Maeystown Celebrates Fat Tuesday
St. John UCC of Maeystown is getting ready for their 30th annual Fastnacht. The traditional German Fat Tuesday gathering features an all-you-can-eat sausage and pancake supper. This year’s event is on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the church’s community hall. Food will be served from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Also on the  family style menu are applesauce and doughnuts. Musical entertainment will be provided by the New Hanover Deutschmeisters.

The cost for the evening is $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 eat free.

Fastnacht, among German people, is the festive celebration on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. In Maeystown and surrounding areas, Fastnacht was observed by the German immigrants and their descendants for many years. In the rural areas there were house parties with dancing and feasting. In town the children went "grebbeling." Masked and in costume, each child carried a bag and went from house to house asking for doughnuts. The dances in homes began to dwindle in the late 1930s and ended entirely during World War II, but grebbeling continued into the 1960s.        

In 1979 St. John UCC revived the Fastnacht celebration with a sausage and pancake supper. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the event. Other upcoming Maeystown events include the Spring Art Show, March 8 and 9; Fruehlingsfest (antique and garden show), May 4;  and the Maeystown Homecoming, May 23 and 24.

Kenny Kettler is recovering from a heart condition suffered this morning. His brother-in-law Tom Vogt said he had a stint put in and he is hoping for a quick recovery. Kettler’s co-workers at the State Driver’s License facility in Waterloo wish him a speedy recovery.

Monroe Actors Stage Company’s next performance is “Ghost of a Chance.” It will run Feb. 8, 9 and 10 and Feb. 15, 16 and 17.

Rich Fisher is heading home today after recuperating from an illness.

Howard Schmidt named the Kaskaskia Trail Chorus’ Barbershopper of the Year during the singer group’s recent Christmas party.

Calendar of Events
Saturday
Rock band Breach of Peace at Bobeck’s
Columbia Boosters Dance at Turner Hall with That 80’s Band

Sunday
Meat shoot at Waterloo Sportsman’s Club

Recent Obituaries
Charles Schrader, 86, of Ruma, died  Jan. 14, at Red Bud Nursing Home. He married Aldina Dettmer in 1946. She died in 2000. After serving in the Air Force during World War II, he was a farmer and a mechanic at Salger Bros. Equipment in Red Bud. Mr. Schrader was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church of Ruma’s Men’s Club. Survivors include children Rev. Darwin (Karen) Schrader, Darrell (Margarette) Schrader, Dwain (Laurie) Schrader and Diane Schrader; grandchildren Timothy Schrader and Daniel Schrader. He was preceded in death by brothers Henry and Paul Schrader. Welge – Pechacek Funeral Home handled the arrangements. A funeral was held Friday morning at St. John Lutheran Church in Ruma. He was buried at the church’s cemetery. Memorials may be made to COSLHS or to the church.

Janet Bielefeld Caruso, 64, of St. Louis, died Jan. 16 in Fenton, Mo. She was born Aug. 22, 1943, in Red Bud, the daughter of the late Wilfred and Lucille (nee Auer) Bielefeld. She had worked for United Health Care. Survivors include daughter, Michele (Tom) Alder; grandsons Brett and Joshua Alder; brother, Robert (Mary Lou) Bielefeld; and sisters Marlene Rall and Carol (Roger) Hess. She was preceded in death by a son, Mark Caruso. Visitation is Saturday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. to noon, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma. A funeral will follow. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Beatrice Gunter “Bea” Hooks, 87, of Dupo died Jan. 17, at Memorial Hospital in Bellville. She was preceded in death by a son, Wendell Barry Hooks; and sisters Georgia Hirsch and Ruth Gunter. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Wendell Hooks; and brother, Earl Gunter. Memorials may be made the Bea Hooks. Visitation is Friday, Jan. 18, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Dupo. Funeral is Jan. 19, 10 a.m., at the church. She will be buried at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville. Memorial Fund at Regions Bank in Dupo.

Mariann Tojo, 74, of Columbia, died Jan. 18, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. She was born March 18, 1933, in East St. Louis, the daughter of the late Jerome and Leona nee Dumbeck Zittel. She was a retired secretary for Buxton and Skinner Printing Co. Survivors include a son, Tom (Julene) Tojo of Ellisville, Mo., and a daughter, Tina Swain of Columbia; grandchildren Jordan and Jenna Tojo and B.J. Swain of Highland. Visitation is Monday, Jan. 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral is Tuesday, Jan, 22, 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception School Education Fund.

Josephine A. Raney, 84, of Effingham, died Jan 12, 2008, in St. Louis. She was born Feb. 16, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Vazzana Scialabba. She married the late Donald Raney in 1953; he preceded her in death in 2001. Mrs. Raney is survived by her D. Raymond (Mary) Raney of Edwardsville, Dr. Stephen (Joan) Raney of Columbia, and Frank (Janet) Raney of Plainfield, and Maria (Pat) Dust of Mattoon; and grandchildren Valerie Raney, John Dust, Mary Jo Raney, Stephanie Raney, Michelle Raney, Mark Raney and Marianne Dust. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Marie, brothers-in-law James Raney and Eugene Raney, and sister-in-law Marilyn Raney. Mrs. Raney was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with degrees in mathematics and chemistry. She worked at the Mellon Institute before moving to Effingham. She later obtained her teaching degree from Eastern Illinois University and taught mathematics at Central School in Effingham for many years before retiring in 1986. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a fabulous cook, an excellent teacher, and a dear friend to many. Her visitation was at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. A funeral Mass was at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. She is buried at St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Anthony schools.