survived by her son, Cory...

Johanna M. Diekemper, age 98 of Carlyle, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Hickory Estates in Greenville, Illinois.

Johanna was born in Bartelso, Illinois on January 8, 1927, a daughter of the late Fred and Elizabeth (Wessel) Beckmann. She married Mathias Diekemper on June 2, 1953, at St. Cecilia Church...

Edna L. Erlinger, age 98 of Carlyle, passed away at the Carlyle Healthcare and Senior Living Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Mrs. Erlinger was born in Carlyle, Illinois on November 27, 1926, a daughter of Anton L. and Anna E. (Ratermann) Bretz. She married Erwin L. Erlinger on October 19, 1949, and he...

Jonathan D. Ferguson, age 54, passed away on August 15, 2025, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He was born on September 27, 1970, to Harry and Brenda (Goldsmith) Ferguson. Jonathan graduated from Carlin High School in 1988 and proudly served four years in the United States Navy, where he attended Nuclear Power...

Timothy G. "Chewy" Gebke, age 57, of Bartelso, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025, at HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese, with his loving wife and son by his side.

He was born August 20, 1968, in Breese, the son of the late Arnold J. and Irene (née Kapp) Gebke. On June 15, 1996, Tim married Kristy Wuebbels...