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RONALD GATES
Ronald L. "Gator" Gates, 66, passed away unexpectedly June 9, 2003, at Columbia University Hospital in Columbia, Mo.
Born Dec. 14, 1936, in DeKalb, he was the son of Randall and Corine (Carlson) Gates. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960-1963. He later lived in Sycamore and worked at Ideal Industries before moving to Missouri.
He is survived by three children, Ronald L. Gates Jr., Aaron and Michelle; seven grandchildren; and three brothers, Robert, James and Arlan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gary, in infancy.
Burial was private.
MARY JANE KIPP
Mary Jane Kipp, 80, of DeKalb, Ill., formerly of Chicago, passed away Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center.
She was a beloved wife and a loving mother and grandmother.
She is survived by six children, Kathy (Tony) Ferrara of Vestal, N.Y., Carl (Carole) Kipp of Oaklawn, Chris (Curt) Herrmann of Shabbona, Caroline (Paul) Riordan of Glenview, Sue (Martin) Garcia of DeKalb and Ken Kipp of Chicago; 10 grandchildren, Alex, Mike and Jon Ferrara, Bailey and Drew Herrmann, Ryan, Matthew and Caitlin Riordan, and Christian and Nicky Garcia; and many loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Kipp Jr.
The memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at St. John Fisher Church in Chicago.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center, c/o Mary Jane Kipp Memorial, 2944 Greenwood Acres Drive, DeKalb, IL 60115.
MARY LOU BROWN
Mary Lou Brown, 79, of Mendota, Ill., formerly of Rollo and Shabbona, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Mendota.
Born Nov. 6, 1923, in Hodgenville, Ky., she was the daughter of Sid and Ethel (Loyall) Gibson. She married William Brown in 1946.
Mary Lou lived in the Rollo area from 1952 until 1986 when she moved with her family to Kentucky. She moved to Mendota in 1999 when she became a resident at Heritage Manor.
She is survived by two sons, Larry Brown and Ray (Dean) Brown, both of Triumph; a daughter, Linda Long of Plano; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on May 24, 1972; a daughter, Brenda; two brothers; a sister; and a stepsister.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of cremains will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shabbona.
A memorial is being established.
Arrangements were completed by Jacobson Funeral Home in Shabbona.
RICHARD CLIFTON SPAINE JR.
Richard Clifton Spaine Jr., 75, of Vestavia, Ala., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003.
Born Sept. 16, 1928, in Portsmouth, Va., he was raised on Chesapeake Bay. He was educated at Randolph Macon College, Ashland, Va.; Albion College, Albion, Mich.; and later Garrett Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill.
An ordained Methodist minister, he had a career that spanned a series of appointments in Lexington, Ky.; Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Rockford and Green Garden. In the '60s, he also served as the founding minister of Trinity Methodist Church in Carpentersville where he directed the construction of an architecturally notable suburban parish.
His longest term of service (1967-85) was as the pastor of University Methodist Church-Wesley Foundation on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb, where he found his true vocation working with university students during the Vietnam era and its aftermath. In DeKalb, he was an early and avid supporter of public access cable television, the migrant ministries, low-cost housing projects and other social and educational causes that favored the disadvantaged.
He retired with his wife in 1991 to Vestavia, Ala., after spending his adult life in the northern Illinois area. Throughout his years, he embodied the lifelong learner through reading and study. He loved religion, philosophy, politics and art. In his later years, he remained active in the Shepard Center, audited classes at Beeson Divinity School, gave Bible study classes and enjoyed various senior and church groups. He was an active member of Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Ala.
He is survived by a son, Scott Martin Spaine of Arlington, Va.; and a daughter, Sheri Spaine (John A.) Long, and two grandchildren, Morgan Taylor Long and John Richard Long, all of Vestavia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Clifton Spaine Sr. and Lucy (Leake) Spaine, and his wife of 47 years, Dorothea (Knarr) Spaine.
The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Ala., with the Rev. Hughey Reynolds officiating. Private burial will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham. Visitation will be from 3:30-4 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
The family requests that memorials be made to Highlands United Methodist Church.
Rideout's Valley Chapel of Homewood, Ala., is directing arrangements.
HELEN A. NELSON
Helen A. Nelson, 91, of Port Angeles, Wash., died Monday, July 28, 2003.
Born Aug. 9, 1911, in Sycamore, Ill., she was the daughter of William Harrison and Annie (Nord) Cornwall. She married Gilbert Grahn Nelson in 1929. She was a 1929 graduate of Sycamore High School.
To help her family through the Depression, she ran a small restaurant, baked pies for other restaurants and worked in a coat factory sweatshop. In the '40s she and her husband bought a neighborhood grocery and started a catering business. After selling the store, they continued catering and she opened a doll shop in her home. In 1951, the Nelsons bought the largest trailer home they could find and headed for California with their three sons, a pet cat and no jobs. They stopped to visit their daughter in Port Angeles and decided to stay.
In Port Angeles, Mrs. Nelson was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Eden Valley Homemakers and T.O.P.S. She worked at the Singer Shop, sold Tupperware and owned a doll repair shop.
She is survived by three sons, David (Judy) Nelson of Edmonds, Wash., William Nelson of Charlotte, N.C., and John Nelson of Port Angeles; a daughter, Arliss Frederick of Port Angeles; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1964; a brother, Maurice Cornwall; and a sister, Virginia Bauer.
The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles, with Rev. Charles May officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to Children's Hospital, P.O. Box C-5371, Seattle, WA 98105.
Arrangements were made by Drennan & Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles.
STEVEN SALAK
Steven Michael Salak, 50, of Berkeley Heights, N.J., died suddenly Sunday, July 27, 2003, while attending Boy Scout camp in the Adirondacks with his son.
At the time of his death, Steven was Hyundai Motor America's sales operations manager for the eastern region. He had been with Hyundai since its entry into the U.S. auto market more than 16 years ago.
He is survived by his wife, Lynne; a son, David; his mother, Dolores Salak; two brothers, Scott (Darlene) and Terry (Susie); many loving nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles and dear sisters- and brothers-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his father, Mike.
The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles.
Donations would be appreciated for the New Providence Presbyterian Church, 1307 Springfield Ave., New Providence, N.J. 07974 or to the Boy Scouts of America.
MARGARET YOUNT
Margaret Louise Yount, 87, of DeKalb, Ill., died Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at her residence.
Born April 17, 1916, in Polo, she was the daughter of Byron Elmer and Mabel (Coursey) Dew. She married Frank Yount on April 17, 1937, in Oregon, Ill.
Margaret worked for many years in the drapery business, designing and making window drapes. She lived in the DeKalb community most of her life. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of DeKalb and was very active in its Circle 6. For many years, she made cakes and baked goods for DeKalb County Hospice.
She is survived by her husband, Frank; a daughter, Carol Zak; four grandchildren, Justin (Angie) Zak, Nyree Zak, David Rader and Debbie (Wally) Hjelmberg; four great-grandchildren, Tasha Stogsdill, Taylor and Reilly Zak and Peyton Zak; a brother, Glen Dew; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Cheryl Rader; a brother, Robert Dew; and a great-granddaughter, Meagan Zak.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with Pastor Terry O'Brien officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in care of Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
LOLA RHODES
Lola Shull Rhodes, 83, of Rockford, Ill., died Friday, July 25, 2003, at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.
Born March 25, 1920, in Sycamore, she was the daughter of Ora E. and Winifred (Alling) Shull. Lola married Cyrus S. Rhodes on Dec. 1, 1946, in DeKalb. She worked as a registered dietitian at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center and other institutions in the central Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania areas before retiring. Lola completed her degree in home economics at Northern Illinois University as an adult. She was active in the Blackhawk Trails Hiking Club from 1978 until the late 1980s. She also was a former volunteer with "RSVP" and a past member of the American Dietetic Association.
Lola continued to learn new skills all her life. Her talents in creative arts included sewing, quilting, painting, stitchery, woodworking and music. Lola played several instruments. From childhood, Lola was interested in the natural sciences and enjoyed many outdoor activities. A lengthy project in her later years was researching her family genealogy.
She is survived by two sisters, Edith (Warren) Willey of DeKalb and Mary Smith of Hubertus, Wis.; a brother, George (Shirley) Shull of Rockford; six nieces and nephews, Eugene (Nan) Smith of Hubertus, Bonnie (Coy) Bartell, Malva (Ron) Craft and Marsha Boose, all of Belvidere, Gerald (Linda) Willey of DeKalb and Marianna (James) Seipts of Rockford; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cyrus, in 1976; and a sister, Ethel Crawford.
The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb, with the Rev. Jack Cave officiating.
Memorials can be made to Christian Life Retirement Center in Rockford.
Arrangements were made by Fitzgerald & Associates, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108.
WILLIAM SHIELDS
William L. Shields, 84, of Sycamore, Ill., formerly of DeKalb and Homosassa Springs, Fla., passed away Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Bethany Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in DeKalb.
Born July 22, 1919, in Stanford, Ky., he was the son of Leonard and Bessie (Lowery) Shields. He married Edna Grace Houghtby on March 14, 1942, in Manchester, Tenn.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, William and his father started Shields Trucking Co., which later became DeKalb Fertilizer Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church in DeKalb and the Masonic Lodge and Lions Club of Homosassa Springs.
He is survived by his wife, Edna; five sons, Gerald (Bonnie) Shields of Littleton, Mass., Roger (Peggy) Shields of North Aurora, Gene (Annette) Shields of Kirkland, Richard (Kay) Shields of DeKalb and Mark (Diane) Shields of Kingston; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Klages of Bradenton, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Brittany Shields; his parents; and two sisters, Gladys Eden and Juanita Hunter.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb, with the Rev. David S. Bilyeu of the First Baptist Church in DeKalb officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at the funeral home, with a Masonic service recited at 7:30 p.m.
A memorial is being established for William L. Shields in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
