Obituaries
Death of Henry Melvin “Hank” Mihelcic
Henry Melvin “Hank” Mihelcic of Belleville died on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at 9:32 a.m. at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. He was born on June 17, 1931, in Mt. Olive.
Henry retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after a total of 25 years of service in the United States Air Force. He was a veteran of the Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam conflict. He enlisted in the USAF following graduation from Mt. Olive Community High School in 1949. He served as a Morse code radio intercept operator during the Korean War.
Following discharge in 1952, he was employed as a telegrapher and depot agent with the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1955, he entered the Aviation Cadet program and in 1957 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Regular Air Force. Most of his subsequent service was as a navigator/bombardier in B-36 and B-52 aircraft of the Strategic Air Command.
From 1976 until retirement in 1995, he worked as a real estate broker with Century AG Realty, O’Fallon, and in 1980-81 as an underground coal miner with Monterey Coal Company in Albers, IL. In 1986, he suffered a massive heart attack and ended up receiving a heart transplant at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.
On April 18, 1960, he married Darlene Nelson at Beale AFB, California. A very happy 57 years of marriage followed. She preceded him in death on June 8, 2017.
His son, Steven, preceded him in death on June 8, 2008. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Mary Gorsich Mihelcic; brothers, William and Donald Mihelcic; and sister, Margaret “Dolly” Steinhauser.
He is survived by two sons, David (Virginia) Mihelcic of Ashburn, Virginia and Peter Mihelcic of Fairview Heights; daughter-in-law, Tina Mihelcic of Washington, Missouri; brother, John (Lois) Mihelcic of Mt. Olive; sisters, Bernadine Burg of Auburn, Gloria (Ronald) Ruppe of Sullivan, Missouri, and Catherine Rhodes of Eagerville; grandchildren, Virginia Butler, Ezekiel Mihelcic, Julia Mihelcic, Samuel Mihelcic, of Ashburn, Virginia, and Matthew Henry Mihelcic of Eureka, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren, Ella Virginia and Vera Darlene Butler.
Visitation services will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Becker & Son Funeral Home, Mt. Olive. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at St. John Paul II Catholic Church, Mt. Olive with Father Thomas Hagstrom. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Mt. Olive.
Lunch for family and friends will be held in St. John Paul II Parish Hall served by the Altar and Rosary Society.Memorials are suggested to Calvary Cemetery. Becker & Son Funeral Home, Mt. Olive 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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