Obituaries
Death of Rena M. Crookston
Rena M. Crookston, long time resident of Mexico, Missouri, passed away at home in Sedona, Arizona where she has lived near family for the past sixteen months. She was born in Benld, Illinois, on October 13, 1920 and died on September 30, 2011 in her sleep from natural causes. She lived independently until just the last few weeks of her life.
She is predeceased by her late husband, James A. Crookston, a former executive with A. P. Green Refactories. Dr. Crookston passed away on March 3, 1997. She is survived by her two sons, Jim and wife Sue of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Dan and wife Paulette of Sedona, Arizona. The highlight of her life for the past 38 years were her grandchildren, Laura Deleot of Nashville, TN, Jenny Harrell of San Francisco, CA, Katie Birkholz of Denver, CO, James Crookston of Sedona, AZ, and San Francisco, CA and Shara Crookston of Toledo, OH. The last three years of her life have been filled with great joy and pleasure with the arrival of five great-grandsons, Beau, Thornton, Nolan, Xander and Clay.
Rena’s life was fulfilled with the act of doing for others. Very rarely did she focus on herself, it seemed to always be about someone else. She was very active for many years in her church, Mexico First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Elder and on many committees during her 56 years of membership. Rena was active as well in many civic activities such as PEO, the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Board, the City Park Board and school PTA committees and fund raisers.
During the last few weeks of her life she was surrounded by family who traveled to her bedside to say goodbye. She died during the night after the last one left.
At Rena’s request her memorial will be a graveside service at Benld Cemetery in Benld, Illinois, on October 29, 2011 at 10AM where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and mother and father, Andina and Domenic Moretti.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers any remembrance be made to the Mexico First Presbyterian Church.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Benld, Illinois is in charge of the local 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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