Obituaries
Death of Kenneth Eugene Klaus
Kenneth Eugene Klaus, 88 of Gillespie, died at Carlinville Rehab Center, Carlinville on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at 3:35 a.m. He was born on February 20, 1933, in Womac, IL to Otto Klaus and Clara (Bouillon) Klaus.
He married Jacquelyn Fuess on June 10, 1972. Kenny was a graduate of Carlinville High School Class of 1950. Kenny was in the US Army serving during the Korean Conflict from January 1952 until December 1953. While Kenny was in the military, he served as a cryptographer having the distinction of being the soldier who sent the first top-secret message that the Peace Treaty had been signed signaling an end to the Korean War.
Kenny received an associates’ degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1956. Kenny worked as a manager at Carlinville Grain, Greenfield Pellett Plant, Prairie Farms Milk Route, Insurance and Real Estate Agent. Kenny enjoyed his family, gardening, crossword puzzles, the Illini and the St. Louis Cardinals. His memberships were the Gillespie Methodist Church, the Carlinville Elks Lodge where he had been a member for 66 years and served as past exalted ruler as well as many years at local, district and state levels.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie Klaus of Gillespie; three daughters, Patty (Al) Audo of Chillicothe, IL, Sydney (Bill) Stolte of Edwardsville, Veronica Klaus of Sharon Springs, NY; two sons, Barry (Terri) Klaus of Decatur, TX and Jack (Susan) Crane of Ballwin, MO; five grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; sister, Eileen Morehead of Greenville, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Stanley Klaus and Ray Klaus; and two sisters, Velma Arter and Lucille Ballinger.
Friends may call on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 11:00 am until the time of service. Funeral services will follow on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Gillespie Cemetery in Gillespie.
Memorials are suggested to Gillespie Benld Area Ambulance Service, Gillespie Cemetery or the Gillespie Public Library. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is 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.
