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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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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