Henry County, Illinois Obituary and Death Notices Collection

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Date: Sunday, 23 March 2025, at 2:39 p.m.

Frances L. Horler
December 16, 1910 - August 2, 2012

KEWANEE - Frances L. Horler passed away peacefully at Kewanee Hospital on August 2, 2012.
She was 101 years old.
She was born on December 16, 1910 in Kewanee, and was the daughter of Charles and Jennie Horler, who were immigrants to America from England.
They preceded her in death as did her two younger brothers, Lawrence and Charles, Jr.
She is survived by cousins living in Illinois, Wisconsin, and England.
Frances was raised and educated in Kewanee.
She graduated from Kewanee High School in 1927.
As a young person, she played the piano and organ for several local churches including St. John's Episcopal Church and the First United Methodist Church.
She graduated from high school while only sixteen years of age.
She attended Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois, for one year, and then, transferred to the University of Iowa, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931.
Immediately after graduation, she accepted a teaching position at Moorhead High School in Moorhead, Iowa.
Once there, she taught a variety of subjects including English, History, and Latin.
She also served as the school’s Guidance Counselor.
In 1935, she returned to Kewanee, and accepted a teaching position at Kewanee High School, where she taught English, Latin, and Biology.
She was eventually appointed head of the English Department and also served the school as Class Advisor and Homeroom teacher.
She spent her summers advancing her education at various universities around the country.
She earned her first Master of Arts in English degree from the University of Illinois in 1942, and later, a second Master of Arts in English Education degree from the University of Chicago in 1946.
In 1945, she left Kewanee, and entered the Doctoral Program at the University of Chicago.
As a graduate assistant, she had the opportunity to personally tutor the children of Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, who was one of the inventors of the atomic bomb.
She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Chicago in 1950, while holding a teaching position at Rochester University in Rochester, New York.
At Rochester, she taught Comparative and International Education courses.
She also served as Department Chairperson for the Department of Psychological and Social Foundations.
Her education did not end with her Ph. D.
Some of her summers were spent abroad doing Post-doctoral studies at the University of London and at the University of Mexico.
She also participated in summer institutes here in the United States, at the University of New Mexico and Columbia University.
In her capacity as Professor of International Education at Rochester, she also used her summers to travel the world.
During her lifetime, she visited every continent in the world and most of the major countries.
At the university she often participated in hosting visiting politicians and world leaders.
She became friends with such famous leaders as President Eisenhower, President Roosevelt, President Kennedy, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Madelyn Albright.
On one of her foreign trips, she had tea with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India.
She also visited both the Arctic and Antarctic regions and even camped on the ice in Antarctica.
She was a very effective member on a United Nations Study Team on Peace Keeping to Israel in 1976.
When she retired from the university in 1978, she was honored by them, by being named Professor Emeritus.
After a thirty-year career at Rochester University, she accepted a post retirement position teaching international relations and English as a Foreign Language at Kobe YMCA University in Kobe, Japan.
With the capability of speaking five languages including Japanese, she was a natural for the job.
She remained in Kobe for four years.
Since she was already in the Far East, she enhanced her knowledge even further by making a Cultural visit to The People’s Republic of China in 1980.
She finally returned to the United States, in 1982, to live out her retirement years near her brother, Lawrence, in the San Francisco area.
While living in Rohnert Park, she frequently took advantage of special intellectual offerings made possible by nearby Santa Rosa Community College.
In 2000, at the age of ninety, she returned to Kewanee to establish the Horler Scholarship in honor of her brother.
The scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving graduate of Kewanee High School selected by the members of the high school faculty.
During her visit, she also provided major gifts to assist the music programs of both Wethersfield and Kewanee High Schools.
Dr. Horler will be most remembered for her skills as a teacher and for the many ways she encouraged students to live up to their true potential.
She will also be remembered as a great class advisor and most of all, a good friend.
Both she and her brother loved Kewanee, and demonstrated it by helping our Kewanee young people through their bequests, personal involvement, and dedication.
There will be no visitation.
Dr. Horler was cremated.
Her remains were interred in the family burial plot at Pleasant View Cemetery.
A memorial service will be conducted at a future date.
Anyone wishing to remember Dr. Frances Horler may do so by sending a gift to the Horler Fund at the Kewanee, Schools Foundation, 1211 E. Third St., Kewanee, IL. 61443.

Robert "Tuffy" D. DeReu
(March 19, 1932 - September 5, 2012)
U.S. Veteran

KEWANEE - Robert D. “Tuffy” DeReu, 80, of Kewanee, died at 8:35 PM Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at the home of his daughter in Scottsville, KY.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 11 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee.
Fr. Jerry Rafalko will officiate.
Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday, September 10 at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Evergreen Memory Gardens, where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council.
Memorials can be directed to the family for a memorial to be established.
He was born on March 19, 1932 in Atkinson, IL, the son of Virgil and Blanche (Bickers) DeReu.
He was first married to Joyce L. Wiley on January 8, 1953 in Kewanee, and she preceded him in death on February 14, 1986.
He then married Jacqueline L. “Jackie” Wilsey on March 28, 1987 in Kewanee, and she preceded him in death on March 20, 2009.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard and a sister, Donna Minton.
He is survived by three sons, Kevin (Beverly) DeReu, Michael (Edie) DeReu and Jim (Alicia) DeReu, all of Kewanee, two daughters, Colleen “Cookie” (Mark) White of Scottsville, KY, and Nancy (Jeff) Bates of Franklin, KY, fourteen grandchildren, Scott, Chris, Janelle, Harmony, Drew, Hannah, Ashley, Nicolas, Lucas, Matthew, Nichole, Michael, Cassandra and Blake, twelve great-grandchildren, Emily, Kasen, Carson, Alexis, Madison, Jaxon, Thomas, Bailey, Bradon, Braxton, Jacob and Whitney, one great-great-granddaughter, Olivia, a sister, Kathleen (Jim) Cable of Galva, two special nephews that he helped raise, Larry and Brian Rosebeck and several nieces and nephews.
Tuffy had attended Kewanee Schools and then served his country in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954. He then worked at Martin Trailer which later became Hyster.
He had worked as a welder and then as a maintenance worker for 38 years until he retired.
He was a member of the Kewanee Veterans Council, the VFW, the American Legion and the 40 & 8.
He enjoyed fishing, bowling, telling jokes and stories, but was especially proud of his family and grandchildren.

Alan L. Kuster
(July 14, 1933 - August 7, 2012)
U.S. Veteran

KEWANEE - Alan L. Kuster, 79, of Kewanee, died at 6:04 PM Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Kewanee Care Home.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee.
Pastor Dennis Keane and Pastor Bob Curry will officiate.
Visitation will be on Thursday, August 9 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home in Kewanee.
Burial will be at Pleasant View Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council.
Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational Church, the Kewanee Veteran’s Council or the Paralyzed Veteran’s of America.
He was born July 14, 1933 in Kewanee, the son of Herbert and Della Mae (Clark) Kuster.
He married Imogene E. Hurt on June 30, 1956 in Kewanee.
She survives, as do his children, Bruce (Beth) Kuster of Shelton, WA, Debra Teerlinck of Milton, WI, Twyla (Richard) Tholin of Kewanee, Mark Kuster of Kewanee and Terry Kuster of Blue Grass, IA, a foster daughter, Tammy (Tony) Stoner of Kewanee, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Tim, a sister, Anna Mae, a brother, Herman “Bud” and a great-granddaughter, Bryley.
Alan had attended Kewanee Schools.
He served his country with the Air Force during the Korean Conflict from 1952-56 and was stationed in Thule, Greenland.
He had worked at Hyster Co. in Kewanee, for 20 years and then as a dispatcher for the Kewanee Police Department.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church and was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #8078 and the NRA.
He was also a member of the American Legion and a past member of the Kewanee Veterans Council Military Honor’s Team as a rifle squad member.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and football.
In his earlier years he enjoyed dancing.

Donald VanRaemdonk
October 29, 1923 - September 6, 2012

KEWANEE - Donald VanRaemdonk, 88, formerly of Kewanee, died on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Seminary Manor in Galesburg.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, September 12 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee.
Deacon Martin VanMeltebeck will officiate.
Memorials may be directed to the Visitation School Foundation in Kewanee.
Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee, is in charge of arrangements.
He was born on October 29, 1923 in Kewanee, the son of Raphael and Emma (Vershaw) VanRaemdonk.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Reesa VanRaemdonk, his parents, brother, Henry (Hank) and sister, Pauline Scott.
He is survived by two daughters, Beth Epstein (Jon David) and Michele Burta (David) and two grandsons, Joseph Ellis and Max Burta.
Don graduated from Kewanee High School where he played basketball.
He had been an active member of the Henry County Republican Party.
He enjoyed fishing, golf, and following the golf career of his grandnephew, Tim Herron.

Kayla Halsall
(September 6, 1991 - August 7, 2012)

Galva - Kayla J. Halsall, 20, of Galva, was pronounced dead at 6:50 AM Tuesday, August 7, 2012 on Hwy 17, 3 miles east of Woodhull, from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle auto accident.
Visitation will be on Saturday, August 11 from 3-8 PM at Rux Funeral Home, Galva.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday at 2 PM at the First Baptist Church in Galva.
Pastor Don Reul will officiate.
Burial will be in the Galva Cemetery.
Memorials can be directed to the Kayla Halsall Memorial Fund.
Kayla was born on September 6, 1991 in Kewanee, the daughter of Jay D. And Lisa A. Robinson Halsall.
She is survived by her mother and step-father, Lisa (Wally) Bass of Woodhull, a brother, Dane Halsall of Peoria, IL, her maternal grandmother Carole (Doug) Knighton of Galva, her maternal step-grandmother, Sharon Lappin of Kewanee, her paternal step-grandmother, Linda Halsall of Rock Island, Il, an aunt, Pam (Steve) King and their children, Conner and Olivia and uncles, David (Rose) Robinson and their children, Justin and Ashley, Mike Robinson (and partner Martin Thompson) and Joe (April) Fjeld and their children, Kyla, Tristen and MaKenna.
She was preceded in death by her father Jay, maternal grandfather, Bill Lappin and paternal grandparents, Roger Halsall and JoAnn Dierdorff.
She was a 2010 graduate of Galva High School, where she was active in softball and basketball.
In her senior year, she was the Homecoming Queen.
As a Junior at Southern Illinois University, she majored in Psychology.
Through that program, she was engaged in doing community work in the Carbondale area.
She had also been working as a hostess at Lone Star Steakhouse.
Kayla was a free spirit and she thoroughly enjoyed life.
She was a pet lover and was truly committed to her family and friends and will be deeply missed by all who were touched by her life.

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