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Obituaries

Obituaries

Erna Nellie Melkus, 98, Festus

Erna Nellie Melkus, 98, Festus

Erna Nellie Melkus, 98, of Festus died Jan. 14, 2026, at St. Louis de Greeff Hospice House. Mrs. Melkus was a member of Pilgrim’s Rest Church for more than 70 years. She loved teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was the Pres…

Scott Wesley Wilson, 63, Arnold

Scott Wesley Wilson, 63, Arnold

Scott Wesley Wilson, 63, of Arnold died Jan. 9, 2026. Mr. Wilson was a member of the Teamsters. Born August 1, 1962, in Bainbridge, Md., he was the son of Susan (Williams) Wilson and the late David Wilson.

Stanley Clifford Galczynski, 67, Festus

Stanley Clifford Galczynski, 67, Festus

Stanley Clifford Galczynski, 67, of Festus died Jan. 12, 2026, at his home. Mr. Galczynski worked as a warehouse supervisor for much of his life before retiring. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, going fi…

Joan R. Mueller, 92, Bloomsdale

Joan R. Mueller, 92, Bloomsdale

Joan R. Mueller, 92, of Bloomsdale died Jan. 14, 2026. Mrs. Mueller enjoyed sewing, making jewelry and rosaries and, most of all, spending time with her family. Born July 23, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Marie (Weisler) Besand and L…

Stephen Charles Dumbauld, 69, De Soto

Stephen Charles Dumbauld, 69, De Soto

Stephen Charles Dumbauld, 69, of De Soto died Jan. 11, 2026. Mr. Dumbauld served in the U.S. Navy, where he was known for his strong sense of duty and love for his nation. Following his military service, he worked for many years at Home Servi…

Frank Watz Jr., 88, Festus

Frank Watz Jr., 88, Festus

Frank Watz Jr., 88, of Festus died Jan. 11, 2026, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in De Soto. Mr. Watz worked in construction and was a member of Ironworkers Local 396 in St. Louis. He lived in Missouri, then Florida, and returned to Missouri to be…

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Barbara Elizabeth (Weiss) Inman, 80, Martinsburg, W.Va.

Barbara Elizabeth (Weiss) Inman, 80, Martinsburg, W.Va.

Barbara Elizabeth (Weiss) Inman, 80, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Jan. 10, 2026, in Hedgesville, W.Va. Mrs. Inman retired as a registered nurse from the VA Medical Center. She attended Hedgesville Baptist Church and enjoyed serving the Lord an…

Mark Frederick Funston, 78, Herculaneum

Mark Frederick Funston, 78, Herculaneum

Mark Frederick Funston, 78, of Herculaneum died Jan. 12, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Funston worked as a salesman for Amerigas. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. Born March 26, 1947, in St. Lou…

Matthew Clarence Scaggs, 67, De Soto

Matthew Clarence Scaggs, 67, De Soto

Matthew Clarence Scaggs, 67, of De Soto died Jan. 9, 2026, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Mr. Scaggs was known to have lived life to the fullest. He loved the outdoors, reading and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Born…

Trenna Louise Hale, 81, Festus

Trenna Louise Hale, 81, Festus

Trenna Louise Hale, 81, of Festus died Jan. 11, 2026, in her home. Mrs. Hale enjoyed watching her husband, son, and grandchildren at the racetrack, tending her gardens, spending time outdoors, sewing and working on puzzles and word searches. …

Elsie Marie Wilkinson, 89, De Soto

Elsie Marie Wilkinson, 89, De Soto

Elsie Marie (Brake) Wilkinson, 89, of De Soto died Jan. 11, 2026, at Friendship Village in Sunset Hills. Mrs. Wilkinson attended Ironton High School. She was a bus driver for the De Soto School District and transported hundreds of children du…

Ronnie Harris Spencer, 68, Crystal City

Ronnie Harris Spencer, 68, Crystal City

Ronnie Harris Spencer, 68, of Crystal City died Dec. 28, 2025, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County. Mr. Spencer served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a retired heavy equipment/industrial mechanic. He attended Second Baptist Church i…

Charles Samuel Harrison, 80, Barnhart

Charles Samuel Harrison, 80, Barnhart

Charles Samuel Harrison, 80, of Barnhart died Jan. 1, 2026, at Fountainbleau Nursing Center. Mr. Harrison worked as a carpenter. He enjoyed running around with his friends and family. He was a member of Windsor Baptist Church in Imperial. Bor…

Shirley Fay Brown, 75, De Soto

Shirley Fay Brown, 75, De Soto

Shirley Fay Brown, 75, of De Soto died Jan. 10, 2026, at Mercy Hospital-Southeast in Cape Girardeau. Ms. Brown worked in the kitchen at several area restaurants and nursing homes. She was a lifelong member of the First Assembly of God Church …

Shawn Paul Ponder, 58, Festus

Shawn Paul Ponder, 58, Festus

Shawn Paul Ponder, 58, of Festus died Jan. 4, 2026, at his home. Mr. Ponder was an employee of Buffs RV and had a lifelong passion for racing. Most of all, he loved spending time with friends and family. Born June 15, 1967, he was the son of …

Edward L. Rulo, 83, De Soto

Edward L. Rulo, 83, De Soto

Edward L. Rulo, 83, of De Soto died Jan. 7, 2026, at his home. Mr. Rulo worked as a maintenance mechanic for MDS. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, flying model airplanes, excavating and gold mining. Born Aug. 4, 1942, in St. Lou…

Earl Louis Leach, 90, Valles Mines

Earl Louis Leach, 90, Valles Mines

Earl Louis Leach, 90, of Valles Mines died Jan. 8, 2026, at his home. Mr. Leach served in the Army National Guard. Born Oct. 25, 1935, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Harry D. and Grace E. (Mitchell) Leach.

Sharon Kay Wallman, 75, Herculaneum

Sharon Kay Wallman, 75, Herculaneum

Sharon Kay Wallman, 75, of Herculaneum died Jan. 8, 2026, at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Mrs. Wallman worked as a secretary for Comtrea in Festus. She was a member of the Ladies’ Elks 1721 Auxiliary. She loved spending time with her grandchildr…

Jeanette Ann Smock, 93, Festus

Jeanette Ann Smock, 93, Festus

Jeanette Ann Smock, 93, of Festus died Jan. 8, 2026, at her home. Mrs. Smock was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Church in Crystal City, where she volunteered with Mass preparations, preparing meals and housekeeping, and was active with the…

Carolyn Sue Meyer, 84, Festus

Carolyn Sue Meyer, 84, Festus

Carolyn Sue Meyer, 84, of Festus died Jan. 6, 2026. Born Aug. 19, 1941, in St. Louis, Mrs. Meyer was the daughter of the late Opal (Cooper) and L. Wayne Nausley.

Robert Alvin Held, 90, Festus

Robert Alvin Held, 90, Festus

Robert Alvin Held, 90, of Festus died Jan. 8, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Held retired as a bonder from McConnell Douglas. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, playing horseshoes and washers and gathering with fa…

Jodi Rae Swearingen, 56, Arnold

Jodi Rae Swearingen, 56, Arnold

Jodi Rae Swearingen, 56, of Arnold died Jan. 7, 2026, at her home. Mrs. Swearingen worked for Chrysler Corp. for 10 years and later worked in a medical office. She was a Christian and attended New Hope Baptist Church in Sullivan. She enjoyed …

Kirk Daniel Rapp, 57, Valles Mines

Kirk Daniel Rapp, 57, Valles Mines

Kirk Daniel Rapp, 57, of Valles Mines died Jan. 1, 2026, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Rapp worked as a laborer and was a Catholic. Born July 14, 1968, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Jacquelyn Duspiwa Rapp and How…

Randall Allen ‘Randy’ Payne, 62, Cedar Hill

Randall Allen ‘Randy’ Payne, 62, Cedar Hill

Randall Allen “Randy” Payne, 62, of Cedar Hill died Jan. 6, 2026, in Fenton. Mr. Payne enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, boating, firing up the grill and spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren. He will be …