Virgil J. Richter, 81, of Aviston, Ill., died Monday, January 2, 2006 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born March 3, 1924 in Aviston, Ill. son of Leo, Sr. and Margaret (Heimann) Richter. He married Bernice M. Wellen on April 8, 1947 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, Ill. and she survives in Aviston. He is survived by his children, Ron Richter and wife Patty of Westminster, CO, Dan Richter and wife Colleen of O’Fallon, Ill., Judy Winchester and husband Steve of Waynesville, NC, Gerry Richter and wife Linda of Trenton, Ill., Dale Richter and wife Mary Jo of Aviston, Ill. John Richter and wife Mary of Platte City, MO, and Pat Richter of St. Peters, MO; 13 grandchildren, Jennifer Bearden and husband Zach, Justin Richter, Scott Richter, Timothy Richter and wife Jillian, Kimberly Macy and husband Ryan, Brent Maue and fiancée, Maritza Alvarado, Tara Richter, Shawna Richter, Lane Richter, Beth Richter, Ryan Richter, Kyle Richter and Kacie Richter; two great -grandchildren, Olivia Macy and Everett Macy; four sisters, Leona Richter of New Baden, Ill., Valeria Ripperda of New Baden, Ill., Florence Albers and husband Charles of Germantown, Ill., and Ruth Schrage of St. Rose, Ill.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Al & Bernice Wellen, George & Bernice Wellen, Rosemary Meyer, John & Alice Wellen, Dolores & Paul Talleur, and Bernadette & Gerald Sparlin, all of Highland, Ill. and Emmett & Norma Carroll of Keysport, Ill.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Leo Richter, Jr.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Edgar Schrage, Eugene Ripperda, Norman Meyer and Theresa Carroll; and his Aunt Vera, who raised him and his brother & sisters after the death of his mother.
He was a member of St. Francis Parish, an usher and he served at funeral masses at the church; he was a member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau, Trenton Sportsman’s Club and Breese Knights of Columbus Council 2869. He was a former member of the Mater Dei Board of Education, Mater Dei Fathers & Friends Club, the Aviston Fire Department for 39 years, and he formerly delivered for meals on Wheels.
He was a retired petroleum salesman for FS of Breese, Ill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2006 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Aviston with Rev. Dan Friedman officiating. Interment will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Aviston. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2006 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2006 at Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston, Ill. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m., the Fire Department will visit at 6:30 and the Knights of Columbus will visit at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Society or Mater Dei High School or Masses and will be received at the funeral home.