OBITUARIES

Jerry Mullaney 81 | Godfrey

June 2, 2023

arrangements by Monarch Crematory / Hutchens Funeral Homes

Jerry Allen Mullaney of Godfrey, IL eagerly served his family and God all the days of his life. Having received a direct word from the Lord that he was a “Green Miler” he immediately set about folding his tent and waiting for his escort into heaven. He left this realm the morning of Friday, June 2, 2023 fully anticipating being greeted by his daughter, Kate (19762015) and his son, Casey (1974-2017).

Born November 20, 1941 in Berwyn, IL to Frank and Mary Mullaney, Jerry learned lessons about being responsible and in charge as he was big brother to Mike Mullaney (Renee) of Cary, IL. Jerry also worked diligently for his children and grandchildren: Maureen M. Williams (Robert Lowell); Casey A. Mullaney; M. Kate Fisher; Jordan M. Mullaney; Curtis J. Mullaney; Mason H. Williams; Benjamin C. Fisher; and Keira E. Fisher. Known as an inveterate storyteller, Jerry drew from principles and life lessons that were formed through a variety of work opportunities from a young age. Perseverance, along with time-and-money management skills came during early morning newspaper deliveries; the skill of dapper dressing and wise business practices were learned while working at Beguns Clothing Store during and after high school; the rewards of understanding pecking order and promotion were learned while perfecting the skills of product destruction testing at Reliable Electric; and the labor intensive job at Howard Concrete taught him the benefits of a strong body and the business perks of being the best hod carrier around northern IL counties. Then came the shift to bettering himself through advanced education as he attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses. This brought the life lesson of humility while being poor and pumping gas between classes. College also brought him the lesson of being rich and favored as it is where

he met Diana, his wife of 58 years.

Finally came the freedom to be more of what he could be. Life’s work allowed his creative thinking to serve mankind through years of value-added engineering sales. At Illinois Tool Works he reveled in screws and fasteners that earned patents and are still used worldwide to save money and preserve the life of new or renovated buildings. Working with large wall system companies allowed his imagination to design and create ways to preserve beautiful old buildings. Always he demonstrated a way of thinking how to improve a product.

Jerry’s storytelling graced family dinners; fellowship with life-long friends and new acquaintances; Bible study ‘bristers’; fellow bowling team members; golfing buddies; and anyone he would meet and with whom he’d find a common spark of life.

In his later years, Jerry realized more than ever that Jesus purchased his life with a great price; and he began to understand the depth of his heavenly Father’s love from work lessons. Jerry worked at letting Holy Spirit help him become a “Pearl of Great Price.” He is appreciated and remembered as a faithful disciple and evangel of God’s story.

For those who want to honor Jerry’s life through a donation please consider his favorite sport of golf and its servant-leader position of Caddie. The discipline and protocol of the game, plus exposure to the colorful life experiences of the golfers he served, became fodder for many of Jerry’s life skills and stories. The three-week, summer Junior Golf Camp at Rolling Hills Golf Course can help young people learn important life lessons. Send donations to the attention of Rick Martin, Gen’l Mgr. - Rolling Hills Golf Course, 5801 Pierce Lane, Godfrey, IL 62035.

Fellow sojourners are welcome to honor Jerry’s life at a memorial party held at 1 pm on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Godfrey Village Hall.

Larry Spain 92 | Godfrey

June 14, 2023

arrangements by Gent Funeral Home

Larry T. Spain, 92, died at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Alton Memorial Hospital. Born February 22, 1931 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he was the son of James M. and Margaret (Larson) Spain.

Larry graduated from the University of Iowa and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey and was a longtime, proud member of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club. Larry enjoyed reading, golfing (hole in one in Destin, FL) playing bridge, watching all sports especially the St. Louis Cardinals, cheering on his Iowa Hawkeyes, traveling with Shirley, and attending his grandchildren’s events. He retired as regional manager for Illinois Bell/ AT&T. On June 9, 1956, he married the former Shirley J. Janssen in Iowa City, Iowa. She preceded him in death on October 10, 2019. Surviving are two sons, Jim Spain (Nancy

Simpson) of Alton, and Tom Spain (Erin) of Godfrey, five grandchildren, Sarah Hansen (Jarrett), Liz Morelli (Dan), Patrick Spain, Claire Spain, and Jack Spain, and one great-grandson, Kane Morelli. Also surviving is a sister, Marianne Kratovil of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Along with his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Michael J. Spain and a sister, Karen Tiernan.

Visitation was held Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. A Mass of Christian burial was held Friday, June 23, 2023, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey. Father Steve Janoski officiated. Burial was at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey. Memorials may be made to St. Ambrose Catholic Church or Marquette Catholic High School. Online guestbook and information may be found at gentfuneralhome.com.

Michael Munoz

68 | Mascoutah

May 29, 2023

arrangements by Wolfersberger Funeral Home

Michael A. Munoz, age 68, of Mascoutah, born July 8, 1954 in Granite City, Ill., passed away Monday night, May 29, 2023 at his home, with his family at his side.

Michael grew up in Granite City, and had a long career with General Motors, retiring in 2020. He enjoyed playing the guitar, visiting Branson, and fishing at Nashville City Lake. He especially loved spending time with his kids and grandkids. Michael attended Calvary Church in O’Fallon.

Survivors include his wife Sharon “Kaye” Munoz, nee Gosha; daughter Jennifer (Timothy) Stone; son Michael A. (Vickie) Munoz, Jr., granddaughters McKayla and Bethany Stone; sisters Karen Glosick and Cathy Miller; brothers Alfonso

(Joyce) Munoz, Jr., and David (Kathy) Munoz; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alfonso and Esther, nee Sullivan, Munoz. The online guestbook is available at www.wfhofallon.com.

Visitation was held Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Funeral service was held Monday, June 5, 2023 at Calvary Church, 613 S. Walnut St., O’Fallon, Ill., with Pastor Chad Townsley officiating. Burial followed at St. John’s Cemetery, Collinsville, Ill.

Billie Seaton

88 | Wood River

May 27, 2023

arrangements by Marks Mortuary

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, Billie “Bill” Dean Seaton, of Wood River, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 88 at Cedarhurst of Bethalto. He was born on November 30, 1934 in Ottawa, Kansas, the son of Alice Gibbons and Lloyd Seaton and married Marguerite “Margaret”

Szoke on May 16, 1959 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Wood River, Illinois.

Bill served active duty with the United States Air Force for 32 years and lived and served throughout the world with his family. He was an aeronautical information specialist, serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars where he earned a Bronze Star for heroic achievement. He also retired from the United States Department of Defense Mapping Agency. He was a graduate of Petaluma, California High School and Columbia College.

Bill loved the military and enlisted as a teenager. He retired from the military in 1984 as a Senior Master Sergeant at Rhein Main Air Force Base, Germany after overseeing operations of military and civilian aircraft at this busy base. He loved his family and grandkids and was humorous and a joy

to everyone he was around. Along with his wife, Margaret, he is survived by three daughters and a son, Mary Robinson of Wood River, William (Mary Beth) Seaton of Chesterfield, Missouri, Katherine (Scott) Smith of Godfrey, Illinois, and Leslie (James) Grussing of Wood River; eleven grandchildren, Jill (Caleb) Grenzebach, Paige (David) Ballard, Trey Stille, Madeleine (Andrew) Seaton, Marguerite Seaton, Marigrace Seaton, Martha Seaton, Abigail Smith, Annabelle Smith, Alex Grussing and Jonah Grussing, three great grandchildren, and a twin brother Bobbie D. Seaton of Laguna Beach, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Jacqueline, and a grandson, Nathan Grussing. Visitation was held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at First Christian Church of Wood River, 160 E. Lorena Ave., Wood River. Pastor Walter McCaslin officiated with burial following at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto, Illinois.

Arrangements with online information and guestbook through Marks Mortuary may be found at marksmortuary.com.