Obituaries
Obituary of Edwin Dean Wernsing
Edwin Dean Wernsing, 79 of Litchfield, died on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. “Big Ed” was born on October 24, 1945, in Litchfield to Burrell and Melvina (Steinmann) Wernsing.
He attended Zion Lutheran School and graduated from LHS in 1963. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign and later worked at Fiat-Allis. He joined his father in business at the Wernsing Appliance store, which has been in “Beautiful Downtown Litchfield” for 66 years.
He was involved in the Litchfield community, serving in Jaycees & Rotary Clubs, played Santa, announced the Old Settlers Parade & Veiled Non-Profit Ceremony. He had been a member of Litchfield Planning Commission since 1984, Litchfield’s Citizen of the Year in 2008, and the Veiled Non-Profit in 2022. He was also a member of Brand Source Buying Group since 1992. He served on many professional boards and was named Dealer of the Year in 2005. As a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, he served on various boards and as an usher.
Above all else, Ed was a St. Louis Blues Hockey fan and he had attended games since 1968. He enjoyed seeing the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019, and bring it down Market Street.
On May 25, 1974, he married the former Patricia A. Beeler in Litchfield; she survives. In addition to his wife, Ed is survived by one son, Douglas (Michelle, nee Leefers) Wernsing of Litchfield; two grandsons, Landon Paul & Carter Dean Wernsing of Litchfield; brother, Darrel (Karen) Wernsing of Mt. Pulaski; several nieces, nephews and cousins, including Judy Wernsing, Jennifer Wernsing, Elizabeth Wernsing, Katherine Yaple, Jonathon Wernsing, Nelson Wernsing, Dale Garard, Roy Steinmann, Jim Walch and Don Walch; several great and great-great nephews; brothers-in-law, Jim (Carol) Beeler, Bill (Sue) Beeler, Paul (Marsha) Beeler, and Dan (Cindy) Beeler; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn (Larry) Boston, Linda (Russ) Poggenpohl, and Sara (Grant Hoffman) Pennock.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Ralph and Lucille Beeler, and his beloved daughter, Alexis, who passed in 2015.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Rev. Fred Kraemer will officiate. Visitation will from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 18, at the church. Donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, or to the Alexis Wernsing Innovation Memorial at the U of I. Plummer Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.
