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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Richard B. Sereg, 91 of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield on Thursday, January 9, 2025. He was born on January 12, 1933, in Litchfield to Peter E. Sereg and Sylvia C. Berti Sereg.
He married JoAnn Wiegand Sereg on August 6, 1955, in Carlinville. She preceded him in death on April 18, 1995. He was retired after having been an industrial chrome plater for Olin Machine Shop.
Richard was a veteran of the US Army after having served from 1953-1955. He was a life member of the VFW Post 4547 of Gillespie. Richard was also a member of the K of C Council 2076 of Gillespie, Bishop McNicholas Assembly Fourth Degree K of C, Gillespie Lions Club, Holy Cross Cemetery Board and a former alderman for the City of Gillespie.
He is survived by his son, Mark L. Sereg of Gillespie; daughter, Tracy (Terry) Soots of Gillespie; granddaughter, Abby (Mark) Enslow; great-grandchildren, Brayden, Brycen, and Braxtyn; and sister, Mary Jane Kalvin of Gillespie.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, spouse, and sister, Sylvia Denham.
Friends may call on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at SS Simon & Jude Church in Gillespie from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Funeral mass will be on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 12:00 pm at SS Simon & Jude Church in Gillespie. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie.
Memorials are suggested to Gillespie Public Library or Holy Cross Cemetery in Gillespie. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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Eugene Lee Frizzo, 85 of Kirkwood, MO, a former Staunton resident, passed away at 7:45 AM on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Brooking Place of Chesterfield, MO. He was born on January 15, 1939, in Staunton the son of the late Joseph and Ruby Delores “Dee” (Sherfy) Frizzo.
He married Lanida D. Jacobs on June 16, 1962, at First United Methodist Church in Staunton and she passed away on January 27, 2022. Gene was a retired Vice President with Roosevelt Bank, an Army veteran, and was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Alton. He was also active in the Rotary Club and was a past member of the Madison County Board and the Alton School Board.
He is survived by one daughter, Lainee Frizzo (husband Joshua Wallace); one grandson, Keegan Forrest; and one sister, JoAnn Gibbs.
The family will greet friends from 12 noon to 3 PM on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimers’ Association.
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Barbara Ann “Barb” Butts, 80 of Litchfield, passed away at 9:25 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at Litchfield Health and Rehab Center. She was born in Litchfield on October 6, 1944, the daughter of Frederick George and Alice Dolores (Lay) Butts.
Barb was a graduate of Litchfield High School with the class of 1963. She was a nurse’s aide and through the years was employed at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield and Memorial Hospital in Springfield. In more recent years, Barb was a domestic housekeeper and in home care giver. She was a faithful and active member of First Baptist Church in Litchfield and a 50-year member of Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 430, in Gillespie.
Barb is survived by several cousins including Lynne Ellen Kollack, Diane Roth, and Keith Lay McKimmey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Butts on May 14, 1984, and Dolores Butts on April 6, 2012.
Funeral services for Barb will be held at First Baptist Church of Litchfield at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025. The Rev. Dr. Jason Plumer will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to Adopt-A-Pet in Benld, or First Baptist Church of Litchfield. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements
