Obituaries
Obituary of Carl Arthur Behme
Carl Arthur Behme, 91, of Carlinville went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at home surrounded by family. He was born almost a century ago to Henry Christian and Clara (Rhodes) Behme in Brushy Mound Township. Carl was born February 9, 1933.
Carl farmed with Henry Christian, his dad, starting in 1947-48 and drove a D4 CAT for Brushy Mound Township. Carl graduated from Carlinville High School in 1950. After graduation, Carl went to work at Konneker Brown and continued to farm. Carl married Mary Lou (Link) on April 11, 1953, and to that union eight children were born, Susan, Sharon, Annette, Carol, Jennifer, Christopher, Jeffrey, and Gregory.
Mary Lou preceded him in death on May 28, 2004.
Carl married Charlene Feiker Marischenn and sons Patrick (Jenny) Osborne and Michael Osborne on June 23, 2006. Carl had a visionary or pioneer spirit. He could see how things could be, how to make things better, how to make things grow. Carl was a founding member of Hog Inc. (62 years, serving as President several times), founding member of Prairie State Gilts (President), founding member of Macoupin County Pork Producers (President & other offices).
Carl received the 1964, 1965 and 1966 IL Top Pork Producer of the Year award. Carl was active in Macoupin County Beef Producers and was a founding member of IL Pork Pac, Macoupin County Farm Bureau Vice President (Chair of the Building & Grounds Committee that purchased and built where it sits today). Carl was also President of the Catholic Cemetery Board for years and instrumental in setting up New Calvary Cemetery. Carl was a member of SS Mary & Joseph Church and served as an usher since the 50’s, Eucharistic minister and on the Parish Council.
Carl was also a Knights of Columbus member. Carl was a founding member of the North Otter Watershed Drainage District and named Outstanding Young Farmer by the Carlinville JAYCEEs. In high school, Carl was active in FFA and received the state Farmer degree and the Dekalb High Yield Award in corn production. A 1977 Master Farmer, Carl was also father to four county Pork Queens, one of which was IL State Pork Queen, three FFA Chapter Farmers, and two American Farmer.
All eight children were 10-11 year 4-H members and 14 grandchildren were/are 4-H members. The Behmes were 1988 IL Pork Producer Farm Family of the Year. Family and farming were Carl’s pride and joy.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Henry Vincent, Floyd (Joyce), and Erwin (Barbara) Behme; six sisters, Myrtle (Stanley)Karrick, Iva (Richard) Loveless, Irene (Edgar) Peacock, Lela (Gilson) Robinson, Stella (Glenn) Coffey, and Esther Fagerburg; and four grandchildren.
Surviving are Charlene; five daughters, Susan (Dr. Larry) Jeisy, Sharon (Keith) Missey, Annette (James) Bellm, Carol (Randall) Tillman, and Jennifer (Jerry) Titus; three sons, Christopher (Kelly), Jeffrey (Julie), and Gregory(Stefanie) Behme; grandchildren, Luke(Jenny) Behme, Richard (Rachael ) Jeisy, Eric (Cameron) Bellm, Curt (Nicole) Jeisy, Andrew (Kelly) Bellm, Rachel Tillman, Rene’e(Dillon) Ruholl, Ryan (Whitney) Tillman, Tyler Behme, Victoria Titus, Claire Behme, Alexander Behme, Frank Titus, Mary, Ellie and Charlie Behme; 14 great grandchildren; goddaughters Marianne Buhrow, Jayne Dumas and Kathleen Clark; sister, Verna (Richard) Knudson; sister-in-law, Judy Behme; and over fifty nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at SS. Mary & Joseph Church on Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, Carlinville with Reverend Joe Koyickal, SAC, presiding.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Cemetery Association, Wounded Warrior Fund, Macoupin County 4-H Foundation, or St. Jude. Davis- Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the family with 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.
