All Obituaries

Joseph Leon Petroski, Jr., age 85, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 12:20 A.M. on Monday, January 10, 2022, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois. He was born on October 9, 1936, in East Saint Louis, Illinois, the son of Joseph Leon and Agnes (Orevec) Petroski.  He married Lois Sanders in June of 1955, at Saint Barbara Catholic Church in Saint Louis, Missouri, and they later divorced.Mr. Petroski is survived by his loving family, stepdaughter, Betty...

Donald Ray “Don” Copple, age 79, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 7:25 P.M. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois.  He was born on November 23, 1942, in Centralia, Illinois, son of Hubert and Thelma L. (Hart) Copple.  He married Julie Hood on November 3, 1974, in the pastor’s home in Centralia, Illinois, and she survives him in Centralia, Illinois. In addition to his loving wife of 47 years, Mr. Copple...

Jean L. Harder, age 91, of Wentzville, Missouri, formerly of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 4:22 A.M. on Friday, January 7, 2022, at her home in Wentzville, Missouri, with her loving family by her side. She was born on November 29, 1930, at her home in Hoyleton, Illinois, the daughter of Henry W. and Amanda Louise (Westerfeld) Nierman.  She married Arthur C. ”Bud” “A.C.” Harder on June 15, 1952, at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, in Hoyleton,...

Nancy S. Elam Reubart, age 82, of Sandoval, Illinois, passed away at 9:36 A.M. on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at her niece’s home in Sandoval, Illinois, with her loving family by her side. She was born on December 18, 1939, in Moweaqua, Illinois, the daughter of Lester Ward and Kathryn E. (Patrick) Elam.  She married Jack Lee Reubart on January 8, 1977, in Taylorville, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on April 15, 2012. Mrs. Reubart is survived by her loving family, sister,...

Patrick Dean “Pat” Wheatley, age 67, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 6:18 P.M. on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois.  He was born on June 21, 1954, in Quincy, Illinois, the biological son of Norman Robert Gunn and Nora Elizabeth Sims and then he was adopted by John William Paul and Catherine Lucille (Nessl) Wheatley.  He married Carol Sue Wheatley on April 13, 1985, in The Salvation Army in Centralia,...

Vera Louise Owens, age 83, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 3:20 P.M. on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at Fireside House of Centralia in Centralia, Illinois.  She was born on January 17, 1938, in her home in Marion County, Illinois, the daughter of Paul and Norma (George) Lynn.  She married Delbert Wayne Livesay and they later divorced.  She married Macy E. Owens in 1966 and he preceded her in death on June 1, 1994. Mrs. Owens is survived by her daughter, Terri...

Nancy Kay Cook, age 78, of Odin, Illinois, passed away at 2:35 P.M. on Monday, November 29, 2021, in Salem Township Hospital in Salem, Illinois.  She was born on May 6, 1943, in Centralia, Illinois, the daughter of Sebern Leroy and Zelma (Treadway) Phelps.  She married Billy Gene Cook on February 19, 1962, in Mount Vernon, Illinois, and he preceded her in death on December 20, 2005. Nancy is survived by her loving family, three sons, John Cook of Odin, Illinois, Billy Gene...

Robert G. Steinkamp, age 74, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, November 25, 2021, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois.  He was born on January 25, 1947, in Breese, Illinois, the son of Edna Steinkamp.  He married the love of his life, Carolyn Mae Reinkensmeyer, on January 29, 1966, the coldest day of the year to his bride to be with the warmest heart, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman, Illinois, and she survives him in Centralia,...

Ferdinand Wendell "Fred" Bauer, age 85, passed away at 11:37 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at Universal Healthcare in Raleigh, North Carolina, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Fred was born on March 15, 1936, the son of Wendell A. and Gladys (Edwards) Bauer, in Chicago, Illinois, where he lived until 1952.  Fred moved to Centralia, Illinois and graduated with Centralia Township High School’s “Class of 1952” and attended...

Lawrence Clifton Hake, age 94, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on September 5, 2020, of heart failure.  He was born on July 29, 1926, in Centralia, Illinois, the son of Lawrence C. and Lorene A. Hake.  He married Cortez Hake on April 7, 1967, in Peoria, Illinois, and she survives him in Mesa, Arizona. In addition to his loving wife of 53 years, Mr. Hake is survived by his sons, Chris Hake and wife Martha of Rossville, Indiana, Lawrence “Larry” and wife Lucie of Lake...