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Fred Cheffer
PAHRUMP, Nev. - Fred E. Cheffer, 81, of Pahrump, Nev., formerly of Kankakee, died Tuesday (July 24, 2001) after a short illness.
Cremation rites were accorded.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Kankakee.
Mr. Cheffer was retired from ITT Corporation in California as a mechanical engineer.
He was born Jan. 25, 1920, in Kankakee, the son of Elmer and Lillian Cheffer.
Surviving are his wife, the former Beulah Hair, of St. Anne, whom he married
Aug. 6, 1941; two sons and daughters-in-law, Kim and Sue Cheffer of Everett, Wash., Bruce and Jennifer Cheffer of Newport Beach, Calif.; one daughter, Linda Marten of Pahrump, Nev.; eight grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren; one sister, Beatrice Bass of Kankakee; three brothers, John Butler of Orange, Calif., Robert Cheffer of East Moline and William Cheffer of Kankakee.
One sister, Mildred Yonke, is deceased.
He was active in the Masonic Lodge.
He enjoyed fishing and travel.
Lloyd Higgerson
SARASOTA, Fla. - Lloyd Higgerson, 79, of Sarasota, Fla., former band director at Kankakee High School and Eastridge High School, died Wednesday (Dec. 12, 2001).
Cremation rites have been accorded.
Mr. Higgerson came to Kankakee in 1957. He directed the Senior High and East Junior High bands and supervised the program of the West Junior High School band, the East Side Grade School band and the West Side Grade School band. He also supervised the choral program in the district which included choruses at Kankakee High School and the two junior high schools.
He retired in 1984 as the band director at Eastridge High School.
He and his wife were the former owners of Piersol's Music House in downtown Kankakee.
He also was a director of the Kankakee Municipal Band.
He was born July 28, 1922, in Valier, Ill., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Higgerson.
Surviving are his wife, the former Ada Marie Cover, whom he married
June 12, 1947, in Centralia; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Kris Higgerson of North Brunswick, N.J.; two daughters and one son-in-law, Janet Higgerson of Englewood, Fla., Beth and Tom Mickiewicz of Sarasota, Fla.; and four grandchildren.
He served with the U.S Air Force during World War II in the African theater.
Higgerson received a bachelor's degree in music in 1949 from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in music from the University of Illinois in 1962.
He moved to Fort Myers, Fla. in 1984 where he played with local orchestras. He had spent the last four years residing in Sarasota.
He had been a member of the board of the Illinois Music Educators Association, the Illinois Education Association, the South Suburban Conference Bandmasters Association, the Kankakee Federation of Teachers, the Kankakee Musicians Union, the Valier Masonic Lodge for 18 years and a member of the First Methodist Church.
Phyllis Zobrist
EUREKA - Phyllis J. Steffen Zobrist, 70, of Eureka, and the sister of a Cissna Park resident, died Wednesday (Dec. 13, 2001) at her home.
Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home, Morton, and from 9 a.m. Saturday until the 10 a.m. services at the Goodfield Apostolic Christian Church, Goodfield, where she was a member.
Burial will be in the Goodfield-Congerville, Apostolic Christan cemetery, Congerville.
Memorials may be made to the Eureka Apostolic Christian Home, 610 W. Cruger, Eureka, IL 61530; or to the Methodist Center Hospice Program, 221 N.E. Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, IL 61636.
She was born Nov. 14, 1931, in Roanoke, the daughter of C.E. and Bena Gudeman Steffen.
Surviving are her husband, Howard Zobrist, whom she married
June 1, 1952, in Congerville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Clarence and LuAnn Zobrist, Dave and Ann Zobrist, all of Congerville, Phil and Kristel Zobrist of Goodfield; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Judy Knapp of Goodfield, Joyce and Barry Kloter of Congerville, Jenise and Mike Wiegand of Eureka; one sister and brother-in- law, Ida Mae and Eldon Rocke of Eureka; five brothers and four sisters-in-law, Eldon and Melba Steffen of Cissna Park, Ed and Mary Steffen, Duane and Lois Steffen, all of Congerville, Dr. J.R. and Allene Steffen of Goodfield, Lyle Steffen of Eureka; 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Two infant brothers are deceased.
Mary Payne
Visitation for Mary G. Payne, 89, of Kankakee, will be from 10 a.m. Saturday until the 11 a.m. service at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee, where she was a member. Rev. Robert Rucker will officiate.
Burial will be in Momence cemetery, Ganeer Township.
Arrangements are by Leggett Funeral Home, Hopkins Park.
Mrs. Payne died Monday (Dec. 10, 2001) at her home. She was born Oct. 28, 1912 in Fairfax, Ala., the daughter of George Johnson and Missouri Nolan.
Surviving are one daughter, Jo Ann Phillips of Kankakee; one uncle, Rev. Monroe Johnson of Louisville, Ky.; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Her husband, one son, and one daughter are deceased.
Mrs. Payne was a resident of the area for 38 years.
She was a member of Mother's Board and Nurse's Aid at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and a foster grandparent at St. Martin De Porres Daycare Center.
She enjoyed sewing and embroidery.
Jackie Overton
FILLMORE - Jackie "Jack" L. Overton, 60, of Fillmore, and the father of a Coal City resident, died Sunday (Dec. 9, 2001) at his home after a long illness.
Services were held Dec. 12 at the Toberman-Dean Funeral Home, Coffeen. Rev. Richard Bolin officiated.
Burial was in Olive Hill cemetery, Coffeen.
Memorials may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Foundation or to the Bond County Hospice.
Mr. Overton owned and operated a trucking company, J.L. Chance, Inc., in Diamond, before retiring to Fillmore.
Formerly of Morris and Coal City, he was a lineman for IBEW 196 and a millwright with the Carpenters and Millwrights Local 1092.
He was born Dec. 4, 1941, in Tipton County, the son of Joseph and Essie Simpson Overton. His parents are deceased.
His first wife, Nancy Hziel Overton, died in 1978.
Surviving are his wife, the former Ellen Kent, whom he married
July 27, 1982, in Coal City; two daughters, Jacquie L. Overton of Florida, Jeanette R. Overton of Coal City; one granddaughter; one sister and brother-in-law, Peggy and William Bryan of Memphis, Tenn.; one brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Rhea Overton of Summit, Miss.; one sister-in-law, Mary Overton of Covington, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
One brother, Gerald L. Overton, died Dec. 1, 2001.
He was a private pilot and loved to travel.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Johnnie Wade-Winston
ST. ANNE - Johnnie Wade-Winston, 82, of St. Anne, died today (Dec. 13, 2001) at Momence Meadows Nursing Center.
Arrangements are pending at the Leggett Funeral Home, Hopkins Park.
Kenneth Johnson
Kenneth T. Johnson, 83, of Kankakee, died today (Dec. 13, 2001) at Miller Healthcare Center, Kankakee, after an extended illness.
Arrangements are pending at the Knapp Funeral Home, Clifton.
Earl DeWall
GIBSON CITY - Earl E. DeWall, 82, of Gibson City, and the brother of a Cissna Park resident, died Wednesday (Dec. 12, 2001) at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. today at the Lamb Funeral Home, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Rev. Robert Einhouse will officiate.
Burial, with military rites by the Lee Lowery American Legion Post 568, will be in Drummer Township cemetery, Gibson City.
He served on the Ford County Board for many years.
Mr. DeWall farmed in the Melvin area after his military service. He retired in 1983 and moved to Gibson City in 1985.
He was born July 10, 1919, in Melvin, the son of Tossie and Mabel Gilmore DeWall.
His wife, the former Laura C. Holt, whom he married
July 4, 1941, in Bloomington, died June 7, 1995.
Surviving are one daughter, Jeanne C. DeWall of Gibson City; one sister, Hazel Dodd of Cissna Park; and several nieces and nephews.
One sister is deceased.
He was a 1941 graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in agriculture.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving 1942-1948 in the South Pacific. He retired as a lieutenant.
He was a member of the Melvin United Methodist Church.
He was an extensive traveler going to Russia, South America, Mexico and Europe.
Marie Oakes
Marie L. Oakes, 93, of Kankakee, formerly of LaPorte, Ind., died Tuesday (Dec. 11, 2001) at the Miller Healthcare Center.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Saturday and from noon Sunday until the 2:30 p.m. services at the Haverstock Funeral Home, 602 Maple Ave., LaPorte, Ind. Rev. Steven Friese will officiate.
Burial will be in Kingsbury cemetery, Kingsbury, Ind.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of LaPorte or to Grand Prairie United Methodist Church, Bonfield.
Mrs. Oakes had taught in Illinois for 10 years before coming to substitute teach in the LaPorte school system, where she retired after teaching for 20 years.
She was born March 20, 1908, in Bonfield, the daughter of Albert and Lillian Obrecht Stehr.
Her husband, George R. Oakes, whom she married
Oct. 14, 1934, in Bonfield, died Aug. 3, 1992.
Surviving are three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Sheila Oakes of Atherton, Calif., Kent and Susan Oakes of Denver, Colo., Ronald and Cathy Oakes of Roselle; one sister, Genevieve Philips of Kankakee; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and five step-grandchildren.
Three sisters and four brothers are deceased.
She has lived in the LaPorte area since moving from Illinois in 1935.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for 30 years.
She was also a member of the Lionettes, Naomi's Circle and the Camera Club.
She enjoyed spending winters in Florida and traveling.
R. Floyd McKinstry
GRANT PARK - R. Floyd McKinstry, 64, a lifetime farmer of Grant Park, died Wednesday (Jan. 30, 2002) at Provena St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee, surrounded and comforted by his loving family.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Sunday at the Hub Funeral Chapel, Grant Park, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, followed by a ride around "the square" before graveside services at Union Corners cemetery. Revs. Charles Anthony and Stephen Reyner will officiate.
Memorials may be made to the family for a future memorial.
He was born Jan. 21, 1938, in Kankakee, the son of Ralph F. and Effie May Griffiths McKinstry. His father died Oct. 14, 1970 and his mother died July 1, 2001.
He was raised with farming, then continued as the fifth generation on the family farm east of Grant Park.
Surviving are his wife, the former Judy Dandurand, whom he married
Jan. 25, 1964, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Kankakee; one son and daughter-in- law, Brian F. and Rhonda McKinstry of Grant Park; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Jennifer and John Tenuto of Schaumburg, Tricia and Ken Griffith of White Pigeon, Mich., Sarah McKinstry, a student at Eureka College; five grandchildren, Rebekah and Hannah Griffith, Matthew and Samuel Tenuto and Patrick Hayes; one brother, J. Byron McKinstry of Mt. Morris; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, E. David Skelley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Donald and Yoko Dandurand of Honolulu, Hawaii, Gene and Pat Dandurand of St. Peters, Mo., Richard and Carol Dandurand of Jackson, Mich., Marlene and Bill Conn of Indianapolis, Ind., Gary and Bobbi Dandurand of Chicago, Gerald "Jerry" and Jan Dandurand of Van Nuys, Calif., Larry and Connie Dandurand of Arlington, Wash., MaryJane and Joe Portaz of Hamilton, Ohio; nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
One sister, Joyce Jean Skelley, is deceased.
In his youth and as an adult, with his family, Floyd was involved in 4-H and FFA, raising and showing Holstein dairy cattle, purebred spotted hogs and beef cattle. Through these efforts many local, state and national awards were won by Floyd in his youth and continued by him and his family.
He was a member of Grant Park United Methodist Church; the Union Corners cemetery Board; the National Spotted Swine Association; and a former member of the Kankakee County Farm Bureau.
Floyd enjoyed watching his children participate in sporting events, music concerts, church plays and showing their hogs at the county, state and national shows.
Floyd never missed a chance to fish, play cards or visit with his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and family.
