Obituaries
Death of Charles Edward “Dundee” Dragovich
Charles Edward “Dundee” Dragovich passed away Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 1:53 p.m. at Gillespie Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care. He was 86 years old.
Charles was born on April 10, 1936, the son of John Dragovich and Anna (Bellovich) Dragovich. He attended Mt. Olive High School and graduated in the class of 1954. He earned an associate’s degree at Eastern Illinois University. While a student there, he played on the football team in the position of kicker.
He married Sandra (Holesko) Dragovich on February 11, 1956, in Springfield. She preceeded him in death on November 25, 2021. He was employed until his retirement at McDonald Douglas, currently the Boeing Company, of St. Louis, MO. He was a member of St. Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Gillespie, the Knights of Columbus, and the Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge #217. Charles also loved playing pinochle with his family and friends.
Charles is survived by a daughter, Julie (David) Hausner; a son, Charles M. Dragovich (David Silva); a granddaughter, Kristen (Tim) York; a grandson, Ryan (Kelly) Fischer; and four great-grandchildren, Mia and Landon York and Maxwell and Theodore Fischer; sister-in-law, Marilyn “Babe” Dragovich; and brother-in-law, George (Jean) Holesko.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Dorothy “Doe” Kreevich, Mildred “Mitz” Frizzo, Eleanor “Keena” Millick, and Rosalyn “Sis” Wesley; brothers, John J. “Schmitz” Dragovich, Clarence “Shine” Dragovich, Lavern J. “Bover” Dragovich, and William “Bill” Dragovich; brothers-in-law, Hensi Kreevich, Dan Frizzo, Dan Millick, and Charles Wesley; and sisters-in-law, Roselyn “Biscan” Dragovich, Anna Marie “Meyer” Dragovich, and Bettye “Robeza” Dragovich.
Visitation will take place at Becker and Son Funeral Home on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. A joint funeral mass for Charles and his wife Sandra will begin at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Mt. Olive and will be officiated by Father Steve Pohlman.
Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Olive. Lunch will take place at Timber Lakes Golf Course in Staunton. Memorials are suggested to Calvary Cemetery, Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, or Catholic Charities of Carlinville.
Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Grace “Sally” Agnes Schuerman, 74 of Nokomis, passed away at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, MO on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:49 pm. She was born on December 28, 1951, in Hillsboro to the late John Whitlow and Agnes Haggarty Whitlow.
She married James Schuerman on June 7, 1975 in Decatur. She worked as a dietician, home health aide and cook. James and Sally were foster parents to many children over the years. She loved horses and her grandkids.
She is survived by her children, April Balestri (James) of Eagarville, Cris “Bill” Schuerman of Nokomis, and Crystal (Greg) Linton of Aldrich, MO; daughter in law, Kasey Schuerman; grandchildren, Paul Balestri, Gracelynn Balestri, Hunter Schuerman, and Andy Linton; brother, Guy (Norma) Whitlow of Nokomis; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse; son, Charles Schuerman; sister, Rosemary (Rosie) Hopwood; brother, Sam Whitlow; and niece, Kathy Whitlow.
No services are scheduled at this time. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Paul F. Madden, 61 of Gillespie, died at his residence on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:08 pm. He was born on September 27, 1964, in Litchfield to John Patrick Madden and Barbara Ann (Resnik) Madden Sawyer.
He married Elizabeth Ann (Morland) Madden on June 5, 2015 in Forsyth, IL. He was a sales manager in the equipment manufacturing industry. Paul was a huge golfer who also enjoyed music, playing the guitar, riding his bike, walking his dog, running and traveling.
He is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth Ann (Morland) Madden of Gillespie; daughter, Colleen (Ryan) Cash of Carlinville; step daughter, Zoey Mayo of Gillespie; brothers, John P (Betsy) Madden of St. Paul, MN, Timothy J. (Anne) Madden of Lemont, IL, and David W. (Sarah) Madden of Urbana, IL; and step father, George Sawyer of Gillespie.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark D. Madden.
Friends may call on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 10:00 am until 11:30 am. Funeral mass will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at SS Simon & Jude Church in Gillespie at 12:00 pm. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, IL.
Memorials are suggested to Partnership For Educational Excellence District #7, BJC Hospice or Siteman Cancer Center. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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