Obituaries Published Oct. 17 California Democrat

HALL

Ruth Hall, 81, of California, Mo., passed away on

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Tampa Bay's Akinori Iwamura slides past Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski to score on a sacrifice fly in the Rays' three-run third inning.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at Tipton Oak Manor.

She was born on March 11, 1931 in Shawnee, Kan., the daughter of Otis and Ruby (Magines) Sanders, both of whom preceded her in death. She was married on October 6, 1951, in Clarksburg, Mo., to Marvin Hall who preceded her in death on January 14, 1999.

Ruth worked as a nursing tech from 1967 until retirement at Capital Region Medical Center. She was also a telephone operator in Elston, worked at the Dime Store in Jefferson City, Dept. of Revenue and worked as a volunteer EMT at Mid-Mo Ambulance when it first started. She was a member of the Lebanon Baptist Church. Ruth enjoyed traveling, Bluegrass festivals, fishing, hunting, watching Cardinals baseball, and sewing. She graduated from Centertown High School in 1949.

She is survived by one son Jerry Hall and wife Anna of Centertown; five daughters, Janice Faulconer of Jefferson City, Jean Campbell and husband Terry of California, Judy Baker and husband Kent of Jefferson City, Joyce Meyer and husband Paul of Tipton, and Julie Walters and husband Steve of California; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by one son Johnnie Hall, July 13, 1974, and one brother Freddie Sanders, August 12, 2004.

Funeral Services were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 15, 2012, at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services. Burial was at the High Point Cemetery. Officiating was Pastor Jeremy Bernard.

Memorials are suggested to the Lebanon Baptist Church, c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 S. Oak St., California, MO 65018.

Arrangements were under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo.

KREWENKA

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The audience at a hearing Thursday at the Department of Human Services on a rule barring unmarried cohabiting couples from being foster parents heard 20 speakers.

Mathias Krewenka, age 83, passed away Friday, October 12, 2012 at his home in California.

He was born August 23, 1929, in Miletitsch, Yugoslavia, son of Johan and Katharina (Lennert) Krewenka.

As a 16-year-old boy in southern Austria, during WWII he was living at a school for boys. Having no idea where his family was, and only the clothes on his back and a worn out pair of shoes he solved his problem by finding scraps of material and made himself a pair of shoes. This bit of ingenuity is what eventually led him to California, Missouri, as the new designer for the California Mfg. Company. Matt's story is much like those that came out of Europe during the war. Being born in Yugoslavia, his father was German and his mother an American from Philadelphia. They met while she was attending school in Europe and the family was living in Yugoslavia when the war broke out. Because they were of German descent, everything they owned was confiscated and they were forced to leave the country. Matt was put in school, his father went into service, and the rest of the family eventually ended up in northern Germany.

Explaining further about the shoes, Mr. Krewanka said, "All I had to wear in school were two shirts, a pair of pants, two changes of underwear and socks and a ski suit and that one pair of shoes. To save our shoes, we went bare-foot in the snow but no one ever got sick, it was like God was watching over us. The shoes I made were a big hit with the rest of the boys so they all wanted a pair like them. There was a girl's school nearby and they asked for some also."

When Matt finally was reunited with the family he learned his father had been killed during the war. At that time he was not sure what the future would bring so he attended custom tailoring school in northern Germany for a year, then at age of 19 the family moved to New Jersey.

He was in New York for a time designing and making costumes for dancing schools and masked parties. He also worked in the costume design department for the Metropolitan Opera Company and while in the East belonged to several little theater groups.

The first big clothing company he worked for was Forstmann Woolens in New Jersey. In 1960 he became assistant designer for Target Sportswear in Pennsylvania, a company that manufactures the same type outerwear as the company here. In order to advance in his profession, Mr. Krewenka joined Pilgrim Sportswear as a designer of children's clothing and was department manager.

"I enjoyed my work then very much," he said, "but I wanted to go with a bigger company so I placed an advertisement in a trade magazine. The California Mfg. Company had this opening in California, Mo., so they contacted me. I went to St. Louis to confer with the officials and there I was."

He loved the people of California, Missouri, living in the Midwest and never regretted it.

Matt is survived by his wife, Catherine "Kay" Krewenka of the home; a daughter, Monica Owens of Jamestown; a brother Erich Krewenka of Fort Pierce, Florida; two sisters Katharena Swentzel of Fort Pierce, Florida, and Hildegard Schimpf of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey; and two grandchildren Haily Owens and Austin Owens.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date.

Donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Hospice Compassus.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rollfuneralhome.com

ROBERTS

Mrs. Joyce Elaine Wolf Roberts, 47, California, died Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at her home.

She was born Jan. 2, 1965, in Jefferson City, a daughter of Earl and Ethel Luebbering Wolf. On May 22, 2004, she married Ricky Roberts in California. He survives of the home.

Mrs. Roberts attended St. Andrew School and graduated from Tipton High School in 1983. She was employed at Burgers' Smokehouse in California for 21 years. She loved riding the motorcycle with her husband, and going on walks with her daughter, grandson and the dogs. She attended Annunciation Catholic Church at California.

Also surviving are three daughters, Megan Allen, Ashland, Ashley Baker with her husband, Jon, and Devan Roberts, all of California; two brothers, Harold Wolf with his wife, Teresa, and Russell Wolf with his wife, Stacey, all of Tipton; three sisters, Judy Sommerer with her husband, Pete, Clarksburg, Delores Jaco with her husband, Corinthian, Marshall, and Marlene Wolf, Tipton; and one grandson, Dalton Roberts. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Angela Wolf, and one brother, Ronnie Wolf.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Father David Maher officiating. Burial was in St. Andrew's Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society.

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Wendy Lyon and Nicole Guidry

STROBEL - Veteran

Hilbert Louis Strobel, 77, of Centertown, Mo., passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at Heisinger Bluffs in Jefferson City, Mo.

He was born on December 19, 1934, in McGirk, Mo., the son of George William "Bill" and Edith (Boeckhaus), both of whom preceded him in death. He was married on June 2, 1963 at Jefferson City, Mo., to Wanda (Blumhost), who survives at the home.

Hilbert was a 1954 graduate of California High School. He was a member of the Missouri National Guard from 1953-1984, retiring as a Master Sergeant. He was employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation (District 5) from 1955-1994 serving in Survey and Plans, retiring as an Instrument Man. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in California, Mo., where he had served as an elder, church usher, assistant Sunday school superintendent, and on the Board of Stewardship.

He is survived by one daughter, Sylvia and husband Walter Lehmann of Baltimore, Md.; one son, John Strobel of Jefferson City; five grandchildren, Emelia and Webster Lehmann, Baltimore, Md., Ciera, Heidi and Gabriel Strobel of Jefferson City; a twin brother, Herbert and wife JoAnn Strobel, Centertown; two sisters, Nola and husband Raymond Fischer of Russellville, and Joyce and husband Lashley Rohrbach of Jamestown; and one aunt, Milda Hagemeyer of California. He is also preceded in death by one daughter, Debra Leann Strobel, September 3, 1977, and one son, Christopher Louis Strobel, October 7, 1985.

Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 13, 2012 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, California, Mo. Burial was at the Immanuel Lutheran Evangelical Cemetery in Centertown, Mo., at a later date. Officiating was Rev. Dr. Peter Kurowski.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Radio Ministry, Calvary Lutheran High School, Jefferson City, or Hospice Compassus c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 S. Oak St., California, MO 65018.

Arrangements were under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo.

WARD

Sen. Petricia S. Ward, 55, lost her three-year battle with breast cancer Monday in Des Moines, Iowa.

A native of Clinton, Mo., Pat graduated from California High School in '75. Her sister Peggy Bolinger and brother Sean Sperry of California survive her.

Pat was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and dog-owner.

She is survived by her husband, John Ward of West Des Moines, Iowa; her daughter Chelsea Reynolds of Minneapolis; her son, Ethan Reynolds of Saint Augustine, Fla.; her step-daughter, Wendy Ward of Wichita, Kansas; her-step-son, Tom Ward of Denver, and her dogs, Riley and Sadie.

She is also survived by her father, Tom Sperry of Clinton, Mo., and many nieces and nephews in central Missouri. Pat was preceded in death by her mother, Wilma Sperry of Clinton, Mo., and her sister, Carol Hartley of California.

Pat was a proud member of the Iowa State Senate and Iowa Republican Party, where she represented Senate District 30 and served on the labor and business relations, commerce, economic growth, and judiciary committees. She was also a candidate for election this fall to Senate District 22.

Pat was known for her exuberant, take-charge attitude. She was a natural leader whose charisma and empathy warmed those who knew her. She believed in the power and goodness of people, and she exercised her faith by attending services at Plymouth Congregational Church and Lutheran Church of Hope in Des Moines, Iowa.

Her family would like to thank the team at Iowa Methodist Hospital's John Stoddard Adult Oncology Unit, who helped Pat to feel safe and comfortable in her last days. Although she fought her cancer with faith and strong will, Pat assured her family and friends that she was ready to be with God.

Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Stoddard Cancer Center.

ZIMMERMAN

Mae Roselee "Rody" Zimmerman, 85, of Columbia, Mo., passed away on Friday, October 12, 2012 at Boone Hospital.

She was born on May 14, 1927, in Russellville, Mo., the daughter of George Henry and Clara Beatrice (Blythe) Zimmerman, both of whom preceded her in death.

Mae worked as a pattern girl at Florsheim Shoe Factory in Mexico, Mo. She enjoyed babysitting and she loved to help and take care of others. Later in life she loved bluegrass shows. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Marion, Mo. Mae was an eighth grade graduate of Marion School.

She is survived by one brother, Franklin Zimmerman of Jefferson City; five sisters, Reta Vern Johnson of Centertown, Phyllis Bieri of California, Darline Tucker of Columbia, Minnie Blochberger of Tipton, and Patsy Cox of Jefferson City; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by Mary Lou Zimmerman, Charles Zimmerman, Dixie Hossman, and John Henry Zimmerman.

Funeral Services were held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2012, at Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services. Burial was at the New Hope Cemetery. Officiating was Mr. Jack Bowlin.

Memorials are suggested to the New Hope Cemetery Association, c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 S. Oak St., California, MO 65018.

Arrangements were under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo.