Hodel, Edward

Edward W. Hodel, 85, of New Baden, died Saturday, October 28, 2006 at Clinton Manor Living Center in New Baden. He was born April 13, 1921 in Mascoutah, son of William F. and Kate (Kehrer) Hodel, Sr. He married Rita Ann Maguire on September 13, 1944 in Holliston, MA and she preceded him in death on October 19, 1972. He married Loretta A. Schomaker on January 3, 1977 in New Baden and she preceded him in death on February 10, 1999. He is survived by four daughters, Sister Mary Hodel SSND of New Baden, Deborah Hodel of Trinidad, CO, Pamela Hodel of San Francisco, CA and Margaret "Peggy" Hodel of New Baden; four grandchildren, Sasha Saibi, Eric Saibi and wife Jennifer, Abram Nichols and wife Julie and Nicole Cosper and husband Nathan; two great grandchildren, Caitlin Nichols and Amelia Cosper; two sisters, Antoinette Bollinger of New Baden and Dorothy Friederich of Okawville and special friend, Marie Davis of Breese. In addition to his parents and his wives, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Hodel and three brothers, Robert Hodel, Elton Hodel and William F. Hodel, Jr. Mr. Hodel was a retired farmer. He attended Richter School in Mascoutah Twp. and studied agriculture at Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in WWII. He was wounded in the Rhineland Campaign while serving under General George Patton and spent one and a half years recuperating from his wounds. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He was a member of St. George Parish, a lifetime member, former board member and former 2nd vice commander of the American Legion Post 321 and also helped to build the New Baden American Legion building. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans in Belleville, St. Clair County Farm Bureau, Belleville Area Ostomy Association, was a former leader of the St. Clair County 4H Club and a former superintendent of the St. Clair County Fair Association. A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden with Rev. Eugene Neff officiating. Interment will follow with full military honors at Green Mount Cemetery in Belleville. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, October 30, 2006 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m. and the American Legion will visit at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Belleville Area Ostomy Association c/o St. Elizabeth Hospital, 211 S. Third St. Belleville, IL 62222 or School Sisters of Notre Dame 320 E. Ripa, St. Louis, MO 63125 or the memorials will be received at the funeral home.