Obituaries

Sep 12, 2020

On September 12, Gary Bauer, loving husband, father, brother, and son, passed away at the age of 74 in his home.

Gary was born February 17, 1946 in Mendota to Gilbert and Virginia (Bell) Bauer, the oldest of four children. He grew up and farmed in West Brooklyn, and he attended school in Shaw Station, Compton, and Mendota where he was a member of...

Sep 7, 2020

Betty L. Barnes, age 90, and long time Byron resident, died on Monday September 7, 2020 at The Atrium in Rockford. She was born on June 15, 1930 in Grand Detour, IL the daughter of Francis and Mary (Aurand) Newhausen.  She married Winfred H. “Brother” Barnes on June 17, 1949 in Oregon, IL. He passed away on April 4,...

Sep 1, 2020

Carole A. Ritter, 87, longtime Oregon resident, died Tuesday, September 1, 2020 in Pinecrest Manor. Mt. Morris. Born August 10, 1933 in LaSalle, IL, the daughter of Carl and Helen (Holahan) Selmer. Married to S. Wayne Ritter July 30, 1955 in Utica, IL; he died February 7, 2010. Carole was a 1951 graduate of LaSalle-Peru High School and attended...

Aug 25, 2020

Harlan L. Holm, 65, lifelong Oregon resident , died suddenly Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born May 17, 1955 in Chicago, the son of John F. and Mariel (Gieselmann) Holm. Married to Patricia Bott March 3, 1984 in Clinton, Iowa. Harlan graduated from Oregon High School in 1973 and then from Kishwaukee College in May 1975...

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

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 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 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...