Wallace Kohlfeld

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- Wallace F. "Wally" Kohlfeld, 86, of Murphysboro, passed away at 10:35 a.m. Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Helia Healthcare in Energy, Ill.

His body will be cremated.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Church in Murphysboro, with the Rev. Leo Hayes officiating. Burial will be in St. Andrew Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday and until the hour of service Friday morning at Pettett Funeral Home, where a rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Wallace was born Oct. 4, 1920, at Apple Creek, Mo., to Carl and Dora Trapp Kohlfeld.

Mr. Kohlfeld retired from the CIPS power plant in Grand Tower, Ill., where he worked as a welder. He had also worked as a welder after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Wally was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus in Murphysboro, and Operating Engineers Union Local 148.

He married Wiltrudis M. "Trudy" Balsman July 30, 1946, at Apple Creek. She preceded him in death June 17, 1996.

Mr. Kohlfeld is survived by two sons and their wives, Larry and Karen Kohlfeld of Apple Creek, Jim and Carol Kohlfeld of Edwardsville, Ill.; two daughters and their husbands, Joyce and Tom Cottonaro of Murphysboro, Sharon and David Trout of Evansville, Ind.; 11 grandchildren, Travis King, Heather Richey, Jeremiah Kohlfeld, Andrea Ponder, Karry Brim, Jake Trout, Hannah Trout, Rebekkah Trout, Valerie Kohlfeld, Natalie Kohlfeld and Dylan Kohlfeld.

Also three stepgrandchildren, Christie Schuessler, Jennifer Aljets, and Mark Aljets; 12 great-grandchildren, Keianna King, Jace King, Riley King, Landon King, Logan Dallape, Dawson Dallape, Zach Brim, Lawson Brim, Alexandrea Ponder, Adilynn Ponder, Mallory Kohlfeld and Alana Murphy; three great-stepgrandchildren, Ryann Schuessler, Caden Schuessler and Benjamin Aljets; two brothers, Leo Kohlfeld of Cape Girardeau, Charlie Kohlfeld of St. Louis; a sister, Theresa Balsman of Perryville, Mo.; and his mother-in-law, Gertrude Balsman of Uniontown, Mo.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Edgar and Joe Kohlfeld; two sisters, Marie Myer and Bernice Bruening; and his parents.