Obituaries
Obituary of Frederick Oscar Kahler
Frederick Oscar Kahler, 89 of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 5:40 pm. Fred Oscar Kahler was born on November 6, 1935, the only child of Oscar and Victoria Kahler in Gillespie.
He attended the Maple Street School and graduated in May 1953 from Gillespie High School. He played varsity football as a line backer, and played the trombone in the high school band. Following high school he worked in the mail room at the state house in Springfield. While in Springfield, he was also active in intramural sports, particularly basketball.
Following his stint in Springfield, he enlisted in the Army for two years and was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. After being discharged he returned to Springfield to work at Kyanize Paint Company for several years, always returning to his roots to care for his aging mother. After she passed away, Fred moved into her home in Gillespie and worked for Garella Pest Control for a number of years.
In later life, he was a courier for the Carlinville National Bank. Fred lived a simple life tending his vegetable garden, watching his purple martin house, repairing items for his neighbors and friends, and enjoying history television shows and sporting events. But his main passion was model trains – he had a significant train collection of which he was very proud and enjoyed showing his trains to anyone who was interested.
Fred had no living relatives but his special friend over the years was Roberta Wenzel and her daughter, Attorney Nancy Ruyle of Carlinville, with her family who spent many festive holidays with him over the years. He was also a close friend of David and Sandy Bertetti of Andover, MA and GIllespie and Dr. Marc Booth of Chapel Hill, NC whom Fred mentored for many years.
Fred had many friends in Gillespie especially the Thursday morning coffee group and particularly Linda Vidmar who helped him with everyday tasks in his later years.
Friends may call on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Gillespie Methodist Church from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm with a memorial service to follow at the church at 6:30 pm. Memorials are suggested to Gillespie Methodist Church. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Robert Leeroy Blevins, 77 of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born in Litchfield on December 24, 1947, a son of Robert James and Betty Bernadine (Cranford) Blevins.
He graduated from Centralia High School and proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed for many years as a cabinet maker with Adenca Manufacturing in Litchfield. Robert enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and looking for buried treasures with his metal detector.
He was a talented musician and played guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoyed watching and listening to all spectator sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He married the former Wanda Kay Large and they later divorced.
Robert is survived by sons, Christopher (fiancée Grace) Blevins and Jason (Jamie) Blevins, all of Litchfield; daughters, Jennifer (Gordon) Fenton of Salem, MO and Shannon Large of Litchfield; brothers, Chesley Blevins of Staunton, Joseph Blevins of Litchfield, Floyd Blevins of Highland, and Fred Blevins of Litchfield; sisters, Barbara (Ray) Schuster of Sorento, Sharon (John) Wickerheim of Chicago, and Pamela Poppenhouse of Litchfield; and several grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. and Betty B. Blevins.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Pastor Gilbert Dealey will officiate. Burial will be in Crabtree Cemetery. Military honors will be at graveside. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family of Robert Blevins, c/o Christopher Blevins. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Joyce Carleen Simmons, 83 of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 23, 2025. She was born in Pana on May 31, 1942, a daughter of Carl Cornelius and Lucille Romelta (Miller) Brakenhoff.
She was a member of the Litchfield High School graduating class of 1960. She married Raymond “Larry” Simmons on June 6, 1965, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until his passing on January 23, 2022.
Joyce was an excellent cook and well known for her beef and noodles, Texas cake, and stew. Joyce’s delicious cooking skills were evident during her 22-year career as manager of Jubelt’s Variety Bakery in Litchfield and as a ten-year cafeteria worker for the Litchfield Community School District #12. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her fruit trees, and sewing. Joyce enjoyed serving others by teaching Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and volunteering for the local Meals on Wheels.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Raymond (Vicki) Simmons of Evansville, IN and David (Jacqueline) Simmons of Haymarket, VA; daughter, Laura Simmons of Edwardsville; brothers, Leslie (Sue) Brakenhoff of Litchfield, Byron (Terry) Brakenhoff of Chattanooga, TN, and Dale (Nancy) Brakenhoff of Litchfield; sisters, Ramona Warman of Charleston, IL and Marilyn (Don) Loptien of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Zachary Simmons, Makenzie (Jeremy) Frazier, Emma Simmons, and William Simmons; and great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Wyatt, Eli and Calla.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Rev. Larry Brakenhoff and Bernard Brakenhoff; brother-in-law Robert, “Bob” Warman; and niece, Kimberly (Brakenhoff) Bergman.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-8557. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
