Obituaries
Obituary of William Henry “Bill” Winstead
William Henry “Bill” Winstead, 70 of Walshville, passed away at his residence at 7:27 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2025. Bill was born on May 9, 1954, in Litchfield a son of Virgil Lee and Mabel Elizabeth (Snyder) Winstead.
He graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1972. He married the former Beverly Ann Niehaus at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive on August 16, 1975. She survives.
Bill was passionate about agriculture, and was employed with Stamer Implement, and later the long-time service manager for Timmerman Implement, later known as Sloan Implement, in Litchfield. He loved farming and working on old machinery and trucks. Bill was a former member of the Litchfield Community School District #12 Board of Education and had the privilege of presenting diplomas to his children during the time he served on the board. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Worden.
Bill is survived by his wife, Beverly A. Winstead of Walshville; daughters, Michele (Scott) Bader of Carlinville and Melinda (Joseph) Estrada of Hamel; daughter-in-law, Lyndsy Winstead of Litchfield; grandchildren, Cale, Gavin and Keaton Winstead, Anthony and Joshua Bader, and Isiah and Mary Estrada; and great-grandchildren, Kayla, Ava, and Josiah Estrada.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Mabel Winstead; a son, Michael W. Winstead; a daughter, Melissa A. Winstead; a sister, Betty Niemann; and his mother and father-in-law, Elmer and Mary (Stamer) Niehaus.
Visitation for Bill will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6969 W. Frontage Road, Worden. Rev. Benjamin Ball, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church will officiate.
A luncheon will be served after the funeral and before the burial in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield. The family requests casual attire be worn. Memorials may be directed to the family of William Winstead, c/o Beverly Winstead. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
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Charles M. Crays, 64 of Carlinville, passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. He was born October 24, 1961, in Carlinville to Charles J. Crays and Dorothy Louise Johnston Crays. He married Darla K. Hankins Crays in Carlinville.
Charles was a longtime iron worker and retired from the trade. He was a devoted member of the Carlinville Moose Lodge and the Carlinville Masonic Lodge, and he took pride in helping others in his community.
Charles is survived by his wife, Darla Crays, of Carlinville; his stepchildren Crystal (Clint) Downs of Louisiana, Toby (Denni) Paxton of Louisiana, and Joey Paxton of Louisiana; his grandson Sawyer Downs; his brother Robert L. Crays (Lettie) of Carlinville; his sisters Linda L. Crays and Julie Ann Crays, both of Waggoner; and his nephew Matthew Crays.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Carlinville Moose Lodge, or the Carlinville Masonic Lodge. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie 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.
