Area Obituaries

  Bradley Earl Lohnes, 71, of Carlinville, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at SSM St. Jospeh in Saint Charles, MO. Brad was born on Nov. 17, 1953, in Pekin.  His parents were Margaret Zank (Robert Zank) and Ernest Lohnes. He attended Pekin Community High School and graduated in 1971.  He continued his education…

  James Challans, 71 of Pana, passed away on Saturday morning, March 1, 2025, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, IN. James was born Dec. 10, 1953, in Pana, a son of Kenneth Patrick and Imogene (Carter) Challans. James graduated from Pana High School with the class of 1972. He served in the Navy for…

  Dennis Wayne DeMartini, 83, of Benld, passed away at Hallmark Healthcare of Carlinville, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 at 1:30 a.m. He was born May 5, 1941, in Benld, to John DeMartini and Hazel Best DeMartini. He married Vicki L. Costello DeMartini on Sept. 2, 1967 in Benld. He was retired after having been…

  Elaine Lucille Brockmeier, 84 of Carlinville, passed away Thursday morning, Feb. 27, 2025, at Litchfield Health Care & Rehab, in Litchfield. Elaine was born Aug. 20, 1940, in Carlinville, a daughter of Everett and Velma Crays Fones. Elaine graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1958. She married Robert Carl Brockmeier Nov.…

  Deborah “Debbie” Kay McDow, 70, of Carlinville, passed away Saturday morning, March 1, 2025, at Carlinville Area Hospital in Carlinville. Debbie was born Sept. 23, 1954, in Ft. Carson, CO, a daughter of Phillip Gerald and Charlotte Ann (Stinnett) Harms. Debbie graduated from Carlinville High School with the class of 1972. She married Dwight…

  Margy Jean Curtis, 88 of Carlinville, passed away on Friday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2025, at Montgomery Nursing & Rehab in Hillsboro. Margy was born Feb. 18, 1937, in Gibson City, a daughter of Robert and Gladys (Kaiser) Jardine. Margy graduated from Gibson City High School with the class of 1955. Margy married Dean Buhs…

  Robert “Bob” K. Birk, 88, of Brighton, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. He was born on Jan. 19, 1937, in Carlinville, the son of the late Charles and Lillian (Johnston) Birk. He married Shirley Zirges on Sept. 29, 1956, in Carlinville. Bob worked as a lineman for…

  Virginia F. Scharfenberg, 100, of Carlinville, passed away Thursday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2025, at Lakeside Health Care in Carlinville, with her family by her side. Virginia was born Nov. 9, 1924, in Nilwood, a daughter of Oliver Oscar and Myrtie Mae Adcock Jenkins. She married Lester “Pete” Scharfenberg April 20, 1941, in St. Charles,…

  John Frederick Schmidt, 97, passed away on Feb. 17, 2025.  He was born Feb. 15, 1928 in Gillespie, to William E. and Florence Schmidt. He was the youngest of five children, Virginia Schmidt, Bud Schmidt, Lucille Barton, and Marjorie Harper. He received degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Kansas. …