Obituaries
Death of Helen Marie “Byots” Hainaut
Helen Marie “Byots” Hainaut, 93, of Springfield, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at home surrounded by her loving family. Helen was born on September 10, 1925, in Mt. Olive, the daughter of John and Catherine “Belovich” Byots. She married Jules “Jodo” Hainaut on June 28, 1947, in Mt. Olive; they were married for more than 70 years until his passing in December 2017.
Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband; parents; brothers, John Jr. and Bill Byots; sisters-in-law, Violet and JoAnne Byots; and brother-in-law, Robert Droste.
She graduated from Mt. Olive High School with the class of 1943. From there, she moved to downtown St. Louis and worked at the Granite City Engineering Depot where she met the love of her life and future husband. Over the years, she volunteered at the local hospital, was a Brownie leader, worked at the Springfield Capital Airport, and later at Sears & Roebuck, from where she retired in 1989. But above all, she was a dedicated homemaker and a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was always her number one priority and she cherished them immensely. She was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren and all of their accomplishments throughout their lives.
Helen loved dancing, bowling, ceramics, baking (especially pies), playing bingo, attending local art and crafts fairs, crossword puzzles and she was always up for a mean game of Scrabble with her children and grandchildren. In her later years, she was a die-hard fan of her grandsons’ many sporting events.
Helen is survived by her four children, Juliann Mahoney of Phoenix, AZ, John (Josie) Hainaut of Wheaton, IL, and Jean (Robert) Sanders and Jamie Burnett (Greg Mihalich), all of Springfield, IL; two granddaughters, Kerstin (Antoine) Brown and Heather Wicks all of Phoenix, AZ; five grandsons, Joe Hainaut of Wheaton, IL, Jason (Rachel) Hainaut of Chicago, IL, Dayton Burnett of Springfield, IL, Blayne Burnett of Denver, CO, and Dylan Sanders of New Braunfels, TX; and two great-grandchildren, Max and Felix Hainaut of Wheaton, IL. She is also survived by her loving baby sister, Marian Droste of Las Vegas, NV; cousins; and many nieces and nephews. Helen will be greatly missed by her loving family and many friends.
Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 South Grand Ave. West, Springfield. A Funeral Ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Celebrant Judy Woerner officiating. Private family burial will be held at Camp Butler National Cemetery on Monday, April 1, 2019.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148 or Ronald McDonald House of Central Illinois, 610 North 7th Street, Springfield, IL 62702.
Comments
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
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
Comments
-
Community News4 weeks agoSchool district apparently eyeing food management service
-
High School Sports4 weeks agoAnother strong week for Gillespie softball
-
High School Sports4 weeks agoGillespie baseball steamroll Nokomis and fall to New Berlin
-
Community News9 hours agoSchool board approves elementary school principal’s retirement, accepts resignation of high school teacher/coach