Vernell Elonora Vollmer

Vernell Elonora Vollmer, nee Eberhardt, age 85, passed away Monday evening, October 27, 2025 at Shiloh Memorial Hospital, Shiloh, Ill.

Vernell was born January 9, 1940 in Belleville, Ill., the only child of Marion and Adele, nee Koerber, Eberhardt. She grew up on the historic family farm near New Athens Township and took great pride in the family's farming heritage throughout her life. She graduated from New Athens Community High School in 1957. She married Raymond August Vollmer, a young Army draftee on May 2, 1959 at O'Fallon's Evangelical and Reformed Church; they soon moved to Fort Lee, Virginia for his military duty. While there, she worked at Titmus Optical, until Ray completed his enlistment and they moved back to O'Fallon in 1961. Together they raised their three children in the quaint neighborhood near downtown O'Fallon. She was a longtime member of O'Fallon United Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and participated in the Women's Guild. She had wonderful memories of growing up on the farm with dogs Brownie and Spotty and cherished her many pet cats over the years including her latest and favorite lap-cat, Oliver Whitefoot. She was a great cook, an avid reader, Girl Scout volunteer, beloved Granny, and dedicated wife and homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Gilbert (Patricia) Vollmer, and sister-in-law Patricia Vollmer.

Surviving are her husband Raymond Vollmer of O'Fallon; children Brian Vollmer of O'Fallon, Sherry (Aslam) Vollmer-Haswarey of Portland, Ore., and Steven (Lisa) Vollmer of Hermann, Mo.; grandchildren Ahdilah (Omar Ibrahim) Haswarey, Yusef (Tahura Shirshikar) Haswarey, Ayeisha Haswarey, Janelle Vollmer, Kendra Vollmer, and Kaden Vollmer; great-grandchildren Layah Ibrahim and Tucker Crosson; and beloved nephew and nieces.

Memorial donations are suggested to O'Fallon UCC, her longtime church home, or Ferals in Peril in Hermann, Mo. (https://www.feralsinperilhermann.org/) to honor Vernell's joy in having cats throughout her life. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.wfh-ofallon.com.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 10 – 11 am, Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Martha Thierheimer officiating. Burial will follow at O'Fallon City Cemetery.