Obituaries
Death of Denver Wayne Kunz
Denver Wayne Kunz, 91, of Carlinville, formerly of Bunker Hill, died at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2014, at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Missouri.Denver was born September 4, 1922 in Bingham, Illinois, the son of Walter D. and Nellie (Greenwood) Kunz. Denver was married on June 30, 1951 to Pauline L. Bennett in Urbana, Illinois and she preceded him in death on March 31, 1985. He later married Dorothy J. Litton on April 21, 1987 and she preceded him in death on August 30, 2005.
Denver graduated Fillmore High School in May 1940, farmed full time until 1942, and then was a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad from August, 1942 until he was drafted into World War II in January 1943, where he trained troops in Arkansas and Texas.
He served in the Pacific Theater beginning in April 1945, most notably in the Air Cargo Resupply Squadron, flying a C-47 to drop supplies to troops in the mountains of Luzon, Philippines. After the war, he was transferred to Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, promoted to an officer and was tasked with administering railway service in the southern half of Japan. Denver joined the active Air Force Reserve in 1947 and retired from the Reserve in 1982 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Denver attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a B.S. in Education in 1949. He then moved to Carlinville and was Farm Management Field man for the U of I Agriculture Extension from January 1951 to April 1961, teaching cost accounting and farm practices to over 200 farmers in 9 counties in southwestern Illinois. In 1961, Denver moved his family to a farm in Bunker Hill where he farmed full time as well as serving many of his established clients in accounting and management. During the 1970s, he expanded his services to include estate planning and tax preparation. In 1983, Denver and Pauline moved back to Carlinville where he maintained his business until his retirement in 2008 at age 86.
Denver was a charter member and treasurer of the Illinois Veterans WWII Committee to build the WWII Memorial at Oak Ridge Cemetery. He also initiated the Illinois Veterans WWII Scholarship. One of Denver’s proudest achievements was his vision and efforts to start, fund and see to fruition, the Illinois Veterans & Community Classroom Project. He was an active member of the United Methodist churches, both in Carlinville and Bunker Hill, and was an active member of Kiwanis International in Bunker Hill. He also had an active interest in political matters.
Denver is survived by a son, Kenneth Kunz of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Paula McFarland of Rolla, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Marie Kunz; son-in-law, Lynn McFarland; and grandchildren: Allison Kunz of New York, New York, Spencer Kunz of McKinney, Texas, Kelsey McFarland of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Caitlin McFarland of Rolla, Missouri.
Visitation services will be held Saturday July 12, 2014 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at Carlinville United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Carlinville United Methodist Church with Reverend Bob Taylor officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Carlinville, Illinois.
Memorials may be made to the Illinois Veterans & Community Classroom Project (sent in care of the Illinois WWII Veterans Memorial) or the Carlinville United Methodist Church. Davis Anderson Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
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Sharon Irene Wood, 80, of Litchfield, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Litchfield Health and Rehab. She was born in St. Louis, MO, on August 17, 1944, a daughter of Gerald Mitchell and Deana Irene (Williams) Hart.
She moved to Litchfield with her family in 1947, when her father returned to his hometown after WWII. Sharon graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1962. She married Michael Dean Wood on July 22, 1972, at Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield. They were happily married for nearly 53 years. He survives.
Sharon was employed for nearly 40 years with the City of Litchfield as deputy clerk of the water department. She was a member of Wares Grove Lutheran Church in rural Butler where she served on the Ladies Aid committee, on the church council as chairman of the worship committee, WELCA, and Sunday school teacher.
Sharon was a well-known dedicated volunteer in many local activities. She was the Edgewood Cemetery Association secretary, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 436, serving as Rehab and Education Chairman for many years, and a member of the Laborers International Union of North America Local 773.
In addition, she was involved with the Cub Scouts, serving as den leader and pack leader for ten years, committee treasurer of the Litchfield Sesquicentennial History book, a Route 66 Association member, a lifetime member of the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, where she also served on the board, as treasurer, and as a greeter. Sharon was a talented country dancer and an avid Chicago Cubs fan. She and Mike enjoyed traveling after retirement, and celebrating their 40th anniversary in Hawaii was a favorite memory.
Sharon’s goal in life was to be there and support her family. She could be found cheering on her son Corey’s drag racing, watching her husband, son-in-law, grandson-in-law, granddaughters, and great-granddaughter pitch horseshoes, and attending her grandson’s baseball and soccer games, and her granddaughter’s tennis and dancing activities.
Sharon is survived by her husband, Michael Wood of Litchfield; sons, Stephen J. (Melissa) Fiscor of Jacksonville, FL and Corey M. Wood of Litchfield; daughter, Jaime D. (Wade) Koonce of Litchfield; grandchildren, Adrienne Michelle Koonce and Kristin Nicole (Justin) Plasters of Litchfield and Kathryn Addison Fiscor and Ryan Sheffield Fiscor of Jacksonville, FL; great grandchildren, Hunter Allen Plasters and Tymberli Rae Plasters of Litchfield, and Elissa Cline-Plasters of Gillespie; sisters-in-law, Nancy Hart of Pensacola, FL, Margaret “Peggy” Helfrich of Springfield, and Pat Coleman of Washington state; and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Deana Hart, brother, Gerald D. Hart, and grandparents, Orville Hart, Edith Bandy and Harold and Flora Williams.
Funeral services celebrating Sharon’s eternal life will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Wares Grove Lutheran Church in rural Butler. Pastor John Jaffry will officiate. Burial will be in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be held at Plummer Funeral Home from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Memorials may be made to Wares Grove Lutheran Church, Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, or Litchfield Veterans Memorial Garden. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is assisting the family.
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Karen Lee Allen, 75 of Litchfield, died at her residence on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11:56 am. She was born on January 1, 1950, in Wood River to Jack Holman and Dorothy Gibbs Holman.
She married Donald E. Allen on November 29, 1971, in Alton. He preceded her in death in 2004. She worked in material management for St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield.
She is survived by her children, Yvette Allen of Litchfield and Dena Allen; grandchildren, Kelsey, Christopher, Aubree, Emily, Cheyenne, and Mallory; 11 great grandchildren; and siblings, Ella (Don) Walker of Wood River and Jack (Cindy) Holman Jr. of Wood River.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, and granddaughter, Kelsey Cox.
Visitation will be on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at the funeral home at 12:00 pm. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens, Bethalto.
Flowers are welcomed. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Rita Mae Smith NEE Dana, 93, passed away peacefully at 10:35 am on July 6, 2025, with her daughter, son, and daughter-in-law by her side. She was born on October 21, 1931, in Mitchell, IL to Gertrude Bequette Dana and Charles Edward Dana Sr.
She married Charles Newton (Newt) Smith, Jr. on December 29, 1949, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Bethalto. He passed away in December 1995.
First and foremost she loved family and family gatherings, golf, the cardinals, dancing, wine dinners, and high tea. She was known for her fried chicken and her generosity. She always said “there is always room for one more at the table.” She sent care packages to her kids friends through the years and always made sure everyone had a Christmas. She will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her grandson, Steven Ray Whisenand whom she adored; her parents and in laws, Comella and Charles N Smith Sr.; three brothers and their spouses, Charles Edward (Boss) Dana Jr., Stanley Aloysius (Allie) and Ruth Ann Dana, Joseph (Joe) and Marilyn Dana; four sisters and their spouses, Margaret and Delmar Oldenettel, Gertrude (Trudy) and Gene King, Elizabeth (Betty) and George Briskovich and Barbara (Bobbie) and John Katich; three brothers in law, George F Smith, Spencer Q Smith and Birdie Stanfield, Richard C Smith and Sylvia; sister in law, Comella (Cassie) Reynolds; niece; two nephews; two great nieces; and one great nephew.
She is survived by her daughter, Paulette’ Je’An Smith of Bunker Hill; her son and his wife, Steven (Smitty) and Marcia Smith of Littleton, CO; one sister and brother in law, Helen and Steve Zink of Springfield; 37 nieces and nephews; 31 great nieces and nephews; and 33 great great nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill is in charge of the arrangements.
