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HERBERT G. STRAUSBERGER
Herbert G. Strausberger, 86, of Waterman, Ill., passed away Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at his home.
Born May 18, 1917, in Sugar Grove, he was the son of William and Myrtle (James) Strausberger. He married Dorothy E. Sanderson on July 18, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church in DeKalb.
Herbert retired from the Shabbona State Park in 1985. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II as a Seabee in the Aleutian Islands. He was a member of the American Legion Post 654 in Waterman for 57 years. He was a past president of the Waterman Lions Club and served as a trustee for the village of Waterman for several years. He was formerly a Waterman volunteer firefighter.
He is survived by three sons, James Strausberger of Waterman, Robert Strausberger of DeKalb and Dale (Mona) Strausberger of Hinckley; three daughters, Dianne Leifheit of DeKalb, Nancy (John) Didier of Prairie View and Cheryl Strausberger of DeKalb; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Tom (Mildred) Strausberger of Sebring, Fla., and William (Diana) Strausberger of Rhinelander, Wis.; three brothers-in-law, Robert and James Sanderson and Wilfred Johnson, all of DeKalb; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, and his parents.
A private graveside service will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb.
A memorial is being established for Herbert G. Strausberger in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
BAL KRISHAN
Bal Krishan, 65, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 6, 1938, in India, he was the son of Bhagwan Das and Ram Rakhi.
Before coming to the United States, Bal earned his master's degree in economics in India and was the personnel manager for the Central Warehousing Corp. in New Delhi, India. He came to the United States in 1979 and was employed at Northern Illinois University for the past 25 years, currently serving as a library technician. He was a founding member of the Hindu Worship Society of DeKalb.
He is survived by his wife, Suman; a daughter, Deepa (Siddarth) Rajput of Cary; and three brothers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.
The funeral service will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 31, at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb. Private cremation at the Anderson Funeral Home Ltd. Crematory will follow the service. Friends may pay last respects from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home.
For information, call the Anderson Funeral Home at (815) 756-1022.
NORMAN RAY DIENST
Norman Ray Dienst, 77, of Hinckley, Ill., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at Provena Mercy Center in Aurora.
Born Dec. 31, 1926, in Pierce Township, he was the son of Ray H. and Irene G. (Stahl) Dienst. Mr. Dienst was united in marriage to Marilyn Tuttle on Feb. 22, 1947, in Sandwich; they spent the next 56 happy years of their lives together.
Norman was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Hinckley. Mr. Dienst was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Norm farmed for many years in the Hinckley area. He was a trustee of the Hinckley Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. Norman was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be missed by his family and many friends. He was very proud of his family, his daughter, Catherine, and his dearly loved grandchildren, Molly and Tyler.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Dienst of Hinckley; a daughter, Catherine (Frank) Bartels of Darnestown, Md.; and two grandchildren, Molly and Tyler Bartels of Darnestown.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Irene Dienst.
The funeral service for Mr. Dienst will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Nash-Nelson Memorial Chapel at 141 N. Maple St. in Hinckley, with the Rev. Dr. Fay Quanstrom officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Hinckley. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the memorial chapel.
Arrangements were made by Nelson Funeral Homes.
For information, call (815) 286-3247 or (630) 553-7611.
BARBARA JEAN 'BARB' BLAKE
Barbara Jean "Barb" Blake, 77, of Las Vegas, Nev., formerly of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
Born Sept. 2, 1926, in Sycamore, she was the daughter of C. Albert and Hazel Nelson.
She worked in various restaurants, Kmart, JoAnn Fabrics in DeKalb and Sycamore and most recently at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas.
She married James C. "Red" Blake on Aug. 31, 1946, in DeKalb.
She is survived by her husband, James C. "Red" Blake of DeKalb; two daughters, Judi (Bob) Glover and Kathy (John) Emberson, both of DeKalb; a son, James W. (Sukey) Blake of Maple Park; three sisters, Vera (Babe) Worden and Inez Sanders, both of Sycamore, and Betty Schaaf of Indiana; a brother, Morris (Winnie) Nelson of DeKalb; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Marie Hall, Doris Hoppe and an infant sister.
The memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave. Interment at a later date will be at Fairview Park Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established for Barbara "Barb" Blake in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
RUTH M. McDOWALL
Ruth M. McDowall, 91, of DeKalb, Ill., died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center in DeKalb.
Born Feb. 2, 1912, in Sycamore, she was the daughter of George and Mary (Simonson) Madison. She married Ross McDowall on Jan. 23, 1949, in Sycamore; he preceded her in death on Aug. 10, 1992.
Ruth worked at Northern Illinois University for 27 years as a kitchen helper, retiring in 1981. She lived in the DeKalb and Sycamore areas her entire life. Ruth was a member of the Church of Christ, on Swanson Road in Sycamore.
She is survived by a niece, Janet (Kenneth) Beaird of Iowa; a nephew, Ronald Knight of Iowa; and several great-nieces and -nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ross; and a sister.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with the Rev. Phillip Vermillion of the Church of Christ-Sycamore officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Church of Christ-Sycamore.
Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
PENNY RAE 'MIMI' PENN
Penny Rae "Mimi" Penn, 58, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, surrounded by family and friends at her home in DeKalb, Ill. She was under the loving care of Unity Hospice of Western Illinois.
Born May 3, 1945, in Gorman, Texas, she was the daughter of Ray and Lois Clark. She graduated from Junction City (Kan.) High School, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and El Centro School of Nursing in Dallas, Texas.
Penny and her husband, Dan, were kindergarten sweethearts; they married on Sept. 4, 1964, at First Baptist Church of Junction City, Kan. Her nursing career spanned three decades. Most recently she served as the nursing supervisor of Unity Hospice of Western Illinois, which is located in Rochelle. She was part of Faith Fellowship in DeKalb. Penny was well known for her love of God, piety and godliness, and her undying care for her family, as well as her compassion and sacrificial service to the needy. In addition to her hospice career, Penny served as partner in ministry with her pastor husband for 40 years.
She is survived by her husband, Daniel S. Penn; two sons, D. Shaun (Karshone) Penn of Malta and Daniel J. (Kathy) Penn of DeKalb; a daughter, Teresa R. (Anthony) Holtz of DeKalb; her mother, Lois Wilkins of DeKalb; and 12 grandchildren, Rebekah Penn, Myriam Penn and Micah Penn, all of Wheaton, Dani Rae Penn, Chase Howe and DaKota Howe, all of Malta, and Jarrod Holtz, Alex Holtz, Benjamin Holtz, Emma Penn, Isaac Penn and Augusta Mae Penn, all of DeKalb.
She was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, her father and several aunts and uncles.
A memorial service will be held in Penny's honor at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 300 E. Taylor St. in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the church.
A memorial fund has been established in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115. Memorial donations will be used to benefit Unity Hospice of Western Illinois and "Light Source," a mercy ministry of Faith Fellowship.
THOMAS J. MURPHY
Thomas James Murphy, 62, of Springfield, Ill., died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at his residence.
Born Oct. 26, 1941, in Springfield, he was the son of Thomas and Betty (Benscoter) Murphy. He married Karen Schmidt in 1960 in Springfield; he later married Andrea Murphy in 1990 in New Jersey.
He was a 1959 graduate of Springfield High School, a member of the DeMolay in 1959 and a member of Springfield and Sangamon County Rescue Squad from 1962-1967. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1963 and served in the Vietnam conflict from 1965-1966 as a sergeant. He was a firefighter and paramedic from 1967-1978 in DeKalb. He attained the rank of lieutenant with the fire department and held a key role in the establishment of the Paramedic Program. After leaving DeKalb, he worked in the Emergency Medical Services as a paramedic, and as a flight crew coordinator in the U.S. Virgin Islands, New York and New Jersey. He returned to Illinois and worked as an industrial safety consultant for Dobbertin and Associates of Decatur until his illness forced him to retire.
He is survived by his mother, Betty Murphy of Springfield; a son, Thomas (Carla) Murphy of DeKalb; a daughter, Patricia Murphy of Springfield; a stepson, Douglas B. Murphy of Springfield; a sister, Nancy Murphy Doyle of Springfield; four grandchildren; an uncle, Ernest M. Murphy of Springfield; and a niece, Bonnie Doyle, and a nephew, Michael Doyle, both of Springfield.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Murphy.
Private family services will be held Friday at Camp Butler National Cemetery. There will be no visitation. The Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County will conduct the last rites for a fallen comrade.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Fort Campbell Historical Foundation Museum Fund, P.O. Box 2133, Fort Campbell, KY 42223.
Arrangements were under the direction of Bisch & Son Funeral Home in Springfield.
For information, call (217) 544-5424.
DAVID A. CARR
David A. Carr, 62, of St. Charles, Ill., died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva.
He was born July 21, 1941, in DeKalb.
Mr. Carr served in the U.S. Army for three years as a first lieutenant. He was highly regarded as a vice president of marketing for the Follett Corp., Higher Education Division, in River Grove for 33 years.
He was a loving husband and father and a proud grandfather who enjoyed traveling, skiing, golfing and all outdoor activities.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Eva; two sons, Steven (Catherine) Carr of Downers Grove and Eric (partner, John Hiraga) Carr of Los Angeles, Calif.; two daughters, Sara (Peter) Roth of Denver, Colo., and Laura (DeMarcus) Kemp of Atlanta, Ga.; four grandchildren, Caitlin and Peter Carr and Nina and Fredrick Kemp; his mother, Jessie Carr of DeKalb; a brother, George (Joanne) Carr of Wheaton; his mother-in-law, Erma Anderson of Belvidere; a sister-in-law, Beth Pettersen of Tucson, Ariz.; two nieces; three nephews; several cousins, aunts and uncles; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Bernard, and his father-in-law, Earl Anderson.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at St. Patrick Church, 408 Cedar St. in St. Charles. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St. in St. Charles.
Contributions can be made to the Lazarus House or to the Fox Valley Special Olympics, 1 N. Lincoln Way, North Aurora, IL 60542.
For information, call (630) 584-0060.
