Nellie worked at the Belleville Pants Factory at an early age where she met the love of her life, Clinton, and they were married for 64 years. She was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, and worked noon luncheons, card parties, and was a lunch server for the children’s lunches during and after the time her six children attended St. Augustine. Throughout her service to St. Augustine’s, she served as Eucharistic Minister and was a member and President of the Ladies Sodality for several years. In her most recent years, she would put her love and prayers into crocheting prayer shawls that received blessings for the sick of the church and were given to those in need of prayers. She was always willing to lend a helping hand or prayer to all.
Her favorite things in life were the outdoors, camping, fishing, sewing, baking, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nellie loved watching Cardinal baseball and adored beautiful sunsets that “only God could make”. She lived for others, never thinking of herself and always going to church and showing others by her example how to live a good, wholesome life. Her faith was passed down from generation to generation and because of it, her family is able to accept her passing as a gift to her, that she is in Heaven and happy with the Lord.
Nellie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Clinton J. Buechler; a son, William “Billy” Buechler; her parents, Harry and Agnes, nee Griesbaum, Billhartz; a brother, Paul Billhartz; two sisters; Mary Haas and Marget “Tookie” Reinhardt; a daughter-in-law, Debra “Debbie” Buechler, granddaughter-in-law, Heather Buechler; several brothers-in-law; and several sisters-in-law.
Surviving are her children, Bob (Dixie) Buechler, Jim (Candy) Buechler, Barb (Jim) Muren, Paul (Candy) Buechler, and Sue A. (Jeff) Yaekel; nine grandchildren, Tony (Katie) Buechler, Dale (Sarah) Buechler, Amanda (Chris) Jordan, Jack (Amanda) Muren, Eric (Jessica) Muren, Kimberly (Brad) Dickerson, David (Katie) Buechler, Josie Yaekel and Jared Yaekel; 18 great-grandchildren, Vivian, Violet, Dylan, Bryce, Hope, Brody, Dalton, Cali, Nash, Jacob, Owen, Sam, Addison, Hannah, Gabriel, Aaron, Colton, and Colin; four sisters, Betty Haas, Catherine “Kitty” Lanter, Veronica “Patsy” Wright, and Mary Ann Krohne; two brothers, Vincent Billhartz and Dennis Billhartz; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, February 4, 2024, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2024, at the funeral home.
Funeral: Funeral procession will leave at 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2024, from the funeral home for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.
Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.