Obituaries
Obituary of Helen Louise Jennings
Helen Louise Jennings, 92 of Carlinville, passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at her home in Carlinville.
Helen was born on August 3, 1933, in Carlinville a daughter of George and Lucille Reiher Kuntzman. Helen married Loy Witt and they had three children together. They later divorced. She married Frank Jennings on November 22, 1972, in Carlinville. Frank passed away in 1997.
Helen graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1951. She began her career in accounting at Macoupin Service Company where she worked for twelve years. She then went to Prairie Farms Dairy where she retired after thirty-one years. After retiring, Helen began waitressing at Beaver Dam.
She enjoyed traveling. Helen had traveled to forty-nine states and especially loved Maui, Hawaii having visited there 11 times. She enjoyed driving to Grafton on Sundays and eating fish at Beasley’s. She enjoyed her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Joy Aeilts (companion, Arby Wise) of Auburn; daughter, Gay Turner of Modesto; grandchildren, Dane (Jess) Braley, Nathan (Ellen) Braley, Breann (Chad) Eichen, Hannah (Andrew) West, Tasha (Jed) Lancaster, Tommy (Audrey) Thursby, Chase (Stormy) Witt, and Catie (Noah) Danner; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in death by her father, George Kuntzman; mother, Lucille Kuntzman; husband, Frank Jennings; son, Jay Witt; and brothers, Howard Kuntzman and Norman “Crowbar” Kuntzman.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, between 9:00 am and 11:00 am at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Carlinville. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Monday, December 1, 2025, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Carlinville with Pastor Eddie Burton presiding.
Burial will follow in Union Chapel Cemetery, Girard. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. Davis-Anderson Funeral Homes, Carlinville is in charge of arrangements.
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Grace “Sally” Agnes Schuerman, 74 of Nokomis, passed away at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, MO on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:49 pm. She was born on December 28, 1951, in Hillsboro to the late John Whitlow and Agnes Haggarty Whitlow.
She married James Schuerman on June 7, 1975 in Decatur. She worked as a dietician, home health aide and cook. James and Sally were foster parents to many children over the years. She loved horses and her grandkids.
She is survived by her children, April Balestri (James) of Eagarville, Cris “Bill” Schuerman of Nokomis, and Crystal (Greg) Linton of Aldrich, MO; daughter in law, Kasey Schuerman; grandchildren, Paul Balestri, Gracelynn Balestri, Hunter Schuerman, and Andy Linton; brother, Guy (Norma) Whitlow of Nokomis; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse; son, Charles Schuerman; sister, Rosemary (Rosie) Hopwood; brother, Sam Whitlow; and niece, Kathy Whitlow.
No services are scheduled at this time. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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Paul F. Madden, 61 of Gillespie, died at his residence on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:08 pm. He was born on September 27, 1964, in Litchfield to John Patrick Madden and Barbara Ann (Resnik) Madden Sawyer.
He married Elizabeth Ann (Morland) Madden on June 5, 2015 in Forsyth, IL. He was a sales manager in the equipment manufacturing industry. Paul was a huge golfer who also enjoyed music, playing the guitar, riding his bike, walking his dog, running and traveling.
He is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth Ann (Morland) Madden of Gillespie; daughter, Colleen (Ryan) Cash of Carlinville; step daughter, Zoey Mayo of Gillespie; brothers, John P (Betsy) Madden of St. Paul, MN, Timothy J. (Anne) Madden of Lemont, IL, and David W. (Sarah) Madden of Urbana, IL; and step father, George Sawyer of Gillespie.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark D. Madden.
Friends may call on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie from 10:00 am until 11:30 am. Funeral mass will be on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at SS Simon & Jude Church in Gillespie at 12:00 pm. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Gillespie, IL.
Memorials are suggested to Partnership For Educational Excellence District #7, BJC Hospice or Siteman Cancer Center. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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