Obituaries
Death of Rev. Dr. John David Dawson
Rev. Dr. John David Dawson, 78, of Woodburn, died at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 7:02 pm. He was born July 2, 1945, in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, to Fred Dawson and Marion (Shaw).
He married Ellen Irene (Lawton) Dawson in November 1965, in Sault Ste Marie, MI. They were married by Ellen’s father, Rev. Clarence A. Lawton. He was a Baptist Minister for 35 years. John was a Pastor for the Calvary Baptist Church, Woodburn. John was a Chaplain for area volunteer departments. He was also a member of the North West Turkey Federation. John was a volunteer at the Community Hope Center of Cottage Hills.
He is survived by his spouse, Ellen Irene Dawson of Woodburn, son, Victor Dawson of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, grandson, Xander, and granddaughter, Kallika. John was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends may call on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral services are Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:00 am at Calvary Baptist Church of Woodburn. Burial will be at Woodburn Cemetery, Woodburn.
Memorials are suggested to the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department, Cahokia Heights. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Lois Ilaine Erspamer Sawyer, 94 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 9:51 am. She was born on February 9, 1930, in Gillespie to Louis Poi and Bertha Annetta Sunman Poi Lewis.
She married John Peter Erspamer on September 4, 1950. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1989. She married Dempsey Sawyer on May 15, 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2016. She had been a bookkeeper for Duracraft and Daley’s Chevrolet. Lois enjoyed reading, gardening, painting, drawing, cooking, traveling, bird watching, adventures, her family and her beloved cat, Molly.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Timm) LaRoche of Gillespie, Joan (Paul) Alexander of Gillespie, and Lynn Erspamer of Litchfield; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Wright of Gillespie, Suzanne (companion, Josh) DeMartini of Madisonville, KY, Jared (Amanda) Johnson of Staunton, Adam (Ashli) Alexander of Gillespie, Travis (Laura) Mize of Dallas, TX, Britini Bernardini of Nokomis, and Marissa (Jacob) Summers of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Macie, Isabel and Alexander Wright, Joseph and Gino DeMartini, Brianna Johnson, Ansley Alexander, Lucas and Jeffrey Bernardini, Fisher, Sabrina and Gabriella Crow; great great grandchild, Dominic Joseph “DJ” DeMartini; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Carmel, IN, Phyllis Dodd of Pooler, GA, and Marion Boston of Springfield; and brothers, Ernie Lewis of Carbondale and Fred Lewis of Ft Meyers, FL.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, and brother, John Lewis.
Private services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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