Obituaries
Death of Martin Herman Laufer
Martin Herman Laufer, 98, of Litchfield, formerly of Joliet, passed away on Tues., Aug. 23, 2016, at 9:45 p.m. in Heritage Health Therapy & Senior Care in Litchfield. He was born on Jan. 15, 1918, a son of Herman August Carl Laufer and Lydia Louise Sophie Johanna Steinwart Laufer in Woodstock, McHenry, Illinois.
He was baptized on February 17, 1918, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock by his father, Rev. H. A. Laufer. Martin was confirmed on March 20, 1932, at St John’s Lutheran Church, Lace Township, Darien, IL, by Rev. H. A. Laufer. He married Mildred Magdelene Bode on January 15, 1942, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hinsdale, IL, by Rev Paul Scherer and Rev HA Laufer.
Martin was active in church and community activities all his life. He attended schools in Woodstock and Lace Township, and graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1935. In his early 20s he was an officer in the “Q” Zone of Walther League where he met his wife Mildred. They got engaged the day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and married a month later.
Marty worked at Page Engineering in McCook, IL, prior to being drafted in late 1942. He was an instructor in the Coast Artillery and served in California and Washington State before joining the occupation forces in Germany to work with POWs in a transit camp. He was honorably discharged in March 1946.
He and Mildred moved to Plainfield in 1948, where he bought a small “mom and pop” grocery store downtown which he ran until 1956. He later became a District Representative for Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL – now part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans). He retired in 1982.
In 1955, Marty left St. Peter Lutheran Church in Joliet to “chair” the organization of Peace Lutheran Church in Plainfield. He chaired the building committee and served as council chairperson and a member of the Board of Elders for years. He also taught an adult class. He was an active member of the American Legion and served as Post Commander several times. After their move to Joliet in 1970, he joined St. Peter Lutheran Church and again served on council and as an elder for many years. He joined Mildred as an election judge in Joliet for several years, and he and Mildred led seminars as Lamplighters and “SMART” trainers for AAL.
Martin is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Anne (Michael) Massa; grandsons, Martin M (Renu) Massa, Stevan A (Julie) Massa and Dustin P Laufer; granddaughters, Jessica A (Aren) Hansen, Kristin M (Michael) Van Duyne; great-grandchildren, Kathleen E, John M, Joseph H, Mia J, Nathan A, and Rose M Massa, Tanya and Anika Bhargava & Kinley Van Duyne, a sister, Lydia Buehrer, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Philip Walter; brother, Paul; and sisters, Ruth, Charlotte, and Esther.
Funeral services will be held Mon., Aug. 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Rev. Fred Kraemer will officiate. Interment will be on Tues., Aug 30, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL. Visitation will be held Sunday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield.
The family suggests memorials to Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield.
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Eugene A. “Gene” Bentrup, age 86 of rural Staunton, passed away at 5:15 PM on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Staunton Health & Rehab Center in Staunton. He was born on Tuesday, March 15, 1938, in Staunton, the son of the late Louis and Ella (Heigert) Bentrup.
He married Shirley Repovich on June 9, 1962, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Livingston and she survives.
Gene served our country in the United States Army. He was employed as a grain inspector for Toberman Grain & Feed Company in East St. Louis for many years. He enjoyed gardening, mowing grass, shopping with Shirley, traveling with the Goldenaires Club, bowling, and table games.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Bentrup of rural Staunton, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother in infancy, Otto Bentrup.
Friends may call from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Lesicko Funeral Home in Livingston. Funeral services for Gene Bentrup will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Lesicko Funeral Home in Livingston with Rev. Fr. Thomas Hagstrom officiating.
Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton with the Staunton Veterans Honor Guard conducting graveside military rites. Memorials are suggested to either Heartland Hospice, St. Michael Catholic Church of Staunton, or to the charity of the donor’s choice
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Wanda Kaye (Huffman) Bernot, 77 of Benld, was freed from the shackles of Alzheimer’s Disease on April 22, 2024. She passed peacefully with family by her side at Community Hospital of Staunton. A poetic end for she was a selfless person.
Wanda was born on September 7, 1946, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of the late Vernon and Gladys (Conner) Huffman. She was raised in Staunton and was a graduate of Staunton High School. She married Pete Bernot on February 20, 1965, in Benld. They lived in Benld where they raised their only child, Jeff.
Wanda dedicated her time to a career in public service by working for the State of Illinois. Much of her work for the state was spent with the Department of Public Aid as a caseworker and director in the Carlinville field office. She was also a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union.
Wanda never shied away from helping people. After retirement, she served as Benld’s City Clerk and served on the Gillespie CUSD#7 Site Selection Committee for the location of the new elementary school.
She leaves behind her son, Jeffrey A. Bernot of Benld; her grandchildren, Rylee Bernot (Cassidy) of Benld, Peyton Bernot of Benld, and Ashleigh Feldmann (Daniel) of Staunton; great-grandchildren, Elexia, Jace, Jax, and Emreigh; a sister, Rita Soens of Williamson; a niece, Sherry Warren (Mike); and great-nieces, Shelby and McKenzie.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Pete, who passed away on April 21, 2018.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 PM on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Pastor Dane Solari officiating.
Memorials are suggested to The Partnership for Educational Excellence for the Pete & Wanda Bernot Scholarship Fund.
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Rodney Lee McQuaid, 62 of Shipman, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at home. He was born on January 31, 1962, in Alton, the son of the late Roy “RD” and Ramona Kay (Moran) McQuaid.
Rodney married the love of his life Sherry Lynn Whitten on October 12, 1984, in Alton. She preceded him in death in 2020. Together they enjoyed traveling and spending time with their family, always spoiling their nieces and nephews whom they dearly loved. He was a manager at Speedway Salvage and could usually be found getting into trouble on his tractor.
Rodney is survived by his brother, Skip (Marcia) McQuaid; sister, Sherrie (Randy) Durbin; five nieces and nephews; five great nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Gloria Joyce.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sherry Lynn, and parents, RD and Kay McQuaid.
Visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of funeral service at Noon on Monday, April 22, 2024, at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Brighton. Burial will follow at Shipman Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation.
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