Obituaries

Sep 5, 2022

On Monday, September 5th Charles Armour Williams (A.K.A. Chuck or Bub) was called home after a long and fulfilling life. Chuck was born on July 25th, 1930 to Charles H. and Margaret Williams of Stillman Valley, the eldest of what would become six siblings (3 brothers and 3 sisters). Throughout the trials of the Great Depression he attended a...

Aug 28, 2022

After a long battle with chronic illness complicated by cancer, Catherine “Cathy” Holland passed away at her home surrounded by love on Sunday morning August 28, 2022. Born August 27, 1952 in Rockford, Illinois to Paul and Elizabeth Holland. Cathy, the third child of the original seven, grew up in Oregon, Illinois and graduated from Oregon High School in...

Aug 25, 2022

Richard  “Arnie”  Messer, 88, of Byron died Thursday August 25, 2022 in Swedish-American Hospital, Rockford. He was born October 1, 1933 the son of Kenneth and Mildred (Pettinger) Messer. He married Betty Houpt in Mt. Morris, IL on June 1, 1962.

Arnie worked in the printing industry for Kable Printing, Rockford Morning Star Newspaper, and CCS in...

Aug 20, 2022

Alice F. (Gibbs) Schaefer, age 100, passed away on August 20, 2022 at Fair Haven Retirement Center in Rockford. Born January 10, 1922 in rural Byron, Illinois. Daughter of Oscar F. and Grace (Berends) Snyder. She gradated from Byron High School in 1939. She married Robert “Bub” Gibbs in Stillman Valley in 1947. He died in 1978. She lived...

Aug 16, 2022

Russell Eugene Hoernecke, age 78, of Byron passed away on August 16, 2022 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford after suffering multiple long-term illnesses and a broken heart. He is now home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Russell was born on September 21, 1943 in Rockford, the son of L. Kruse and Ruth (Champlain) Hoernecke. Russ graduated...

Aug 9, 2022

Oregon, IL – Mary L. Himbert, age 97, died Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at the P.A. Peterson Home in Rockford, Illinois.  She was born June 14, 1925 in Rockford, Illinois the daughter of Magdaline and Adolph Herron.  Mary attended East High School and Hamilton Business School in Rockford, Illinois.  She married Stanley P. Himbert on September 28, 1946 at...

Aug 3, 2022

Donald Edward Welsh, age 79, passed away on August 3, 2022. He was born on January 4, 1943 in Seneca, Wisconsin the son of Edward and Edith (Emerson) Welsh. Donald attended and graduated from Gays Mills High School where he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life Carolyn Hulsizer. They married on May 18, 1963. He...

Jul 30, 2022

Richard M. “Rich” Edlund, age 43, died Saturday, July, 30, 2022.  He was born August 11, 1978 in Morrison, IL the son of Robert and Laury (Black) Edlund.  He graduated from Ashton High School in 1996 and attended Whiteside Area Vocational School for auto body.  He served his country in the U.S. Army for 10 years as a 62F...

Jul 28, 2022

Robert A. Pfab, age 79, passed away at home surrounded by family on July 28, 2022. He was born on May 3, 1943 in Oglesby, IL the son of Adolf and Mary (Chlebus) Pfab. He married the love of his life Doris Elder on April 20, 1991. Robert spent his life farming which he loved; even spending spare time...

Jul 25, 2022

Gary M. Christensen, age 80, passed away on July 25, 2022 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon. He was born on April 17, 1942 in Dekalb, IL the son of Marvin and Marjorie (Houghtby) Christensen. He graduated from Waterman High School. He married Beverly Kleveland on May 20, 1989 at United Presbyterian Church in Somonauk, IL. Gary was...

Jul 25, 2022

Lyle E. Hayes, age 89, died Monday, July 25, 2022 at the Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL.  Lyle was born October 2, 1932 in Rochelle, Illinois the son of Ralph P. and Emma “Rosella” (Sassaman) Hayes.  He attended Kings School through the 10th grade and graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1950.  Lyle married Joan Hepfer...

Jul 22, 2022

Arthur “A.J.” Zacharias, age 32, passed away on July 22, 2022 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. He was born on September 12, 1989 to William and Frankie Zacharias. He married Kristin Dolieslager on October 31, 2020. A.J. loved his kids and being a dad. He was a family man through and through who loved family get...

Jul 19, 2022

On Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Philip Houston, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully and with his family at the age of 87. Phil was born September 16, 1934 to Edna and Kenneth Houston. He graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1953, during which time he met Carol Mohr. After volunteering for the U. S. Army and...

Jul 18, 2022

Cyrus A. Wiesner, age 28, died Monday, July 18, 2022. He was born January 11, 1994 in Rockford, IL the son of Richard Wiesner Jr. and Kelly Newton. He graduated from Oregon High School in 2012 and attended Colorado Technical University. Cyrus worked for DeVry University. His hobbies included spending time with friends and family, video gaming and keeping...

Jul 17, 2022

Rockford – Larry Dean Martin, age 78, died Sunday, July 17, 2022 at Morning Star Village in Rockford, where he resided.  He was born April 11, 1944 in Oregon, IL the son of Eugene E. and Clara A. (Bolthouse) Martin.  Larry attended Oregon Schools.  He worked many years for Local # 150 of Rockford as a heavy equipment operator. ...

Jul 16, 2022

Leona Ruth (Roos) Groenhagen, age 92, passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Serenity Hospice and Home, Oregon, surrounded by her loving family. Leona was born on June 30, 1930, in Oregon, Illinois, the daughter of Andrew and Anna (Bolthouse) Roos. She graduated from Oregon High School in 1948. While in high school, she met the love of...

Jul 16, 2022

Terry A. Zeigler, Byron, IL, 65, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Terry was born on May 8, 1957; in Defiance, Ohio son of the late Harlan and Evelyn (Harden) Zeigler. On August 26, 1978 he married Janice Little and she survives in Byron IL. Survivors include 2 children, Daniel (Ann) Zeigler of Byron...

Jul 11, 2022

Patricia Ann Carpenter, age 91, died Monday, July 11, 2022 at the Pinecrest Community in Mt. Morris.  She was born Jan 13, 1931 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Charles and Erma (Kronk) Wagner of Mt. Morris Illinois.

She graduated Mt. Morris High School in 1949 and married Eugene Johnson on November 27, 1949.  Eugene died in 1965...

Jul 6, 2022

Sylvia Marie Etnyre, age 97, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.  She was born July 4, 1925 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Arthur Harry and Florence Cliff (Ransom) Nielsen.  Sylvia graduated from Rockford West High School in 1943. She attended Carleton College in North Field, Minnesota for 2 years prior to transferring to...

Jul 5, 2022

Charles W. Dilbeck, Jr., 88, of Oregon died Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at KSB Hospital, Dixon.  He was born February 8, 1934 in Oconee, IL, the son of Charles W. & Anna (Howell) Dilbeck, Sr. He married Phyllis J. Helman in Adeline, IL on Feb. 15, 1954; she died in 2015.  Charles lived over 30 years in the Leaf...