Funeral services set for downtown Belleville brewer who died after battling long illness

Services are set for local brewer Corina Mager , 46, who died Sunday after a long illness.

Mager’s obituary states that she was a homemaker and homebrewer and that she was employed at Ryan’s Steakhouse. She was a member of the Homebrew Club (The Ferm) in Monroe County.

Mager was also a brewer and bartender at Shoehorn Brewing in downtown Belleville.

Multiple messages of condolence appeared on Facebook and other online sources as news of her death spread. Many of the messages were from local business owners and Mager’s fellow brewers.

Jeremy Hall, owner of Down the Hall Homebrew and co-owner of Shoehorn Brewing, shared the following in an email to the BND:

“I met Corina and Jeff through the home brewing community. I had the opportunity to get to know them better as customers at my homebrew supply store. It didn’t take long for them to become more than regular customers.

“Corina was warm and welcoming to everyone she met. When she talked to you she made you feel like you had been friends forever.

“When we decided to bring on another brewer at the brewery, Corina was at the top of the list. In addition to all of the other wonderful things about her, she made great beer.

“She was one of the most amazing people. We were blessed that she was a part of our business and that we were lucky enough to call her a friend. She will be truly missed.”

Mager resided in Darmstadt, Illinois, and is survived by her husband of 26 years, Jeff Mager, son Mason, daughter Alyssa and three siblings.

Visitation takes place 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, and 9-11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in Marissa. Funeral services will take place at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Friday. Andrew Tufto will officiate.

Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home is located at 114 S. Main St. in Marissa.