Obituaries
Death of William J. Horton
William J. Horton, 82 of Carlinville, passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at his residence in Carlinville. Bill was born on December 4, 1940, in Garden City, KS, a son of Robert Louis and Lena Thomas Horton.
He married Susan Thompson on October 31, 1964, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton, IN. Bill graduated from Pierceville High School in Pierceville, KS in 1958. Bill was a concrete slip-form specialist and worked all over the United States and sometimes abroad building grain elevators, flour mills, and feed mills.
He started working for Jarvis Construction in 1958 and was given his first project as a construction superintendent in Princeton, Indiana where he met Susan Thompson. They married in 1964. In 1966, Bill was assigned a project in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1967, their first child was born while working in Jamaica. After much travel, he and Susan settled the family in Albion, Illinois where they lived for 21 years.
All five of their children graduated from Edwards County High School. A few of Bill’s many achievements included being the job superintendent for the Barilla pasta plant in Ames, Iowa, the largest single-pour concrete building at that time in the United States for which he appeared on the cover of Concrete magazine. He managed the addition to the grain facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and led construction for multiple other projects throughout the United States.
Susan and Bill traveled for work but owned a home in Camdenton, Missouri on the Lake of the Ozarks from 1994 to 2004 and enjoyed their time there. In 2004, Bill and Susan moved to Carlinville where he loved watching his grandkids play sports. Bill retired in August 2006.
Bill was an amazing father that did not believe in sparing the rod. He coached little league baseball and junior league football when his boys played. He loved collecting coins, antiquing, yard sales, and auctions. He always gave the people he encountered respect; however, he still expected excellence. He was a man with a strong work ethic and allowed everyone a second chance. He will be greatly missed.
Bill is survived by his spouse, Susan Horton of Carlinville; daughter, Denise (Jimmy) Watkins of Stoneville, NC; son, David (Pamela) Horton of Groveland; daughter, Dana (Marty) Tieman of Carlinville; son, Darren (Laura) Horton of Williamsville; son, Doug Horton of Carlinville; 9 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Louis Horton of Annandale, MN; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Robert Louis Horton; mother, Lena Horton; and sisters, Ruby Davis, Roberta Allen, Mary Erker, and Betty Wells.
Private funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville. Memorials may be made to Carlinville High School Baseball Boosters and can be sent in care of Jen Enrietta at Carlinville High School and to Ronald McDonald House.
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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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Death of Eugene A. “Gene” Bentrup