Obituaries
Death of Edward Leonard Soapes
Edward Leonard Soapes passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at 4:39 p.m. at Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville. He was 92 years old.
Ed was born in Staunton, a home birth, on May 24, 1929, to Ralph “Cotton” and Bertha (Scheller) Soapes. He was an only child, very curious, experimenting with things like jumping off the roof with an umbrella and taking apart his new mechanical Popeye to see how it worked. While the top was ruined, and he found no spinach, it proved to be a prediction of things to come, as he later excelled as a mechanic.
He was an avid motorcyclist and a member of the Midstate Motorcycle Club. He spent many hours helping layout the flat track and working races along with his wife, Barb. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, VFW, Masons, Elks Club, Teamsters 710, and Central States.
Ed was a well-rounded man who worked many types of jobs in his lifetime. He worked at Olin, Waggoner Electric, Bowman’s Motorcycle Shop, Ford Motor Company, Hano, Buske Trucklines, and finished his career with Yellow Freight where he retired with 2 million miles, no accidents. Ed also ran his own service station in Mt. Olive for a time in the ’50s as well as sold and serviced Zundapp motorcycles out of his garage, as well as anything else on wheels that needed to be repaired.
Ed served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict mustering out as Sergeant of the Motor Pool. He worried in his later years about the Koreans who worked with their unit and how they fared after the war.
He married Barbara (Taylor) Soapes on May 7, 1951, in Pocahontas, AR, and she survives. Earlier this year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha and Ralph Soapes; in-laws Eva and Fred Taylor; and sons, Tommy (in infancy) and more recently, Jeffrey.
Ed is survived by his wife, Barbara; three daughters, Jeanine Vancauwelaert, Donna (Dennis) Yokley, and Darla (Tim) Pickerill; grandchildren, Hollie (Brant) Fleming, Wendy (Brad) Schoen, Eric (Shannon) Vancauwelaert, Ian Vancauwelaert, Katie (Ryan) Wear, Tim (Sharon) Pickerill, and Trey Pickerill; and four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Landon, Van, and Hunter.
He will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Visitation will be on Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 10 a.m. until service begins at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Olive. Pastor Tommy Brewer will officiate. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery.
Memorials should be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Olive or Mt. Olive Care Center. Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Nancy Ilene Weller, 74, of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 2:52 pm. She was born June 4, 1949, in Litchfield, to Charles Giller and Margaret Whitman Giller. She married Kenneth Raymond Weller, Sr., on August 17, 1968, in Litchfield. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.
She was a caregiver. Nancy loved horses, reading, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Chester (Katina) Weller of Gillespie, Luke Weller of Gillespie, Spring Weller (spouse, Phillip Benner) of Fowler, IN, 6 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 brothers, and sisters.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, 4 brothers, and sisters.
No public services are scheduled. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Beverly Kay Brown, 82, of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie, on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:45 am. She was born October 4, 1941, in Litchfield, to Mario Meldi and Opal Olston Meldi. She married Bob Brown on October 30, 1976.
She worked for the State of Illinois in title transferring and data processing. Beverly enjoyed reading and was an avid reader of People’s magazine.
She is survived by her spouse, Bob Brown of Gillespie, children, Joell (Sid) Flyte of Edwardsville, Jackie (Larry) Fear of The Villages, FL, Kathy Giesler of Mattoon, Kim (Joe) Brittin of Springfield, Jane (Greg) Hallum of Ishpeming, MI, Lori Brown of Temecula, CA, grandchildren, Breanna Leake, Dominique Flyte, Addie Flyte, Bradley Fear, David Fear, Brad Brittin, Melissa Casad, Amanda Kozak, Jaime Galloway, Jaimee Dobson, Jenny Knight, Emily Nault, Elyssa Gregurash, Erin Baldini, many great-grandchildren, brothers, Ron (Corky) Meldi of Nitro, WV, and sisters-in-law, June Swan and Loni Cloyd. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Jedd Hallum, and brother-in-law, Preston Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to SS Simon and Jude Church. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Darrell Leon Hoffstot, 69, of Gillespie, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1954, in Granite City, to Willard Lee Hoffstot and Hazel Mae Holloway Hoffstot.
He was retired after having been an assembler for Echlin. Darrell enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing.
He is survived by his sons, Zachary Hoffstot of Mt. Olive, and Zane Hoffstot of Gillespie, and sisters, Sandra Elledge of Litchfield, and Peggy (Joseph) Fischer. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Victor Hoffstot.
No public services will be held. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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