Obituaries

Apr 5, 2022

Oregon, IL – Lawrence L. “Larry” Toms, age 73, died Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.  He was born on September 14, 1948 in Oregon, IL, the son of Leon C. and Louise Pauline “Polly” (Black) Toms.   Larry graduated from Oregon High School in 1968.  He married Sarah “Sally” Corron on June 14, 1991 in...

Apr 3, 2022

Harold Martin Book, age 94, of Byron died Sunday April 3, 2022. Born October 11, 1927 in Oregon, the son of Clarence W. and Jessie (Martin) Book. The second of eleven children, Harold grew up in rural Oregon and attended Pleasant Valley School. The Book family moved to rural Leaf River in 1941 and he worked on the family...

Mar 31, 2022

Myrna Lou Hart (Hutson), 72, died after a long struggle with blood cancer at University of Chicago Medicine surrounded by her family on March 31, 2022. She was born in Chicago, IL on June 12, 1949, the daughter of Kenneth and Zelma (Reynolds) Hutson. She grew up on the south side of Chicago and Country Club Hills, a suburb...

Mar 28, 2022

Oregon, IL – John Allan Cain, age 58, died Monday, March 28, 2022 at the Serenity Hospice and Home near Oregon.  He was born September 22, 1963 in Rockford the son of Allan and Mary (McLennan) Cain.  He graduated from Byron High School in 1981 where he participated in Baseball and basketball.  John also graduated from Northern Illinois University...

Mar 27, 2022

Donald S. Eliel, age 85, passed away on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at his home. He was born in Paducah, KY on January 1, 1937. He is the son of Frank and Pauline (Stinnett) Eliel. He married Cheryl Appel on June 14, 1968. Donald was a US Navy veteran. He worked for AT&T for many years until he retired...

Mar 26, 2022

Byron, IL – Pia Leombruni, age 97, shared an extraordinary amount of love, kindness, and comfort with all who knew her. She will be remembered by her friends and family for her joy and generosity, for gathering everyone around her kitchen table countless times, and for her easy smile and warmth.  Pia died March 26, 2022, in Rockford surrounded...

Mar 24, 2022

Emerald G. Brass, Jr passed away at KSB hospital in Dixon on March 24, 2022 after a long battle with diabetes and cardiac complications. He was born in Rochelle, IL on January 17, 1954 the son of Emerald G. and Rosella (Dirksen) Brass, Sr. Emerald graduated from Oregon High School Class of 1973. After high school; he spent time...

Mar 23, 2022

Barbara West, age 78, passed away at home on March 23, 2022. She was born on September 14, 1943 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey the daughter of Richard and Georganna (Michael) Blair. She married Robert Ebel and with him had their son, Scott. After Robert passed away, she married Don West. She lived in the Byron area for many...

Mar 22, 2022

Oregon, IL – Rosemarie Nestrojil   It is with great sadness that the family of Rosemarie Nestrojil announce her passing on March 22, 2022, at the age of 92. It was a wonderful life and heaven will never be the same! Rosemarie lived a long and full life. She was born a twin on April 9, 1929, in New York...

Mar 19, 2022

Henry “Hank” Coy, age 75, of Oregon, passed away on March 19, 2022. Born on July 5th, 1946 in Oregon, Henry was the youngest of three children born to Henry and Stella (Zmuda) Coy. He graduated Oregon High School class of 1964. After graduation, Henry was employed in a family business owned by his parents. In 1969 Henry married...

Mar 18, 2022

Tina M. Higdon, age 46, passed away surrounded by her loving family on March 18, 2022. She was born in Harlan, KY on March 29, 1975 the daughter of Ron and Becky Hall. She graduated from Stillman Valley High School Class of 1993. She loved the beach and anything related to it such as mermaids and collecting sea shells which...

Mar 17, 2022

Oregon, IL - Jerry James “Jerbear” Tobin, age 40, of Polo, IL passed away in his home on March 17, 2022.  Jerry was born in West Frankfort, IL on January 7, 1982, the son of Paul and Deborah (Murphy)Tobin.  Jerry grew up in Chana, IL and loved being outside.  He loved life and being with his family.  Jerry’s daughters...

Mar 17, 2022

Marilyn K. Beauchem, age 82, longtime Byron resident passed away on March 17, 2022 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford. She was born on December 9, 1939 in Burlington, Iowa the daughter of John and Kathryn Noble. She married Harry Beauchem on April 20, 1963 in Loves Park, IL; he preceded her in death on January 12, 2021. She was...

Mar 17, 2022

Stillman Valley, IL – Marilyn Ruth Gates, age 87, died Thursday, March 17, 2022 at her home near Stillman Valley.  She was born March 2, 1935 in Ellenboro, Wisconsin the daughter of Leslie and Maud Groom.  Marilyn married Fay R. Gates on Sept. 20, 1957 in Rockford, IL.  He preceded her in 2005.  Marilyn loved to collect angels.  She...

Mar 16, 2022

Douglas H. Love, age 81, formerly of Davis Junction and Stillman Valley, died Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at his home in Byron.  He was born April 9, 1940 in his parents' car at the intersection of 7th Street and Charles Steet in Rockford, IL.  He was the son of Leo G. and Dorothy “Alice” (Nelson) Love.  Doug graduated from...

Mar 11, 2022

Chana – Robert Edwin Anderson, age 93, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022.  He was born August 2, 1928 on the family farm near Chana the son of Edwin F. and Ouida F. (Barnes) Anderson.   Bob was drafted into the US Army and served his country in Korea.  Bob farmed the family farm for many years prior to becoming...

Mar 9, 2022

Oregon – Mariel J. Holm, age 89, died Wednesday, March 9, 2022.  She was born September 23, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois the daughter to Raymond E. and Mary (Flasko) Gieselmann.  Mariel graduated from Blue Island School District High School in 1950. She married John F. Holm on August 11, 1951, in Oaklawn, Illinois. He preceded her on May 7,...

Mar 8, 2022

Chet Kobel loved his family, his friends and his community. Doing good was his thing.

Celebration of Life Open House will be held March 26, 2022 from 2-5 PM in the lower level of the Jarrett Prairie Center, 7993 N. River Rd, Byron, IL 61010.

Memorials to the Village of Progress, the Daily Bread Soup...

Feb 28, 2022

Stillman Valley, IL – Joann W. Hayton, age 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 28, 2022 at her daughter’s home, in the tender loving care of her six children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.  She was born February 29, 1936, a leap year baby, in Cowles, Nebraska the daughter of Ed and Meta (Schiermeyer) Blobaum. They moved to Paynes Point,...

Feb 27, 2022

Barbara J. Jacobs, age 58, passed away at home on February 27, 2022. She was born on February 20, 1964 in Rockford the daughter of Don and Eloise (Roberts) Fisher. She married Barry Jacobs on March 14, 1985. Barbara worked for Kable Printing in Mt. Morris for many years prior to it closing. She was a fan of watching...