Obituaries
Obituary of Mary Jo Niemann
Mary Jo Niemann, 80 of Litchfield, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on October 2, 1945, in Litchfield to Lester Archer and Gladys (Hope) Archer.
She married Ronald (Rick) Niemann on June 30, 1963, in Litchfield. They celebrated 62 years of marriage and together they raised four children, Kim, Lori, Jenifer, and Steve.
Mary Jo was known as “mom” to many and provided childcare to several through the years. She was a caregiver to her mother and mother-in-law in their later years. She was an active member at Union Avenue Christian Church, a youth leader, and she also organized the Annual Bean Supper for many years. She enjoyed helping with the Litchfield Food Pantry as well as Meals on Wheels. She was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Psi Sorority Epsilon where she contributed to community service projects. Her favorite thing was being a wife, mom, and grandma.
She is survived by her spouse, Rick; children, Kim Willmann (Tom), Lori Niemann, Jenifer Harbaugh, and Steve Niemann (Nikki); grandchildren, Katie, Tyler (Kelly) and Karley Willmann, Aliyah, Kylie and Brianna Taliaferro, Adam Tarran, Jake Harbaugh (Lindsey), Sara Bentley, Megan Gates (Brandon), Courtney Rogers (Chris), Mary Grace Harbaugh, Brittany Williamson (Andrew), Brooke and Blake Niemann; and great grandchildren, Wrigley, Easton and Waverly McDaniel, Bryson and Liam Tarran, Abeilene Harbaugh, Winry and Mavis Bentley, Letti, Killian and Waylon Rogers, and Wyatt Willmann.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Gladys Archer; her siblings, Joan Viehweg (Otto), Jim Archer (Betty) Barb Ruyle (Bill), and Linda Langley (Gary); sons-in-law, JT Taliaferro and Jeff Harbaugh; grandson-in-law, Andrew Bentley; and great grandson, Oliver McDaniel.
Memorial services for Mary Jo will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Fred Priest, family friend, will officiate. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Litchfield Food Pantry. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is serving the family.
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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.
