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Death of Willard R. Best

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Staff Sergeant Willard R. Best, 24, formerly of Staunton was killed in action during WWII on August 24, 1944. After 75 years, his remains were positively identified on September 3, 2019. 

Following delays due to Covid-19, his remains have been returned to his hometown of Staunton for burial. Now 77 years later on Friday, September 24, Willard will be honored with a military funeral starting with a processional at 10:30 A.M. from Williamson Funeral Home thru downtown Staunton to Memorial Park Cemetery. A full military funeral will start at the cemetery at 11:00 A.M. The public is invited to honor this fallen war hero by participating in the processional and ceremony. 

Willard was born on April 10, 1920, the son of the late Otto and Lena Best of Staunton and brother to Harold (Elaine) Best, Leland “Elmer” Best, and Joyce (Ike) Bangert, who are all deceased.  He was married to the late Alma L. (Eyer) Best Piekutowski.  

He is survived by his son, Willard “Dick” Best of Decatur; three grandchildren, Michael (Amanda) Best of Colorado, Laura Conley of Shelbyville, and Richard (Angie) Best of West Virginia; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are nieces, Beverly Bangert of Springfield, Connie (Philip) Cavoretto of Staunton, Lynn Bangert of Springfield, Debbie (Mike) Pernicka of Staunton, Lois (Greg) Savant of Gillespie, and Karen Johnson; and nephew, Lee (Sue) Best of Arlington Heights. 


The following is a synopsis of Willard’s death in 1944 and journey over the past seventy-seven years paraphrased from the Air Force Times published in October 2019:

The remains of a B-17 Flying Fortress top turret gunner shot down over Germany in World War II have been identified.  In August 1944, Best was a top turret gunner aboard a B-17G assigned to the 407th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 40th Combat Bombardment Wing, 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force.

On Aug. 24, the nine-man crew of the Flying Fortress was conducting a bombing raid over Merseburg, Germany when it was struck by anti-aircraft fire, exploded, and crashed, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Four crew members survived and were captured by German forces. The other five, including Best, were killed. Best’s remains were reported to have been buried in the Leipzig-Lindenthal Cemetery.

After the war, the American Graves Registration Command recovered three sets of remains from the Lindenthal Cemetery. The remains of these three service members were declared unidentifiable and buried as unknown American service members in American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in Europe until 2017. After volunteers notified DPAA of the unknown burials associated with the B-17 crash, a DPAA historian determined that the three sets of remains could likely be associated with crewmembers from Best’s Flying Fortress.  

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In April 2019, the Department of Defense and ABMC disinterred three sets of remains and sent them to the DPAA laboratory for identification. Scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used anthropological analysis mitochondrial DNA analysis to identify Best.  

Willard’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) site in Belgium, along with the others missing from WWII. Although interred as an unknown, Best’s grave was meticulously cared for by ABMC for 70 years. A rosette will now be placed next to his name to indicate he has been identified.

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Obituaries

Death of Jean Marie Boston Wilson

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Jean Marie Boston Wilson, 52 of Staunton, passed away at 6:46 AM on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at Community Hospital of Staunton. She was born on March 10, 1971, in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of the late Jerry and Mary (Ackerman) Boston.

She was a homemaker. She enjoyed 5D Diamond Art, gardening, painting, cooking, baking, and arts and crafts.

She is survived by her son, Nicholas Wilson; two sisters, Anne Hood and  Barbie Ivey Boston; a brother, Joe (Peggy) Boston; several nephews; and her beloved dog, Max. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; a nephew, Don Ivey Jr.; and a brother-in-law, Donald Ivey.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the family. Williamson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Obituaries

Death of James Rudolph Zirkelbach

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James Rudolph Zirkelbach, 86 of Benld, passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 12:10 a.m. at his residence in Benld. He was born November 26, 1936, in Shawneetown, IL to Gregory Zirkelbach and Beulah (Vaughn) Zirkelbach.

He married Mary V. Lebro on August 12, 1977, in Carlinville. James was a retired Sheriff for Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department in Carlinville, a member of the Macoupin-Montgomery Crime Stoppers, Illinois Sheriff’s Association, Former board member for Community Unit School District #7, Amvets, and a former member of the Macoupin County Board.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Zirkelbach of Benld; five sons, Robert (Sandee) Zirkelbach of Carlisle, IA, Dennis (Julie) Zirkelbach of Eagarville, James Zirkelbach of Benld, Mark (Sandy) Zirkelbach of Kemp, TX, Brad Zirkelbach of Wentzville, MO; three daughters, Tracy (Bret) Werner of Hamel, Joan (Brent) Cain of Carlinville, and Kimberly J. (Jack) Burns of Benld; two brothers, Andrew (Shirley) Zirkelbach of Alton and Eugene (Ruth) Zirkelbach of Kampsville, IL; and sister, Pat Navarre of Godfrey.

James was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Zirkelbach; sister, Cecelia Zirkelbach; and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Zirkelbach.

Friends may call on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Kravanya Funeral Home, 203 E. Elm St., Gillespie, from 4:00 until 8:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Kravanya Funeral Home, 203 E. Elm St., Gillespie with Pastor Bob Zirkelbach officiating.

Burial will be at Benld Cemetery in Benld. Memorials are suggested to Crimestoppers or to Gillespie High School Cross Country. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.

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Death of Richard A. Kapp

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Richard A. Kapp, 81, of Staunton, passed away at 7:00 AM on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Hallmark Health Care Center in Carlinville. He was born on February 21, 1942, in Staunton the son of the late August and Lydia (Becker) Kapp. He married Carol A. Meyer on February 8, 1975, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Staunton and she survives.

Dick was Superintendent of the Water Department for the City of Staunton for over 30 years and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 6 years. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Staunton, and a past member of the Staunton Volunteer Fire Department.  He loved duck hunting.

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Staunton; two sons, Daron (Alisha) Kapp of Benld and Aaron (Laura) Kapp of Lebanon; and three grandchildren,  Lucca, Giana, Kyle, and a fourth grandchild on the way. 

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Bob Kapp.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, from 5 PM until closing at the Staunton VFW Hall in Staunton. Memorials are suggested to either the Staunton Volunteer Fire Department or to the Staunton Sports Boosters.

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