Obituaries

Aug 20, 2020

Kenneth P. Bontjes, age 96, of Byron passed away peacefully on Thursday August 20, 2020 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford. He was born in Stillman Valley, IL on July 13, 1924 the son of George and Mary (Caton) Bontjes. He married Lois Harper on July 18, 1982 in Byron. Kenneth was a sprinkler fitter with Union 669 for...

Aug 11, 2020

Richard T. Warren, 84, longtime Oregon/Mt. Morris, resident, died suddenly Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born September 29, 1935 in Superior, WI , the son of Jeffrey and Laura (Gorsuch ) Warren. Married Carolyn Lackey January 7, 1959 in Carey, IL; she died July 7, 2004. Richard was a veteran of the US Army and Navy...

Aug 8, 2020

Harold E. Newhausen, 88, of Sullivan, MO formally of Byron; passed away at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan on Saturday August 8, 2020. Harold was born in Amboy, Illinois on December 28, 1931 to the late Francis and Mary (Aurand) Newhausen. Harold Graduated from Stillman High School. He later married the love of his life Anna Mae Hoting on...

Aug 8, 2020

Franklin Grove – Nathan L. Pretzsch, age 30, died Saturday, August 8, 2020 at his home in Franklin Grove.  He was born June 14, 1990 in Rockford the son of David and Vonda (Gilbert) Pretzsch.  Nathan graduated from Oregon High School in 2008.  He married Samantha Dewey on Aug. 24, 2018.  Nathan loved to go fishing, was a wonderful...

Aug 6, 2020

Bill B. Becker, 90, longtime Oregon resident, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2020 in Rock River Hospice Home, Sterling. Born August 11, 1929 in Marseilles, IL, the son of Howard and Valdean (Marks) Becker. Married to Mary Anne  Robertson September 15, 1950. Bill graduated from Oregon High School with the class of 1948 and served in the Army National...

Aug 4, 2020

Byron – William R. “Bill” Brown, age 83, died Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at the Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon surrounded by his loving family.  He was born July 15, 1937 in Menominee, Michigan the son of Ralph and Beatrice (Johnson) Brown. He married Patricia Gambrel on June 5, 1965 in Byron, IL.    Bill served his country...

Aug 1, 2020

Bonnie R. Hinkle, 84, passed away on August 1, 2020 at Serenity Home, Oregon. She was born September 9, 1935 in Elmhurst, the daughter of Frank and Ruth (Obrecht) Bolwahnn.

After living most of her childhood in Glen Ellyn, IL, Bonnie’s family moved to Oregon, IL, where she graduated high school. She then attended Northern Illinois University...

Jul 30, 2020

Chana – Gilbert G. DeWitt, age 97, died Thursday, July 30, 2020 at his home near Chana.  He was born November 9, 1922 near Mill Creek, IL the son of James and Murray (Miller) DeWitt.  He graduated from Tamms Community High School in 1940.  He married Hazel M. Mowery on Nov. 12, 1944 in Blytheville, Arkansas.  Hazel preceded him...

Jul 28, 2020

Rodger W. Oesterheld, 83, longtime Byron resident, died Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Serenity Hospice Home, Oregon. Born October 13, 1936 in Rochelle, the son of William A. and Hortense (Rodgers) Oesterheld. Married to Virgie Burns May 31, 1958 in Elkhorn, WI. Rodger was a 1954 graduate of Rochelle High School and was employed in maintenance by the Stillman...

Jul 27, 2020

Oregon, IL – James Arthur “Jim” Jackson, age 87, died Monday, July 27, 2020 at his home on the Rock River.  He was born August 29, 1932 in Hinsdale, IL the son of Alvin and Isabel (Shrobe) Jackson.  He graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1952 and attended 5 years of plumbing trade school.  He served his country...

Jul 26, 2020

Edward J. “Doc” Howes, DVM, 87, formerly of Oregon, passed away peacefully Sunday July 26, 2020 in his home in Rockford with his family at his side. Born March 20, 1933 in Waukon, Iowa the son of Raymond and Cecelia (Teeling) Howes. Married to Shirley Casotti June 27, 1959 in Ames, Iowa. He was a graduate of St. Patrick...

Jul 23, 2020

Robert L. Martin, 78, lifelong Oregon resident, died Thursday, July 23, 2020 in his home. Born July 31, 1941 in Oregon, the son of Eugene and Clara (Bolthouse) Martin. Married to Rita Kersten April 29, 1962 in Oregon. Bob was a 1959 graduate of Oregon High School and was employed 47 years at Wood’s Manufacturing, starting the day after...

Jul 22, 2020

Christopher Paul Strouse, 50, lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at his home in Rockford, Il on July 22, 2020. He came into our world May 19, 1970 in Rockford to Clinton and Judy King Strouse. Christopher graduated Oregon High school in 1988. Attended Rock Valley College, studying automotive repair, then went to truck driving school...

Jul 22, 2020

Oregon - Debbie Fane, age 64, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 22, 2020 in her home surrounded by her husband and daughters.  She is survived by her husband Ed Fane, daughters Lauren (Chris Corso) Fane and Courtney Fane, brothers Brian Swindells, Mark (Kathy) Swindells, Michael (Laurie) Swindells, Sister Dana (Colby) Vogt, and many nieces and nephews.  Debbie was born...

Jul 21, 2020

Donald L. “Buster” Hoffman, 92, lifelong Oregon resident, died Tuesday, July 21, 2020 in his home. Born October 28, 1927 in rural Oregon, the son of Charles and Lettie (McLaughlin) Hoffman. Married to Shirley Dummer January 28, 1957 in Byron. Buster was a US Army veteran serving during World War 2 and had been employed by Gilbert Tree Service...

Jul 19, 2020

Dixon – Kenneth W. Peterson, II, age 58, died Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Oregon Living and Rehab Center.  He was born August 1, 1961 in Dixon, IL the son of Kenneth W. and Kathleen (Karper) Peterson.  He graduated from Dixon High School in 1979.  Ken Cofounded the Ultimate Carpet Cleaning in Dixon, IL where he worked until his...

Jul 13, 2020

Billy Dean Maples,  82, of Oregon, died Monday, July 13, 2020 in his home and is finally back with his true love and wife, Tootsie. Born August 25, 1937 in Alicia, AR, the son of Russell and Myrtle (Reilly) Maples. Married to Yvonne “Tootsie” Parsons July 21, 1956 in Hernando, MS and enjoyed 62 years of marriage before her...

Jul 12, 2020

Oregon – Robert E. Friemuth, age 61, left this earthly life on Sunday, July 12, 2020 after an 18 month battle with brain cancer, being blessed by many miracles during that journey.  He was at Serenity Hospice & Home surrounded in love and prayers by his family.  Bob was born September 14, 1958 in Rockford the son of Raymond...

Jul 12, 2020

Shirley Ann (Redden) Nolan, age 81, passed away on Sunday July 12, 2020 at Oak Hill Senior Living in Waterloo, IL. She was born in Iowa on September 9, 1938 the daughter of Paul and Mildred (Musel) Nolan. Shirley was a very outgoing woman who achieved anything she set her mind too. She was an accomplished business woman running...

Jul 8, 2020

Iva N. Bartell, 89, longtime Oregon resident, died Wednesday, July 8, 2020 in KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born September 1, 1930 in Oakwood, IL, the daughter of David and Ermal (Morman) Nelson. Married to Myron Bartell Ociober 13, 1951 in Rantoul, IL. Iva was a graduate of Oakwood Township High School. She  lived in Oregon since 1967, was a member...