Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of March 5, 2003
Elaine Cape
Elaine Cape (nee Wilkerson) was born Sunday, June 17, 1917, in Justin,
Texas, one of eleven children, daughter of the late Stanley Blackburn
Wilkerson and Nora (Simmons) Wilkerson. She entered eternal life Saturday,
February 22, 2003, at the Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Sullivan, Mo.,
at the age of 85 years, 8 months and 5 days.
On January 13, 1936 in Big Springs, Texas, Elaine was united in marriage to
Wilber Russell Cape. Three sons and two daughters were born to this union.
They enjoyed over forty-five years together before his death, February 20,
1981. Also preceding her in death was a daughter, Flora Elaine Sidebottom
and husband Joseph Sidebottom. Seven brothers, Vester, Alvie, S. B., A. C.,
Olen, Pete and Orville Wilkerson and two sisters, Hattie and Ilene;
brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Norman and Juanita Cape, Gerald Cape,
James Cape and Ed Schwieder also preceded her in death.
Among those who remain to mourn her passing are her three sons and one
daughter, Edwin Russell Cape and wife Marion of Collinsville, Oklahoma,
Norma Jean Brown of Bourbon, Mo., C. Wayne Cape and wife Sue Ann of Cuba,
Mo. and Harold David Cape and wife Virginia of Steelville, Mo.
One brother, Joe Allen Wilkerson of Napa, California; brother-in-law and
sisters-in-law, Burdett and Reba Cape of West Plaines, Eileen Cape,
Margaret Cape and Theresa Schwieder all of Steelville, Mo.; ten
grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson;
nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Elaine Cape lay in state 4-8 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2003, at the Britton
Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were held 11 a.m.
Tuesday, February 25, 2003 in the Britton Chapel with Rev. Virgil
McWhorter, Rev. John Beckett and Rev. Bill Ratliff officiating. Rev. Mike
Cooper provided musical selections.
Committal prayers and interment were in Hibler Cemetery, Steelville, Mo.
Serving as pallbearers were Ed Cape, Wayne Cape, Harold Cape, Trevor Cape,
Brad Cape and John Slowensky.
Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville,
Mo.
Elmer Castanis
Elmer Castanis of Cuba, Mo. was born April 12, 1921 at St. Louis, Mo. to
the union of George Castanis and Ida (Krummel) Castanis and passed away on
February 19, 2003 at the Cuba Manor of Cuba, Mo. at the age of 81 years, 10
months and 7 days.
On October 7, 1942 he was inducted into the Army of the United States of
America and was honorably discharged on February 17, 1946. He was also a
member of the Cuba VFW, American Legion and Optimist Club.
On June 1, 1950 Elmer was united in marriage to Mildred DeBeaux. The
enjoyed almost forty years together until she preceded him in death on
April 1, 1990.
Those who survive to mourn his passing from this life are one brother
Thomas Castanis and wife Dorothy of St. Louis, Mo., dear friend Sharon
Burdick and husband Tom of Cuba, Mo.; four brothers-in-law, James, John,
Louis, and Donald Debeaux, five sisters-in-law, Margaret Hay, Augusta
Drummonds, Doris Ashbrook, Sallye Lemons and Patricia Comer; nieces,
nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Elmer was a devoted husband, loving brother, uncle, and dear friend to all
who knew him and will be sadly missed.
Elmer Castanis was in state at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Mo.
Graveside services were held on Friday, February 21, 2003 at Jefferson
Barracks, St. Louis, Mo.
All arrangements were under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of
Cuba, Mo.
Owen Leverett Coleman
Owen Leverett Coleman was born Friday, November 28, 1913, at Steelville,
Mo., a son of the late William Coleman and Elizabeth (Beckham) Coleman.
He entered eternal rest Saturday, February 22, 2003, at the Missouri
Baptist Medical Center, Sullivan, Mo., at the age of 89 years, 2 months and
24 days.
On February 28, 1942, at Potosi, Mo., Owen was united in marriage to Alta
Arabella Hicks. Three sons and one daughter were born to this union. She
preceded him in death September 3, 1988, as did three sons, Johnny, Keith
and Mike Coleman and one grandson, Neil Coleman. His brothers, John,
Clarence, Henderson, Bill and Donus Coleman and sisters, Grace Pinnell,
Dorothy Shaw and Abby Lea preceded him in death.
Owen served his country in the United States Army during World War II.
After his military service he worked for Union Tank Car Company in Wood
River, Illinois, working as a pipefitter and boilermaker and retired after
approximately thirty years of service. He was a loving family man who
worked hard to provide for his family.
After retiring, he enjoyed playing his guitar, fishing, gardening (his
specialty was growing tomatoes and green beans), and he was a huge
Cardinals baseball fan (anxious for the 2003 spring training to get
underway). He was outgoing, generous and enjoyed sharing stories with
others.
One constant in his life was his love of dogs and all wildlife. He was a
member of the Fox Hunters Association. He attended church and Sunday school
as a young man in the Liberty Community and said he tried to live his life
according to the Ten Commandments that he learned from his Sunday school
teachers, Stella Slovensky. In later life he and his wife attended Fair
View Baptist Church, Butt, Mo. He often mentioned that the day would come
when each person would be judged.
Among those who remain to mourn his passing are his devoted daughter, Karen
Coleman of the home in the Liberty Community; two sisters, Nora Lea and
Lois Mathews of Steelville, Mo.; sisters-in-laws and brothers-in-laws,
nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.
Owen L. Coleman lay in state 5-7 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2003 at the
Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo.
Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 25, 2003, in the
Britton Chapel with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating.
Committal prayers and interment were in Liberty Cemetery, rural Steelville,
Mo. Military honors were graveside with the presentation of the flag.
Serving as pallbearers were Ken Aston, Tim Farrar, David Schmidt and Ronald
Slovensky.
Arrangements were under the direction of Britton Funeral Home, Steelville,
Mo.
William "Bill" Alan Rogers
William "Bill" Alan Rogers was born Friday, January 25, 1946 in Breeze,
Illinois. His parents were John Warren Rogers and Naomi Kordine (Gravatt)
Rogers. Bill passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2003 in the Missouri
Veterans Home of St. James, Mo., at the age of 57 years, 1 month and 2
days.
Bill was a 1964 class graduate of Steelville High School and graduated from
the Capital Business College in Jefferson City. He served his country from
1967-1069 in the Army and was stationed in Germany and Fort Lewis,
Washington. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail handler at the
Columbia Regional Distribution Center. He loved the postal service and was
a loyal employee for nearly 28 years.
Life was not always easy for Bill and by today's standards he would be
considered to be mentally challenged. The educational opportunities were
not developed when he attended school as compared to today. Each student
was encouraged to work harder to meet educational standards and we know
today's learning approach is different. Work harder is exactly what he did.
He didn't let his challenge affect his ability to work and be successful.
Bill didn't realize he had special needs, he knew if he worked hard he
would achieve his goal; he was an over achiever in the purest sense. He
knew the value of a dollar and what it took to earn it.
Bill had many interests that he pursued with a zest to be the best and most
knowledgeable. His expertise included railroad pocket watches, Ithaca and
Browning double barrel shotguns, steam locomotives, old time Hall of Fame
baseball players, straight razors, and bull whips. He was a loyal Cardinal
baseball fan.
Throughout the years there were many people in Steelville that he loved
spending time with and nurtured him in different times in his life. Some of
which were John and Connie Carr, Henry Adams, Ike and June Lovan, Jim
Dulany, Ed Schwieder, Jim Gladden, Kermit Carr, and Harry Jonas. Thank you
for caring all of these years. This type of caring makes Steelville stand
out from other communities and the people of Steelville should be proud of
this heritage.
Some of Bill's most precious memories were the times he spent with his Aunt
and Uncle Phyll and James Callahan. he loved his Aunt's home cooked meals
and all the love they showed him through his life. The summer of 1960 he
spent with them was most special and provided him with a lot of fond
memories.
Bill is survived by his brothers John Rogers and wife Sharon and their sons
Ryan and Evan of Leavenworth, Kansas; Dick Rogers and wife Judy of Boise,
Idaho; Aunt Phyll and Uncle James Callahan of Steelville, Mo.; Aunt Bernice
and Uncle Bill Scofield of Houston, Texas; cousins, other relatives and
many friends.
William "Bill" Alan Rogers lay in state 2-5 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 2003, at
the Britton Brothers Funeral Home, Steelville, Mo. Funeral services were
held 10 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2003, in the Britton Chapel with Dr. Cardis
Bryan officiating. Musical selections were provided by vocalist Danny
Gruver and pianist Carolyn Hawkins.
Committal prayers and interment were in Steelville Cemetery. Pallbearers
were Terry Beckham, Denise Callahan, Kent Howald, Wayne Pounds, Ryan Rogers
and Kem Schwieder. Arrangements under the direction of Britton Funeral
Home, Steelville, Mo.
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Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
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