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NORMA JEAN CALLAHAN
Norma Jean Callahan, 78, of St. Charles, Ill., passed away Thursday, April 8, 2004.
She is survived by a daughter, Laura (Brian) Albyn; a granddaughter, Sarah Albyn; a sister, Olive (Earl) Hungerford; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations can be sent to Anderson Animal Shelter, 1000 S. LaFox, South Elgin, IL 60177.
D. RAYMOND TOURVILLE
D. Raymond Tourville, 68, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Friday, April 9, 2004, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 9, 1935, in Springfield, Mass., he was the son of J. Bert and Lydia (Bachand) Tourville. Ray married Sharon Ann Roberts on May 8, 1965, in Niles.
Ray received his Bachelor of Arts from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., and earned his Master of Arts and doctorate at Laval University in Quebec. Ray came to Northern Illinois University in 1962 and was the professor with the longest term of service at the university. After several terms as the director of the French and Italian Division, Ray became the Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, a position he held for the past 10 years. He founded the Foreign Language Residence Program and oversaw the creation of the Foreign Language Learning Center, considered to be one of the premier language laboratories in the United States. Ray served several terms as president and treasurer of the American Association of Teachers of French and of the Illinois Foreign Language Teachers Association. He received the Palmes Academiques from the Minister of Education in France and the AATF National Teaching Award.
Ray served on numerous committees and councils at the University, none of which he was more passionate about than the University Athletic Board. He loved sports, including NIU Huskie basketball and football, the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks, all of which he was a lifetime, die-hard fan. He shared his love of sports with his children by coaching in DeKalb Youth Baseball and AYSO soccer.
Ray was a member of Christ the Teacher Parish (Newman Center) where he actively participated as a lector, choir member and Finance Committee member.
Ray enjoyed participation in the Cardiac Rehab group at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
He was a beloved brother-in-law, uncle, father-figure, mentor and friend to many.
He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Lisa (Ed) Sullivan of Chicago; and a son, Marc (fiancée Sarah Dorsey) Tourville of Chicago.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Adolph and Roger; a sister, Marguerite; and his mother-in-law, Loretta Roberts.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Christ the Teacher Parish (Newman Center) on the NIU campus with Father Steve Knox officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in DeKalb. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S. Fourth St. in DeKalb, where a spiritual wake will be held at 8 p.m.
A memorial is being established for D. Raymond Tourville for the American Heart Association, Christ the Teacher Parish and through the NIU Foundation for the Foreign Language Department.
For information, call (815) 756-1022.
GENE A. NIER
Gene A. Nier, 65, of Elburn, Ill., passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, April 9, 2004. Diagnosed with cancer in 2000, Gene fought courageously and, with the loving care of his wife, family and friends, had maintained an active normal life until recent weeks, when a rapid decline began.
Born July 27, 1938, he was the son of Arnold and Doris (Schroyer) Nier. Gene grew up in Kaneville and was a 1956 graduate of Maple Park High School. He attended the University of Illinois for a time and entered the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Gene had a mind for engineering, but no patience for desk work. Returning home, he worked with Lynn Howard, bending sheet metal for a time before discovering his niche in the world at Harms Chevrolet. He began as a mechanic on April Fool's Day, 1960, and in a very short time, he became service manager. For more than 44 years with Harms Chevrolet and its successor Bob Jass Chevrolet, Gene remained Elburn's "Mr. Goodwrench." Gene's reputation for knowledge, excellence and honesty was respected from Elburn to the GM executives. In his retirement and even through his illness, Gene kept working as a truck driver for K&P Trucking, and especially enjoyed driving a rig for Curt Meredith that was the envy of truckers all over the area.
But Gene Nier was much more than "Mr. Goodwrench." From his youth, he loved hunting and trapping, and that love of the outdoors was equally part of his life as husband, father and friend.
On Sept. 10, 1960, Gene was united in marriage to Sharon "Skip" Wilkison and they made their home in Elburn where their son, Steve, was born. In 1967, Skip and Gene went their separate ways and Gene later married Sharon Ritchey on March 21, 1970.
In their garage, Gene built everything from "fox-hunting ATVs" to experimental aircraft. He was part owner of three planes and created his own aircraft, the "Kit Fox," from scratch. His CB handle was "Sky King." Everything Gene touched had to be "Nierized" - that meant high performance, beautifully detailed and ready for anything. Gene shoved Chevy V-8s in his friends' Jeeps, united an International truck cab, a Willy's Jeep and a Chevy engine and transmission to build the greatest "fox-hunting mobile" ever, and helped Leon Meredith build dragsters.
Gene was one of the original members of the Kaneland Fox Hunters, which included annual festivities at the Rowe farm, among others. Legends abound from his annual hunting trips to Wyoming, as well as escapades in Canada, Colorado and Wisconsin where he hunted, snowmobiled and ATV'd with the best of them. He also was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his mother, Doris Nier of Kaneville; a son, Steven (Stacy) Nier and children, Drew and Katie, all of Tina, Mo.; a sister, Karen (Leonard) Heinberg of Kaneville; a brother, Myron (Lenore) Nier of Hinckley; two nieces and two nephews and their families, Kim (Mike) Paulus and children, Chris and Ben, of Sugar Grove, Susan (Jeff) Henne and children, Nick and Melanie, of Kaneville, Jeff (Cara) Nier and children, Alex, Kourtney and McKenzie, of Hinckley, and Mark (Bethany) Nier of Canastota, N.Y.; a brother-in-law, Ron (April) Ritchey and daughter, Kelly.; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews by marriage; and a countryside of friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arnold; his mother- and father-in-law, LaVerne "Bud" and Charlene Ritchey; and a sister-in-law, Sandra Carroll.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St. in Elburn, with the Rev. Katherine Lawes, pastor of Community Congregational Church, officiating. Following cremation, a private family committal service will be held at Kaneville Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the funeral home.
Memorials in his name will be donated to benefit either VNA Hospice or cancer research. Checks can be made to the Gene Nier Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119.
For information, call (630) 365-6414.
CHARLOTTE E. FAGAN
Charlotte Elaine Fagan, 82, of DeKalb, Ill., passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center in DeKalb.
Born May 9, 1921, in Aurora, she was the daughter of George and Irene (Daae) Fagan.
Charlotte was a DeKalb High School graduate and had been employed at Northern Illinois University, working with the computers, and later in life, she was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Charlotte was a good caregiver, taking care of both her parents until their time of death, and will be missed by her family.
She is survived by a brother, Gene Fagan of Aurora; a niece, Cathy (Jim) Baines of Batavia; a nephew, Mike (Lila) Fagan of Aurora; three great-nieces and great-nephews; four great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Fagan of DeKalb.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Charles and George Jr.; and a sister-in-law, Ida May Fagan.
Private family graveside services were held Monday, April 12, at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb with the Rev. Robert L. Vaughn of Earlville United Methodist Church officiating.
A memorial is being established for Charlotte E. Fagan for DeKalb County Hospice and Meals on Wheels in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, call (815) 756-1022.
OLWEN C. CHENNELL
Olwen Catherine (Jones) Chennell, 80, of Downers Grove, Ill., died Saturday, April 10, 2004, in Westmont.
She was born Aug. 6, 1923, in Chicago.
She was the beloved wife of the late Leonard; a loving mother to Bruce (Barbara), Mary and the late Ellyn Chennell; and a loving grandmother to Thomas, Brian and Stephanie Chennell, and Catherine and Valerie Espinoza.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1125 Franklin St. in Downers Grove. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at Adams-Winterfield and Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main St. in Downers Grove.
CLARENCE E. 'BUD' ENGEL
Clarence E. "Bud" Engel, 80, of Hampshire Township, Ill., passed away Thursday, April 8, 2004, at his home.
Born Jan. 31, 1924, in Hampshire Township, he was the son of Ernest and Mary (Herrmann) Engel. Clarence was in the first graduation class that began the first grade in 1929 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Grade School. He was a 1942 graduate of Hampshire High School. He married Velda J. Pease on June 20, 1945, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hampshire. They were among the first group of couples to be married at the new church.
Mr. Engel was a lifelong farmer in Hampshire Township where he raised livestock for more than 50 years. He was very proud of the Angus cattle that he raised. Bud was a former member and longtime supporter of the Hampshire FFA and 4-H. He had been awarded the State Farmer's Degree from the Illinois FFA.
Mr. Engel also was a lifelong member of the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church of Hampshire and a 50-plus-year member of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
He is survived by his wife, Velda; four sons, Dennis (Beth) Engel of Hampshire, Fred (Cheryl) Engel of Athens, Wis., Gerald (Lin) Engel of Delavan, Ill., and Charles (Susan) Engel of Burlington; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Bernice (Wini-fred) Lamkin of Hampshire, Marcella (George) Drendel of Burlington and Arlene (Lowell) Reiser of Hampshire.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, William in infancy and Stephen in 1988; and a sister, Dorothy Fay.
The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 12, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 297 E. Jefferson St. in Hampshire, with Fr. Joseph Nicolosi officiating. Burial will be at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at Fredrick Funeral Home, 284 Park St. in Hampshire, where rosary will be recited at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions in his name can be directed to the St. Charles Borromeo Capital Campaign or to DeKalb County Hospice.
HENRY J. KENSICKI
Henry J. Kensicki, 88, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, in Tucson, Ariz. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Born and raised in Dillonvale, Ohio, Mr. Kensicki studied engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He owned and operated Hank's Dairy Deluxe on Sycamore Road in DeKalb, Ill., for 19 years. Later, he served as an officer of The DeKalb Bank.
He belonged to the Lions Club, in which he served in several leadership positions, in both DeKalb and Sunsites, Ariz.
He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, The Nature Conservancy and the Polish National Alliance.
Henry was an avid gardener as well as an advocate of kindness, fairness, lifelong learning, travel and the environment.
He is survived by a sister, Viola Freeman of Yuma, Ariz.; his wife, Jeanette Kensicki of Tucson, Ariz.; five children, Connie Roux of Champaign, Kathi Balaban of Deerfield, Peter Kensicki of Richmond, Ky., Michael Kensicki of Las Vegas, Nev., and Camille Seamans of Tucson; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory in Rockford before interment at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum in Winnebago.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Muscular Disease Association - IBM Research, 2900 N. Swan Ave., Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85712.
INEZ R. RANKIN
Inez R. Rankin, 84, of DeKalb, Ill., died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center in DeKalb.
Born Jan. 17, 1920, in Garden City, S.D., she was the daughter of Fredrick and Sarah (Stoner) Russie. Inez married Alfred Rankin on Feb. 8, 1937, in Belvidere; he preceded her in death on Aug. 9, 1993.
Inez worked for General Electric in DeKalb for 30 years, retiring on Feb. 1, 1977. Inez lived in the DeKalb community since 1947. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church in DeKalb. Inez enjoyed her crossword puzzles and she loved to read.
She is survived by two daughters, Beverly Mast of Tennessee and Karen Clawson of Wisconsin; a son, Gail Rankin of Sycamore; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Freeda Wilson and Zelda Chamberlain; a brother, Jay Russie; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred; a daughter, Shirley; two sisters, Bessie Schell and Laura Schumaker; and three brothers, Glenn, Charles and Gail.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with Pastor Dan Penn, chaplain of Unity Hospice, officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials can be made to DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center in DeKalb.
Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
CAROL L. (HOPKINS) SMITH
Carole L. (Hopkins) Smith, 85, of Bradenton, Fla., and formerly of Kirkland, Ill., died Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in Bradenton.
Born July 26, 1918, she was the daughter of V.C. Hopkins and Blanche (Kistler) Hopkins in Rockford. She graduated in 1936 from Rockford Central High School where she made dear and lifelong friends. That year her family moved to the country, and it was in Kirkland that she met and married M.J. "Smitty" Smith, her partner for 64 years.
Carole was an active member of the community. She was a member of the Kirkland United Methodist Church and the Kirkland Development Association. She was also a past worthy matron of the Anna Cole Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was formerly employed by GTE in Genoa and had worked as a receptionist/office nurse for Dr. Robert Borrowman in Kirkland.
She and her husband were "snowbirds" in Florida since 1978, and in 1997, moved to Florida permanently , leaving behind many close Illinois friends. She was a colorful, energetic woman always ready to travel and to shop. She took fierce pride in her family including her two daughters, Judy Kavaney of Albany, N.Y., Pam Smith of Abiquiu, N.M.; her son, H. G. "Skip" Smith and daughter-in-law Margaret of Marietta, Ga. She was the beloved grandmother of Bill (Lenore) Benson of St. Charles, Mary Kavaney and husband Marc Isaacs of Newburgh, N.Y., Kathleen Kavaney of London, England, Patrick Kavaney of Eugene, Ore.; great grandmother of Tiffany Benson of St. Charles; sister of Jack Hopkins of Florida, Bing Hopkins and Bud Hopkins. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sisters, Corinne and Shirley.
A memorial service will be held sometime this summer at the Kirkland United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kirkland United Methodist Church or Hospice of Southwest Florida in care of Quiram-Kirkland Funeral Home, P. O. Box 337, 309 S. Fifth St., Kirkland, IL 60146.
