Obituaries
Death of Adlene Estelle Kinnikin
Adlene Estelle Kinnikin, 95, left this world on September 28, 2022, with her only child by her side. She was born on September 3, 1927, the daughter of the late Frank and Rosalie (Close) Berg. She married Robert Kinnikin on January 20, 1951, in Carlinville and& he preceded her in death on August 26, 1999.
She is survived by their son, Dennis “Skinny” (Dawn) Kinnikin of East Alton; two grandsons, Randall of Alton and newlyweds Robert (Jessica) of Wood River; her older sister, Violet Rood of Edwardsville; and her very best friend, Doris Thomas of Staunton.
At the age of 21, after graduating beauty college, she opened her own salon in Staunton. After marrying, she set up shop in their home in Worden before moving it into a building in town. She also regularly styled hair for Williamson Funeral Home. When questioned about that clientele, she replied, “No one ever complains”. She was extremely creative and an excellent seamstress. Her pieces were finished so finely that they could actually be worn inside out. She was a deft quilter and left behind over 30 pieced quilts not including the ones she prepared for her inevitable great-grandchildren.
A private celebration of her life will be held later.
Memorials in her name are suggested to the 5A’s (no kill) Animal Shelter, 4530 N. Alby Road, Godfrey, IL 62035. Williamson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Lois Ilaine Erspamer Sawyer, 94 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 9:51 am. She was born on February 9, 1930, in Gillespie to Louis Poi and Bertha Annetta Sunman Poi Lewis.
She married John Peter Erspamer on September 4, 1950. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1989. She married Dempsey Sawyer on May 15, 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2016. She had been a bookkeeper for Duracraft and Daley’s Chevrolet. Lois enjoyed reading, gardening, painting, drawing, cooking, traveling, bird watching, adventures, her family and her beloved cat, Molly.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Timm) LaRoche of Gillespie, Joan (Paul) Alexander of Gillespie, and Lynn Erspamer of Litchfield; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Wright of Gillespie, Suzanne (companion, Josh) DeMartini of Madisonville, KY, Jared (Amanda) Johnson of Staunton, Adam (Ashli) Alexander of Gillespie, Travis (Laura) Mize of Dallas, TX, Britini Bernardini of Nokomis, and Marissa (Jacob) Summers of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Macie, Isabel and Alexander Wright, Joseph and Gino DeMartini, Brianna Johnson, Ansley Alexander, Lucas and Jeffrey Bernardini, Fisher, Sabrina and Gabriella Crow; great great grandchild, Dominic Joseph “DJ” DeMartini; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Carmel, IN, Phyllis Dodd of Pooler, GA, and Marion Boston of Springfield; and brothers, Ernie Lewis of Carbondale and Fred Lewis of Ft Meyers, FL.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, and brother, John Lewis.
Private services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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