Obituaries
Obituaries in Highland, Lebanon, Pocahontas, Albion, Allendale, West Salem, Collinsville, and Cisne and their surrounding areas in Illinois

Mary Marchal
Mar 14, 2016
Mary E. Marchal (Nee Raber), 64, of Highland, IL, died Monday, March 14, 2016, at her residence, with her family by her side.
She was born July 9, 1951 to Herman and Marjorie (Nee Cowling) Raber in Olney, IL. On July 3, 1971, she married Michael Marchal, in Bellmont, IL, and he preceded her in death in...

Gloria Tanner
Mar 12, 2016
Gloria G. Tanner (Nee Perkins), 73, of Highland, IL, died Saturday, March 12, 2016, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.
Gloria was born July 15, 1942 to Herbert and Virgie (Nee Brown) Perkins, in Coldwater, MS. On May 5, 1956, she married Frank Tanner in Holly Spring, MS.
She loved being around her family and...

Todd Sands
Mar 9, 2016
Christopher “Todd” Sands, 45, of Highland, IL, died Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at St. Vincent’s East Hospital, Trussville, AL.
Todd was born December 8, 1970 to Michael and Marlene (Nee Phelps) Sands, in Birmingham, AL.
He was a huge Alabama Crimson Tide fan. He was a 1989 graduate of Highland High School, where he lettered...

Tom O. Riggs
Mar 8, 2016
Tom Riggs, 72, of Highland, IL, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Tom was born August 14, 1943, to Clifton and Doris (nee Zeller) Riggs in Highland, IL. On May 22, 1965, he married Cherie Dubach at St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL.
He graduated Highland High School in 1961...

Arlene Quitmeyer Gustafson
Mar 8, 2016
Arlene “Arkie” Quitmeyer Gustafson (Nee Wiese), 92, of Highland, IL died Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Highland Health Care Center, Highland, IL.
Arkie was born January 22, 1924, to Fred and Louisa (Nee Steffens) Wiese, in Carlyle, IL. On June 27, 1942, she married Delmar Quitmeyer, this marriage ended in divorce in 1951. She married Paul Gustafson...

Randolph E. “Randy” Robinson
Mar 8, 2016
Randolph E. “Randy” Robinson, 67, of Pocahontas, IL, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Greenville Regional Hospital, Greenville, IL, after a long battle with cancer.
Randy was born August 31, 1948, to Raymond and Violet (Nee Abell) Robinson in E. St. Louis, IL. On November 16, 2006 he married Carolyn Hinze at Southern Baptist Church, Highland, IL....

Helen Vaughn
Mar 7, 2016
Helen Vaughn (nee Dickerson), 83, of Pocahontas, IL, died Monday, March 7, 2016, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.
Helen was born September 21, 1932, to Harvey and Sylvia (nee Heilig) Dickerson in Alexander County, IL.
She was a member of the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary. She was also a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and...

Patty P. Sterkis
Mar 5, 2016
Patty P. Sterkis, 81, of Jamestown, IL, died Saturday, March 5, 2016 at her residence.
Patty was born June 19, 1934, to Robert and Pansy (Nee McKinney) in Carlyle, IL.
Per her wishes, there are no services.
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL

Fred Vaughn
Feb 26, 2016
Fred Vaughn, 90, of Pocahontas, IL, died Friday, February 26, 2016, at his residence with his family by his side.
Fred was born November 9, 1925 to Fred and Nannie (Nee Huddleston) Vaughn in Pocahontas, IL. On August 27, 1949, he married Helen Dickerson in Pocahontas, AR.
He signed up for the Army after his...

Carol E. “Ducky” Ruehrup
Feb 20, 2016
Carol E. “Ducky” (nee Dubach) Ruehrup, 79, of Belleville, IL, formerly of Alhambra, passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at Four Fountains Nursing Home, Belleville, IL.
Carol was born on September 15, 1936, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL, to Milton and Nora (nee Ammann) Dubach of Highland, IL. On August 30, 1969, she married LeRoy...

Shirley Mae Monken
Feb 17, 2016
Shirley Mae Monken (nee Frick), 89, of Lebanon, passed away in her home on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, after a short battle with leukemia.
Shirley was born in 1926 in Belleville, IL, to Frank and Anna (nee Beck) Frick. She graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1944 and shortly after, in 1946, married her lifelong partner,...

Richard A. Smith
Feb 16, 2016
Richard A. (Ricky) Smith, at 50 years old, took his last breath in the morning of February 16th, 2016, at his home in Pocahontas, IL, after battling renal and liver failure.
Ricky was born April 28, 1965 in Chicago. Ricky’s childhood home was in Orland Park and he graduated from Victor Andrew High School in Tinley Park,...

Gordon Clanton
Feb 8, 2016
Gordon W. Clanton, Jr., 66, of Pocahontas, IL, died Monday, February 8, 2016, at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Gordon was born October 30, 1949, to Gordon and Edna (nee Rommerskirchen) Clanton, Sr., in Highland, IL.
After high school, he enlisted in the Army and served in Vietnam. He was a member of...

Lloyd A. Vrell
Jan 31, 2016
Lloyd A. Vrell, 85, of Lebanon, IL, died Sunday, January 31, 2016, at Cedar Ridge Rehabilitation Center, Lebanon, IL.
Lloyd was born September 29, 1930, to Ralph and Alta (nee Elliott) Vrell, in Canton, IL. On February18, 1951, he married Lois Launer in St. Louis, MO.
After high school he enlisted as a reservist in...

Judith A. Ogden
Jan 30, 2016
Judith A. Ogden (nee Cotts), 73, of Lebanon, IL, died Saturday, January 30, 2016, at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Judy was born November 25, 1942, to James and Elizabeth “Betty” (nee Brinkman) Cotts in Belleville, IL. On September 10, 1960, she married Richard “Dick” Ogden in Lebanon, IL.
Judy was a Secretary for many...

Rick Switzer
Jan 26, 2016
Rick Switzer, 56, of Branson, MO, died Tuesday, January 26, 2016, in Branson, MO.
Rick was born October 1, 1959, in E. St. Louis, IL, to Joseph and Patricia (Nee Schutzenhofer) Switzer. On August 21, 2003 he married Stephanie Branum.
He graduated Highland High School in 1978. He worked for Switzer Foods and Crossroad Ford...

Vincent J. Jakel
Jan 18, 2016
Vincent J. Jakel, 90, of Highland, IL, died Monday, January 18, 2016, at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, IL.
Vince was born August 20, 1925, to John and Mary (nee Pfister) Jakel at St. Joseph Hospital, Highland, Illinois. On November 15, 1947, he married Betty Jane Wagner at St. Paul Church, Highland, IL.
He was a...

Sylvester O. “Sal” Korte, Sr.
Jan 10, 2016
Sylvester O. “Sal” Korte, Sr., 97, of Lebanon, IL, passed away on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at Cedar Ridge Healthcare Center, Lebanon, IL, surrounded by his family.
He was born January 8, 1919, to Henry and Ellen (Nee Riebold) Korte in Mascoutah, IL. On October 15, 1940 he married Elenora M. “Nora” Wittmer.
Sal was...

Bobby Howell
Jan 10, 2016
Bobby C. Howell, 86, of Lebanon, IL, died Sunday, January 10, 2016, at his residence with his daughter by his side.
Bobby was born June 26, 1929, to Everett and Helen (nee Barney) Howell in Fleming, Kentucky. In 1952 he married Miyoko Yoshida in Tokyo, Japan.
After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force...

Robert G. Hood
Jan 8, 2016
Robert G. Hood, 76, of Sorento, IL, died Friday, January 08, 2016, at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL.
Robert was born July 9, 1939, to Mildred Ballard, in Granite City, IL. At 3 months of age he was adopted by Curtis and Penelope (nee Behrends) Hood. On February 11, 1959, he married Dolores Tindall at Fort Leonard Wood,...