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Rev. Dr. George Jorenby
FREEPORT -- Rev. George Jorenby, 57, of West Bend, Wis., formerly of Freeport, passed away suddenly at his residence early Friday morning, Nov. 19, 2004.
George was born in Madison on Dec. 17, 1946, the son of Orville and Olive Spaulding Jorenby.
After receiving his bachelor's degree from UW Platteville in 1969, he attended United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minn., becoming ordained in The United Church of Christ in 1972. He received his Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1986.
He was united in marriage with Judy Rodman in Fond du Lac on July 17, 1976. Rev. Jorenby served as pastor at a number of churches including Bethany UCC in Freeport. He was currently an interim pastor at St. Paul UCC in Waubeka, Wis., and St. Martin UCC in Fillmore, Wis.
Rev. Jorenby was a member of Salem UCC in Wayne, Wis., served on the Church and Ministry Team of Southeastern Wisconsin Assoc. of UCC, and was an active participant of the West Bend District Clergy. He was an avid reader and enjoyed sports, especially golf. He enjoyed building things and regularly worked with Habitat For Humanity.
Rev. Jorenby is survived by his wife, Judy of West Bend; their children, Bethany of Oshkosh and Joshua of the Chicago area.
He is further survived by three sisters, Corinne McVey of Madison, Gail (Arnold) Widofsky of Newbury Park, Calif., and Emily Jorenby of Madison; his mother-in-law, Rosalia Rodman of Oconomowoc, Wis.; sisters-and brothers-in-law; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many, many friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and an infant twin sister, Georgia.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Eernisse Funeral Home, 1600 W. Grand Ave., Port Washington, Wis. Rev. Dr. Thomas Bentz will officiate.
The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorials are suggested to Cedar Lake Home in West Bend.
Gerry Saxby
LENA -- Gerry L. Saxby, 53, of Lena died Friday evening, Nov. 19, 2004, at home surrounded by family and loved ones after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer.
He was born on June 3, 1951, in Freeport, the son of Warren and Pauline (Entmeier) Saxby.
He graduated from Immanuel Lutheran School in Freeport and attended Lena-Winslow High School. He was a semi-truck driver.
He served in the U.S. Army, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his son, Eric Saxby and his daughter, Crystal Saxby, both of Freeport; three grandchildren, Chloe Saxby, Amaya and Dru Bouvia, all of Freeport; his mother, Pauline Saxby of Lena; his sisters, Sharon (Harold) VanHeeren, Sr. of Warren, Karon (Eugene) Dundee of Clinton, Iowa, Teresa Krieder of Orangeville, and Tracy Malaker of Lena; his brother, Eugene Saxby of Lena; and friends, William Goebel of Freeport and Lorraine Schubert of Lena.
He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Saxby, and his grandparents.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lena. Pastor Rick Bader will officiate. Private graveside services will be held at the Lena Burial Park.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are by the Schwarz Funeral Home in Freeport.
Sophia Spaide
FREEPORT -- Sophia P. Spaide, 97, a Parkview Home resident, died Friday, November 19, 2004, at the Home.
Born April 19, 1907, in Carn, County Monaghan, Ireland, she was the daughter of John and Sophia (Mills) Crawford.
The family came to America in 1908, residing in Rice Township, Jo Daviess County.
She was a graduate of Hanover High School, 1924, attended Brown's Business College in Freeport, and was a graduate of Finley Hospital School of Nursing in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1929.
She married Russell Spaide in 1931, and he died July 23, 1981.
Sophia worked at FHN Memorial Hospital for 19 years until she retired in 1969.
She was a member of Park Hills Evangelical Free Church, and she was an active member of the Friendship Circle and Women's Ministries of the church for many years.
She loved the outdoors and traveled in all the states, much of Canada, and parts of Europe. She spent much time reading and doing handwork and had a great love for her family and home.
Surviving is her granddaughter, Julie (Ron) Kohlbauer; three great granddaughters, Elise, Emily and Erin Kohlbauer, all of Freeport; two nieces, Carol Unangst of Hanover and Evelyn Weiler of Anamosa, Iowa; two nephews, Don (Carolyn) Crawford of Hanover and Lee Hitt of Bailey, Colo.; and a brother-in-law, Kenneth "Bill" (Rita) Spaide of Cedarville.
Preceding her in death, besides her husband, were her daughter, Jeanette L. Gettemy; son-in-law, Henry Gettemy; an infant granddaughter; two brothers, Albert and John William Crawford; three sisters, Sarah Hitt, Margaret Crawford, and Elizabeth Crawford; and a nephew, James Hitt.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Walker Mortuary with the Rev. Thomas McClellan officiating. Burial will be at the Oakland Cemetery & Mausoleum.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Monday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Park Hills Evangelical Free Church, Parkview Home, and The Salvation Army.
Dr. Erich Awender
FREEPORT -- Dr. Erich Awender, age 78, of Freeport, died Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, comfortably at his home in the company of many of his loving family members.
Born Jan. 27, 1926, in Graz, Austria, Awender was the son of Dr. Jakob and Eva (Saier) Awender. He married Adelheid Luksch on May 21, 1953.
He was a graduate of University of Graz Medical School.
Dr. Awender's medical practice was in Freeport from 1958 to 1995.
His memberships included St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, North American Falconry Association, past president of the Stephenson County Medical Society, Illinois Medical Society, American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons and American Geriatrics Society.
Surviving are his wife, Adelheid; one son, Ralph (fiancee Jacqueline Meyers) Awender, both of Freeport; one brother, Dr. Helmut A. (Martha) Awender of Freeport; two grandchildren, Heather and Ashley Awender.
His parents and one brother, Dr. Herbert (Carol) Awender of Akron, Ohio, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Monsignor P. William McDonnell officiating.
Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery and Mausoleum.
Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Walker Mortuary, where at 8 p.m. there will be a prayer service.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name.
George R. Robinson
MOUNT MORRIS -- George Richard "Dick" Robinson, age 74, of Mount Morris died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home in Mount Morris.
He was born April 12, 1930, in Hanover to Charles E. and Florence (Graham) Robinson. He married Ethel Myers on June 16, 1951.
He graduated from Hanover High School and attended the University of Illinois for two years.
Mr. Robinson worked as a small engine repairman at Hough Hardware Company in Mount Morris, then upon retirement opened his own shop, Grandpa's Workshop, in Mount Morris. He lived and worked for 54 years in the community.
Dick was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Korean War.
He was a member of Disciples United Methodist Church in Mount Morris. He was also a member of the Mount Morris American Legion Post No.143 and the Mt. Morris Lions Club.
Surviving are his wife, Ethel; one son, Richard A. "Rick" (Julie) Robinson of Mount Morris; two grandsons, Sean Robinson, Forreston, and Jamie (Kimberly) Robinson, Freeport; one great-grandchild A.J. Robinson, Freeport; one brother, Jack (Anne) Robinson of Winter Haven, Fla.; three sisters, Myrtle Mitchell, Hanover, Ruth (Wally) Landis, Lansing, Mich., and Jill Smith, Polo.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Kenneth Robinson; two sisters, Gwendolyn Nickerson and Charlotte Tracy.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Disciples United Methodist Church. Pastor Rev. William Bergstrom will officiate.
Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery.
Memorials can be sent to Ogle County Hospice or Pinecrest Manor.
Thelma Sandstrom
DURAND -- Thelma Sandstrom, 73, of Durand died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, in her home.
Funeral arrangements pending at McCorkle Funeral Home.
Ruth M. Greier
FREEPORT -- Ruth M. Greier, 83 years of age, of Freeport died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford after a short illness.
She was born Dec. 2, 1920, in Oneco, the daughter of Jay B. and Vida (Augenstein) Miller. On July 31, 1955, Ruth and Teddy F. Greier were married at the Oak Avenue Church in Freeport.
Ruth was educated at Orangeville schools, graduating from Genoa High School.
Mrs. Greier was secretary and bookkeeper at various Freeport businesses, a member of Faith United Methodist Church, and she enjoyed sewing and birdwatching.
Surviving are her husband; two daughters, Sandra (Dale) Kubatzke of Freeport and Audre (Bill) Sturtevant of Cleveland, Ark.; five grandchildren, Tim (Geri) Kubatzke of Orangeville, Terri (Barrie) Hendrickson of Freeport, Trevor (Kim) Kubatzke of Taylorville, Wanda (Cary) Johnston of Greenbrier, Ark., and Sheldon (Joy) Sturtevant of Fairfield, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Phyllis (Everet) Hoefle of Springfield; and one brother-in-law, Ronald Pieper of Freeport.
Preceding her in death were her parents and two sisters, Violet Heidel and Nancy Pieper.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Schwarz Funeral Home in Freeport with the Rev. Doug Bowden of Faith United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be at Pecatonica Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Friday to time of service at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has been established for the Alzheimer's Foundation.
Ralph E. Awender
FREEPORT -- Ralph Erich Awender, 50, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at his home.
Born April 22, 1954, in Freeport, Ralph was the son of Dr. Erich and Adelheid (Luksch) Awender.
He was a pipe fitter for the Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Union Local 23, specializing in nuclear power plants.
An avid motorcyclist, he enjoyed drag racing his motorcycle, snow skiing and sail boating.
Surviving are his mother, Adelheid; his fiancee, Jacqueline Meyers; two daughters, Heather and Ashley Awender; his uncle, Dr. Helmut A. (Martha) Awender; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. All are of Freeport.
His father, and his uncle, Dr. Herbert (Carol) Awender preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Monsignor P. William McDonnell officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery & Mausoleum.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Walker Mortuary where a Scripture service will be conducted at 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name.
Emerson Balbach
GALENA -- Emerson H. Balbach, age 89, of Galena died at 4:10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at Elizabeth Nursing Home.
He was born April 25, 1915, the son of Henry and Florence (Meusel) Balback, in Rice Township in Jo Daviess County. On May 3, 1958, Emerson and Rachel Schwantz were married in Webster City, Iowa. Rachel died on July 30, 1989.
Mr. Balbach farmed. He was formerly employed at Eagle Pitcher Mining Co. in Galena and formerly worked for the Galena Gazette Museum.
Surviving are one sister, Marian "Betty" Roberts of Stockton; five nephews, Marvin (Joan) Balbach of Dillon, Mont., George (Lynn) Balbach of Sheridan, Wyo., Glade Balbach of Billings, Mont., Darrell (Sue) Roberts of Stockton and Marion H. Roberts, also of Stockton; his caregiver, Hannelore Barrett of Elizabeth; and a niece, Darlene (Marvin) Hartz of Bozeman, Mont.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Miller & Steinke Funeral Home in Galena with the Rev. Dr. Douglas Hall officiating. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon Saturday to time of service at the funeral home.
Evelyn Bishop
FREEPORT -- Evelyn M. Bishop, 82, of Freeport died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at Stephenson Nursing Center.
She was born April 30, 1922, in Shannon, the daughter of Fred and Flossie M. Penticoff Lessman. On Dec. 11, 1940, Evelyn and Robert L. Bishop were married. Robert died Oct. 5, 2003.
Evelyn was employed by Burgess Battery before working for J.C. Penney in Rockford and Freeport.
Her memberships included Eagles Auxiliary and Retired Teamsters. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, and she loved children.
The family would like to thank Stephenson Nursing Center and FHN Hospice.
Surviving are three sons, Robert (Alice) Bishop Jr. of Phoenix, Richard L. Bishop of Burlington, Iowa, and Timothy Bishop of Lake Geneva, Wis.; three daughters, Judith M. (Ken) Solace of Pecatonica, Cathy M. (Frank) Becker of Janesville, Wis., and Victoria (John) Rude of Freeport; one brother, Herbert (Carol) Lessman of Texas; one sister, Dorothy Getty of Rockford; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her husband; one daughter, Mary Ann; one brother, Kenneth; and one sister, Marion.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Randy Knoll officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport.
Visitation is after 10 a.m. Friday to time of service at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Iva Janssen
SHANNON -- Iva Janssen, 84, of Shannon died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at Good Samaritan Center in Mount Carroll.
She was born Sept. 23, 1920, in Florence Station, the daughter of Otto and Anna (Schoonhoven) Kniss. Iva married Herman Janssen on Oct. 2, 1943, in Shannon. Herman died Feb. 1, 1999.
The Janssens farmed together in the Shannon area until retiring and moved to Shannon in 1992.
She enjoyed her flower gardens, visiting with friends and neighbors, family get-togethers and watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play.
She is survived by her two sons, Duane Janssen (Mary Ann) of Lanark and Darrell (Cindy) Janssen of Shannon; one daughter, Laurie (Darrell) Stitzel of Shannon; four grandchildren, David (Bobbi) Janssen of Lanark, Angie Janssen of Freeport, Sue (Kerry) Devine of Edwardsville and James (Sue) Janssen of McConnell; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers and three sisters.
The funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethel United Methodist Church in Shannon. Burial will be at Brethren Cemetery in Shannon.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Hermann Funeral Home in Shannon.
A memorial fund has been established.
