Obituaries
Death of Daniel M. Millard
Daniel M. Millard, 94 of Carlinville, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 3, at Carlinville Area Hospital. Dan was born October 13, 1926, in Piqua, OH, to Christopher and Kathleen (McShane) Millard.
Like many from the Greatest Generation, Dan spoke little about his past but left his family with a couple of short stories about his childhood that are now cherished memories. His family lost everything during the Great Depression and were forced to move into New York City’s “Tent City”. Dan’s father was a hat salesman trying to make ends meet while he and his brother helped make “root beer” in the bathtub which he later in life realized was bathtub Gin.
Dan lived in 18 different places before he was old enough to enlist in the Army and even then his mother falsified his birth records so Dan could enlist at 17 years old. He served his country proudly in WWII in the Pacific Theater where he was one of the only people permitted to hand-deliver messages from Washington to General MacArthur. As the war progressed, Dan became a foot soldier serving in Luzon, the Philippines, and was then one of the first Americans sent into Hiroshima, seeing first hand at the age of 18 the first use and devastation of the atomic bomb.
Dan met Shirley Giacomini after the war as he walked past a bank in St. Louis and saw a young teller working inside that caught his eye. He walked right inside and asked her on a date and the two married in St. Louis on November 23, 1950. They moved to West Virginia where Dan worked for Valley Steel pulling up oil pipes and knocking down oil derricks with teams of donkeys.
Dan was promoted to foreman of Valley Steel in Carlinville but years later would disagree with management and walk out taking several employees with him to start his own steel business. Dan started Central Illinois Steel Company in 1967 with the help of Bob Maguire one shear, a tarp, and a light post. Dan loved hearing the sound of “steel chop” and treated his employees like family.
True to the man who said little but spoke volumes, Dan’s last wish as God took him home to be with his Shirley Mae was simply “I just want a beer.”
Dan is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Phillippe) de Forcrand of Switzerland, and his boys, Daniel C. (Cathy) Millard of Guntersville, AL, Mark (Liz) Millard of Guntersville, AL, Tim (Susan) Millard of Carlinville and Chris (Michelle) Millard of Carlinville; 9 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.
Private family funeral services will be conducted at SS Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in Carlinville on Friday, May, 7. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to SS Mary and Joseph Church or Carlinville Area Hospital. Davis Anderson Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.
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Nancy Ilene Weller, 74, of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 2:52 pm. She was born June 4, 1949, in Litchfield, to Charles Giller and Margaret Whitman Giller. She married Kenneth Raymond Weller, Sr., on August 17, 1968, in Litchfield. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.
She was a caregiver. Nancy loved horses, reading, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Chester (Katina) Weller of Gillespie, Luke Weller of Gillespie, Spring Weller (spouse, Phillip Benner) of Fowler, IN, 6 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 brothers, and sisters.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, 4 brothers, and sisters.
No public services are scheduled. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Beverly Kay Brown, 82, of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie, on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:45 am. She was born October 4, 1941, in Litchfield, to Mario Meldi and Opal Olston Meldi. She married Bob Brown on October 30, 1976.
She worked for the State of Illinois in title transferring and data processing. Beverly enjoyed reading and was an avid reader of People’s magazine.
She is survived by her spouse, Bob Brown of Gillespie, children, Joell (Sid) Flyte of Edwardsville, Jackie (Larry) Fear of The Villages, FL, Kathy Giesler of Mattoon, Kim (Joe) Brittin of Springfield, Jane (Greg) Hallum of Ishpeming, MI, Lori Brown of Temecula, CA, grandchildren, Breanna Leake, Dominique Flyte, Addie Flyte, Bradley Fear, David Fear, Brad Brittin, Melissa Casad, Amanda Kozak, Jaime Galloway, Jaimee Dobson, Jenny Knight, Emily Nault, Elyssa Gregurash, Erin Baldini, many great-grandchildren, brothers, Ron (Corky) Meldi of Nitro, WV, and sisters-in-law, June Swan and Loni Cloyd. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Jedd Hallum, and brother-in-law, Preston Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to SS Simon and Jude Church. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Darrell Leon Hoffstot, 69, of Gillespie, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1954, in Granite City, to Willard Lee Hoffstot and Hazel Mae Holloway Hoffstot.
He was retired after having been an assembler for Echlin. Darrell enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing.
He is survived by his sons, Zachary Hoffstot of Mt. Olive, and Zane Hoffstot of Gillespie, and sisters, Sandra Elledge of Litchfield, and Peggy (Joseph) Fischer. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Victor Hoffstot.
No public services will be held. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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