Obituaries
Obituary of Eugene “Gene” B. Bellm I
Eugene “Gene” B. Bellm I, 83 of Carlinville, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, peacefully in the home that he built surrounded by love. The house is physically quiet now but every corner of it echoes with his laughter, his jokes, his stories, his advice and the love he had for his family.
Gene was born September 30, 1941, in Carlinville, a son of John and Helen (Beasley) Bellm. Gene attended Carlinville Schools. He married Jeanne Newton on July 7, 1962, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Carlinville.
Gene was a carpenter and contractor in the family business, Bellm Construction. Later, he started Gene Bellm Construction until his retirement. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 663 and a lifelong member of the Carlinville Elk’s Lodge #1412. He was also a member of Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church and had a strong faith.
An avid outdoorsman, Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting, and feeding the geese in his backyard. Indoors, he found pleasure in reading and watching westerns on TV, and playing solitaire. Gene and Jeanne enjoyed playing bridge in a bridge club. Gene had an annual tradition of reading “His Name is Jesus” to his family every Christmas.
Gene is survived by his son, Eugene B. (fiancee Sandy Whittleman) Bellm, II of Carlinville; daughter, Suzanne E. (Bobby) Boston of Carlinville; daughter, Stephanie J. (Jeff) Hart of Carlinville; son, Robert C. (Julie) Bellm of Stanley, ND; ten grandchildren, Ross (Rachelle) Bellm, Carl Bellm, Jason (Holly) Boston, Megan (Josh) Burch, Rebecca Hart, Jeffrey (Olivia) Hart, II, Anessa Hart, Ryenn Hart, Barry Hart, and Brandon Bellm; ten great-grandchildren, Myer Bellm, Miller Bellm, McKenzie Boston, Bryce Burch, Logan Burch, Claire Burch, Charlie Bellm, Lillian Hart, Kolton Costello, and Konner Costello; brother, Earl (Joan) Bellm; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne Bellm; parents; brothers, John Bellm and Albert Bellm; sisters, Barbara Griesbaum, Betty J. Cioni-Willen, Helen Dworzynski, and Anna Mae Rives; and grandson, Gene B. Hart.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 4 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Ss Mary & Joseph Catholic Church, Carlinville. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Wednesday,June 4, 2025, at Ss Mary & Joseph Catholic Church, Carlinville.
Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, Carlinville. Memorials may be made to Carlinville High School Life Skills or New Calvary Cemetery. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of 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.
