Obituaries
Death of John J. Bellm
John J. Bellm, 95, of Carlinville, passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at Carlinville Area Hospital. John “Johnny” was born on June 10, 1929, in Carlinville, a son of John Carl and Helen Mary Magdelene Beasley Bellm.
John graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1948. He married Dorothy Moore on September 7, 1957, in Carlinville at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. When Johnny was old enough, he enlisted in the Army after World War II, where he spent his time in Maryland. After coming home, he started Bellm Construction with his father and developed Oak Brook, Lake Catatoga, the Bellm Apartments, and Pine Lake subdivision in Florida with his brothers Earl and Albert.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the Elks, and the Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. He was inseparable from his wife and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He loved hunting with his son and brother, Genie, and bass fishing with his late father. He enjoyed his daily drives to the farm, where he checked on the crops. Most of all, he loved sharing his jokes with everyone around; his laugh was contagious, and his jokes will forever be remembered.
John is survived by his son, Bradley (Mary Beth) Bellm of Carlinville; daughter, Beth Ann (Kelly) Schmidt of Carlinville; grandchildren, Jessica (Rodney) Daniels, Connor Schmidt, Maddison Bellm, Alicia Bellm, and Katie Schmidt; and great-grandchild, Rodney Daniels Jr.; sister, Anna Mae Rives of Carlinville; brother, Earl (Joan) Bellm of Carlinville; brother, Eugene Bellm of Carlinville; and several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; spouse, Dorothy Moore Bellm; sister, Barbara Griesbaum; brother, Albert Bellm; sister, Helen Dworzinski; and sister, Betty Cioni.
Visitation will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 4 to 7 pm at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, 2010 East 1st South St, Carlinville with a prayer service at 3:30 pm. Funeral Services will be conducted on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10:00 am at Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, Carlinville.
Memorials may be made to Carlinville Elks Club-Roof Fund or to Ss Mary and Joseph Catholic Church. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of 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.
