Obituaries
Death of James Allen Henderson
Services for James Allen Henderson, 48, of Gillespie, IL will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, IL with Rev. Steve Friese and Rev. Dennis Hill officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mt. Olive, IL. Friends may call on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, IL from 5 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial tributes be directed to the Henderson Family Foundation.
James died Saturday, February 4, 2012 in his home.
James attended school in Benld and later in Gillespie when the family moved to Gillespie. He graduated from Gillespie High School in 1982. He earned his B.A. degree from Blackburn College in 1987 with a major in math and a minor in chemistry. He returned to Blackburn to earn a second degree with a major in chemistry in 1998.
His work career includes the cabinet factory in Gillespie, Wal-Mart in Carlinville, State inspector of nursing facilities for the state of Missouri, chemist at Mallinckrodt Chemical in St. Louis, Ciba Chemical at Earth City, Mo and moved to General Chemical in East St. Louis, IL in 2003 where he continued to work until his health prohibited the daily demands.
James is known for his love of music, both just to listen to and to participate. James began his love for music when he started band in fourth grade with Mr. Kay. Perhaps this is also when he began his love for money because he would practice in order to earn money, at the rate of one penny per minute. He joined the Benld city band when he was in eighth grade. He continued in the band for many years and turned the love of music into the love of his life because this is where he met Anastasia. Together they continued to play in the summer bands and later brought their children into the family band tradition. Along with the money he earned with his musical ability he also developed a lawn mowing business in his early teen years. For years his clients would look forward to his mowing visits and all to some fresh vegetables from the family garden. When it was time to get his driver’s license he had saved enough to purchase his first car, which is still parked in their garage. You see he always found a value and beauty in just about anything, and if it belonged to him, he treasured it always.
James became an avid coin collector at an early age and was always searching for coins of any denomination that would complete a collection he was working on. He was well known at the bank because he was always searching for coins. He was also a collector of comic books with Superman and Batman being his special interest. Jim passed on his love of Superman to his family. Most often you would and will see them wearing something that shows their support for his love of the super hero, from clothing to jewelry to wrap arounds. And we can’t forget his beer can collection that he and his brother Mark displaced in their rooms when they were in high school.
Jim was also an avid fisherman. He especially enjoyed fishing for the large spoonbill with his son, father and uncle in Missouri. Later he and his local fishing crew of Richard and Josh, and sometimes a few others, loved night fishing. His biggest love was getting to spend time with his grandsons, Bryant and Dean. He was fortunate to baby sit a few days a week. He delighted in watching them figure out how things worked. He did have the opportunity to take Bryant on a few fishing trips.
Jim has always enjoyed sharing his knowledge with young people. When his illness limited the amount of time he could work he finally got to teach with the title of teacher by substituting at the school and found that was something he loved also. His interested in community affairs was carried through with his children Kiera and Richard, making sure they had the opportunity to try any activity or sport that they showed an interest in. He worked with both their summer ball teams, soccer teams, he helped with the summer musical productions helping behind the lights as well as in front of the lights when needed. He became a Boy Scout leader when Richard was old enough to begin the program and stayed with the organization even after Richard reached his eagle status.
When people talk about Jim they use words such as awesome, inspiring, and admiration because Jim could always be counted on for his work ethic, whether it was working on their home, organizing the boy scouts, practicing for band concerts, preparing for a fourth of July celebration, helping in preparations for musicals or some kind of family celebrations. He was a man of many talents and used each one to the best of his ability to make other people happy and help make their dreams and ideas become a reality.
He worked with Turner Hall for years and was one of their beloved Bingo callers. The ladies always remarked that they could hear the call clearly when Jim was there. And of course they delighted in his wonderful smile, curly red hair and friendliness. He was always on hand to help with the Mt. Olive parade each year and often marched along with the family in the parade with the city band.
James Allen Henderson was born December 12, 1963 in Marshfield, Missouri to Leslie Allen and Marjorie Morehouse Henderson. He married Anastasia Maria Dragovich on October 12, 1984 in Gillespie, IL where they have always made their home and reared their children.
Surviving are his parents, his wife, Anastasia, children, Kiera Elizabeth and Josh Cherry, Richard Floyd Henderson and Sara Geisler, two grandsons, Bryant Henderson and Dean Cherry, all of Gillespie; brothers Mark Henderson and wife Kim and their children Kyle and Michael of Mt. Olive, Daniel Henderson and wife Emily and their children Kevin, Andrew, and David of Hornsby. Father and mother-in-law Steve and Pam Rademacher of Gillespie. Sister-in-law Alexandrea Weinberg and her children, Isaac and Aaron, of Gillespie. Grandmother-in-law Louvine Sies of Mt.Olive. Preceding him in death were his son, John Allen Henderson in 1988, Grandparents:John and Donna Henderson, step-grandfather, Floyd Henderson, Asa and Lula Morehouse, and grandfather-in-law Richard Sies.
Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravayafuneral.com
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Susie M. Jackson, 89 of Carlinville, passed away at 4:52 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Lakeside Health and Rehab Center in Carlinville. She was born in Golden Pond, KY on November 14, 1934, a daughter of Eulas Beltron and Winnie Maud (Finch) Fennell.
She married James “Jim” Sylvester Jackson on September 9, 1953, in Edwardsville. He passed away on August 12, 2013. Mrs. Jackson was a dedicated homemaker and took pride in caring for her family and her cats. She and Jim really enjoyed their trips to Colorado to visit their family. She also enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, baking, collecting Raggedy Ann dolls, thrift store shopping, and decorating her house. Her family said her from-scratch cinnamon rolls were the best.
Mrs. Jackson is survived by a son, James Jackson of Carlinville; five daughters, Rebecca Hudson, Linda Neighbors and Cynthia Jackson, all of Carlinville, Sara (Gene) Martinez of Evans, CO, and Amy (Jason Porter) Jackson of Gillette, WY; brother, Billie L. Fennell of Godfrey; five grandchildren, Randy Neighbors, Jr., Leslie Neighbors, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Bell, and Holden Jackson; and three great-grandchildren, Kiera Neighbors, Andrew Neighbors, and Mila Jackson.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Jackson was preceded in death by her siblings Eulas “Jack” B. Fennell, Jr., Alva Fennell, Margaret Jean Fields, Helen Fennell, and twins Earl and Pearl in infancy.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jackson will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Rev. Cliff Woodman of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Carlinville will officiate. Burial will be in Bethel Ridge Cemetery near Atwater. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorials may be made to Macoupin County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Carlinville. Plummer Funeral Home is serving the family.
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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.
