Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of August 6, 2008 Marcelle J. Hamilton Marcelle J. Hamilton, nee Halbruegge, of St. Louis, Missouri, was born March 12, 1919 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away Sunday, July 27, 2008 at the age of 89 years. Marcelle was a long time, faithful member of Marvin Park United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Blanche, (nee LaJeunesse) Halbruegge; husband, James Hamilton and brothers, Wilfred and Donald Halbruegge. She is survived by children, Robert (Carol) Hamilton of St. Louis, Missouri and Judith (Dean) Odom of Marble Hill, Missouri; grandchildren, Susan (Mike) Sommer and Kelly Arens; great grandchildren, Alex, Wills and Caroline Sommer, Ben and Bryan (Jeni) Arens; great great grandchildren, Taya, Tyller and Kohli Arens; sister, Doris Tedder Chula Vista, California; other relatives and friends. Visitation was Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 5-9 p.m. at the Baumann Colonial Chapel, Overland, Missouri. Funeral services were Thursday, July 31 at 10 a.m. at the Baumann Colonial Chapel, Overland, Missouri. Interment at 2 p.m. at the Hamilton Family Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Baumann Colonial Chapel, Overland, Missouri. Helen M. Neff Helen M. Neff was born Monday, February 19, 1923 at Sullivan, Missouri to the union of Earl and Effie Maddox and passed away Friday, August 1, 2008 at Bourbon, Missouri at the age of 85 years, 5 months and 10 days. Helen was united in marriage Louis William Neff and to this union eight children were born. She was a homemaker, spending many hours cooking, cleaning, caring for and loving her husband and children. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one infant son, Louis Wm. Neff, Jr.; one daughter, Debra Rhoades; other relatives and friends. She is survived by one son, Harold Neff of Bourbon, Missouri; five daughters, Wanda Houseman of Cuba, Missouri, Wilma Wymer of Edgar Springs, Missouri, Rita Parker and Dawn Hawkins of Sullivan, Missouri and Karen Parker; grandchildren, great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. All services were private and under the direction of Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Charles “Claude” Ritchie Charles “Claude” Ritchie, Topeka, Kansas was born April 30, 1928, in Cuba, Missouri, the son of Lee Roy and Della (Cornman) Ritchie. He passed away Sunday, August 3, 2008, at Lexington Park Retirement Community at the age of 80 years. He graduated from SW Missouri State and the University of Missouri. He served in the US Army as a Sgt. from June 1952-June 1954. He married Shirley Hamilton on June 18, 1949, in Cuba, Missouri. His career included teaching and was an elementary school principal in the Topeka Public Schools, retiring on August 1, 1989, after 33 years of service. He belonged to Countryside United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, John Ritchie. He is survived by a daughter, Leanna Raine; son, David Ritchie; sister, Dorothy Wilkinson; brother, Paul Ritchie; sister, Mary Stubblefield, and one grandson, Kyle Raine. Mr. Ritchie will lie in state after 2 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka, Kansas. Casket will remain closed. Visitation will be that evening from 7-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2008 at Countryside United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas. Arnold E. Senecal Arnold E. Senecal was born Tuesday, February 11, 1947 at St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Lawrence Edward Senecal and Margaret L. (nee Brewer) Sencecal and passed away Friday, August 1, 2008 at Rolla, Missouri at the age of 61 years, 5 months and 18 days. Arnold worked with his mother at Marge’s Café in Cuba, Missouri. He proudly served his country in the United State Army and in his spare time he enjoyed reading and watching TV. He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents, Roy O. Brewer and O. Alice Brewer; one aunt, Faye Parnell; one uncle, Pinckney Brewer; other relatives and friends. He is survived by his mother of St. James, Missouri; one sister, Patricia Barnhart of St. James, Missouri; three aunts, Janet Bialock of Cuba, Missouri, Jean Merritt of Cuba, Missouri and Renae Cassidy of Steelville, Missouri; one uncle, Donald Brewer of Cuba, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Tuesday, August 5, 2008 from 10-11 a.m. at Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at Britton Funeral Home of Cuba with Pastor Darren Meyers officiating. Interment followed at Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri with full Military Honors. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Patricia Ann Talamante Patricia “Patty” Ann Talamante was born Sunday, March 27, 1955 at St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Lester and Mary “Pat” (nee Power) Boswell and passed away Thursday, July 31, 2008 at her home in Cuba, Missouri at the age of 53 years, 4 months and 4 days. Patty started her secretarial career after she graduated from high school. She worked for St. Louis University Philosophy Department for nearly five years, Debrecht Imports in Webster Groves for four years and Lou Fusz Auto Body Shop for several years. After moving to Cuba she was the manager for the Feedlot Restaurant for almost four years and for the last three years was an instructor at Definitions. Patty was united in marriage to Jerry Talamante on July 27, 1982 at St. Louis, Missouri. She truly enjoyed the outdoors. Trips every weekend to the Lake of the Ozarks to go boating, fishing and water skiing. She enjoyed playing cards, bowling and was an excellent cook. She loved spending time with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father; one brother, David Michael Boswell; other relatives and friends. She is survived by her husband of the home; three sons, Jason Effinger and fiancee’ Amanda Ladd of Smithville, North Carolina, Joe and wife Amanda Effinger of St. Louis, Missouri and Matt J. Talamante of Cuba, Missouri; one daughter, Jessica Talamante of Cuba, Missouri; her mother of Cuba, Missouri; two brothers, Lester Sr. “Mickey” and wife Julie Boswell of Steelville, Missouri, Dan J. and wife Dee Boswell of Bethel, Kansas; four sisters, Donna and husband Tony Koenen of Union, Missouri, Sandra and husband Ed Fadler of Steelville, Missouri, Karen and husband Sam Garbo of Union, Missouri and Lisa and husband Donnie Libhart of Cuba, Missouri; three grandchildren, Gabriele, Madison and Joey Effinger; her favorite four legged friend “Abbey”; other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Sunday, August 3, 2008 from 3-7 p.m. at Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Funeral service was at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2008 at Britton Funeral Home with Father James Finder officiating, eulogy by Leslie Rickey, special poem by Angela Baumann and music provided Jill and Jordan Libhart. Inurnment at Meramec Hills Cemetery, Cuba, Missouri. Arrangements under the direction of the Britton Funeral Home of Cuba, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ************************************************ 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