Obituaries
Death of Russell Rhodes
Russell Rhodes, 81 of Carlinville, passed away Tuesday morning, August 23, 2022, at his residence. Russell was born on January 28, 1941, in Carlinville a son of Samuel and Alice (Crays) Rhodes.
Russell graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1959. He married Wilma Cadmus on September 30, 1960, in Kemper, Illinois. Russell worked for Illinois Power (Ameren) as a gas foreman for many years. He was well known for his hard work and ability to use a shovel and dig a hole quicker than none other. He was always an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, and searching for arrowheads.
After retiring, he was able to do what he loved most which was spending time with all his grandsons and wife Wilma who adored and admired him greatly. He taught them all he knew and spent countless hours with them enjoying the same interests he had. He was a member of Charity Baptist Church.
Russell is survived by his daughters, Karen (Lynn) Etter of Carlinville, Joanne (Randy) Albert of Carlinville, and Pam (companion Randy Tipsworth) Rhodes of Divernon; five grandsons, Zach (Ellen) Etter, Travis (Layli) Albert, Ross (Whitney) Albert, Caleb (Kenzie) Spangler, and Collin (Whitney) Spangler; seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Samuel Rhodes of Carlinville and Chet Rhodes of Marshall, MO; and several nieces and nephews.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Wilma Jean Rhodes; sister, Norma Lewis; and brother, Charles Rhodes.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2022, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Charity Baptist Church in rural Carlinville. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 29 at Charity Baptist Church, Carlinville with Gary Harding officiating.
Memorials may be made to Charity Baptist Church. Davis-Anderson Funeral Home, Carlinville is in charge of 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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