Obituaries
Death of Gertraud Annamarie Emilie Howald
Gertraud Annamarie Emilie Howald, neé Blokscha, died at her home on Monday, June 7, 2021, in the midst of her full and busy life-making peach jam, writing birthday cards, going for a swim. She was 92.
Gertraud, known to her friends in America as ‘Judy’ and in Austria as ‘Traudl’, was born in Vienna on March 9, 1929. She was the only child of parents Ludwig and Marianne Blokscha (neé Cerny). Her early years were marked by war, Hitler Germany annexed Austria when she was nine years old and World War II broke out the following year. Nevertheless, she graduated from high school in 1947 and went on to study at the University of Vienna.
During the post-war American army occupation of her district, Judy met and fell in love with solider and Bunker Hill native Sherwood Howald. They were married in the Roman Catholic parish church in her home neighborhood on May 5, 1951. Chub and Judy moved together to Bunker Hill, eventually settling to Woodburn in 1957. A white farmhouse on Huette Road would be their home together for the next 62 years.
Judy finished her post-secondary education eventually earning a master’s degree at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and taught German at Alton High School for over 20 years. After retirement, she volunteered teaching German at the Alton Senior Center and Oasis Center for Women and Girls. She was a member of the Bunker Hill Congregational Church and patronized many area cultural institutions including the St. Louis Art Museum, Alton Little Theatre, and St. Louis Symphony. She visited Vienna, a place she missed her entire life, for the last time in 2008.
Chub went before Judy in death in 2019. She is survived by her sons, Mark Howald of St. Louis and Michael Howald of Bunker Hill; daughter-in-law, Roxanne Howald; granddaughters, Amanda Bull, Lindsey Patton, and Whitney Vieths; grandsons-in-law, Jon Bull, Andy Patton, and Brady Vieths; great-grandchildren, Asher and Simon Bull, Eliot and Ivy Patton, and Rylee and Theo Vieths; and sisters-in-law, Betty Zarges and Carol Howald of Woodburn.
Judy is remembered and treasured by all of them for her stories, her relentless hospitality, her persevering spirit, frugality, generosity, and her love of beautiful things from geraniums to porcelain figures, still-life paintings, and the oriental carpets that stretched from wall to wall in the Woodburn farmhouse.
Private services will be held at Wood Davis Cemetery, Woodburn. Memorials are suggested to Methodist Food Pantry and Hope Center in Cottage Hills. Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill is in charge of arrangements.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. -Psalm 23
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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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