Obituaries
Death of Anna Kay Reiniesch
Anna Kay Reiniesch, 39 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 4:23 am. She was born on June 12, 1985, in Springfield to Michael J. Reiniesch and Peggy Miller Reiniesch.
She was a service station clerk and a daycare children’s aide. Anna volunteered at the Giving Garden. She enjoyed gardening, horses, country, watching her nieces and nephews play sports, and spending time with friends.
She is survived by her grandmother, Joan Miller; mother, Peggy Reiniesch of Gillespie; sister, Amanda Reiniesch of Gillespie; brother, Joseph (Becca) Reiniesch of Gillespie; nephews, Dominik Taylor and Keagonn Malone; nieces, Shelby Taylor and Delaney “Bug” Taylor; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her dog, Apollo.
Anna was preceded in death by her grandparents, Alvin Miller and Joseph & Eleanor Reiniesch; father, Michael J. Reiniesch; and godmother, Janet Seketa.
Friends may call on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie. Memorials are suggested to Kravanya Funeral Home. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Charlene Betty Lee Sauerwein, 87 of Bunker Hill, died in Bunker Hill on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 3:00 a.m. She was born on February 7, 1937, in Edwardsville to William A. Bauer and Camilla Provaznik Bauer.
She married Victor John Sauerwein on January 23, 1960, in Edwardsville. He preceded her in death on May 13, 2023. She was a homemaker who loved, gardening, cooking which she was a good cook, her flock of sheep, her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, Jon (Theresa) Sauerwein of Bunker Hill; daughters, Joy (Thomas Wayne) Roswell of Bunker Hill and Jeanne Sparks of Bunker Hill; grandchildren, Tom (Allison) Roswell, Amy (fiancé, Tom Silveus) Roswell, Janna Sauerwein, Benjamin Gettleman, Christina (significant other, Clay Coffman) Sparks, Crystal (significant other, Ian Hilgert) Sparks, Jesse (significant other, Samantha Crisel) Sauerwein, Brandon (significant other, Jessica) Sparks, and Jacob Sparks; great-grandchildren, Carsyn, Savannah, Vivienne, Rylee, Jetsyn, and Lane; sister in law, Wilma (Richard) Stinnett of Alton; and step-sisters, Mary Lou McCurry and Sarah (Merle) Yates.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents; spouse; brothers, Roland Bauer, Calvin Bauer, Carlton Bauer, and Reeves Bauer; and sisters, Lorene Opel and Mavis Utechett.
Friends may call on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services are Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery, Bunker Hill.
Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church of Bunker Hill. Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill is in charge of the arrangements.
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Johnnie M. Monroe, 88, died on October 8, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born on September 4, 1936, in Shawneetown, IL to Loren & Edna (Cummins) Monroe, who both preceded him in death.
He married Carolyn (Adler) Monroe on December 19, 1964, and she preceded him in death on August 3, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Charles Robert Monroe and Loren Dale Monroe, and by his brother-in-law Harold Adler.
He is survived by his fiance’, Mary Adler; his daughter, Beverly Jo (Moe) St. Arnault; his grandson, Brian (Rhonda) Rigsby; his great-granddaughter, Brianna Rigsby; nieces and nephews, Karra Adler, Loren (Adrienne) Monroe, Robin (Dale) Turner, Dean (Kirsten) Monroe, Rebecca (Joe) Gould, and Angela (Nick) Coursen; and his brother-in-law, Bill (Kris) Adler. He is also survived by 14 great-nieces and great-nephews, several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, as well as Johnny (Mary) Witt, who Johnnie and Carolyn raised as their own for many years.
Johnnie was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin, IL, for many years where he served as a deacon and completed several missionary trips to Mexico. He was also an active member of the New Douglas Madison #560 and Staunton #177 Masons, The Ainad Shriners of Southern Illinois, The Legion of Honor, and the Hillbilly Clan #39 Lodge.
He spent a lot of his spare time doing woodworking, photography, leatherworking, and many other craft works. One of Johnnie’s most amazing traits was his love for children, which is why he had such a passion to be part of the Shriners organization. He was also a Boy Scout leader and baseball coach for many years and never met a kid he didn’t try to help; this is why so many looked up to him as a father figure.
Johnnie served in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1956 and was a disabled veteran who survived a neck injury when he was young that paralyzed him from the neck down, yet he fought through that and lived a full and inspiring life. Johnnie was a person who lived life to the fullest and didn’t let anything stop him from doing what he enjoyed. He went full throttle at all times and never let any grass grow under his feet.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Masonic Services to be held at 7:30 PM on Friday evening. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Anthony Hudson officiating.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. The Staunton Military Honor Guard will conduct graveside military rites.
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Leslie “Butch” Peterson, 73 of Bunker Hill, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Staunton Health and Rehab Center. He was born on April 10, 1951, in Highland to Lloyd and Bernadine Balke Peterson.
He married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Coleman on June 10, 1972, in Granite City. She survives. Also surviving are two sons and daughters in Law, Lonnie and Cassie Peterson of Fulton, MO and Larry and Deanna Peterson of Edwardsville; twin grandsons, Lane and Lloyd Peterson; two granddaughters, Madeline and Lydia Peterson; one sister, Cindy (Cottrell) Inman of Decatur; sister, Kris (Dehne) Kovarik of Edwardsville; nephews in Decatur, Mt. Olive and St. Louis; and a niece of Troy; great nieces of Granite City and Medora.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a step-mother, Helen Longston Peterson.
Butch was a member of the First Congregational Church in Bunker Hill and Local 520 Operating Engineers in Mitchell, IL. He worked for Diestelhorst Construction for many years. Butch’s hobby and passion was raising cattle.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 11, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill where services will be conducted at 11 am on Saturday, October 12, 2024, with Uncle Sam Clements of Cleveland, TN officiating. Burial will follow in Bunker Hill Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Pallbearers include Joe Thyer, Barry Seiler, Johnny Jarden, Keith Strohmeier, Jim Meisenheimer, Harold Wolf and Al Moore. Honorary pallbearers will be Merle Wadsworth and Steven Behrens.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill is in charge of the arrangements.
