BTHS Class of 1961 Reunion

12/10/2024

Judith A. Knefelkamp

Judith A. Burton, nee Knefelkamp, was born in 1943 in Belleville, IL, and died August 19, 2024, in Clermont, FL. She was a five-time survivor of cancer. She was the daughter of Loraine Knefelkamp and Eva Mae, nee Chuidord-Knefelkamp.

She married Robert Burton in 1963, in St. Louis, Missouri. He died 19 months before Judy. They had three sons: David (Amanda) Burton, Robert (Melody) Burton, and Christopher (Donna) Burton, all of Clermont, FL.

Judy and Robert were cremated. Their ashes will be in Valhalla Garden of Memories, Belleville,

08/10/2024

Our Classmate, Bruce Kramlich.

View Bruce Kramlich's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

07/10/2024

June 9, 1943 - October 1, 2024

Kathleen, Georgia - Jerry Lee Dill, age 81, passed away peacefully at his home on October 1, 2024, in Kathleen, Georgia. Jerry was born on June 9, 1943, in Belleville, Illinois to Leroy and Anita Dill. Jerry is survived by his wife of 17 years, Susan Dill, and his two sons Michael (Jacksonville, FL) and Steven (St. Louis, MO). He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Maribeth Dill, and his five grandchildren, Marisa, Miley, Keegan, Mason, and Lanie Dill.

Jerry was a 1961 graduate of Belleville Township High School where he was a star pitcher. He continued his athletic career in college as a member of the Indiana University baseball team.

Throughout his professional career, Jerry held many positions, including CFO of Charter Oil Company (Jacksonville, FL), President of Riffe Petroleum Company (Tulsa, OK), owner of Rentaland, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL), and Regional Sales Manager at C.C. Dickson Company (Lawrenceville, GA), where he dedicated many years before his retirement. His work ethic and leadership left a lasting impact on those who worked alongside him.

His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, knowledge of baseball, and love for his family.

06/10/2024

Celebrate the life of Cheryl Stanger, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Lake View Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens.

29/09/2024

Robert A. Rae
1943 – 2024
Robert Allen Rea was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on March 5th, 1943. He was an only child and particularly close to his grandmother. He graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1961 in Belleville, Illinois.

Bob, as he was known, attended Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. Following college, he moved to East St Louis, Illinois. He was employed as a social worker and worked with children and families.

He was called to the priesthood and received his degree in Divinity from Harvard University on June 11, 1987. Bob received holy orders from the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston for the holy order of Deacon. Bob felt called to monastic life and entered the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA in May 1989. He was committed to a life of prayer, worship, and monastic tradition while critically engaged with contemporary culture. He eventually left the monastery and served in different capacities as a priest in North Bergen, NJ, Newark, NJ, San Francisco, and Durham, North Carolina.

Throughout his long life, Bob has always fought for the marginalized. He marched for Civil Rights in Selma, Alabama, and was a very early activist in the AIDS crisis. Before AIDS had a name, he labored with friends and clients stricken with this disease. He was often called to perform last rites at the bedside of those he served beside. He served as a social worker in different states at various points in his life.

He had friends around the world. One of his friends, who lives in Germany, will remember Bob as a “gentle rebel. He was too wise for his own good. He was eccentric and loved cats and cooking. He would devour books.”

His favorite job was Ask Jeeves- a popular website on the pre-Google internet. Launched in 1997, Bob was a ‘human editor’ and answered questions that were emailed to their site. Bob’s love of knowledge and books was an asset in this role!

After bouncing around from coast to coast, Bob settled in the Norcross Georgia area and found his home at Christ Church Episcopal in 2007. During his 17-year participation, Bob was a devotee of Wednesday morning Bible study led by The Rev. Ceci Duke. With his understanding of the Greek language and insights into multiple texts and languages, he brought a wealth of knowledge to the class. He also led Adult Formation classes on Sunday and assisted in church life. Bob participated in multiple Christ Church Players shows. He embraced reading William Blake’s poem, The Lamb, for seasonal events at Christ Church. Post-COVID, he loved to attend as a member of the pew.

Bob was intensely private. He was humble, endlessly curious, and completely nonjudgemental.

As his health began to fail, Bob knew he could count on his friends and family at Christ Church Episcopal. Even at the end, he was calmed by visitors who would pray at his bedside. Bob will be interned at Christ Church Episcopal in Norcross, Georgia surrounded by his friends at his earthly “home”.

15/09/2024

Yesterday was our 63rd Class Reunion for BTHS Class of 1961. Here is the link to our reunion on YouTube:

Our 63rd reunion of the high school class of 1961 from Belleville, Illinois. 63 of us gathered at Tim and Joe's Backroom, 6500 West Main St., Belleville, Il...

22/08/2024

Registration forms and checks have been trickling in for BTHS Class of 1961 reunion. Send your form and check today.

19/08/2024

We received word that our classmate, Nancy Jean, nee Harmann-Casey has died.
Nancy Jean, nee Harmann-Casey

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph F. Harmann and Florence H. Schanherr; her children, Robert S. Casey and Shawn W. Casey; and her siblings, Raymond Harmann, Joseph F. Harmann Jr. and Patricia Bach.
She is survived by her nephews, EJ Bach and William Bach; her children, Cheryl Casey and Charles F. Casey III (Barb); her grandchildren, Tara L. Perera, Jennifer Knutt (Jared), and Sean Jargon (Ananda Bennett); her great-grandchildren, Layla Perera and Orion Perera; and her siblings, Don Harmann and Sandy Coleman (Ron). Nieces, nephews, and friends also survive her.
She was actively involved in her community through the senior center and often donated to non-profit organizations.
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11/08/2024

We lost another classmate from the BTHS Class of 1961. Robert Thomas Peinetti, born December 5, 1943, died August 6, 2024. His parents, Wilmer Robert "Sam" Peinetti and Gertrude T. nee Walker preceded him in death.

Left to mourn are his friend, Brenda Nichols, and 2 sisters, Betty Jo (Larry R.) Grime and Jean Marie (Tom) Murawski.

Per his wishes he arranged to have his body donated to science at Washington University School of Medicine.

Bob served 4 years in the U. S. Navy. Thank you for your service to our country.

06/08/2024

The letters have been sent with the registration forms for the reunion. If you have not received a letter please get in touch with us at [email protected] or call 1-618-234-6090.

27/07/2024

Robert H. “Bob” Bittle
No photo

Robert H. Biddle, Sr., 77, of New Athens, IL, died Monday, May 4, 2020.
Per Bob’s wishes, his family will have a small private memorial.
Arrangements by George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL
Burial at Vallhalla Garden of Memories, Belleville, IL.