Obituaries
Death of Joanna Katherine “Legge” Featherstone
Joanna Katherine “Legge” Featherstone, 39-years-old of Carlinville, passed away at home on October 26, 2013.
Joanna was born August 13, 1974 in Carlinville to Ann (Levi) Grichnik and John Legge.
She married her soul mate, Mike Featherstone, on January 10, 2012.
After earning her B.S.Ed. in Trainable Mentally Handicapped from Illinois State University (ISU) in 1996, Joanna taught Special Education at Southwestern-Piasa, later becoming a building principal and the Director of Special Education. In 2001, she earned her M.S. in Ed., Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She was a professor, as well as the Director of Teacher Education, at Blackburn College in Carlinville.
In 2011, Joanna achieved a lifelong dream when she earned her EdD in Special Education from ISU. During her studies, she was honored to receive the 2010-2011 Dr. Rose E. Parker Graduate Excellence Award. She was proud to be a professor at her alma mater (ISU), teaching future teachers. Teaching was her passion and she believed herself blessed to have never had a “bad day at the office”.
Joanna was most proud to be a Mom to her beautiful “mini-me” daughter Maggie, to whom she gave birth on September 28, 1997. She enjoyed cheering Maggie on in volleyball, track, soccer, and life in general. Joanna had a uniquely sharp wit that was enjoyed and embraced by all who loved her. We regret that she will not get to experience those “nursing home wheelchair races” that she indicated she was looking forward to a friend’s high school yearbook.
In addition to her devoted husband Mike, Joanna is survived by her daughter, Margaret “Maggie” Nicholson of Carlinville; her parents, Ann and Frank Grichnik of Carlinville and John and Rosemary Legge of Smiths Grove, Kentucky; her brother, William Legge (fiancée, Viktorija) of Virden; her sister, Katherine Suttles (Nathan) of Pekin; her stepbrothers Tony Grichnik (Heather) and Mike Grichnik (Laura), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who loved her. Of course, she would say, “Love You More”.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Margaret (Schoenherr) Levi Bloomfield and her grandfather, William Legge.
Visitation services to be held at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville on Tuesday, October 29, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services to be held at Carlinville United Methodist Church at Wednesday, October 30, at 10:30 a.m.
Memorials can be made to the Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled.
Davis Anderson Funeral Homes are in charge of the arrangements.
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Robert Leeroy Blevins, 77 of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born in Litchfield on December 24, 1947, a son of Robert James and Betty Bernadine (Cranford) Blevins.
He graduated from Centralia High School and proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed for many years as a cabinet maker with Adenca Manufacturing in Litchfield. Robert enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and looking for buried treasures with his metal detector.
He was a talented musician and played guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoyed watching and listening to all spectator sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He married the former Wanda Kay Large and they later divorced.
Robert is survived by sons, Christopher (fiancée Grace) Blevins and Jason (Jamie) Blevins, all of Litchfield; daughters, Jennifer (Gordon) Fenton of Salem, MO and Shannon Large of Litchfield; brothers, Chesley Blevins of Staunton, Joseph Blevins of Litchfield, Floyd Blevins of Highland, and Fred Blevins of Litchfield; sisters, Barbara (Ray) Schuster of Sorento, Sharon (John) Wickerheim of Chicago, and Pamela Poppenhouse of Litchfield; and several grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. and Betty B. Blevins.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Pastor Gilbert Dealey will officiate. Burial will be in Crabtree Cemetery. Military honors will be at graveside. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family of Robert Blevins, c/o Christopher Blevins. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Joyce Carleen Simmons, 83 of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 23, 2025. She was born in Pana on May 31, 1942, a daughter of Carl Cornelius and Lucille Romelta (Miller) Brakenhoff.
She was a member of the Litchfield High School graduating class of 1960. She married Raymond “Larry” Simmons on June 6, 1965, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until his passing on January 23, 2022.
Joyce was an excellent cook and well known for her beef and noodles, Texas cake, and stew. Joyce’s delicious cooking skills were evident during her 22-year career as manager of Jubelt’s Variety Bakery in Litchfield and as a ten-year cafeteria worker for the Litchfield Community School District #12. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her fruit trees, and sewing. Joyce enjoyed serving others by teaching Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and volunteering for the local Meals on Wheels.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Raymond (Vicki) Simmons of Evansville, IN and David (Jacqueline) Simmons of Haymarket, VA; daughter, Laura Simmons of Edwardsville; brothers, Leslie (Sue) Brakenhoff of Litchfield, Byron (Terry) Brakenhoff of Chattanooga, TN, and Dale (Nancy) Brakenhoff of Litchfield; sisters, Ramona Warman of Charleston, IL and Marilyn (Don) Loptien of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Zachary Simmons, Makenzie (Jeremy) Frazier, Emma Simmons, and William Simmons; and great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Wyatt, Eli and Calla.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Rev. Larry Brakenhoff and Bernard Brakenhoff; brother-in-law Robert, “Bob” Warman; and niece, Kimberly (Brakenhoff) Bergman.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-8557. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
