Obituaries

Apr 1, 2013

Betty R. Ray, 81, of Lebanon, IL, died Monday, April 1, 2013 at Cedar Ridge Healthcare Center, Lebanon, IL.

Betty was born July 6, 1931, to Charles and Opal (nee McDaniel) Schmidt in St. Louis, MO.

Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother in all family things.  She was also an avid St. Louis Cardinal...

Apr 1, 2013

Robert C. Swofford, 85, of Pocahontas, IL, died Monday, April 1, 2013, at Helia Healthcare Center, Greenville, IL.

Robert was born September 23, 1927, to William L. and Stella E. (Nee Zweck) Swofford, Sr., at home in Pocahontas, IL.  On June 14, 1952, he married Donna Sugg at United Methodist Church, Pocahontas, IL.

He worked...

Mar 24, 2013

Christopher E. Brock, 33, of Lebanon, IL, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, at his residence.

Chris was born July 30, 1979, to Jack and Doris (nee Harris) Brock, in Belleville, IL.

Chris worked general maintenance at Scott AFB, IL.

He is survived by his parents, Jack and Doris Brock, Lebanon, IL; maternal grandmother,...

Mar 18, 2013

Cpl. Aaron J. Ripperda, 26, of Marine, IL, died Monday, March 18, 2013, in Hawthorne, NV.

Aaron was born January 8, 1987, to Kent Ripperda and Tina Sutton (Nee Lesicko), at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Breese, IL.

Aaron graduated from Highland High School in 2005.  After 1 year at St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL, he enrolled...

Mar 10, 2013

The Honorable Joseph Donald Christ, devoted husband, loving father, caring son, dedicated brother, and loyal friend, passed away March 10, 2013. Joe graduated from Lebanon High School with the class of ’82, received his bachelor’s from ISU in ’86, and received his law degree from Thomas Cooley in ’93. He worked as a prosecuting attorney for 18 years in...

Mar 7, 2013

Ruby M. Essenpreis, (nee Willmann) age 90, originally of Highland, Illinois, died Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Tri Star Southern Hills Hospital in Nashville, Tn surrounded by her family.

She was born on Friday, February 2, 1923, in Highland, Illinois, the daughter of Urban and Dena (nee Strotheide) Willmann.  On June 29, 1946 she married Duane W....

Mar 6, 2013

Melody D. Diliberto (nee Lane) was born April 9, 1955, in Long Beach, California.  She passed away at age 57 on March 6, 2013, at her home in Lebanon surrounded by her loving family.   Her death resulted from the cancer that she had successfully battled for 27 years.

On September 15, 1973, Melody married Joseph A. Diliberto...

Mar 5, 2013

Joan M. Spengel (nee Frey), 74, of Highland, IL died Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL.

Joan was born November 14, 1938 in Highland, IL to Nelson J. and Eleanor S. (nee Buehne) Frey.  She married Forrest “Ed” House in 1961 and he died in 1968.  She then married Robert L. “Bob” Spengel...

Mar 1, 2013

Herbert Bernard Durbin, Sr., 88, of Breese, IL, formerly of Highland, IL died Friday, March 1, 2013, at Breese Nursing Home, Breese, IL surrounded by his family.

Herb was born April 9, 1924, to Herbert B. and Mae Elsie (Nee Matoushek) Durbin, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO.  On August 6, 1949, he married Mary Imelda...

Feb 22, 2013

Roy S. Cutright, 73, of St. Charles, MO, formerly of Granite City, IL and Alton, IL, died Friday, February 22, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Roy was born January 31, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, MO, to Delzie and Hazel (Nee Wright) Cutright. On February 20, 1960, he married Shirley M. Holt, in Cape Girardeau,...

Feb 13, 2013

Arleen I. Mank (Nee Beckman), 86, of Benton, KY, died Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at Spring Creek Health Care, Murray, KY.

Arleen was born August 5, 1926 to Orrin and Irene (Nee Rehberger) Beckman, in Belleville, IL. On June 19, 1946, she married Harold Mank at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lebanon, IL.

Arleen was a...

Feb 11, 2013

Charles “Dutch” Wallin, 84, of Lebanon, IL, born December 29, 1928, in Lebanon, IL, passed away on Monday, February 11, 2013 at his residence.

Dutch was retired from civil service work, after 35 years of dedicated service, at Scott Air Force Base, IL. Following his retirement he worked for St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lebanon, IL, where he...

Feb 9, 2013

Eldon S. Heer, 98, of Lebanon, IL, died Saturday, February 9, 2013, at Rosewood Health Care, Swansea, IL.

Eldon was born March 31, 1914, to Christian and Elizabeth Mary (Nee Baer) Heer, in Lebanon, IL. On September 5, 1943, he married Ruth Evelyn Schertz in Washington, IL.

Eldon was a member of 1st United Methodist...

Feb 8, 2013

Morris L. “Spike” Seefeldt, 88, of Highland, IL, died Friday, February 8, 2013, at his residence, with his family by his side.

Spike was born August 12, 1924, to Louis John and Carolyn (Nee Ostendorf) Seefeldt, in Addieville, IL. On October 28, 1948 he married Marian A. Heim, in Highland, IL.

Spike was a member...

Feb 8, 2013

Robert Guy Michael, 81, of Highland, IL, died Friday, February 8, 2013 at Faith Countryside Homes, Highland, IL with his family by his side.

He was born on February 4, 1932 at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL, to William and Elvira “Vera” (Nee Bruns) Michael. Soon after his birth and just at the start of the Great...

Feb 6, 2013

James E. “Jim” Stack Sr., 89, of Highland, IL, died Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.

Jim was born August 3, 1923, to William and Isabell (Nee Kobel) Stack, in Granite City, IL. On October 20, 1945 he married Wilma Rose Grob, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Granite City, IL.

Jim...

Feb 3, 2013

Paul Heilig, 61, of Highland, IL, died Sunday, February 3, 2013 at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.

Paul was born October 17, 1951, to Robert F. and Betty L. (Nee Weaver) Heilig, Sr., in E. St. Louis, IL.

He liked to fish, tell jokes and stories and just talk. He was a caregiver to his...

Feb 1, 2013

Geneva Mae Hediger (Nee Stanley), 92, of Highland, IL, died Friday, February 1, 2013, at St. Joseph Hospital, IL.

Geneva was born October 12, 1920, to James M. and Lola (Nee Rudolph) Stanley. On December 12, 1939 she married John Louis Hediger at E & R Church, Highland, IL.

Geneva was a lifelong member of...

Feb 1, 2013

Cleta L. Schuchmann (Nee Nettles), 88, of Pocahontas, IL, died Friday, February 1, 2013 at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.

Cleta was born June 1, 1924 to John Adam and Janie Rose (Nee Golder) Nettles, in Carlyle, IL. On May 15, 1946 she married Carl Schuchmann at Hopewell Church, Clinton County, IL.

Cleta was a...

Jan 30, 2013

Gretchen A. Tibbetts (Nee Haldi), 98, of Highland, IL, died Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.

Gretchen was born July 21, 1938, to Charles and Grace (Nee Hermann) Haldi, in Highland, IL. On June 9, 1938 she married James Keith Tibbetts at 1st Congregational Church, Highland, IL.

She was a member...