Obituaries
Death of John W. McMillen
John W. McMillen, 77 of Carlinville, passed away on Saturday morning, September 21, 2024, at home with his family. John was born on February 19, 1947, in Alton, the son of Vernon and Alberta (Ganz) McMillen.
John attended school in Carlinville. He married April Evans on August 2, 1968, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Carlinville. John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 21, 1966, at the age of 18. During his military service, he served two tours in Vietnam. John earned three Purple Hearts and was Honorably Discharged on April 19, 1969. After his military service, John worked several jobs before he started his career as a coal miner; Olin Ammunition Factory, LeClede Steel and Grafton Boatworks.
In 1970, John was hired to build Monterey Coal Mine in Carlinville. He then began his career as a coal miner underground and ended his career as a heavy equipment operator in February 2003 after over 32 years. John was a member of the United Mine Workers of America. In his early years, John enjoyed driving fast cars and working on his Dodge Super Bee and spending time with his brother, Terry, and good friend, Fred Cope. In 1970, John’s wife, April, bought him his first horse, Lady; and this is where his true love of horses began.
Through out the past 54 years, John has always had horses. He loved trail riding, horse camping, and traveling out west to Wyoming and Montana and riding in the mountains with his good friend, Lou Schreiter. John is a true family man. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed spending time with them. John always lent a helping hand to anyone who needed it.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Terry and Ronnie McMillen; father-in-law, Bris Evans; and niece, Krista Kirchner.
John is survived by his wife, April; daughter, Lori Raab; son-in-law, Craig Raab; and granddaughter, Emily Rose Raab, age 18, of Carlinville; son, Matt McMillen and granddaughter, Aubrie Elaine McMillen, age 7, of Carlinville; sister, Debbie Hudson; sister-in-law, Sandy Cramer (Doug); mother-in-law, Jean Evans of Carlinville; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Selinger of Palmyra and Karen Mitchell (David) of Conway, Arkansas; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 5-7 pm at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville. Burial will follow at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Carlinville.
Memorials may be to The Land of Lincoln Honor Flights for Veterans in Springfield, Illinois. In May 2016, John went on a Honor Flight with his daughter, Lori. He had a wonderful time and would want other veterans to experience it too. 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.
