Mirror, Steelville Star-Crawford Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of July 8, 2020 Albert Bray Jr. Albert Bray Jr. of Belle, Missouri was born December 15, 1935 in St. James, Missouri to Albert and Grace (Love) Bray and passed away Monday, June 29, 2020 at the age of 84 years. He grew up on the farm outside of Belle, Missouri and graduated from Belle High School in 1953. Albert married Naomi Kraenow on June 1, 1957 and together they resided on the family farm. Albert was a longtime member of the Zion Evangelical Free Church in Bland, Missouri. Albert was very active in the Belle Fair and he served on the board for 48 years putting in many long hours before, during, and after the fair. He started out young, following after his father, who helped establish the first Belle Fair. He was the District Sales Manager and later the Missouri Turkey specialist for the Ralston Purina Company and retired from Purina after 28 years. Albert was a lifetime farmer, taking over the family farm at age 15, after his father passed. He took pride in helping other young farmers learn about cattle farming, and taught his daughters to put up hay and take care of the cattle at young ages and showed cattle at many fairs throughout his life. Albert and Naomi loved to travel. Although Albert worked sun up to sun down, he managed to take his family on a two week vacation almost every summer. Later they traveled on many trips with his Purina family and friends and for the past 22 years have been snowbirds, spending four months at their winter home in Mission, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; step father, Lawrence Glenn; daughter, Dawnette Bray; brother, Edward; sister, Lucille; stepbrother, Blanton Glenn; and step brother-in-law, Bill Gibson. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Naomi; daughter, Donna Campbell and husband Rocky of Belle, Missouri; grandchildren, Jessi Foust and husband Justin of St. James, Missouri and Tyler Campbell and wife Tommi of Belle, Missouri; great grandchildren, Jake Foust, Jaci Foust and Tatyn Campbell; step sister, Chalice Glenn of Albuquerque, New Mexico; step brother, Willis Glenn and wife Cora of Daytona, Florida; and step sister-in-law, Betty Glenn of Springfield, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at the Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2020 at the Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Missouri with Kevin Runge and Mark Farran officiating. Interment followed in the Old Bland Cemetery outside of Bland, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Missouri. Joyce Ann Counts Joyce Ann Counts was born January 31, 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles A. and Frankie D. (Thompson) Street and passed away on June 25, 2020 at the age of 70 years. She married Gary G. Counts Sr. on September 3, 1966. They settled in Steelville, Missouri. Joyce enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, crafting, playing the piano, dancing, and an occasional trip to the casino and being creative in any form. She was never at a loss for words and could ever so eloquently express herself in any given situation. She is survived by her husband, Gary G. Counts Sr.; sons, G. George (Barbara) Counts of Steelville, Missouri and Richard (Trisha) Counts of Cuba, Missouri; daughters, Lori Giallongo of Steelville, Missouri and Sarah (Steve) Phenix of Steelville, Missouri; eight g randchildren, Jonathon (Shelby) Counts, Ashton Pitts, Heather Counts, Lacey (Ryan) Brumley, Ryan Counts, Brandon (Madison) Howdeshell, Nathan (Becca) Howdeshell and Makayla Counts; five great grandchildren, Coraline, Reagan, Lochlan, Gavin and Braxon; sister, Barb (Dave) Pugh of Ohio; sister-inlaw, WillaMae (Everett) Williams of Cuba, Missouri; brother-in-law, Frank (Connie) Counts of Steelville, Missouri; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Frankie Street; son-in-law, Giovanni Giallongo; mother and father-in-law, Arthur L. and Eula Counts; and brothers-in-law, Earl (Erma) Counts, Lee (Mary) Counts and Tom (Priss) Counts. Memorial visitation was held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at the Straightway Baptist Church in Steelville, Missouri. Celebration of Life memorial service was held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at the Straightway Baptist Church in Steelville, Missouri with Bro. Alan Miles officiating. Cremation services were under the direction of Rolla Cremation and Memorial. Gladyne Elsie Forster Gladyne Elsie Forster of Owensville, Missouri was born on December 10, 1927 to Ivan and Elsie (Chapman) Spurgeon at Oak Hill, Missouri and passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at the age of 92 years. She married Homer J. Forster on April 5, 1946 in Steelville, Missouri. Gladyne was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and making jellies and pickles. She graduated high school and went to St. Louis, Missouri and worked as a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone Company. She saved the life of a lady that had a heart attack who called her for help. She always said 1946 was her favorite year because that's the year she was married. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan and Elsie Spurgeon; husband, Homer Forster; and sisters, Wanda Brink, Joan Orlando and Pauline Spurgeon. She is survived by her son, David Forster of Owensville, Missouri; daughters, Nancy Seegraves of Williamsville, Missouri, Judy Lewis and husband Mike of Owensville, Missouri and Barbara Barch of Owensville, Missouri and friend John Birkman of New Haven, Missouri; brother, Lenard Spurgeon and wife Melva of Topeka, Kansas; grandchildren, Greg Lewis and wife Pam, Jeff Mayberry and wife Angel, Dawn Fisher and wife Tessa, Joseph Seegraves and wife Amy, Ethan Forster, Dalton Forster and special friend Gabby Lansford and Hannah Forster; great grandchildren, Ashley Stokes, Tara and Ryan Mayberry, Luke and Lauren Seegraves, Gavin Fisher and Milo, Delilah and Elsie May Forster; great great grandson, Karson Bingaman; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at the Gottenstroeter Chapel in Owensville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. at the Gottenstroeter Chapel with Rev. Dennis Spurgeon officiating. Burial was at the Licklider Cemetery in rural Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville Missouri. Ada Jo Freeman Ada Jo Freeman of Rolla, Missouri was born in Rolla, Missouri on December 12, 1930 to Melvin and Ruth (Loughridge) Lewis and passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at the age of 89 years. Ada and her siblings grew up during the Great Depression. Her mother died when Ada was a toddler. They didn't have much, but they always managed to make do. Ada really loved watching the television, her favorites being soap operas, which she would later pass on to her daughter Laurie Ann. She enjoyed playing bingo when she moved to the nursing home. Ada married Austin Freeman. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Ruth Lewis; husband, Austin Freeman; children, Laurie Durbin, and Leroy Butch Daniels Jr.; two sisters; one brother; and step mother, Mary Lewis. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Lewis of St. James, Missouri; son-in-law, Steve Durbin of Rolla, Missouri; grandchildren, Jason Ryan Durbin (Brooke), Jenna Marie Meyer (Curtis), Michael Leroy Daniels (Michelle), and Jamie Lynn Sloan; a host of great grandchildren; great great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. It was her wish to be cremated with a private internment for family. Arrangements under the direction of the James & Gahr Mortuary. Carl Henry Holzschuh Carl Henry Holzschuh of St. James, Missouri was born on January 6, 1938 to Charles Leslie Sr. and Sarah Eunice (Krause) Holzschuh in Owensville, Missouri and passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at the age of 82 years. He married Margaret Liesemeyer of Owensville route on June 16, 1962. Carl served his country with the United States Army stationed in Germany with the Border Patrol. He was a member of High Gate Baptist Church. He was a man of many accomplishments, being a mechanic, builder and woodworker. In later years he was an auctioneer and licensed minister. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sr. and Sarah Holzschuh; sisters, Willadeen Carpenter, Adelene White and Mary Jane Angell; grandson, Noah Holzschuh; half brother, Joseph Holzschuh; step bother, Virgil Boswell; and step sister, Ruth Ann Grantham. He is survived by his wife, Margaret of St. James, Missouri; daughter, Bonnie of Parker, Colorado; sons, Robert and wife Robin of Labadie, Missouri and Steven and wife Jacey; grandchildren, Samantha, Kaitlyn, Lesley and Matthew Holzschuh; great grandchildren, Chyanne, Nathan, Jacob and Jasmine Holzschuh; sister, Adoree Brandt of Owensville, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2020 at the Gottenstroeter Chapel in Owensville, Missouri. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. at the Gottenstroeter Chapel with Pastor Doug Williams officiating. Burial was in the Countryside Memorial Gardens in Owensville, Missouri with full military honors. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri. Jerry L. Lewis Jerry L. Lewis of Cuba, Missouri was born on March 21, 1939 in Jadwin, Missouri to Marion and Minnie (Palmer) Lewis and passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at the age of 81 years. Jerry served his country in the United States Marine Corps for three years and then served the next 11 years in the United States Army. He retired as a Sgt. on January 24, 1969. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. After his retirement from the military, he returned home and worked many years as an auto mechanic and auto body repairman. He enjoyed going to swap meets, collecting antique European motorcycles and parts, guns and swords. He was Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Minnie Lewis; and one brother, Rudy Lewis. He is survived by his brother, Ronald Lewis of Cuba, Missouri; two nephews, Ronald Lewis Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri and Michael and wife Ashley DeFilippo of Madison, Illinois; one niece, Andrea Warden of DeSoto, Missouri; other relatives and friends. In keeping with his wishes, Jerry was cremated and no services are planned at this time. Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Joseph Jack Sgroi Joseph Jack Sgroi of St. Louis, Missouri was born on Saturday, August 16, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri to Angelo and Maria Camerata Sgroi and passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 11 days. He served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. He married Rita Jane Bamert on September 18, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as a meat cutter for 50 years and had worked at Schnucks, Jonathan Foods, Target and Desalvo's. He was also part of the Local Meat Cutters Union #88. Joseph enjoyed the outdoors, whether it was gardening, fishing, rabbit hunting or bird hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents, Angelo and Maria Sgroi; wife, Rita Jane Sgroi; son, Vincent Sgroi; brothers, Jim Sgroi, and Tony (Antoinette) Sgroi; sister, Mary Lou (Jack) Gaffney; brothers-in-law, Gene Bamert, Joe Bamert, Rich Bamert, and Bud Kellems, Ed Moore, Al (Jean) Bamert and John Bliele; and sisters-in-law, Theresa Moore, Pat (Cliff) Georgen, Rose Amato, Carol Bamert, Mary Bamert and Florence Bamert. He is survived by his children, Angelo (Lisa) Sgroi of Salem, Missouri, Anthony Sgroi of Belle, Missouri, Joseph Jr. (Lynne) Sgroi of Owensville, Missouri and Cynthia Oliver of St. Charles, Missouri; sister, Pat Bliele of Arapaho, Colorado; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Cyril (Catherine) Bamert of Defiance, Missouri, Charles Bamert, Art (Judy) Bamert and Johnny Bamert, all of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Jerry Bamert of St. Peters, Missouri, Dee Bambert, Fran Kellems, Yavonne Bamert and Ed Moore, all of St. Louis, Missouri, Tommy Bamert of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri and Frank Amato of Brooklyn, New York; 12 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held from 9:30-11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at the Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at the Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri with Father Dan Lueckenotte officiating. Burial was at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Cuba, Missouri with full military honors. Arrangements under the direction of the Hutson Funeral Home in Cuba, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. http://www.threeriverspublishing.com/ ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWebArchives by: Winnie Brooks