Obituaries
Death of Larry “Coach Cal” Caldieraro Jr.
Larry “Coach Cal” Caldieraro Jr., 57, of Staunton passed away on Monday, September 18, 2023, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born on January 21, 1966, in Staunton, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence “Pops” and Kathy (Hanneken) Caldieraro Sr.
Larry was a man of many hats (literally and figuratively!). He married Elizabeth (Liz) on March 13, 1993, and they welcomed their first child, Sarah, while building their home, coaching football, and working at Staunton High School. His skilled hands and heart built a home that welcomed three more children (Larry III, Vincent, and Rebecca) in the next seven years. His greatest joy in life was seeing his family grow and reap the benefits of his labor. He always considered his job enjoyable, and going to work every day was not a hardship for him.
Coach Cal, as he was known to many, was instrumental in the success and longevity of several local sports teams. His first love was football, which he played at Staunton High School and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and brought that love to the students he coached in West Frankfort, Gillespie, Mt. Olive, and Staunton. He was fortunate to be part of the staff with the 1990 Gillespie Miners Football team when they achieved their state runner-up status; he was the head coach with the Staunton Bulldogs baseball team when they reached the semifinals in 1994; he was assistant/defensive coach to the multi-year playoff Staunton Bulldogs football teams in the 1990’s; and he helped coach the Mt. Olive Wildcats to multi-year football playoff berths in the 2000’s. He also helped coach the Jaguar Junior Football League during his sons’ touch-to-tackle years. Larry finished his distinguished coaching career as an assistant baseball coach and assistant football coach for the Staunton Bulldogs. Larry considered it an honor to coach the sports he loved, influencing hundreds of young men along the way with his love of sport, teamwork, dedication, and commitment.
Larry was the vocational education teacher at Staunton High School for 32 years and frequently used his construction skills and knowledge out of the classroom, as well. During the summer or weekends you could find him working on putting up siding here, renovating rooms there, or lending his design skills to turning a barn into a home, helping design new structures or renovate something old into something new. No job was too big or too small. He employed high school students for those extra summer jobs, continuing his teaching in small sessions to interested young men. Larry filled any free time with his family, and helping his friends and neighbors by farming, repairing machinery, emergency home repair, plowing snowy driveways and tilling gardens. He also enjoyed camping, hunting, golfing, fishing, and smoking a mean brisket and ribs.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Caldieraro of Staunton; four children , Sarah (Adam) Schulte of Mt. Olive, Larry Caldieraro III (Emily Frerichs) Staunton, Vincent Caldieraro of Staunton, and Rebecca Caldieraro of Staunton; two sisters, Angela (James) Bentley of Springfield and Cara (Brent) Reed of Pendleton, IN; brother, Bart (Carmen) Caldieraro of Greenville; two granddaughters, Della & Ada Schulte of Mt. Olive; uncle, John (Susan) Caldieraro of Staunton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Samuel Schulte.
Friends may call on Sunday, September 24, 2023, from 3 to 8 PM at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. Funeral mass will be held Monday, September 25, 2023, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Staunton with Father Tom Hagstrom officiating. The burial will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton.
Memorials are suggested to The Staunton High School Football Program, Staunton High School Baseball Program or to the Gillespie High School Football Program. The family will also be establishing a scholarship for students pursuing careers in vocational field.
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Dustin Carl Hickey, 40 of Staunton, died at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 3:33 pm. He was born on April 6, 1984, in Litchfield to Patrick H. Hickey and Linda S. (Deck) Bellm.
He was an auto body repairman.
He is survived by his grandmother, Betty Deck; father, Patrick Hickey; mother, Linda Deck Bellm; sons, Calen Reiffer and Hudson Smith; and brothers, Ross Bellm and Carl Bellm.
Dustin was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Carl Deck and Jack Hickey, and grandmother, Eleanor Massey.
Visitation will be on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Trinity Baptist Church, Gillespie from 4:00 to 6:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at the church at 6:00 pm. Memorials are suggested to wishes of the family.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Mark McGhee, 38 of Mt. Olive, passed away on September 16 at his home. He was the son of Marcia and Curt McGhee.
He was a graduate of Ranken Tech and the owner of McGhee Heating & Cooling for the last 15 years. He was the best friend of a hot house in summer and cold house in winter. He was a brilliant problem solver. The best days of his life were spent spending time with his sons and close friend, Robert France.
He is survived by his fiancé, Chelsea File and two sons, Owen and Hudson McGhee of Mt. Olive; son, Zack Fox, and his mother, Kristen Fox, of Troy; father and stepmother, Curt and Connie; brother and stepsister, Chris and Crystal McGhee of Monroe, LA; and loving pet, Scooter.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Methodist Church of Mt. Olive from 9:00 am until 10:00 am with a memorial service following at the church at 10:00 am. Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Orville E. Smith, 89 of Carlinville, passed away Tuesday morning, September 17, 2024, at Hillsboro Rehabilitation and Health Care in Hillsboro. Orville was born on December 16, 1934, in Carlinville a son of Leonard and Helen Parnell Smith.
He married Shirley Ann Little on June 13, 1954, in Carlinville. Orville was a welder at Laclede Steel in Alton for 35 years retiring in 1981. He was also an active member in the local union. In his spare time, you could find Orville either playing his guitar around the house or working on gas engines and lawnmowers in his garage which he really enjoyed.
Orville is survived by his son, Randy Smith of Virden; son, Curtis Smith of Carlinville; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Orville was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley Ann Smith; brother, Frankie Smith; and sister, Mary Dingus.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at Prairie Lawn Cemetery. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Shirley. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
