St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page A023

11.25.2012•Sunday•M1ST.LOuISPOST-dISPaTCH• A23 ByWaPos Justthis theirstrongestelectionshowing seatsinCongressandscoring historicstateballotvictoriesthat legalizedsame-sexmarriageand recreationalmarijuanause. Butnowmuchofthepolitical leftisworriedthatwhatseems dawn. Thefocusoftheirdistressis manyleft-leaningDemocrats fearwillconcedetoomuchin reachinganaccordwithRepub- eralgroupsaregearingupmedia campaignsaimedatpressur- ingObamaandcongressional Democratstoholdthelineon proposedGOPcutstoMedicare, Medicaidandotherentitlement programs. Oneofthefirstsalvoscame laborunionsannouncednew televisionadsdemandingthat Democratsfocusonjobcreation andnotyieldtoRepublicanaus- teritydemands.Prominentlib- eralssuchasHouseMinority LeaderNancyPelosiofCalifornia andSen.PattyMurrayofWash- ingtonhavealsosignaledthat Democratsarepreparedtoallow automaticspendingcutsandtax increasestotakeeffectifthereis noagreementtoraisetaxrateson therich. Themovesfollowanelection andmomentsofpureschaden- airmeltdownbyGOPpolitical mastermindKarlRovewhenFox NewscalledtheraceforObama.

Democratshavewatchedwith gleeasRepublicanssquabble overthemeaningoftheelec- criticismofMittRomneyanda wide-rangingdebateoverhowto Exitpollsshowedthat25per- centofvotersidentifiedthem- percentin2008and17percent collectiveresponsibilityandeco- surgence.Someofthenation’s alsobeingincreasinglydrawnto theliberalbrand. ablycreatedagenuinerealign- mentatthenationallevelthat couldcontinuetoshapeAmeri- wroteRuyTeixeiraandJohn liberalthinktank. Democratswhoonceavoided theliberallabelalsoembraced itthisyear.Forty-sixpercentof Democratsidentifiedasliber- Organizedlaborreaffirmedits powerasaground-levelpoliti- indeliveringOhiotoObama. announcedthatshewouldstay onastheleaderofHouseDemo- crats. Progressiveswereespe- ciallyheartenedbytheresults amendmentdefiningmarriage asexclusivelybetweenamanand womanwasdefeated.Ninestates nowallowsame-sexmarriage; threeothersrecognizesame-sex unionsperformedinotherjuris- dictions.

Referendumsdecriminaliz- ingrecreationaluseofmarijuana woninColoradoandWashington state.InCalifornia,hotbedofthe approvedaballotproposition backedbyGov.JerryBrownto andcollegeeducation. VindicAtionforsome listenedtoVicePresidentGeorge BushattackMassachusettsGov. canCivilLibertiesUnioninthe electionanditsaftermathwerea kindofvindication. licanassumptionthatAmericais acenter-rightcountrywaspro- aprofessorofpublicpolicyatthe UniversityofCaliforniaatBerke- ofhowlargeagovernmentthey Butwhetherarenewedlib- eralpresencewillsparkamajor shiftinfederalpoliciesisanother question.State-levelelectoral breakthroughsonsocialissues suchassame-sexmarriageand fortheliberaleconomicagenda, leadersandscholarsontheleft saidthisweek.Coreobjectives suchasnarrowingwageinequal- endingunlimitedmoneyinpoli- ticsstillfacedauntingobstacles. betweentheconcernsofthe workingclassandthecenterof gravityforeliteDemocraticpoli- presidentoftheleft-leaning EconomicPolicyInstitute.

Acenter-leftelectoralcoali- meanaprogressivemajorityin nationalpolitics.Thesameexit pollsshowingaresurgenceinlib- eralidentificationalsoshowed theelectorate. ThenextSenatewillfeature cludingnewprogressivevoices suchasElizabethWarrenofMas- sachusettsandTammyBaldwin ofWisconsin.ButDemocrats willstillbeshortofthe60votes neededtocloseofftheblocking Liberalsarereadytochallengeobama Pleaselogonto www.STLtoday.com/obituaries andshareyourfavoritememories. AllSt.LouisPost-Dispatch obituariesarepublishedonSTLtoday.com Memories ESERVETOBE HARED. AtSchnucksFocusOnDesignFloralCenter, ourexperiencedstaffoffloraldesigners isdedicatedtoprovidingthehighestlevel ofpersonalservice. Beautiful Memorials Edward inE.St.Louis,IL,died inhishomesurroundedbyhis family.

RobertwasagraduateofE.St. LouisSeniorHighSchool.Here- ceivedhisBaccalaureateDegree fromWashingtonUniversityinSt. LouisandMaster'sDegreefrom UniversityofIllinoisinCham- ArmyVeteranwhoservedinthe PacificTheaterwiththe25thDivi- wasalongtimememberofFirst PresbyterianChurch. Robertspentmostofhiscareer workingfor37yearsforE.St. LouisSchoolDistrict189.He taughtmathematicsandscience AssistantPrincipalatE.St.Louis SeniorHighSchoolandeventually retiredfromtheschooldistrictas DeputySuperintendentofCur- riculumandInstruction.

SurvivingareHelenJunenee RuthE.OppermanCrawford,of Belleville. Robertwasamajorsportsfan, especiallyfortheE.St.LouisFly- ersandtheSt.LouisCardinals. Hewasdedicatedtohisdaily walkingroutine.Hewasknown Hewasthedefinitionofdevotion Hecaredwellforallthose aroundhimhisentirelife.During him.Theydidthiswithgreatlove shownthem. Formoreinformationvisit www.kurrusfh.com. Memorialsmaybemadeto Donor'schoice.

Services: Friendsmaycallfrom Funeralserviceswillbeheldat 2012atKurrusFuneralHome, withRev.JamesSloneofficiating IntermentwillfollowatMount "Welldone isbetterthan wellsaid." -BenjaminFranklin (1706-1790) passedawayon25October2012 ageof86.Hewasborn13July MiguelandJulia(Kluvanek) Prieto. servedwiththeU.S.ArmyAir CorpinthePacificTheaterasa obtainedaBachelorofSciencein ElectricalEngineeringfromthe UniversityofDetroit.From1957- ContinentalCanCompanyin Atlanta. Hewasprecededindeathby Matthew.Heissurvivedbyhissix ninegrandchildren. Services: tionhastakenplaceandamemo- rialwillbeheldbythefamily.His finalrestingplacewithhiswife, theWoundedWarriorProject. attheageof63.Lovingwifeof thelateDanielandLoretta ishedgrandmotherofDanielle MasonPace.Sheisprecededin deathbyherbrothersDavidand DanielSilvestri.Barbwaswarm, lovingandcaringandshewillbe greatlymissedbyall.

Services: Thefamilyisbeing servedbyTheBAUEFuneraland FuneralServicetofollowat CharlesMemorialGardens. Memorialsmaybemadeto St.JudeChildren'sHospital. www.baue.com. "Wearenot retreating -weare advancing inanother direction." -General DouglasMacArthur (1880-1964) 2012. Belovedwifeof67yearsto CharlesS.Schroeder;dear motherofCharles(Sandi)and grandmotherofRobyn(Ryan) motherofRogan.Wonderfulwife, grandmother.

Services: Therewillbea privateserviceheldforthe family. motherofChristopher(Renae) sisterofCharles(Vergic)Dodd, cousinandfriend. Services: RussellColonialFuneralHomein St.Clair,MOwithfuneralservices 2012.Intermentat1:15pmon racksNationalCemeteryinSt. madetotheAmericanLegion theAmericanCancerSociety. FortifiedwiththeSacramentsof BelovedhusbandofJoAnnE.

CharlesA.andSteven(Donna) ReedandLaura(William)Broy; deargrandfatherofNicholas andErinReedandNicholasBroy; deargreat-grandfatherofAva friend. Services: MemorialMasswillbe celebratedatSt.Matthias CatholicChurchonMonday, November26at10a.m.Inlieuof canCancerSocietywouldbe greatlyappreciated.Service ofKUTISAFFTONChapel, 10151Gravois. "Success usuallycomes tothosewho aretoobusy tobelooking forit." -HenryDavidThoreau (1817-1862) ofSt.Charles,Missouri,diedon attheageof98. LovingwifeofthelateJackSills; deardaughterofthelateKennett ofJacqueline(Don)Curryand motherof4andgreat-grand- thelateFerminMoore. Services: Thefamilyisbeing servedbyTheBAUEFuneral IntermentOakGroveCemetery.

alsmaybemadetoSt. JosephHospitalHospice HomeCare.baue.com "Dick" baptizedintothehope ofChrist'sresurrection of66yearstoMaryJane fatherofKathleen(John) Donald(Sharon)Schroederand thelateRichardB.Schroeder; Mr.Schroederretiredfrom MallinckrodtChemicalCompany after42yearsofservice.Dick theBattleoftheBulge.Dickwas champion. Services: 63017.Funeral(meetatchurch) IntermentJeffersonBarracksNa- tionalCemeterywithMilitary Honors.Donationsinmemo- ryofDickmaybemadeto theAmericanHeartAssn.or masses.Onlineguestbookat www.buchholzmortuary.com P.A.,JeromeO. Bornintoeverlasting lifeonSunday, BaptizedintheHoly ordainedPriestofGodJune9, 1940.ServedasChaplainin UnitedStatesArmy1945to1974, thenaspastorofSt.Robert Msgr.Sommeristhesonofthe lateAugustJ.andCatherine brotherofGraceS.Wagnerand thelateRev.GeraldJ.Sommer, DoloresS.Urian,MarieS.Hayes andAnneJ.Sommer;dear dearfriendtomany. Services: Msgr.Sommerinstate atSt.ClementCatholicChurch Cemeterywithfullmilitaryhon- 314-352-2600.

Linda(Gary)Chathamand MichaelW.Smith.Ourdear friendtomany. Services: Visitationwillbeheld atHOFFMEISTERSouthCounty St.Louis,MOonSun.,Nov.25, 2012from2to5p.m.thenmoved toCarondeletUnitedChurchof atJeffersonBarracks NationalCemetery. Condolencesmaybe offeredat www.hoffmeistersouthcounty.com (neeJOHNSON)diedpeacefully MarideVillaRetirementCommu- thelateRaymondE.O.SLATER; muchlovedeldestdaughterof thelateVanandEstellene(nee GIBSON)JOHNSONofMaxwell, lawofthelateBruceJOHNSON lateVirginiaMERRIHEW(Dick), thelateHelenBRUNSON Lovingmotherandmother-in-law ofJanetDARWINandMarian motherofKarenSWAINE 'GG'great-grandmothertoJairo andAndrewDARWIN. Mrs.SLATERretiredfrom BrownShoeCompanyin1974aft- er26yearswiththeSt.Louis company.SheandMr.SLATERen- joyed travellingtogetheroverseas aswellasaroundtheU.S.,espe- ciallytovisitfamilyandfriends. Eleanorwilllongberemembered forherstrongdedicationand commitmenttoherfamilyand manyspecialfriends.Sheand Rayenjoyedsummersattheir manyyears.Eleanorwasanavid gardenerandlovedgiftingher tastyhome-madestrawberryjam.

Eleanorwasafaithfulmemberof CentralPresbyterianChurchinSt. Louisforover50years. Services: Inaccordancewithher donatedtoWashingtonUniversity SchoolofMedicine.Amemorial servicewillbeheldinthespring rialsmaybemadetoMissouriBo- tanicalGardens(4344ShawBlvd, St.Louis,MO63110)orForest ofyourchoice.Messagesto www.boppchapel.com. 85diedNov.22,2012, BornAug.6,1927to thelatePaulandZella Ullrich.Survivingarehiswife, andAmy(Michael)Brinkley; grandfatherofGretchenUllrich cousinandfriendofmany. Don'spassionwasmusicper- formanceandenjoyment.Hewas a50yearmemberoftheSt.Louis TheatreOrganSocietyandper- formedthroughouthislifetimeon variousinstrumentswiththe ofSt.Louis,BellevilleLegion Bandandmanyothermusical groups.Heoftensaidthathe workedsohecouldplaymusic.

Services: SPANISHLAKEMORTUARY, 1645RedmanAve.Interment NationalCemeteryJefferson 4-8PM. 21,2012. Belovedhusbandof LoisP.Thode(nee cousinandfriendtomany. Services: FuneralfromKUTIS NationalCemetery.Mr.Thode servedintheUSNavyduring WWIIandwasapostmaster fortheUSPostalService. VisitationSunday3-8pm.

(neeBrdenk)fortifiedwiththe SacramentsofHolyMother 2012. BelovedwifeofthelateVernon L.Suher;dearmotherofFrank SuherandHelen(Jim)Shamess; Services: FuneralfromFEY Nov.26,12noon.IntermentNa- tionalCemetery.Memorialsmay begiventocharityofyourchoice. VISITATIONSUNDAY4-8PM. BaptizedintotheHopeofChrist's MarvinD.Stroudfor59years; Services: FuneralMonday, BUCHHOLZMATHHERMANN MORTUARYCREMATIONCENTER, 837MidRiversMallDrivetoSaint Joseph-Cottlevillefora10AM Mass.IntermentSacredHeart Cemetery.Inlieuofflowers,do- nationstoSitemanCancerCenter, MO63376.Onlineguestbookat www.buchholzmortuary.com 2burialplotsatLaurelHill fee.314-892-1951. 0065 FREECASKET 314-3522600314-894-8444 JLZfuneralhome.com FuneralDirectors 0055 Schnucks Florist 65MetroLocations 314-997-2444 800-286-9557 DierbergsFlorist Order24Hours 314-692-2000or800-844-6007 Dierbergs.com Florists 0050 DavidStevensMulford Godsawyougettingtired andacurewasnottobe.

Soheputhisarmsaroundyou Agoldenheartstopped nowrest. Godbrokeourhearts toprovetous Heonlytakesthebest. InMemoriam 0030 Lovinganddevoted husbandofGerry(neeCole)for andPatrick(Christina)Byron; Godfatherandfriend. Services: VisitationatKUTIS andfriendswillmeetatKutis forJeffersonBarracksNational (1408So.10thSt.,St.Louis, morialsmaybemadetoSt. VincentDePaulParish.

belovedhusbandof fatherofCheryl grandfatherofMelissaand friendofMatthew. Mr.Waldmanwasamemberof lifememberofMoolahShriners andalifememberofScottish Rite. Services: Privateserviceswere heldatBethHamedroshHagodol Cemetery.Memorialcontribu- tionspreferredtoacharityof yourchoice. BERGERMEMORIALSERVICE "Sally" dearmotherofBarbara(Ken) MeadowsandBob(Connie) ofNicholasandJacobSchulz, greatgrandmotherofCheyanne friend. Services: FuneralmassatSt.

ParkLawnCemetery.Inlieuof HospiceorAlzheimer'sAsso- ciationappreciated.SERVED BYKUTISSOUTHCOUNTY..