Obituaries
Death of Virginia Margaret Ladendorff
Virginia Margaret Ladendorff, 89, went to Heaven on October 11, 2014, at 7 p.m. at her home at the Fountains in Godfrey, IL. She was born on March 14, 1925, in an upstairs apartment at the corner of Broadway and Alby to William McDonald Barton and Stella Ferris Barton. She graduated from Alton High School in 1943 and graduated from Kitzmiller’s Beauty School in Alton.
She worked at a salon in downtown Alton and did manicures on Mondays there. Virginia met Charles (Ferdi) Ladendorff at a dance at the Roundhouse in Brighton. Pastor Hans Bruss married them at Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill on February 14, 1953. They lived and farmed for 57 years with the help of their daughters and their families on the family farm south of Bunker Hill.
Virginia enjoyed collecting gnomes figurines, reading the Alton Telegraph, visiting with her many friends, and being with her family. She made sought after fried chicken, potato salad and banana cream pies. She was a breast cancer survivor. Virginia’s life was centered around her family. She and Ferdi’s first daughter, Linda Sue, was born December 14, 1953 and was stillborn. Jane Ellen (Terry) Baker and Sally Ann (Virgil) Karnes followed in 1955 and 1957.
She worked for Estee Lauder at Famous Barr at Alton Square in her later years after raising her daughters. She was active in Zion’s Ladies Aid, Couples’ Club and Choir, and AARP. She and Ferdi enjoyed many Saturday nights going to the “chicken dances” in Hamel and area towns with their friends. After Ferdi’s death in 2010, Virginia stayed on the farm for one year, and then moved to Villa Rose Retirement Community in Bethalto. There she enjoyed the friendship of many, including the staff. She had just recently moved to “The Fountains Assisted Care” where she also received caring help.
She is survived by her daughters and sons in laws; grandchildren, Daniel Barton Karnes, who now lives on and farms the family farm, Molly Ann Karnes (Brent) Rosentreter of Carlinville, IL, Jenny Faith Baker (Ryan) Hanks of Shipman, IL, Emmy Jane Karnes of Dorchester, and Kate Hope Baker of Champaign, IL. She also has 4 great grandchildren that were precious to her, Trent and Jett Hanks of Shipman and Madeline and Colt Rosentreter of Carlinville.
In addition to her parents, husband and infant daughter, Virginia was preceded in death by her brother Bill Barton, Sister in law, Viola Barton, nephews Billy and Ricky.
Visitation services will be on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services are Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill, IL with Pastor Jon Sander officiating. Burial will be at Bunker Hill Cemetery in Bunker Hill, IL. Memorials are suggested to Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled or the Shipman Elementary School Library where her great grandsons attend.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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Robert Leeroy Blevins, 77 of Litchfield, passed away the evening of Thursday, November 20, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born in Litchfield on December 24, 1947, a son of Robert James and Betty Bernadine (Cranford) Blevins.
He graduated from Centralia High School and proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed for many years as a cabinet maker with Adenca Manufacturing in Litchfield. Robert enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and looking for buried treasures with his metal detector.
He was a talented musician and played guitar and saxophone. Robert enjoyed watching and listening to all spectator sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He married the former Wanda Kay Large and they later divorced.
Robert is survived by sons, Christopher (fiancée Grace) Blevins and Jason (Jamie) Blevins, all of Litchfield; daughters, Jennifer (Gordon) Fenton of Salem, MO and Shannon Large of Litchfield; brothers, Chesley Blevins of Staunton, Joseph Blevins of Litchfield, Floyd Blevins of Highland, and Fred Blevins of Litchfield; sisters, Barbara (Ray) Schuster of Sorento, Sharon (John) Wickerheim of Chicago, and Pamela Poppenhouse of Litchfield; and several grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert J. and Betty B. Blevins.
Funeral services for Mr. Blevins will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Pastor Gilbert Dealey will officiate. Burial will be in Crabtree Cemetery. Military honors will be at graveside. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family of Robert Blevins, c/o Christopher Blevins. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Joyce Carleen Simmons, 83 of Litchfield, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 23, 2025. She was born in Pana on May 31, 1942, a daughter of Carl Cornelius and Lucille Romelta (Miller) Brakenhoff.
She was a member of the Litchfield High School graduating class of 1960. She married Raymond “Larry” Simmons on June 6, 1965, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and they enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage until his passing on January 23, 2022.
Joyce was an excellent cook and well known for her beef and noodles, Texas cake, and stew. Joyce’s delicious cooking skills were evident during her 22-year career as manager of Jubelt’s Variety Bakery in Litchfield and as a ten-year cafeteria worker for the Litchfield Community School District #12. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, tending to her fruit trees, and sewing. Joyce enjoyed serving others by teaching Sunday School at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and volunteering for the local Meals on Wheels.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Raymond (Vicki) Simmons of Evansville, IN and David (Jacqueline) Simmons of Haymarket, VA; daughter, Laura Simmons of Edwardsville; brothers, Leslie (Sue) Brakenhoff of Litchfield, Byron (Terry) Brakenhoff of Chattanooga, TN, and Dale (Nancy) Brakenhoff of Litchfield; sisters, Ramona Warman of Charleston, IL and Marilyn (Don) Loptien of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Zachary Simmons, Makenzie (Jeremy) Frazier, Emma Simmons, and William Simmons; and great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Wyatt, Eli and Calla.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Rev. Larry Brakenhoff and Bernard Brakenhoff; brother-in-law Robert, “Bob” Warman; and niece, Kimberly (Brakenhoff) Bergman.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Road, St. Louis, MO, 63141-8557. Plummer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
