Obituaries
Obituary of Cynthia Kay (Dal Pozzo) Leonard
Cynthia Kay Leonard, 74 of Staunton, passed away Friday, February 7, 2025, at Staunton Health & Rehab in Staunton. She was born on June 28, 1950, in Litchfield a daughter of the late Reno and Ellen (Salter) Dal Pozzo. She married Lloyd “Chuck” Leonard on August 6, 1971, at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton, and he passed away October 15, 2018.
Cindy retired from SIUE after working in Lovejoy Library, the Physics Department, and the Registrar’s Office. She also worked at the Star-Times for a short period and in her younger years she worked for the Illinois Secretary of State Office in Springfield.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends. For years, she and Chuck could be found at R & B’s for breakfast on a regular basis and she continued to meet friends and family there after Chuck’s passing.
Cindy and her mother spent many years working on the family history and helping others with their searches. She continued her research after her mother passed. She was a proud member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She was also a founding member of the Staunton Area Genealogy Society that later became the Macoupin County Illinois Genealogical Society. She served in many positions on the board. Her interest in genealogy sent her on many trips to the Outer Banks, NC, for more research.
She was involved in setting up the George H. & Santina Sawyer Genealogy Room at the Staunton Public Library. She also enjoyed researching the history of Staunton. She was a fountain of information and would gladly share it with anyone who asked or even if they didn’t ask. She loved to talk about it and share pictures, of which she had many.
She also had very fond memories of her high school years participating in band and choir. As a child, she and her older sisters participated in many tap dance recitals. Music was a big part of her childhood and teenage years. She also played in what was then called the Staunton Municipal Band.
She is survived by two children, Luke (Malinda) Leonard of Staunton and daughter, Christa (Tim) Still of Troy; two grandchildren, Claire and Alex Leonard; two sisters, Diane Williamson of Normal and Renee (Glen) Seganfredo of Staunton; and sister-in-law, Verla Leonard of Tennessee. She is also survived by special cousins, Tami Kershaw, Mark Dal Pozzo, and Jim Heeren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Janet McDole; one brother, Scott Dal Pozzo; three brothers-in-law, John Williamson, Mike McDole, and Mike Leonard; and one brother in infancy, Marion Dal Pozzo.
Private graveside services will be held at Tine Sawyer Cemetery near Staunton at a later date. Memorials are suggested to either Staunton Band Boosters or the Alzheimer’s Association. Williamson Funeral Home in Staunton is in charge of 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.
