Louis M. Seger

Louis M. “Sonny” Seger, age 88 of Carlyle, passed away on February 7, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Hospital with his loving family by his side.

Louis was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 18, 1931, to Leo and Rose (Welling) Seger.  He married Elsie Washburn on May 6, 1950, in Carlyle, Illinois, and she survives in Carlyle. 

In addition to his beloved wife, Mr. Seger is survived by his children – Marty Seger and wife Anita (Warnecke) of Carlyle, Pam McKay and husband Roger of Centralia, Debra Luetkemeyer and husband David of Ballwin, Missouri, and David Seger and wife Mindy (Mathis) of Centralia;  his grandchildren – Benjamin Luetkemeyer, Cassandra (McKay) Holland and husband Nathan, Alexander Luetkemeyer and fiancé Samantha Camp, Zachary McKay, and Luke Luetkemeyer and wife Alexis; his step-grandchildren – Ashley and Brooke Lacey; and his in-laws – Joyce Seger, Joyce Cranford, Doris Mueller, Judy Scheffel, Edith and David Huene, Willard Washburn, and Robert Washburn. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers – Laverne and Leo Seger; his sisters – Mildred Wickman, Shirley Walton, Lorraine Dodd, and Dolly Mason; his father and mother-in-law – Herbert and Alta Washburn; and his in-laws – Bob Cranford, Betty Washburn, Aloys Kunkel, and Cheri Washburn; and a granddaughter – Nicole McKay. 

Mr. Seger graduated from Centralia High School and studied at Browns Business College.  He served as an infantryman in the United States Army starting in January, 1950 and made the landing on Inchon Korea. That was the battle that led the United Nations Forces to the recapture of the South Korean capital of Seoul. Louis Seger won one Bronze Star for leading a volunteer squad across the Yalu River, which marks the boundary between North Korea and China to rescue a captured serviceman whose unit had been fighting on the Chinese Side of the River. His second Bronze star was awarded for actions taken on the numerous ambush patrols he led at the 35th parallel. He was initially assigned to the 279th Infantry and was transferred to the 45th Infantry Division. He received the Korean Service Medal, was meritoriously awarded the two bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the National Defense Medal and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent.  

He retired from working at Scott Air Force Base.  Mr. Seger was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Carlyle, Bartelso American Legion, and V.F.W. Post 3523, Carlyle where he served as Post Commander from 1975-1976.  Sonny loved playing guitar and sang in bands for 47 years.  Some of the many bands he performed with were Sonny Seger and the Kaskaskia Ramblers and the Country Cousins.  In addition to music, Sonny also enjoyed camping, boating on Carlyle Lake, fishing, golf, hunting, and was an avid Cardinals fan. 

Visitation will be held at Zieren Funeral Home in Carlyle on Monday, February 10, 2020, from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. and on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, from 9:00 – 11:30 A.M.  A funeral service will be held at Zieren Funeral Home on Tuesday at 11:30 A.M with Fr. George Mauck and Rev. Steve Barrett, officiating.  Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Carlyle. The rosary will be recited at the funeral home Monday night at 7:45  P.M.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.