Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO
Local Obituaries for the Week of March 24, 2010



LaVerne Brocka

LaVerne Brocka of Festus, Missouri, was born April 9, 1941 at St. Louis,
Missouri and passed away Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Jefferson Regional
Medical Center in Crystal City, Missouri at the age of 68 years.
LaVerne was a homemaker and was a member of the Festus Church of the
Nazarene.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Mike” Creason and Galena
Louise Glore and husband, Richard Brocka.
She is survived by a daughter, Karen Flotron of Festus, Missouri; son,
Ronald David Brocka of Festus, Missouri; grandchildren, Amanda and Ashley
Flotron; sisters, Doris Newcomb of Tucson, Arizona and Judy Evelyn (the
late Larry) Freeland of Imperial, Missouri; brothers, Michael (Faye) Creason
of St. Louis, Missouri, David (Carole) Creason of Chicago, Illinois and
Fred (Rosemary) Creason of Santa Barbara, California.
Private services were scheduled.
Arrangements under the direction of the Vinyard Funeral Home, Festus,
Missouri.



Virginia Brown

Ruth Virginia Brown (nee Harlow) of Steelville, Missouri, formerly of
Brentwood, New Hampshire, was born July 30, 1919 in Roxbury, Maine to
Thomas Paty Harlow and Alice Maude (Williams) Harlow and passed away
Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Gibbs Care Center in Steelville, Missouri at
the age of 90 years.
On April 10, 1942, she was united in marriage to Warren Arnaud Brown who
preceded her in death on July 8, 2007. Three children were born to this
union.
For several years, Ruth worked as a secretary in Rockville, Maryland and
later retiring as librarian at the Public Library in Brentwood, New
Hampshire.
She was a member of the Christ Church Episcopal of Exeter, New Hampshire.
For many years she was active in the Episcopal Women’s group, a
representative of the National Cathedral, supporter of the Children’s Home,
member of the Altar Guild for over thirty years, supporter of the Episcopal
Home for Emotionally Disturbed Children, active as a den mother for cub
scouts and girl scouts. Later was active in the Senior Group and the
Historical Society in Brentwood, New Hampshire.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Alice Harlow; her
husband, Warren; two brothers, Charles and George Harlow; and one sister,
Alice Kast.
She is survived by one daughter, Carol Thompson and husband Steve of
Steelville, Missouri; two sons, Willard A. Brown and wife Corinne of
South Miami, Florida and Philip T. Brown and wife Junel of Seabrook,
New Hampshire; one brother, Richard Harlow and wife Marguarite of
Connecticut; eight grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; other relatives
and friends.
Inurnment will be in the Waterside Cemetery at Marblehead, Maine.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of
Steelville, Missouri.



Cledith Fann

Viva Cledith Fann of Bourbon, Missouri, was born at Cuba, Missouri on
September 14, 1922 to Jacob Abraham and Minnie Pearl (West) Ware and passed
away Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the age of 87 years.
She lived in the Cuba area until her marriage on June 29, 1940 to Woodrow G.
Fann, Sr. They were united in marriage at Steelville, Missouri.
After their marriage Viva and Woodrow made their home around the Bourbon,
Missouri area.
She was a devout Christian lady who was baptized into the Baptist faith. She
at one time was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bourbon then
transferred her membership to Meramec Valley Baptist Church.
Viva was known as a “spunky and frisky” individual and you knew exactly
where you stood with her. She enjoyed crocheting and quilting, working in her
garden and growing flowers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Abraham and Minnie Ware;
husband, Woodrow; son, Woodrow Fann, Jr.; three brothers, Estel “Bud,”
Herman and George Ware; and five sisters, Martha Hopwood, Mable Williams,
Zula Micallef, Lorine “Babe” Ware and Katherine Ware.
She is survived by her son, Ronald Fann and wife Sharon; a daughter-in-law
Deborah Fann, all of Bourbon, Missouri; grandchildren, Dale Fann and Terri
Stone, Jeanne Walsh and husband Brian, Michelle Fann and Jeremy Graddy,
Sheila Gawer and husband Glenn, James Davis and Kelli Hall; 10 great
granchildren; one brother, Chester Ware and wife Margaret of Cuba, Missouri;
two sisters, Maxine Branson of Park Hills, Missouri and Bonnie Ware of Cuba,
Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, 2010 from the
Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri, with Rev. Judy
Jeffery officiating.
Interment was in Crow Cemetery, rural Sullivan, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.



Betty Jane Ferrell

Betty Jane Ferrell, nee Adams of Mountain Home, Arkansas, formerly of
Viburnum, Missouri, was born June 21, 1923 in Steelville, Missouri, to
Phillip Marion Adams and Millie Neleta (Kimberlin) Adams and passed away
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the age of 86 years.
On December 24, 1942 in Steelville, Betty was united in marriage to Lewis
Edward Ferrell Sr.
Betty worked at the Crawford County Social Security Office for about six
years and then worked as city clerk and collector for Viburnum, Missouri for
seven years. In 1996, she retired from the Quad County State Bank in
Viburnum after 26 years as assistant cashier.
She was a faithful and long time member of the Free Will Baptist Church in
Viburnum, Missouri. She was also a member of the Eastern Star.
She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, collecting recipes and quilting.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Millie Adams; her
husband, Lewis; one daughter, Janet Louise Parrett; one brother, Henry Adams;
three sisters, Opal Comfort, Neola McKay and Neleta Maloney; brothers-in-law,
Chris Ferrell and wife Mary and Virgil Ferrell; sisters-in-law, Ethel Bowen,
Gertrude Cooper and Esther Thompson.
She is survived by two sons, Charles Ferrell and wife Wanda of Lohman,
Missouri and Lewis “Eddie” Ferrell Jr. and wife Valerie of Sullivan,
Missouri; one daughter, Phyllis Burr and husband Wally of Mountain Home,
Arkansas; one brother, George Adams and wife Sharon of Steelville, Missouri;
four sisters, Pauline Adams of Steelville, Missouri, Dorothy Weber of Gray
Summit, Missouri, Ava Lee Comfort of Columbia, Missouri, and Anna Marie Horn
and husband Robert of New York; 10 grandchildren, Joy (Rodney) Weaver, Jared
Parrett, Corky (Tina) Burr, Canda (Tony) Reese, Kelly (Marvin) Miller, Josh
(Danielle) Ferrell, Ryan Ferrell, Megan Ferrell, Stephanie (Dave) Ruble and
Melissa (Carl) Blair; 11 great grandchildren, Andre Parrett, Logan Burr,
Colton Burr, Easton Reese, Kaiden Reese, Anna Miller, Bethany Miller, Zane
Ruble, McKenlee Blair, Gabriel Blair and Dawson Blair; sister-in-law, Betty
Ferrell of Pevely, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at the Britton-
Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at the
Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Pastor Cletis
Nichols officiating.
Special music of “If You Could See Me Now” was played and sung by Marvin
Miller. Other music of “This Old House,” “Touring the City” and “Precious
Lord Hold My Hand” was sung by Larry Sherrill and accompanied on piano by
Geraldine Sherrill. A eulogy was read by granddaughter, Joy Weaver.
Committal prayer and burial were in the Pleasant Point Cemetery in
Steelville, Missouri.
Casket bearers were Josh Ferrell, Ryan Ferrell, Corky Burr, Jared Parrett,
Tony Reese, Carl Blair and Marvin Miller.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of
Steelville, Missouri.



Ivan “Ike” Frohbieter

Ivan “Ike” Frohbieter of Cuba, Missouri, was born on August 25, 1931 in
Haubstadt, Indiana to Edgar and Versa (nee Blythe) Frohbieter and passed
away on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at the age of 78 years.
He married Wanda June Perigo on February 14, 1954, in Evansville, Indiana.
He retired from Chrysler as an accountant and with his wife, Wanda, owned
and operated Frohbieter’s Greenhouse on Highway CC, Cuba, Missouri, for 20
years. Ivan enjoyed cabinetmaking and making clocks.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Versa Frohbieter; his
wife, Wanda; a brother, Wilbur Frohbieter; and a sister, Helen Nuebling.
He is survived by two sons, Mike Frohbieter and wife Beth of Fenton,
Missouri and Scott Frohbieter of Columbia, Missouri; three daughters, Tammy
Wattler and husband John of Sullivan, Missouri, Debbie Clonts and husband
Kenneth of Bourbon, Missouri and Becky Harris and husband William of
Leasburg, Missouri; two brothers, Orville “Art” Frohbieter and wife June
of Owensville, Indiana and Carl Frohbieter and wife Pauline of Ft. Branch,
Indiana; a sister, Evelyn Steinkuhl and husband Ray of Evansville, Indiana;
17 grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
Services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 22, 2010 at the Chapel
of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri with Pastor James Manning
officiating.
Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery on Highway CC, Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan,
Missouri.



Master Sgt. John D. Grotha

Master Sgt. John D. Grotha (retired) of Dayton, Ohio passed away
March 8, 2010 at the age of 86 years.
John was a career military retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sgt.
and was a member of the VFW 2800.
John’s lifelong love and commitment to his country began when he volunteered
at the age of 17 to serve in the military.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years.
He is survived by two sisters, Estelle Grotha of St. James, Missouri and
Adelaide (Grotha) Wagstaff of Tampa, Florida; one son, Robert Michael and
wife Vickie; one daughter, Katherine Kimie and husband Jack Gentis;
grandchildren, Jason, Gregory, Daniel, John and Christina Gentis, Jennifer
and Brittany Grotha; two great granddaughters, Olivia and Klohe Daughtery;
other relatives and friends.
Interment was in Dayton, Ohio on March 15, 2010.



James “Jamie” Marcus Hagler

James “Jamie” Marcus Hagler passed away March 20, 2010 in Linn at the age
of 41 years.
He is survived by his wife, Candi Hagler of Linn, Missouri; parents, Deb
Parton and husband Bruce of St. James, Missouri and Michael Hagler of
St. Louis, Missouri; two children, Thomas Christopher Freeman of St. Charles,
Missouri and Hope Hagler of Linn, Missouri; three siblings, Jon Hagler of
St. James, Missouri, Josh Hagler of St. Louis, Missouri and Nicki Bunn and
husband Seth of Bolivar, Missouri; mother-in-law, Vivian Aslakson of Winona,
Minnesota; brother-in-law, Gene Aslakson of Winona, Minnesota;
sisters-in-law, Cindy Morgan and husband Henry of South Dakota and LaDawn
Greenslade of Wisconsin; one nephew, Noah Bunn; other relatives and friends.
Visitation from 3 p.m. until time of service March 24, 2010 at Wilson
Mortuary Chapel.
Military honors will be at 5 p.m. March 24, 2010 at Wilson Mortuary, Salem,
Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Wilson Mortuary, Salem, Missouri.



Stella Ann King

Stella Ann King of Potosi, Missouri was born on July 8, 1944 at Cuba,
Missouri a daughter to Charles Marcee and Tillie (Hopple) Marcee and passed
away March 12, 2010 at the Washington County Memorial Hospital having
reached the age of 64 years, 8 months and 4 days.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Tillie Marcee; a son,
Thomas King and a sister, Katherine Chandler.
She is survived by a daughter, Tonia Short and husband Eugene of Mineral
Point, Missouri; three sons, Leonard King of Bonne Terre, Missouri, Larry
King of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri and Gary King of Kansas City, Missouri;
two brothers, William Marcee of Hillsboro, Missouri and Robert Marcee of
Potosi, Missouri; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; other
relatives and friends.
A private service was held at the gravesite in the Steelville City Cemetery,
Steelville, Missouri.
Arrangements were under the direction of the DeClue Family Funeral Home,
Potosi, Missouri.



Thomas Edward Lehnhoff

Thomas E. Lehnhoff of Cuba was born Wednesday October 13, 1954 at St. Louis,
Missouri to Earl and Molly (nee Kraemer) Lehnhoff and passed away Tuesday,
March 16, 2010 at Fenton, Missouri at the age of 55 years, 5 months and
3 days.
Tom was happily married to Donna for the last 10 years and he was employed
at Polyone Corporation in Sullivan, Missouri for the last 11 years.
In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, gardening, being outdoors, reading,
watching the Discovery Channel, playing music, working crossword puzzles,
bar-b-queuing and spending time with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Molly Lehnhoff;
father-in-law, Ralph “Bud” Harris; cousin and fishing partner, Billy Siegler
of Belle, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Lehnhoff of Cuba, Missouri; three
daughters, Kristy and husband Jim Hulsey of Union, Missouri, Brandy and
husband John Fenderson of Nashville, Tennessee and Jessica Lehnhoff of
St. Charles, Missouri; eight grandchildren; one brother, Tim and wife Cindy
Lehnhoff of Orlando, Florida; mother-in-law, Marilyn Harris of Cuba,
Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Larry Harris of Cuba, Missouri and Bud and
wife Ronda Harris of Cuba, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Sandy Howerter of
Havana, Illinois and Mariann and husband Ed Hubert of Rolla, Missouri; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
at the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri.
Graveside service was held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the
Meramec Hills Cemetery with Pastor Gary Mace officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba,
Missouri.



Myrtle Juanita Morgan

Myrtle Juanita Morgan nee Martin of Sullivan, Missouri formerly of
Steelville, Missouri was born on Friday, May 26, 1916 in Crawford County,
Missouri to William Martin and Mary Wisdom Martin and passed away on
Sunday, March 14, 2010 at the Lifecare Center, Sullivan, Missouri at the
age of 93 years, 9 months and 16 days.
Juanita married Marrlan Morgan on December 24, 1940 at Cantwell, Missouri
and to this union one son was born.
Juanita was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church, Bourbon, Missouri and
the Eastern Star Martha & Mary #364. Her hobbies were quilting and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Martin; sisters,
Pearl (Perry) Scott, Orene (John) Eaton, Daphne (Everett) Gahr and Lida
(Arthur) Hendrix; brothers, Kenneth (Delma) Martin and Trenton (Bessie)
Martin.
She is survived by her husband, Marrlan Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri; son,
Leon (Elizabeth) Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri; brother, Dwayne (Lena) Martin
of Cuba, Missouri; grandchildren, Michael Lee Morgan of Sullivan, Missouri
and Melissa Lynne (Dennis) Brown of Cuba, Missouri; sister-in-law, Winnie
Morgan of Owensville, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was Tuesday, March 16, 2010 from 5-8 p.m. at the Hutson Funeral
Home, Cuba, Missouri with Eastern Star Service at 7 p.m.
Funeral Service was Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Hutson
Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri with Rev. Delmar Hutson officiating.
Burial at Bourbon Cemetery, Bourbon, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of Hutson Funeral Home, Cuba, Missouri.



Elaine Rutz

Elaine Rutz of Grandbury, Taxas was born on October 28, 1929 to Carl Philip
Fink and Irene Eva Carson in Elk Prairie, Missouri and passed away Saturday,
March 20, 2010 in Granbury, Texas at the age of 80 years.
She graduated from Rolla High School. During her youth she worked at the
Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, now the Missouri University of
Science and Technology, where she met her husband, Warren Rutz. They married
on December 31, 1949 in Rolla Missouri.
Elaine provided for the establishment of the Elaine Rutz Scholarship Fund at
the University to benefit rural Missouri students. The scholarship will
continue in her memory.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Grandbury, Texas.
She was preceded in death by a son, Carl Rutz.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Warren Rutz of Granbury, Texas;
son, Owen and wife Patricia Rutz of Houston, Texas; daughter, Dana Hoffmann
of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, John Hoffmann, Kim Hoffmann Brighton,
Thomas Rutz, Robert Rutz and Kathryn Rutz; brother, Merle Fink; other
relatives and friends.
Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the
Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri with Pastor Rick Oberle
officiating.
Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in
Owensville, Missouri.



Arzetta Kendrick Smyth

Arzetta Kendrick Smyth of Sullivan, Missouri was born in Sullivan on
March 31, 1926 to Walter T. and Mary Elizabeth (Cannon) Kendrick and passed
away Sunday, March 14, 2010 at the age of 83 years.
For a time she lived in various parts of the country that included Texas,
Wisconsin and San Diego, California. She was employed for many years at the
former Sullivan Community Hospital as a nursing assistant. She worked with
newborns in the nursery and was known to be able to wrap the infants cozier
and tighter than any other assistant or nurse.
She at one time was married to George G. Severson who preceded her in death.
Arzetta later married William N. Smyth. He too, preceded her in death in 1999.
She was a long-time member of the New Testament Baptist Church in Sullivan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary Kendrick; husbands,
George and William; three brothers, Maurice, Lawrence and Robert (Bunny)
Kendrick; and by three sisters, Willa Mae Schulte, Ruth Holt and Marie Payton.
She is survived by three sons, Bruce Severson of Washington, Missouri, David
Severson and wife Ann of Sullivan, Missouri and Darrell Carlson of San Diego,
California; one daughter, Linda Ziebarth and husband Bruce of Jefferson City,
Missouri; one brother, Walter “Junior” Kendrick of St. James, Missouri; five
grandchildren, five great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from
the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, Missouri, with Pastor
Charles Idelman officiating.
Interment was in Oddfellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri.
Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home.




Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the 
Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site.
<http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/>

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