Obituaries
Death of Rose Marie (Stivers) Meier
Funeral services for Rose Marie (Stivers) Meier, formerly of Hillsboro and Litchfield, will be held at the Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield, Illinois on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 10:30 am. Rev. Cassie Sexton-Riggs will officiate. A brief visitation period for family and friends will take place at Union Avenue Christian Church immediately prior to the service beginning at 9:30 am. Burial will follow in Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield.
Farewell services were held at the Stanton Health Care Center in Stanton, Nebraska, on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 10 a.m., with hospice Chaplain John Steadman officiating.
Rose died at the age of 91 at the Stanton Health Care Center in Stanton, Nebraska on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Burial will take place immediately following the service in Litchfield in the Elm Lawn Cemetery, Litchfield, joining her husband, H. Dean Meier. Memorial gifts should be given to the Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield, as suggested by the family.
Rose was born Rose Marie Stivers in Hillsboro, Illinois on September 12, 1933, to Bernie F. and Velma L. (Gerhard) Stivers. As a small child she was given the nickname “Bootie” by her grandfather, presumably because she wore baby booties everywhere. She was known affectionately by that nickname throughout her childhood. Rose graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1951, marrying Harry Dean Meier on October 23, 1954, in Hillsboro, sharing nearly 50 years together before his death in February 2004. She maintained relationships with class members for almost 70 years, before moving to Nebraska to be near family as health issues dictated.
Surviving family members include son, Michael D. Meier and wife, Julie (Zimmerman) of Columbus, Texas; daughter, Cynthia Meier of Stanton, Nebraska (formerly of Litchfield); and daughter, Denise (Meier) Wilkinson and husband, BJ of Norfolk, Nebraska.
Rose was blessed with six grandchildren, Andrew, (wife Nora), Megan, Zachary (wife Shayna), and Michael Meier (wife Christina); Alexander Lueker (wife Cari), and Victoria (Lueker) Bannon (husband Stephen). She also had 14 great-grandchildren.
Rose was a faithful member of Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield for many years serving on the Board of Elders and as the Church’s Financial Secretary. Rose was also active in the community, serving as a volunteer for Hearts United and Meals on Wheels. She was a member of the International Order of the Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and the PEO Chapter of the HKA Sorority.
Rose assisted her husband, Dean, in the running of their family business, Meier Decorating Center, for almost 50 years. She continued to be an important part of that business after their daughter, Denise, bought the business in 1997. In addition to those duties, Rose considered herself a stay-at-home mother, raising the children and providing for their daily care. Once they were grown, she worked for a time at the Ethan Allen showroom in Springfield and taught interior design at Lincoln Land Community College in Litchfield.
Rose made it very clear that her first priorities were her family members while enjoying an active social life playing golf, cards, and vacationing. Rose ensured there was always fun and laughter in the Meier home and will be missed by all who knew her. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is in charge of local arrangements.
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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.
