Obituaries
Obituary of James (Jim) Tsupros
James (Jim) Tsupros, age 101, of Staunton died on December 4, 2024. He was born on October 1,1923, in Livingston the son of Thomas and Mary Tsupros. He married Mildred Ruehrup on December 21, 1947.
After graduating from Livingston High School in 1945, Jim worked at American Steel before joining the Marine Corp serving honorably from November 1943 until April 1946 with active duty in the South Pacific campaign.
Following discharge, he worked at Oltmann Garage in Mt. Olive as an auto body repairman. He then went on to gain his significant expertise in electronics and electricity by attending American Electronics and DeForest Training schools in Chicago. He worked as an electrician at Dow Chemical and AO Smith before establishing his own business, Jim’s TV Repair and later as Jim’s Electrical Service.
He was a long-time member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 309 in Collinsville. He also served as a board member for Community Memorial Hospital and as a Contract Coordinator during construction of the new hospital dedicated in 1974.
Jim loved sports, especially baseball. He managed a little league team for years and was instrumental in the installation of lights on the little league baseball diamond. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, was a member of the Lake Forest Fishing Club and VFW Post 1241. After decades as a 32nd Degree Mason, Jim was bestowed the honor of becoming a 33rd Degree Mason at his 100th birthday celebration on October 1, 2023.
Jim retired in May of 1986 and pursued his favorite hobby of woodworking. He designed and made many beautiful pieces of furniture for their home, family, and friends. He especially enjoyed making and collecting clocks and giving them to the special people in his life.
Jim loved his family, spending time bicycle riding and doing puzzles with his cherished wife, taking his oldest daughter on service calls, playing ball with his son, motorcycle riding with his youngest daughter, and babysitting his grandchildren. And let us not forget the daily coffee hour with his buddies.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mildred; two daughters, Donna (Paul) Vafides of Chatham, MA, and Cheryl (Mark) Sitko of Staunton; and one son, Rick (Jayne) Tsupros of Pana. In addition, there are seven grandchildren, Eric and Chris Vafides of MA, Tonya Lueken of TX, Megan Tsupros Lawler of MI, Brett Tsupros of IL, Anthony Sitko of FL, Markus Sitko of MO; seven great grandchildren; one sister, Virginia Smith of Gillespie; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Tsupros of Livingston; as well as nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
Jim was preceded in death by one brother, Marion Tsupros, and four sisters, Bessie Howard, Irene Scott, Helen Young, and Patricia Wilson.
Per his request, Jims body was cremated. At Mildreds request, the memorial gathering will be brief and private. She knows her many friends support her and on behalf of Jim and his family, Mildred thanks the Staunton community for decades of kindness and love. God Bless everyone. Memorials to Staunton Public Schools are welcome.
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Vonda Lee Burdell, 85 of Litchfield, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025, in her home. She was born in Nokomis on October 15, 1939, to George and Juanita (Herpstreith) Groves. On August 1, 1959, she married Richard Lee Burdell Sr. at Southside Baptist Church in Litchfield.
A graduate of Hillsboro High School, she became a certified nurses aid and held an Alzheimer’s nursing certification. Mrs. Burdell was a member of Southside Church in Litchfield. She enjoyed camping, going for walks, Pretty Punch embroidery, and dearly loved her dogs.
Mrs. Burdell is survived by her husband; her son, Richard Burdell Jr. of Litchfield; her daughter, Kimberly Janway of Duncan, OK,; her sister, Sheila Stoneburner of Litchfield; her brother, Bernard Groves of Schram City; and two grandchildren, Jamie Schmidt and Andy Janway, and five great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Donald Groves, and one half-brother, Kenneth Witten.
Funeral services will be held at Southside Church in Litchfield on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held Friday, January 17, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place in Crabtree Cemetery in Litchfield.
Memorials may be made to the family, in care of Richard Burdell, Sr. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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JoAnn “Jody” Schneck, 71 of Litchfield, passed away at 6:38 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield. She was born on May 29, 1953, a daughter of John Robert and Doris Maxine (Young) Coatney. She and Larry Gene Schneck were married November 27, 1981. He preceded her in death January 29, 2004.
JoAnn was employed with Bailey and Associates for several years and was the club house manager for VFW Post 3912 in Litchfield for over 30 years. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield and the VFW Women’s Auxiliary. JoAnn enjoyed painting pictures, baking and decorating cakes, was an excellent cook, and enjoyed playing golf.
JoAnn is survived by life partner, Peggy D. Lewis of Litchfield; sons, Jonathon Schneck of Walshville and Richie Lewis of Kewanee, MO; daughters, Amie (Gene) Greenwood of Bismarck, MO, Elicia (Erin) Toomey of Springfield and Casey (Josh) Patterson of Decatur; sister, Pamela (Richard) Weiss of Litchfield; 11 grandchild and seven great grandchildren.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Larry; her grandmother, Lelia Young; and her brother, John R. Coatney.
Funeral services for JoAnn will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Fr. Daniel Willenborg of Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield will preside. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
Memorials may be made to the Family of JoAnn Schneck, c/o Peggy Lewis. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Jason Paul Overby, 47 of Worden, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville. He was born on February 12, 1977, in Town & Country, MO, the son of Ronald and Cynthia (Loebach) Overby. He married Jenny Engelke on June 14, 2003, and she survives.
He was employed as a Senior IT Manager with the St. Louis County Government Offices and had many cherished colleagues with many friendships built over his career. He was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (Ranken Technical College).
Jason was a man of immense wisdom and humor cherishing every moment spent with his family. He was the most amazing husband, father, son, brother and friend to many. He was very involved in his children’s lives from being their number one fan to coaching them and teaching them new things to be successful in life. No matter what, he showed his kids how much he loved them and how proud he was of them.
Jason was an amazing, relaxing, and calming person to be around, and was so uplifting for others who needed a shoulder to lean on. He touched so many lives and will be forever missed and always warming our hearts with his memories.
He is survived by his wife, Jenny Overby of Worden; two sons, Adam and Matthew Overby of Worden; his parents, Ronald and Cynthia Overby of Edwardsville; one brother, Joshua (MaryBeth) Overby of Shrewsbury, MO; one sister, Jillian Overby of Edwardsville; his mother-in-law, Denise (Keith) Buschmann of Staunton; his father-in-law, Kevin (Angie) Engelke of Edwardsville; and two brothers-in-law, Jeremy and Justin Engelke of Staunton.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton, IL. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton with Pastor Phil Girardin officiating.
Memorials are suggested to a College Trust Fund being set up for Adam and Matthew. Williamson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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