Obituaries

Joseph Forshaw IV Joseph Forshaw IV, 73, died unexpectedly on November 11, 2025.  He had retired in 2016 after serving for 30 years as president of Forshaw of St. Louis, Inc., a family fireplace and patio retail and wholesale to the trade business founded in St. Louis in 1871. Mr.…...

John Donald Lauer, M.D. Husband, father, Opa and great-grandfather to his family, departed this life in the grace of the Sacraments, at age 94. John passed away Sunday, November 2, 2025. He was born June 11, 1931 in Alton, IL to John W. and Eleanore (Klinke) Lauer. He is preceded…...

Cherie Yvonne Messina (née Sontag) Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, – beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend – passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the age of 52.  She was surrounded by her children, family, and dear loved ones.  She is survived by her…...

Mary Lucia Hannegan (nee McClellan) fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Dear mother of William (Lucy) Hannegan, Lucia (Jonathan) Ries, Patricia (John) Vorbeck, Michael (Joan) Hannegan, Timothy (Cindy) Hannegan, and Robert (Christine) Hannegan, beloved grandmother and great-grandmother, dear sister of Delphine (the late Jerry)…...

Kathleen Elizabeth Valenta (née Vatterott) Fortified with the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, she passed away October 11, 2025. She was 92. Kate was a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and lifelong Catholic—family-focused, devout, and cheeky, often in the same breath. Beloved bride of the late U.S. Navy…...

Vicki Wiggins Vicki was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 19, 1950.  She passed away on October 24, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri.  Vicki was the beloved daughter of Charles and Bonnie Wiggins, who established their home in McKenzie, Tennessee.  It was in McKenzie that Vicki attended K-12 schools and…...

George T. Metzger, Sr. Entered Into Rest on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Beloved husband for 58 years to the late Jo Ann Metzger, dear father of George (Laura), Michael (Julie), Mary (James) Cowart, Ann, Carolyn (Jim) Naumovich and the late Amy Fernandez, grandfather of 12, and great grandfather of six. …...

Mary Patricia Kolb Hazelwood Mary’s life was defined by the joy she received by bringing joy to others.  She had a unique gift for making people feel special.  Born on January 24, 1940, in Alton, she was the third child of Alfred and Florence (Fuser) Kolb. Mary grew up alongside…...

Earl Michael Hess, Jr. At the age of 88, Tuesday, October 14, 2025.  Beloved husband of the late Kathleen M. Hess (nee Moore); dear father of Michael E. Hess, Daniel M. Hess (Brent Baker), Julia D. Freeman (Shawn), Matthew M. Hess (Michelle), and Patrick C. Hess (Toni); dear grandfather of…...

William D. “Bill” Kerckhoff, Jr. Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Sunday, October 12, 2025. Dear father of Eleanor Grace “Ellie” Kerckhoff and William Daniel “Danny” Kerckhoff, III, dear son of Margie Kerckhoff (nee Aldrich) and the late William D. Kerckhoff, dear brother of Sandi (Scott) Keating and…...