Obituaries
Death of Rena M. Crookston
Rena M. Crookston, long time resident of Mexico, Missouri, passed away at home in Sedona, Arizona where she has lived near family for the past sixteen months. She was born in Benld, Illinois, on October 13, 1920 and died on September 30, 2011 in her sleep from natural causes. She lived independently until just the last few weeks of her life.
She is predeceased by her late husband, James A. Crookston, a former executive with A. P. Green Refactories. Dr. Crookston passed away on March 3, 1997. She is survived by her two sons, Jim and wife Sue of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Dan and wife Paulette of Sedona, Arizona. The highlight of her life for the past 38 years were her grandchildren, Laura Deleot of Nashville, TN, Jenny Harrell of San Francisco, CA, Katie Birkholz of Denver, CO, James Crookston of Sedona, AZ, and San Francisco, CA and Shara Crookston of Toledo, OH. The last three years of her life have been filled with great joy and pleasure with the arrival of five great-grandsons, Beau, Thornton, Nolan, Xander and Clay.
Rena’s life was fulfilled with the act of doing for others. Very rarely did she focus on herself, it seemed to always be about someone else. She was very active for many years in her church, Mexico First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Elder and on many committees during her 56 years of membership. Rena was active as well in many civic activities such as PEO, the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Board, the City Park Board and school PTA committees and fund raisers.
During the last few weeks of her life she was surrounded by family who traveled to her bedside to say goodbye. She died during the night after the last one left.
At Rena’s request her memorial will be a graveside service at Benld Cemetery in Benld, Illinois, on October 29, 2011 at 10AM where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and mother and father, Andina and Domenic Moretti.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers any remembrance be made to the Mexico First Presbyterian Church.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Benld, Illinois is in charge of the local arrangements.
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Susie M. Jackson, 89 of Carlinville, passed away at 4:52 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Lakeside Health and Rehab Center in Carlinville. She was born in Golden Pond, KY on November 14, 1934, a daughter of Eulas Beltron and Winnie Maud (Finch) Fennell.
She married James “Jim” Sylvester Jackson on September 9, 1953, in Edwardsville. He passed away on August 12, 2013. Mrs. Jackson was a dedicated homemaker and took pride in caring for her family and her cats. She and Jim really enjoyed their trips to Colorado to visit their family. She also enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, baking, collecting Raggedy Ann dolls, thrift store shopping, and decorating her house. Her family said her from-scratch cinnamon rolls were the best.
Mrs. Jackson is survived by a son, James Jackson of Carlinville; five daughters, Rebecca Hudson, Linda Neighbors and Cynthia Jackson, all of Carlinville, Sara (Gene) Martinez of Evans, CO, and Amy (Jason Porter) Jackson of Gillette, WY; brother, Billie L. Fennell of Godfrey; five grandchildren, Randy Neighbors, Jr., Leslie Neighbors, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Bell, and Holden Jackson; and three great-grandchildren, Kiera Neighbors, Andrew Neighbors, and Mila Jackson.
In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Jackson was preceded in death by her siblings Eulas “Jack” B. Fennell, Jr., Alva Fennell, Margaret Jean Fields, Helen Fennell, and twins Earl and Pearl in infancy.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jackson will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Rev. Cliff Woodman of Emmanuel Baptist Church of Carlinville will officiate. Burial will be in Bethel Ridge Cemetery near Atwater. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorials may be made to Macoupin County Animal Control and Adoption Center in Carlinville. Plummer Funeral Home is serving the family.
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Charlene Betty Lee Sauerwein, 87 of Bunker Hill, died in Bunker Hill on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 3:00 a.m. She was born on February 7, 1937, in Edwardsville to William A. Bauer and Camilla Provaznik Bauer.
She married Victor John Sauerwein on January 23, 1960, in Edwardsville. He preceded her in death on May 13, 2023. She was a homemaker who loved, gardening, cooking which she was a good cook, her flock of sheep, her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, Jon (Theresa) Sauerwein of Bunker Hill; daughters, Joy (Thomas Wayne) Roswell of Bunker Hill and Jeanne Sparks of Bunker Hill; grandchildren, Tom (Allison) Roswell, Amy (fiancé, Tom Silveus) Roswell, Janna Sauerwein, Benjamin Gettleman, Christina (significant other, Clay Coffman) Sparks, Crystal (significant other, Ian Hilgert) Sparks, Jesse (significant other, Samantha Crisel) Sauerwein, Brandon (significant other, Jessica) Sparks, and Jacob Sparks; great-grandchildren, Carsyn, Savannah, Vivienne, Rylee, Jetsyn, and Lane; sister in law, Wilma (Richard) Stinnett of Alton; and step-sisters, Mary Lou McCurry and Sarah (Merle) Yates.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents; spouse; brothers, Roland Bauer, Calvin Bauer, Carlton Bauer, and Reeves Bauer; and sisters, Lorene Opel and Mavis Utechett.
Friends may call on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services are Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery, Bunker Hill.
Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church of Bunker Hill. Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill is in charge of the arrangements.
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Johnnie M. Monroe, 88, died on October 8, 2024, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born on September 4, 1936, in Shawneetown, IL to Loren & Edna (Cummins) Monroe, who both preceded him in death.
He married Carolyn (Adler) Monroe on December 19, 1964, and she preceded him in death on August 3, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Charles Robert Monroe and Loren Dale Monroe, and by his brother-in-law Harold Adler.
He is survived by his fiance’, Mary Adler; his daughter, Beverly Jo (Moe) St. Arnault; his grandson, Brian (Rhonda) Rigsby; his great-granddaughter, Brianna Rigsby; nieces and nephews, Karra Adler, Loren (Adrienne) Monroe, Robin (Dale) Turner, Dean (Kirsten) Monroe, Rebecca (Joe) Gould, and Angela (Nick) Coursen; and his brother-in-law, Bill (Kris) Adler. He is also survived by 14 great-nieces and great-nephews, several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, as well as Johnny (Mary) Witt, who Johnnie and Carolyn raised as their own for many years.
Johnnie was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin, IL, for many years where he served as a deacon and completed several missionary trips to Mexico. He was also an active member of the New Douglas Madison #560 and Staunton #177 Masons, The Ainad Shriners of Southern Illinois, The Legion of Honor, and the Hillbilly Clan #39 Lodge.
He spent a lot of his spare time doing woodworking, photography, leatherworking, and many other craft works. One of Johnnie’s most amazing traits was his love for children, which is why he had such a passion to be part of the Shriners organization. He was also a Boy Scout leader and baseball coach for many years and never met a kid he didn’t try to help; this is why so many looked up to him as a father figure.
Johnnie served in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1956 and was a disabled veteran who survived a neck injury when he was young that paralyzed him from the neck down, yet he fought through that and lived a full and inspiring life. Johnnie was a person who lived life to the fullest and didn’t let anything stop him from doing what he enjoyed. He went full throttle at all times and never let any grass grow under his feet.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Masonic Services to be held at 7:30 PM on Friday evening. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton with Anthony Hudson officiating.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Staunton. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. The Staunton Military Honor Guard will conduct graveside military rites.
