Anna Gertrude "Gertie" Beyers

Anna Gertrude “Gertie” Beyers, 95, of Oconee passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in her home. She was born April 18, 1930 in St. Louis, MO, daughter of the late Henry & Anna (Ernst) Holthaus. Gertie married Harley T. Beyers on December 2, 1950 in Sacred Heart Church, Oconee. He preceded her in death on January 15, 2021.
Gertie attended Oconee High School, where she was a cheerleader and then graduated from Ursuline Academy in Springfield. She had worked for Mueller’s, St. John’s Pharmacy, but most of all, she was a homemaker and farmer’s wife. Gertie was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oconee, where she was a lector, member of the Ladies of Sacred Heart and the Pana Rosary group. She was also a member of the Litchfield Deanery Council, Home Extension and Marriage Encounter. Gertie enjoyed sewing & quilting, cooking, gardening & canning, cross-stitching and making Baptismal gowns, as well as ballroom dancing and playing Pinochle parties. Gertie was a lifetime basketball mom & grandma, since her husband, Harley, was a basketball coach and avid Pana Panther fan.
Gertie is survived by her children: Thomas (Judy) Beyers, Odin, IL; Steve (Denise) Beyers, Oconee, IL; Denny (Jody) Beyers, Pana, IL; Larry (Sandy) Beyers, Oconee, IL; Annette Sims, Oconee, IL; Al (Brenda) Beyers, Chatham, IL; Dan (Jolene) Beyers, Rosamond, IL; Duane (Rebecca) Beyers, Pana, IL; Eric (Dawn) Beyers, Owaneco, IL; 34 grandchildren; 82 great grandchildren and siblings: Marilyn Holthaus, Oconee, IL; Charles Holthaus, Pana, IL; William (Evelyn) Holthaus, Taylorville, IL; Patrick (LaVerne) Holthaus, Pana, IL. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Randy Sims; infant grandson, Dominic Beyers and siblings: Harold Holthaus, Sister Roselita Holthaus, Joan Schnaare, Catherine Lengermann & Jimmy Holthaus.
Funeral mass for Gertie will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026 in Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, Oconee at 10:00 a.m. with Father Joseph Havrilka officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oconee. The rosary will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oconee, with visitation immediately following until 6:00 p.m. in the church.
Memorials in Gertie’s honor may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oconee or the Oconee Parish Hall Fund and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.