Obituaries
Death of Charles Kenneth Eichen
Charles Kenneth Eichen, 98, of Carlinville, died at Lakeside Health and Rehab Center, Carlinville, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 4:24 pm. He was born August 1, 1926, in Polk Twp, to Frederick Eichen and Grace Louise (Douglas) Eichen.
He married Stella Marie (Barnett) Eichen on February 11, 1951, at Memorial Christian Church in Carlinville. She preceded him in death on September 17, 2004. He was retired after having been a farmer and owner of Eichen Lumber Co. Charles was a veteran of the US Army after having served during WWII. He was a member of the American Legion, Carlinville Masonic Lodge, and Order of Eastern Star, Plainview.
He is survived by his children, Katherine (special friend, David Hildebrand) Witt of Carlinville, Deborah (Gary) Pellizzaro of Ponte Vedra, FL, Cheryl (Jim) Madson of Lewisville, TX, Mike (Lisa) Eichen of Carlinville, Patricia (Randy) Simpson of Farmington, NM, Carol (Dan) Wills of Carlinville, Stephen (Margaret) Eichen of Plainview, Barb (Paul) Lebro of Plainview, Tommie Eichen of Carlinville, Timmie Eichen of Carlinville, 16 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, several great-great-grandchildren, and sister, Imogene Emery of Carlinville. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, spouse, grandson, Michael Wallis, great-great-granddaughter, Adeline, and 3 brothers.
Visitation will be on Monday, August 12, 2024, at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Carlinville, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, with Masonic Services at 7:00 pm. Visitation will also be on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Carlinville, from 9:00 am until 10:00 am. Funeral services are Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Carlinville. Burial will be at Moore Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Paul United Church of Christ. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home 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.
