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.
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Ronald D. Semplowski, 66 of Gillespie, died in Carlinville on Thursday, November 6, 2025. He was born on May 9, 1959, in Litchfield to Walter J.Semplowski Sr. and Elizabeth JoAnn Luketich Semplowski.
He married Tammie L. Whitlow Semplowski on June 18, 1983, in Gillespie. He was a gate monitor for Alton Steel. Ronald was a veteran of the US Marine Corp. Ronald enjoyed going to auctions, hunting, fishing, and playing cards. Ronald was an animal lover and also enjoyed being with his grandkids and grandpups.
He is survived by his spouse, Tammie Semplowski of Gillespie; children, Tyler (fiancée, Maggie Moore) Semplowski of Gillespie, Austin Semplowski of Gillespie, and Ashleigh (Josh) Valerius of Millstadt; grandchildren, Jacob Valerius and Eleanor Valerius; brothers, Wally (Tammy) Semplowski of Gillespie and David (Patty) Semplowski of Gillespie; sister, Diane (Karl) Kozak of Gillespie; brothers in law, Tommy Whitlow and Terry Whitlow; sister in law, Theresa (Mike) Scott; 10 nephews, six nieces, 18 great nephews, 12 great nieces, three great-great-nephews, one great-great-niece, several aunts, uncles, cousins and beloved Dog, Hobo.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents; son, Travis D. Semplowski; mother in law and father in law, Eleanor and Tom Whitlow; sister, Kimberly Janes; nephews, Nathan Heaton and Troy Whitlow; and niece, Tonya Whitlow.
Friends may call on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Funeral services are Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:00 am at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie.
Memorials are suggested to Gillespie Fire Department. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Donald Bernard Swann, 72 of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 12:20 a.m. He was born on May 1, 1953, in Springfield to Donald H. Swann and Florence L. Bernardi Swann.
He married Connie (Campbell) Swann on September 7, 1979, in Gillespie. He was retired after having worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation doing road maintenance. Donald was a lifelong member of the NRA. He was a member of the Black Dragon Triad, holding a second-degree black belt in Shorin-ryu Kobayashi Ryu karate, and was known as Sensei Swann. Donald enjoyed hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and skydiving.
He is survived by his spouse, Connie Swann of Gillespie; children, Kelly (Michael) Wulf of O’Fallon and Kyle (companion, Jessica Holmes) Swann of Gillespie; grandchildren, Lizzy Wulf, Anna Wulf, Samantha Wulf, Beau Wulf, Audrey Wulf (twin), Evelyn Wulf (twin), and Averie Swann; siblings, Denise (John) Hartnett of Springfield and Dale (Tina) Swann of Springfield; and his beloved dog, Buster.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends may call on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. Funeral services are Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie. Cremation and private burial will be at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Illinois Conservation Fund or Gillespie Public Library. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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John Lee Kellenberger, 69 of Litchfield, died at 7:52 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. He was born on August 5, 1956, in Litchfield, a son of Francis and Lucille Frances (Lord) Kellenberger.
John graduated with the Litchfield High School Class of 1974. He delivered newspapers for the Litchfield News-Herald for several years; he was employed by and retired from the State of Illinois. John was an avid railroad fan, who enjoyed bicycling on area bike paths on former railroad right of ways, and he was a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and loved comic books. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
John is survived by his brothers, Dennis (Kathi) Kellenberger of Edwardsville and Mark (Karen) Kellenberger of Paducah, KY; his sisters, Kathy (Tom) Seals of Wichita, KS, Michele Bass of Manford, OK, and Janet Martin of OR; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass. He will be inurned at Holy Cross Cemetery in Litchfield. Plummer Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
