Linda Lou Girtman “Toms”, 61, of Sesser Illinois, formerly a lifelong resident of Benton Illinois, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday March 21, 2022 after a courageous two year battle of breast cancer in the presence of love surrounded by her family.

She was born January 7, 1961 to James and Lula Toms in Benton Illinois. She married the love of her life and best friend, Marshall Girtman on August 20, 1983.

Linda was a devoted and loving wife, Mother and Mema. She was happiest when she was surrounded by her family. In her free time, she enjoyed Harley rides and spending time with her friends. She was so easy to love and be loved by.

She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Marshall Girtman, her daughter Melinda (Derek) Flatt, her son Steven (Katlyn) Girtman, her son Marshall Girtman Jr., her mother Lula Toms, her seven grandchildren Emily Cardwell, Hannah Cardwell, Kaisley Girtman, Mia Girtman, Kristen Girtman, Sarah Girtman, and Ben Girtman; her three brothers John (Brenda) Toms, Jim (Jane) Toms, Larry (Terry) Toms and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father James Toms Sr., her sister Terry Schultz, her nephew Loren Toms, and her granddaughter Gretchen Cardwell.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery in Logan, Illinois. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Thursday at the funeral home.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Gordon Lee Carpenter, Jr., 80, of Ewing passed away Friday Evening, March 18, 2022 at his home in Ewing.

Gordon was born in Maysville, Kentucky in October 1941. He grew up on a family farm where he found his passion for rocks and geology. He was in band, 4H, loved shooting marbles and found a love for reading that continued his entire life. He was given the nickname “Jeep” as he would walk, crawl and climb over everything on that farm; similarly to how the Willis Jeep performed in WWII.

He attended University of Kentucky “Wildcats” for geology and later finished at Western Kentucky University. He has had a lifelong love of watching UK basketball. He loved telling the story of when he marched in JFK’s inauguration parade for UK playing the tuba.
He met and married Carolyn Hall at UK and had a son; Gordon L. Carpenter III “Lee”

Gordon came to southern Illinois in the late 1960’s following his passion of working as a Petroluem Geologist in the oil patch. He had two kids with Derry Burns Carpenter; William “Bill” Carpenter and Elizabeth Carpenter.

Later in life Gordon met Sherry Hill and had one son; Christopher Carpenter; where he later moved to Ewing in the late 1980’s.
He has lead generations of kids in this world with his involvement in various roles at Ewing Grade School over the last 30 years. First as a maintenance man / janitor. Later as a bus driver; this was his true passion later in life and loved taking kids on the Springfield trip every year. More recently he has enjoyed being the crossing guard and greeting everyone with a smile and twinkle in his eye.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Marietta Rosser Carpenter and Gordon Lee Carpenter Sr both of Maysville, Kentucky.

He is survived by his significant other Sherry Webb of Ewing. Four children: “Lee” Carpenter (Alice) of Lexington, KY; William “Bill” Carpenter (Jennifer) of St Louis, Missouri; Elizabeth Carpenter (Dan Feigert) of Charlottesville, Virginia; and Chris Carpenter of Ewing, Illinois. Five grandchildren: Stephanie, Marietta, Posey, Victoria and Scout.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 26th at the Whittington Church. Graveside services will follow at Thurmond

Cemetery North East of Ewing. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00P.M. on Saturday at the church. There will be a Celebration of Life Potluck immediately following the conclusion of graveside services at Ewing First Baptist Church.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com

James Earl “Crow” Odle, age 83, of Benton, passed away at 3:50 p.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at his home.
His wishes are to be cremated.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton, with Pastor Ronny Shelton officiating. Burial will follow in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Leffler Funeral Home.

James was born on September 9, 1938 in Benton, IL; the son of Charles Odle and Mary (Vandom) Odle.
He was a retired over the road sales and delivery driver, and he was a tomato farmer.
James enjoyed fishing, gardening, dancing, listening to music, playing cards, and working on cars. He was known throughout Benton for his tomatoes, and his tomato stand at his home.

Jim wanted it to be known that he loved his family more than anything.

Surviving is his loving daughter Penny Conner of Sesser, IL; two grandchildren: Amber Odle and Cheyenne Conner; five great-grandchildren: Aleigha Bunnell, Zander Bunnell, Shelby Bunnell, Alyssa Bunell, Levi Isaacs; two step-children: Curtis Aldridge of Dayton, Ohio, Patty Seibert of Sesser, IL; special niece: Crystal Odle; several other nieces and nephews; and special friends Bob Brown and Fred West.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Ed and a sister Louise.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of James, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Bennie Kasky, 100, of Benton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna, IL.

He was born on October 15, 1921, to Charley and Anna (Jeromin) Kasky in Bone Yard woods in Benton, IL. He was of the Catholic faith.

Bennie started off at an early age at Jefferson Barracks at the Citizens Military Training Camp and later in the CCC’s. He was a fireman on his first ship and later worked as an engineer on board on various ships carrying supplies all the way through and after World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was a world traveler in the Merchant Marines via the Seafarers International Union and received an honorable military discharge from the United States Coast Guard on 20 January, 1943.His interests included walking, fishing, bingo and visiting The Benton Fraternal Order of Eagles, as a Golden Age Eagle member and a member of the Benton American Legion. He was very independent, enjoyed a good time and was a pretty good fighter to boot.

Bennie is survived by his nephew and niece, John F. and wife, Pam F. Kasky of Murphysboro, IL; great-nephews, Michael Kasky and Major David Kasky, USAF; nieces, Phyllis Kirt and Lillian (Kirt) Gorgan; great-nieces, Deborah (Gorgan) Bernardi, Maureen (Gorgan) Scariot and Kathy Gorgan and great-nephews, Joseph Gorgan and Robert Gorgan.
He was preceded in death his parents, Charley and Anna Kasky and his siblings, John, Katherine, Marie, Carl, Stanley, Mike, Louie and Andy.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 South Main Street, Benton, IL.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, in Benton, IL, with Father Urban Osuji, officiating. Military rites will be performed by the Benton American Legion Post 280, VFW Post 2671 and the United States Navy Honors Team.

Above all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff for their incredible care of Uncle Bennie at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. God bless all of you. — John Kasky

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Jerry Fraulini, 85, of Benton passed away Tuesday evening, March 15, 2022 at his home.

He was born in Benton, IL on March 24, 1936, the son of Joe & Mary (Cleveland) Fraulini.

He married Gloria (Coolock) on July 8, 1961.

Mr. Fraulini served in the U.S. Navy. He worked Mine construction, then was Maintenance Engineer at Inland Steel and then for Consol. He loved to hunt and fish and go to the Plaza restaurant. He enjoyed his family, his cows, and working on his family farm.

Mr. Fraulini is survived by his:
Wife: Gloria Fraulini of Benton
3 Children:
Lisa Sauerhage & husband Harry of Benton
Jerri Hethmon of Benton
Mike Fraulini & wife Shelly of Iowa
5 Grandchildren:
James Hethmon & wife Sarah
Michael Fraulini
Ryan Fraulini & wife Rachel
Ryan Sauerhage & wife Brandi
Whitney Sauerhage & Mark Kovach
Jessica McConnell
GreatGrandchildren:
Easton & Paisley Fraulini
Brantlee & Hadley Sauerhage
Carter Williams
Brother: Gene Fraulini of Massachusetts
Nephews:
Gene Fraulini & wife Tia & family
Wayne Fraulini & wife Rose & family
Cheryl Fraulini-Bellante & husband Joe & family

Mr. Fraulini was preceded in death by his Parents & by his sister-in-law: Marilyn Fraulini.
Graveside services for family and friends will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. (Block P, the southeast corner of the cemetery.)

Military Rites will be conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts. A celebration of life dinner will be held immediately following the service at the Gwen Wynn Senior Center at 104 North 10th St. in Benton for family and friends.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Susan Mary Fowler, 73, of Benton, passed away at 10:36 p.m., on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

She was born in November of 1948, to Carl and Emma (Jueger) Bredenberg in Buffalo, NY. Susan worked as a paramedic for 27 years and more recently as a sales consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Susan married Albert Fowler in the spring of 2001.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Susan loved to travel and spend time with family. She was the life of the party and always made the most of every situation. Susan loved Winnie the pooh and Tigger too! She recently became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Benton Illinois.

Susan is survived by her loving spouse, Albert, a daughter, Shelley (Tim) Keys of Dale City, VA; four sons, Dennis Flynn of Glendale, AZ, Robert Flynn of Glendale, AZ, Tony Fowler of Benton and Jeremy (Amanda) Flynn of Carterville; 13 grandchildren, Aidan, Dricana, Skye, Nevaeh, Shelbi, Easton, Payton, Mark, Nikki (Tom), Jackie and Logon; three great-grandchildren, Ember, Charlotte and Mary Ann; and one brother, Carl Bredenburg of Mt. Pleasant, SC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Emma Bredenberg and her great-granddaughter, Audrey Whitton.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Per Susan’s wishes, cremation will take place.

A memorial gathering for Susan will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Benton American Legion & VFW Post, 311 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.patefh.com