Toennies, Joseph

Joseph R. "Joe" Toennies, 66, of Breese, died Friday, January 16, 2009 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born January 1, 1943 in Damiansville, son of Joseph and Margaret A. (Santel) Toennies. He married Jane Berndsen February 19, 1966 in Breese and she survives in Breese. In addition to his wife he is survived by a son, Keith (Laura) Toennies, a daughter-in-law, Lauri (Kyle) Brueggemann all of Breese; six grandchildren, Alyson Toennies, Zachary Toennies, Madison Toennies, Grant Toennies, Mason Toennies, and Zander Brueggemann; brothers & sisters, Alvin (Rita) Toennies and Bernice "Bim" (Franklin) Fuehne all of Damiansville, Marie (Greg) Niemeyer of Breese, Walter (Julie) Toennies of New Baden, Gerald (Sharon) Toennies of Waterloo, Janet (Tom) Eversgerd of Germantown, and Germaine (Herb) Schulte of Trenton; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Henry F. (special friend, Mary K.) Albers, Jr. of Damiansville, Bernette Toennies of Germantown, Bob and Mary Berndsen, Tom and Phyllis Berndsen, Kathy Arnett all of Breese, Rita and Dan Niemeyer of Boulder, CO and Norma and Carson Hempen of New Baden. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Kurt Toennies; two brothers, Norman Toennies and Cletus Toennies; two sisters, Lou Albers and Emma Toennies; a brother-in-law, David Arnett and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert "Beans" and Sophie Berndsen. Joe was a car salesman for Wiegman Ford in Carlyle. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, a member of St. Dominic Parish and a former member of the American Legion Post 252 in Breese. A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Rev. Pat Peter officiating. Interment will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 19, 2009 and from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Clinton County Relay For Life, St. Dominic Parish or All Saints Academy and will be received at the funeral home.