P.J. was born July 15, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended St. Procopius in Lisle (now Benet Academy), then transferred to Wheaton Central, though he eventually obtained his GED so that he could help with the family mink farm. When he got his first truck in the 1950s, he would drive it around town in the sweltering heat with the windows rolled up and smile and wave, so that everyone would think that he had air conditioning.
P.J. enlisted in the Air Force reserves in 1963 and was deployed as security police in Paris, France, during the Vietnam War. While overseas he proposed to Marian Marriner, sending her an engagement ring in the mail. They married in Lisle, Illinois in 1966 and went on to have seven children.
P.J. was a postman in Ottawa for 40 years, mostly serving the south side; he retired in 1999. It is reported that he was once chastised for getting his hair cut on company time, in which he responded, “my hair grows on company time, so I’ll get it cut on company time!”
P.J. loved spending quiet mornings fishing the Illinois River, listening to a Cub’s game on the radio, and celebrating Hoodie-Hoo day every February. He had a joke for you every time he saw you. Sometimes they were even funny. He loved animals and missed country living. He brought a bit of the country to town and at one time had both a pet rooster and a pet pig. He did not have a bat, though, despite a large animal cage in his living room with a sign taped to it that said, “Notice! Unless you have had all your shots, do not put fingers in this cage!” If you were one of the many who stared intently into the cage trying to see that bat move, he found you very entertaining.
Right now he’s probably listening to a Teresa Brewer record, watching reruns of The Three Stooges with Laurel and Hardy and debating, “who’s on first?”
P.J. is survived by his children Teresa Ostler of Incline Village, NV; Caroline (Tom) Kraus of Montgomery, IL; Sandra (Jeff) Stoudt of Marseilles, IL; Barbara Ostler of Eagan, MN; Michael (Josie) Ostler of Rockton, IL; Katie Ostler of Harvard, IL; and Dave (Angie) Ostler of Love’s Park, IL; and his 16 grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Kathleen (Jack) Quinn, Eileen (Richard) Kaye, Maureen (Bob) Hall, Colleen (Jack) Craig, Noreen Hyslop, Charlie Ostler, and Jan Ostler; and friend Geri Bezroukoff. He is preceded in death by his parents, Della (Ostler) Beaudoin and Charles Ostler, and his brother, Tim Ostler.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Aug. 31 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home 1111 LaSalle Street in Ottawa Illinois. A memorial service will follow on Tuesday, Sep. 1 at 11:00 a.m., also at Ottawa Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to P.J.’s 2015 Cubs’ World Series Champs celebration at www.gofundme.com/PatsCubsChamps. This is the year!
Jesma Jean Brown, daughter of the late Harvey Gregory and Mamie Sebree Gregory, was born on November 17, 1930 near Dexter, Missouri and departed this life on August 22, 2015 at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids Iowa at the age of 84.
Mrs. Brown was a member of the Center Baptist Church in Paragould, Arkansas. She was a former resident of Dexter and worked in bottling and maintenance for American Distilling.
On February 28, 1948, she was united in marriage to Roy Dean Brown in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Brown preceded her in death on August 10, 1992.
She is survived by one son, Danny Brown and wife Joyce of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; by three sisters, Joan Buckley of Mendota, Illinois, Rachel Treadway of Chaffee, Missouri and Barbara Buckley of Hillsboro, Missouri; by two granddaughters and two grandsons; and by six great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers and by five sisters.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.
Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.
Alvin Davis of Dexter was born on September 8, 1954 and departed this life on August 15, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield at the age of 60.
Mr. Davis had no known family or relatives.
A memorial service will be held Friday, August 28, 2015 at 1:30 P.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Chapel in Dexter.
Arrangements are being handled by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home.
Bonnie Jo Noles, daughter of the late Joseph Albert Lopp and Dessa Calera Hogue Lopp, was born on March 28, 1930 in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life on August 22, 2015 at her residence in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 85.
Mrs. Noles was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield and had worked as a legal secretary and for U.S. Bank.
On July 29, 1947, she was united in marriage to Taylor H. Noles in Piggott, Arkansas. Mr. Noles preceded her in death on January 14, 1990.
She is survived by one son, Mark Noles and wife Sheila of Bloomfield, Missouri; by one daughter, Sylvia Ann Smith and husband Lyall of Plymouth, Michigan; by three brothers, Ted Lopp of New Albany, Indiana, Jack Lopp of Sikeston, Missouri and Dan Lopp of Clarksville, Tennessee; and by six grandchildren, Kimberly Ensign, Jennifer Bennett, Corey Noles, Dustin Williams, Christian Noles and Devin Taber.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Lowell Lopp; and by two sisters, Brenda Crawford and Cherry Sanders.
Friends may call at the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from 4:00 P. M. to 7:00 P.M.
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. in the First General Baptist Church Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Stevens officiating.
Rodger Dale McCoy, son of the late Leon McCoy and Mildred Purcell McCoy was born on April 29, 1951 at Dexter and departed this life in the SoutheastHEALTH of Cape Girardeau on August 21, 2015 at the age of 64.
He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Koechner on August 21, 1982 at Dexter. Mrs. McCoy preceded him in death on October 16, 2006.
He is survived by one daughter, Christie Cooley and husband Keith of Marquette, Michigan: by two brothers, Gary McCoy and Danny McCoy both of Dexter: by one sister, Carolyn Snider of Dexter: by good friends, Brenda and Chester Cooley of Dexter.
Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Dennis McCoy, Jimmy McCoy and Darrell McCoy: by one sister, Rachel Childers.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M., Monday, August 24, 2015.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, August 25, 2015 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. James Hamlett officiating.
Interment will follow in the Hagy Cemetery.
