Obituaries
Death of Edward Leonard Soapes
Edward Leonard Soapes passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at 4:39 p.m. at Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville. He was 92 years old.
Ed was born in Staunton, a home birth, on May 24, 1929, to Ralph “Cotton” and Bertha (Scheller) Soapes. He was an only child, very curious, experimenting with things like jumping off the roof with an umbrella and taking apart his new mechanical Popeye to see how it worked. While the top was ruined, and he found no spinach, it proved to be a prediction of things to come, as he later excelled as a mechanic.
He was an avid motorcyclist and a member of the Midstate Motorcycle Club. He spent many hours helping layout the flat track and working races along with his wife, Barb. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, VFW, Masons, Elks Club, Teamsters 710, and Central States.
Ed was a well-rounded man who worked many types of jobs in his lifetime. He worked at Olin, Waggoner Electric, Bowman’s Motorcycle Shop, Ford Motor Company, Hano, Buske Trucklines, and finished his career with Yellow Freight where he retired with 2 million miles, no accidents. Ed also ran his own service station in Mt. Olive for a time in the ’50s as well as sold and serviced Zundapp motorcycles out of his garage, as well as anything else on wheels that needed to be repaired.
Ed served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict mustering out as Sergeant of the Motor Pool. He worried in his later years about the Koreans who worked with their unit and how they fared after the war.
He married Barbara (Taylor) Soapes on May 7, 1951, in Pocahontas, AR, and she survives. Earlier this year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha and Ralph Soapes; in-laws Eva and Fred Taylor; and sons, Tommy (in infancy) and more recently, Jeffrey.
Ed is survived by his wife, Barbara; three daughters, Jeanine Vancauwelaert, Donna (Dennis) Yokley, and Darla (Tim) Pickerill; grandchildren, Hollie (Brant) Fleming, Wendy (Brad) Schoen, Eric (Shannon) Vancauwelaert, Ian Vancauwelaert, Katie (Ryan) Wear, Tim (Sharon) Pickerill, and Trey Pickerill; and four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Landon, Van, and Hunter.
He will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Visitation will be on Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 10 a.m. until service begins at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Olive. Pastor Tommy Brewer will officiate. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery.
Memorials should be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Olive or Mt. Olive Care Center. Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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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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