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Katharine "Kate" Barnes
Kate Barnes, of Mt. Vernon, Maine, died as a result of an accident on May 15, 2004. She was born on August 30, 1956 in Elgin to Harry and Donna Barnes.
You probably couldn't find Kate Barnes in the crowd. That's because while the crowd was standing around talking, Kate was rolling up her sleeves and digging in for the benefit of the crowd.
Sometimes, it was literally digging, since gardening and harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables were a passion of hers. That gardening hat had to share time, however, with the nurturing of children. As a teacher, she helped many young people find the path toward life-long learning. She even took that "teaching" to Spain, where she did volunteer work teaching English to speakers of other languages.
For many others, she was a committed social justice advocate, spending many hours lobbying for a better human condition with her work for Habitat for Humanity as well as rallies in Washington, adding her strong voice to benefit people in need.
Her strength was also physical. An avid outdoorswoman, Kate and her family kept a camp on Torsey Lake where she could be found kayaking with her daughter, Marina and Partner, Terri, or resting momentarily in the hammock to read the latest novel on her list of significant literature before she took to the trail to run with her dogs.
After her workout, she could be found in the kitchen whipping up her favorite Shrimp with Red Pepper Sauce meal much to the delight of her huge circle of friends, which spanned from Elgin, IL to Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in History and also played four years of collegiate volleyball and captained the team as well, to a house in North Aurora, IL, where she practiced her professional wallpaper hanging skills for her brother Dave and his wife Donna Barnes, to Vermont where she first taught history, to New Hampshire and Massachusetts where she worked outdoors as a land surveyor and also an interior decorator, and finally to Mt. Vernon, Maine, where she became an active community member, taught school, and rehabbed the Cram House for her appreciative family.
Services for Ms. Barnes will be held at the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home at One Church Street in Augusta at 2 p.m. with visitation to follow from 3-4:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon Elementary School Playground Project, Mount Vernon, ME 04352. For further information call 866-623-8722 or www.khrfuneralhomes.com
Marian "Mitz" Groebner
Marian "Mitz Groebner, age 71, of rural Brodhead, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2004, at her home. She was born on October 27, 1932 in Hampshire, IL, the daughter of Ernest and Alta (Tewksbury) Allen. She married
Ronald Groebner on February 7, 1953 in Hampshire, IL.
Mitz had lived in Hampshire for 43 years before moving to Brodhead in 1975 with her husband Ronald. They continued farming in rural Brodhead and owned operated 'Happy Crap Acres'. She loved to quilt, being with her children and grandchildren. She also loved animals and the North woods.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald, six children Marian (Paul) Hosick, Carol (day) Row, both of Hampshire, IL Mike Groebner, Pat (Laurie) Groebner both of Brodhead, WI, Terri (Mike) Fisher, Ogdensburg, WI and Barb (Shawn) Casper, Poplar Grove, IL, seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sisters, LaValle Pfaffinger, Carol Crane, Cleo VanVleet, Garn Hosltead, Lois Allen, and a brother, Sid Allen. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Si and Miles Allen.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 from 5:00p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Brodhead, WI. Private funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2004. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery, Brodhead. The family has requested that memorials be made to the Ronald McDonald House.
Carol M. Lawson
Carol M. Lawson, 72, of Crystal Lake, formerly of Dundee, beloved wife of the late John L. Lawson died at her home Sunday, May 23, 2004. She was born on December 3, 1931 in Elgin to the late Bernhardt and Alida E. (nee Merritt) Follman. She worked at Crichton's Meat Packing in Dundee from 1950 to 1957. She also worked many years at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin as a Nurse's Aide. Carol was a life long member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Pingree Grove. She was very involved in the LWML and the AAL Church fund-raising activities.
Loving mother, she is survived by her children, Ivan (Jan) Lawson and Mary Lawson; her dear grandchildren, Benjamin and Daria Lawson; her sister, Janis (Walter) Otto; her brothers, Glen (Christine) Follman and Gary (Judy) Follman; and many very cherished friends and relatives.
Funeral Services will be on Friday, May 28, 2004 at 11 AM at the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Pingree Grove. Burial will follow at the River Valley Memorial Gardens in West Dundee. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 27, 2004 from 3 to 9 PM in the Miller Funeral Home, West Dundee and on Friday in church from 10 AM until time of service. Memorials may be made to the St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Pingree Grove or the Make a Wish Foundation.
Hazel Orkfritz
Hazel Orkfritz, 88, of Elgin, passed away Sunday at Sherman Hospital. She was born May 13, 1916 in Elgin, the daughter of Frank and Frida Schmidt Plummer.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Elgin.
Survivors include her husband, Normal; one son, Roger (Betty) of Wheaton; one granddaughter, Christine (David) Krieg; three grandsons, Richard (Janell) Orkfritz, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Orkfritz, and Timothy (Jodi) Orkfritz; two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Thomas; one brother, Robert Plummer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Mildred Volpp; one brother, Granville Plummer.
Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. at Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St., Elgin with Rev. Thomas Niermann officiating. Burial will be in Bluff City cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:30 a.m until the time of services at 1:30 p.m.
Edward Schneider
Edward Schneider, 91, of Elgin passed away Sunday, May 23, 2004 at Apostolic Christian Resthaven after a lingering illness. He was born September 30, 1912 in Freeport, IL, the son of William R. and Edith Dolby Schneider. He was a 58 year member of Epworth United Methodist Church and a 55 year member and Past President of the Elgin Lions Club. He was presented the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian services in 1997. He married
Edith Pollitt on November 6, 1937 and lived in rural Elgin most of his life. He was founder and owner of Edward Schneider Sand & Gravel Co., Schneider Trucking Co., and Schneider Excavating Inc. from which he retired in 1979. He enjoyed playing many musical instruments and making home made candy for which he was known as "Candy Man".
Survivors include his wife, Edith; daughters, Jean (Jack) Hayes and Mary (Ron) Perkiser; four grandchildren, Steven (Elaine) Hayes, Kathleen (Kent) Brown, Kimberly (Kyle) Baker and Sarah (Ryan) Gettinger; seven great grandchildren; all of Elgin; two brothers, Reverend Robert (Doris) of Elgin and Stanley (Joan) of Lena, IL; and a sister, Bessie (late, Dan) of Aurora.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Frank in infancy and Reverend William G. (Olive); and two sisters, Edith (Everett) Battin and Dorothy Johnson.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 10 AM at Epworth United Methodist Church, Corner of Randall and Highland. Burial will be in Lakewood Memorial Park. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 PM at Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St.
The family respectfully requests omission of flowers. Memorials to Epworth United Methodist Church or Elgin Lions Club or Apostolic Christian Resthaven.
Ella Jane (Smith) Blakesley
Ella Jane (Smith) Blakesley died on May 3, 2005 in Marina del Rey, California.
She was born May 9, 1913 in Elgin, Illinois, and lived in Elgin until she retired in 1976, when she moved with her husband, Leonard Earl Blakesley, to Marina del Rey, California.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Leonard Earl Blakesley; her mother, Alice Philomene (Stanson) Smith; her father, Phineas Hugh Smith; and the following brothers and sisters, James Smith, Marion "Toots" (Smith) Goode, David Smith, Richard "Pug" Smith, Katherine "Tink" (Smith) Dauel, and Donald "Snuffy" Smith.
Mrs. Blakelsey is survived by two sons, Leonard E. Blakesley, Jr. of Marina del Rey, California, and Lance H. Blakesley of Santa Monica, California; and 15 nieces and nephews and numerous grand nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Blakesley was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 958 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90403, where memorial services will be held May 28, 2005.
Any letters or notes of condolences may be sent in care of Leonard E. Blakesley, Jr., PO Box 10275, Marina del Rey, CA 90295. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ella Jane Blakesley, may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Alan J. Coulson
Alan J. Coulson was born February 22, 1936, in Glasgow, Scotland. He came to the United States shortly after the Second World War with his parents, David and Catherine F. Coulson, living first in Chicago for a couple of years and then in Elgin where he resided until recently moving to Genoa, Illinois. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1953 and later attended Elgin Community College, Chicago Tech and the University of Wisconsin. After being drafted into the U.S. Army, he served with the 101st Airborne in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. "Al was a fun-loving man who cared about his family and took special pride in having built a successful business and in his long-time hobby of flying planes," said his wife Carol of 47 years.
After returning from military service, Mr. Coulson started as a surveying and engineering assistant in Meadowdale, one of the first tract housing developments in the Chicago suburbs for G.I.s who served in the Korean War, during which time he surveyed and engineered the Meadowdale Shopping Mall which was the first of its kind in the Chicago area and the Meadowdale Race Track where some of the early NASCAR drivers got their start. Mr. Coulson's professional love was land surveying in which he pursued his education until qualified to take the state exam. After becoming licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin, he then founded Alan J. Coulson Land Surveyors in West Dundee, Illinois, in 1974. His company surveyed hundreds of tracts of land for developers, lawyers and cities throughout the Chicago suburban area and continues to thrive as a leader in land surveying.
Mr. Coulson was a member of the Illinois Land Surveyors Association, the Wisconsin Land Surveyors Association, the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was an avid pilot qualified in single and multi engine aircraft and was a member of the Airline Pilots and Owners Association. Mr. Coulson loved to fish, play golf and spend time at this family's lake home in northwestern Wisconsin.
Mr. Coulson had served as President of the Elgin Jaycees and was deemed a life member of the U.S. Jaycees Senate. He was also a former President of the Cardunal Kiwanis in West Dundee and a member of the Elgin Elks. In addition to his community work with the Jaycees, Mr. Coulson had served on the Board of Directors of the Elgin Area Family Service Association and the Elgin Land Use Board.
Mr. Coulson passed away May 21, 2005, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with his loving family beside him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his loving wife, Carol and his son, David (Jeannie) and daughters Jeanne and Georgia (Adam) Ojdyla and grandchildren Sheena, Alan, Jessica and Mathew. He is also survived by his sister, Catherine Goldschmidt of Westport, Connecticut and brother David H. Coulson of Irving, California.
Memorial services will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 28, 2005 in the Laird Funeral Home, 120 S. Third St. (Corner of Third and Oregon) West Dundee, Illinois 60118. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of services in the funeral home.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Elk's Crippled Childrens Fund c/o Laird Funeral Home.
Edwood R. "Bud" Ehlert
Mr. Ehlert was born March 1, 1912, in Elgin, IL to Herman and Pauline (Siemer) Ehlert. He passed away peacefully at his home in Sequim, WA on May 21, 2005, of age-related causes.
Bud was a World War II veteran and lifetime member of the VFW. He married
Ada Mae Shinberger on May 17, 1944, in Colorado Springs, CO. After his discharge from the Army, they made their home in Elgin where he worked at the Elgin Paper Co. and then the First National Bank of Elgin. In 1977, they happily retired and began a new chapter in their lives in Mt. Home, AR.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife in March 1995, and his younger sister, Arlene "Tootie" Schmidt in November 2001.
At his request there will be no services. Drennan-Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles, WA is in charge of cremains.
Memorials may be made to Local Hospice Care or Senior Centers.
Richard F. Miller
Richard F. Miller, 77, of Elgin, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Hospital. He was born June 19, 1927 in Elgin, the son of Frederick and Irene (Deboer) Miller.
Dick loved his winters in Venice, FL, was an avid bowler and pool player. He was a kind individual, loved his family and was a wonderful provider.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Ray.
Dick is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jane of 56 years; a daughter, Kathleen (Robert) Meier of Hampshire; a son, John (Sue) Miller of Plato Center; four grandchildren, Sarah (Erich) Bretz, Laura Meier, Josh and Amy Miller; a brother, Robert (Eleanor) Miller of Elgin; a sister, Marilyn (LeRoy) Schramm, also of Elgin; and many nieces and nephews; a favorite toy poodle, Molly.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 25, 2005 from 6:00 until the time of funeral services at 7:30 PM at the O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, Elgin, with Fr. Edward Seisser of St. Mary's Catholic Church, officiating.
Memorials may be made in Dick's memory to the St. Joseph Hospital auxiliary fund. Please visit our website at www.oconnor-leetz.com/(obituaries) to leave a condolence or call (847) 741-1400 for more information.
Peter A. Ninos
Peter A. Ninos, 60, formerly of Elgin, died suddenly of a heart attack on Monday, May 16, 2005 in his home in Germany.
Pete was a 1963 graduate of Elgin High School. He enlisted in the army in 1966 and was stationed in Germany where he met his wife and made his home after being released from the service.
He is survived by his wife, Erika; three sons; and five grandchildren, all of Germany; and two sisters, Maria Ninos of Western Springs and Connie Ninos of LaGrange and their families.
Marjorie E. Zornow
Marjorie E. Zornow, 86 of Magnet Cove, AR passed away on May 21, 2005 at National Park Madical Center. She was born on July 22, 1918 in Four Corners, AR.
Marjorie was a member of Magnet Cove Methodist Church.
preceded in death by her husband, Donald C. Zornow; father, Benjamin Kible; mother, Opel Kible; sister, Marie Summers.
Survived by son, Donald Zornow of Magnet Cove, AR; brother, George Kible of Fort Myers, FL; three sisters, Dorthy Danhorn of FL, Thelma Delaney of FL and Ruth Burna of Elgin, IL; granddaughter, Megan D. Zornow of Little Rock, AR.
Burial will take place at Sunset Crematory, Hot Springs, AR. Caruth-Hale Funeral Home, Inc. in charge of arrangements.
