JOHN EDWARD KINSCHERFF , 85, of Pleasant Hill died Sunday, July 12, 2009, at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. John was born Dec. 4, 1923 in Pleasant Hill, the son of Paul and Osee Kinscherff. He married Wandalee King Dec. 25, 1946, and they had 10 children. John graduated from Pleasant Hill High School and attended Culver-Stockton College, Kansas State University and Northwestern University. He then returned to Pleasant Hill to manage the family farm and raise his family. He was a former Sny Island Levee Drainage District Commissioner, a lifetime member of the VFW, and a member of the American Legion, having served in the navy as a Petty Officer 3rd class during WWII. In addition, John was selected as a Prairie Farmer Master Fanner of the Year in 1968. John served on the Board of Directors of Illini Hospital in Pittsfield and was a long-time trustee of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Belleview. He enjoyed being a private pilot for many years. John farmed for most of his life in both Pike and Calhoun counties and was a Chairman of the Board of the family-owned and operated Central State Bank, which has branches in Clayton, Pleasant Hill and Quincy. He was very supportive of local organizations, and he and his wife had recently donated a building for an adult education learning center at John Wood Community College in Quincy. He is survived by his wife, Wandalee Kinscherff, and nine children, Linda Koester (Jerry) of Greenwood, Ind., Janet Slingsby (Emmett) of Riverton, John (Mike) Kinscherff (Ellen) of Pleasant Hill, James Kinscherff (Rose) of Rockton, Paul Kinscherff (Debi) of Pleasant Hill, Richard Kinscherff (Nancy) of Pleasant Hill, Mark Kinscherff of Pleasant Hill, Katheryn Park of Rochester and David Kinscherff (Leann) of Maryville. His surviving siblings include Betty Fleissner of New Mexico and Paulette Pettingill of Tennessee. John is also survived by 19 grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his oldest child, Karen Ann Kinscherff; his sister, Nancy Cook; and his brother, Robert Kinscherff. The visitation will be at the Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill today, Wednesday, July 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pittsfield Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m., preceded by a visitation from 9-10 a.m. The services will be offici­ated by the Rev. Roy Bauer. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Pleasant Hill American Legion, Crescent Heights Cemetery, or a local organization of the donor's choice. Lummis Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill is handling arrangements.
Contributed by Billie Browning - Pike Press

SECOND ARTICLE: "Kinscherff a driving force in Pleasant Hill"
J.E. Kinscherff, 85, of Pleasant Hill died last week, leaving a long-standing legacy in the Pleasant Hill area. A farmer, busi­nessman and father of 10 chil­dren, Kinscherff was well known throughout the area. "He was more than client to me and I was more than a lawyer to him," said Jim Rapp, a Quincy attorney, who had represented Kinscherff since the 1970s. "We were good friends." Rapp said Kinscherff, an early riser, used to frequently call him and when he'd answer the phone, Kinscherff would say, "I've already shipped two loads of hogs to market." "But one morning I got him back," Rapp said. "I answered the phone and he said that and I replied 'Well, I've already milked two clients and you're the third.' We both laughed." Rapp said he represented Kinscherff in several business transactions including the purchase of Central State Bank, which was the Clayton Bank when Kinscherff bought it. "The Baptist family in Clayton owned it and wanted to keep the fact it was for sale very hush- hush," Rapp said. "J.E. and I went to Clayton literally under the veil of darkness. We met with the Baptist family at 10 p.m. at night. It was just like in the movies with one lamp with a green shade and a 50-watt light bulb. It was all very mysterious, almost covert." Kinscherff purchased the bank and the family still owns the facility as well as branches in Pleasant Hill and Quincy. Rapp said Kinscherff also purchased the garment factory in Pleasant Hill. "He didn't want a garment factory, but the place was going to shut down and J.E. knew Pleasant Hill needed the jobs." Many people called Kinscherff, J.E. but those who knew him well frequently called him Big John. "He was a big man in body, heart and spirit, and I believe that it is his spirit that will live on in those of us he has left behind," said Janet Slingsby, said his daughter in her eulogy at the funeral last week. J.E. Kinscherff was married to Wandalee King for 63 years and had 10 children. "I met John my freshman year at McMurray College," WandaLee Kinscherff said. "He went to the service and when he came back we just got together." WandaLee said the thing that attracted her to her spouse was his laugh. "He had a big laugh," she said. "Even lately when he didn't feel good, he'd laugh at little Anna Belle, our 16-month old great-granddaughter." WandaLee said Kinscherff loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them doing the things they liked to do. "Mike was our oldest son and I didn't want him to play football for fear he'd get hurt. I thought he was too little and timid, "she said. "J.E. said to let him play, that it would make a man out of him. He was right as usual." Slingsby said her father enjoyed watching his sons and daughters participate in activities. "I didn't know it but at my father's visitation, a man came up to me and said he had two memories of my father. The first was seeing him with my mother and how they interacted with one another, how much in love they were and the second was seeing my father at the high school football games, walking the sidelines, yelling 'Lets get some blood." WandaLee said I.E. usually had an opinion on decisions regarding the children except discipline. "He left that up to me," she said. "With the exception of when we lost our oldest daughter, we had many, many blessings during our years together." According to all who knew him, Kinscherff had a strong love of family, farming and community. "He would always say I'm just a hog farmer," Rapp said. "But he was much more than that to all who knew them. There are dozens of examples of things he did for the community. Where ever there was a need. He donated a building to John Wood Community College because he saw a need. And if they ever sell the building, the money is to be used for scholarships for students from Pike and Calhoun counties, because J.E. saw a need." Mike Reed, of the Sny Drainage District, said Kinscherff would frequently call him and discuss the political issues and who to contact on matters concerning the Sny. He would call me often to discuss those things." Kinscherff served as a commissioner on the Sny board for a number of years. Staying in contact was important to Kinscherff, according to Slingsby. "Even in his final days, he loved to talk on the phone," she said "He called his cell phone his radio, because it reminded him of the days of the two-way radios they used in the tractors and combines." The family packed a memory box to be placed in Kinscherff's casket and included a cell phone, a miniature John Deere tractor, a toothpick and some letters, J.E. had written to WandaLee at the beginning of their relationship.
Source: The Weekly Messenger By Beth Zumwalt

DOROTHY I. KRIEGSHAUSER , 70, died Friday, May 7, 2004, at the Pittsfield Healthcare Center. She was born July 21, 1933 in Pittsfield to George and Thelma Willard Saylor. She married Virgil E. Kriegshauser in July 1957 and he preceded her in death May 9, 1973. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Pittsfield. She attended Illinois State University at Normal, collected antiques and enjoyed refinishing furniture. She owned the "Alley Antiques" store in Pittsfield. She was a member of Old Orchard County Club and enjoyed golfing, playing bridge and bowling. Survivors are one son, Kent Kriegshauser of Galesburg; two brothers, George Saylor of Monticello, Mo. and Don Saylor, Sullivan; two sisters, Mrs. Clay (June) Yelliott of Quincy and Mrs. Morris (Jean) Akers of Lincoln; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Kriegshauser, parents and a brother Alvin Lee "Bud" Saylor. Funeral services were held Monday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Burial was at the West Cemetery in Pittsfield. Visitation was at the Niebur Funeral Home Sunday, May 9, from 4 till 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to West Cemetery or Pike County Outreach Center. A lunch for family and friends was held after services at the Pittsfield Community Center
Contributed by Billie Browning