Victor E. "Vic" Billhartz, 96, of New Baden, IL, died Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at Clinton Manor Living Center, New Baden, IL. He was born on July 16, 1909 in Lookingglass Twp., IL son of William & Louise (Rickher) Billhartz. He married Loretta Schoendienst on October 20, 1937 in Damiansville, IL and she preceded him in death on April 30, 2005. Surviving are his children, Arnold "Roscoe" (Nancy) Billhartz of Trenton, IL, Elaine (Charles) Reiniger of Staunton, IL, Alice (Melvin) Toennies of Damiansville, IL, Victor "Vic" Jr. (Martha "Marti") Billhartz of Bowling Green, KY, Loretta Bair of New Baden, IL, Virginia "Ginny" (Tom) Oyen of Bellingham, WA, and Teresa "Terri" (Barry) Gross of Corpus Christi, TX; 21 Grandchildren, Karin Jansen, Kathy (fiance Roger Mouser)Billhartz, Kristine (Marty) Tebbe, Aimee (Jeff) Moynihan, Christopher (Michelle) Foppe, Marc Foppe, Tim (Melissa) Toennies, Andy Toennies and fiancée, Lisa, Jean (Tom) Docter, JoLynn (John)Wieter, Terese Toennies, Nicole (Mike) Koger, Eric (Janie) Billhartz, Carrie Billhartz, Linda Bair Flowers & fiancée Shawn, Patrick (Joni Sue) Bair, Brenda (Tony) Koverman, Johnny Bair, Jamie Dumstorff, Jessie Dumstorff and Seth Renspurger; Four Step-Grandchildren, Kimberly (Skip) Sprung, Karen (Todd) Badgley, Susan (Clark) Meadows & David Reiniger; 28 Great-Grandchildren, Megan, Allison, Haley, Abigail, Chase, Nicholas, Patrick, Christopher, Evan, Drew, Alayna, Jacob, Zachary, Joseph, Mason, Tyler, Shelby, Jacob, Colton, Colleen, Christopher, Brandon, Mary, Eli, Liam, Brittany, Sarah, & Opal; Six step Great-Grandchildren, Christine, Kyle, Kelly, Elle, Holly & Megan; a sister, Louise Heidemann of Germantown, IL; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Andrew (Valeria) Schoendienst of O’Fallon, IL, Eugene "Micky" (Loretta "Toots") Schoendienst of Germantown, IL, Albert "Red" Schoendienst and Joe (Irene) Schoendienst all of St. Louis, MO; Lavita Schoendienst of St. Louis, MO, Stella Schoendienst Jeffries of Germantown, IL. In addition to his wife and his parents, he was preceded in death by two children, Mary Billhartz & Joseph Billhartz; two grandchildren, Kevin Billhartz and Glenn Allen Bair; two sons-in-law, Michael Bair and Robert "Bob" Foppe; six brothers, Franklin Billhartz, Wilbert Billhartz, Harry Billhartz, Edward Billhartz, Arnold Billhartz, Robert Billhartz; two sisters, Emila Robben & Mamie Peltes; sisters-in-law, Annie Billhartz, Agnes Billhartz , Clara Billhartz, Pauline Billhartz, & Mary Schoendienst; brothers-in-law, Gus Heidemann, George Robben & Anton Peltes, Elmer Schoendienst & Julius Schoendienst; Father-in-law & mother-in-law, Joseph and Mary (Schlarmann) Schoendienst. He was a retired farmer & worked at Maria DeVilla in St. Louis, was a member of St. George Parish and Men’s Club in New Baden, Honorary Member Knights of Columbus, Mascoutah Moose Lodge, Clinton County Farm Bureau, & Laborers Local 459, Belleville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 2, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at St. George Church in New Baden, IL with Rev. Donald Blaes officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery in New Baden, IL. Friends may call on Thursday, September 1, 2005 from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday, September 2, from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden, IL. There will be a prayer service at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.