Spihlmann, Bernard

Bernard W. "Barney" Spihlmann, 88, of Albers, died Sunday, January 21, 2007, at Countryside Manor in Aviston. He was born August 27, 1918 in Aviston, son of Ben and Mary Philomena (Neff) Spihlmann. He married Marie H. Pingsterhaus on November 14, 1945 in Germantown and she survives. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Alfred Spihlmann and wife Darlene of Damiansville; two daughters, Marcella Markus and husband Larry of Aviston, Marilyn Hecker and husband Hans of St. Louis, MO; nine grandchildren, Debra Becker and husband Kurt, Jeff Spihlmann and wife Jill, Jason Spihlmann, Rebecca Nordike and husband Keith, Kristi Toennies and husband John, Adam Markus and fiancée Amber, Craig Markus, Jason Hecker and Adam Hecker and fiancée Kelly; five great-grandchildren, Devon Becker, Seth Becker, Breanne Burton, Kaitlyn Burton and Connor Toennies; three sisters, Marie Albers of Breese, Henrietta Albers and husband Abbie of Germantown, and Dorothy Wiemann of Maryville; step brothers, Walter Thoele of New Baden and Edward Thoele and wife Jane of Germantown; step sisters, Mary Ann Heimann and husband Arnie, and Bernice Kniepman and husband Cornelius all of Germantown; and sisters-in-law, Ann Spihlmann and Rose Spihlmann of Damiansville, and Christine Beckmann and Laura Pingsterhaus of Germantown. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step mother, Elizabeth Thoele, whom his father married after the death of his mother; two infant sons, Vincent and Robert and two infant daughters, Regina and Mary; one sister, Emelia Heimann; four brothers, Raymond Spihlmann, Leo Spihlmann, Richard Spihlmann and Clarence Spihlmann; step brother-in-law and step sisters-in-law, Alvin and Mary Ann Thoele and Ella Mae Thoele; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, George Heimann, Norbert Albers, Lucille Spihlmann, Jim Wiemann, Catherine Jansen, Albert Jansen, Victor Pingsterhaus and Frank Beckmann. Mr. Spihlmann was a retired farmer. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during WWII. He was a member of St. Bernard Parish and Men’s Sodality in Albers, Clinton County Farm Bureau, a charter member of the American Legion Post 1026, and a lifetime member of Carlyle VFW Post 3523. A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Albers with Msgr. Donald Eichenseer officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Albers. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, 2007and from 9 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007 at Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston. Memorials may be made to St. Bernard Church or to the donor’s choice and will be received at the funeral home.