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Ethel Bomgarden
FREEPORT -- Ethel L. Bomgarden, 83, of Freeport, formerly of Forreston, died on Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Provena St. Joseph.
Ethel was born on Nov. 23, 1921, the daughter of Gabrand "Gab" Bomgarden and Mary L. Steinhagen. She worked for many years as a nurses aide and caregiver.
Ethel attended Baptist churches, Shannon High School and Rockford Business College.
Survivors include a brother, Ralph (Dorothy) Bomgarden of Forreston; a sister, Ruth Harms of Pecatonica; nieces; nephews great nieces; and great nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, George.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Shannon Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Wood and the Rev. Dr. Stanley Bomgarden officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service Tuesday at the church.
Burial will be at White Oak Cemetery, Forreston. A memorial has been established in her memory.
Burke-Tubbs funeral home is in charge of arrangements.
Richard Libberton
NORA -- Richard H. Libberton, 86, of Nora died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004, at Freeport Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.
He was born April 12, 1918, in Mount Carroll, the son of William R. and Florence (Hicks) Libberton On March 30, 1940, Richard and Florence Franks were married in Iowa.
Mr. Libberton served in the National Guard.
His employment included the Proving Grounds at Savanna, technician at Nibco in Mount Carroll and Elizabeth, and he worked at Micro Switch until retiring in 1981.
He enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Will Libberton of Nora and Don (Sue) Libberton of Wheaton; two daughters, Maxine (Glenn) Brooks of Moline and Jeannette (William) Hazelbower of McConnell; seven brothers, Peter of Lanark, LaVelle (Geri) of Peoria, Neil (Mary) of Mount Carroll, Charles (Jane) of Planet City, Fla., Sid (Norma) of Stockton and Russell (Janet) and Alvin (Alveda), both of Savanna; two sisters, Luella Skiles of Mount Carroll and Sarah Schmidt of Savanna; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were two brothers and one sister.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport with the Rev. Bill Blomberg officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. today to time of service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
Armin Munz
EL MONTE, Calif. -- Armin Christian Munz, 88, formerly of Freeport, died Dec. 6, 2004, in El Monte, California. He was pastor for Bethany United Church of Christ in Freeport from 1950 to 1957.
He also ministered to churches in Cottage Grove, Minn., Welcome, Minn., Morton Grove, Red Lodge, Mont., Laramie, Wyo., Pocatello, Idaho, Mayfield and Sycamore, before returning to Freeport to retire in 1984.
He is survived by a brother, two sisters; two sons, John Munz of Wheaton, Md., James Munz of Helena, Mont., two daughters, Nancy Alex of Sacramento, Calif., and Priscilla Brinker of Claremont, Calif; and four grandchildren.
He was an enthusiastic member of the Garden Club and Golden K.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethany United Church of Christ, Freeport.
There will be a gathering from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the UCC Seminary Students Fund, Bethany United Church of Christ.
Kenneth Sincock
GALENA -- Kenneth Sincock, 91, of Galena died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at Elizabeth Nursing Home in Elizabeth.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Furlong Funeral Chapel.
Gary L. Myers
LEAF RIVER -- Gary L. Myers, 61, of Leaf River died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford.
He was born Oct. 13, 1943, in Rockford, the son of Harold and Iva (Wagner) Myers. He married Janice Best on June 21, 1969, in Freeport.
Mr. Myers was a United States Army veteran.
He loved farming in the Leaf River area and also was employed by Rockford Screw Products and Textron Companies in Rockford as a credit manager.
Gary was a member of Leaf River United Methodist Church. He had served as treasurer for the Village of Leaf River.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Brian Myers of Forreston; his daughter, Pam (Duane) Prax of Byron; and two grandchildren, Madeline and Noah Prax.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Larry.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Leaf River United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Charles Sensel officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Morris.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, Forreston.
A memorial fund has been established in his name.
Sharon O'Conner
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Sr. Sharon O'Conner, SSND, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, in Milwaukee.
She is survived by a brother-in-law, Paul Conde, School Sisters of Notre Dame; nieces, nephews and friends.
A wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Family Chapel at Notre Dame of Elm Grove, 13105 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, Wis. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Heavenwood Health and Rehabilitation Center, 3333 W. Highland Blvd., and from 1 p.m. to the time of wake service at Elm Grove.
A private burial will be at Convent Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the SSND Retirement Fund.
Franzen, Jung Kaufmann & Weiand Funeral Directors, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Altenbern
PONTIAC -- Robert Dale Altenbern, 83, of Pontiac, formerly of Lena, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at OSF
St. James/John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac.
He was born Nov. 3, 1921, at Waddams Township in McConnell, the son of David and Mildred (Rayhorn) Altenbern. On Sept. 28, 1946, Robert and Opal Solace were married in Lena.
Prior to his retirement in 1976, he farmed for 36 years. He then worked for Kolb-Lena Cheese Factory.
Mr. Altenbern was a member of Lena Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Lena Historical Society. He formerly held a membership with Lena Church of the Brethren.
He derived great pleasure in camping, trucking and making rugs on his loom machine.
Surviving are four daughters, Shelby (Charles) Anderson of Sunrise Beach, Mo., Beverly Stewart of Pontiac, Linda (John) Sanders of Fort Collins, Colo., and Donna (Richard) Schepp of McHenry; one sister, Marilyn (Paul) Hardel of Lena; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Opal, who died June 4, 2000; one granddaughter, Emily Schepp; his parents; and a brother, Duane.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Leamon Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Hurlbut officiating. Burial will be at Lena Burial Park.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has been established for Lena Historical Society and American Diabetes Association.
Evelyn M. Cook
SAVANNA -- Evelyn M. Cook, 88, of Savanna died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Law-Jones Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
A memorial fund has been established.
Ellen Giuffre
FREEPORT -- Ellen Giuffre, 86, of Freeport died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
She was born Feb. 21, 1918, at Carbonear, Newfoundland, Canada, the daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Murphy) O'Leary. On May 4, 1949, Ellen and Vincent Giuffre were married in Freeport.
Prior to her retirement, she worked for Micro Switch. Mrs. Giuffre was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Marian (Martin) Balsamo of Fayetteville, N.C., and Mary Ellen (Allen) Backus of Freeport; five grandchildren, Christina Balsamo of Apex, N.C., Michelle (Kirk) Walden of Fayetteville, N.C., Jacob Backus of Freeport, Michael (Cindy) Backus of Freeport and William Backus of Freeport; three great-grandchildren, Alexander Walden, Emily Walden and Riley Backus; and nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband in 1983; two sisters; and five brothers.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Burt H. Absalon officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Schwarz Funeral Home.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Helen A. Glasker
HANOVER -- Helen A. Glasker, 80, of Hanover died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
A memorial fund has been established.
Marcile H. Ils
ORANGEVILLE -- Marcile H. Ils, 80, of Orangeville died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, at home.
She was born April 5, 1924, in Forreston, the daughter of Emil and Frances (Frey) Gesin. On Sept. 12, 1947, Marcile and Joseph Ils were married in Freeport. Joseph died Jan. 8, 2000.
Marcile and Joseph farmed in Ogle and Stephenson County areas. She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ.
She was a very loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Surviving are two sons, Joseph (Elizabeth) Ils of Lena and Gary (Connie) Ils of Orangeville; one daughter, Jeanette (Kirk) Shenberger of Dakota; eight grandchildren, Todd (Anne) Ils of Monroe, Wis., Patty (Lorne) Goggin of Wilmington, N.C., Bradley (Katrina) Ils of Jefferson, Ore., Melissa (Troy) Ils Nyman of Brodhead, Wis., Jennifer (Dennis) Bunker of Winslow, Kimberly (fiance, Mark Menzie) Shenberger of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Chris (Tonya) Shenberger of Freeport; one brother, Milford (Helen) Gesin of Forreston; five sisters-in-law, Virginia Ils of Milwaukee, Wis., Margaret Gardner of Boone, Iowa, Sarah (Webster) Phillips of Pontiac, Doris Ils of Lena and Marie Kerchner of Dakota; 13 great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding Marcile in death were her husband; her daughter, Linda Sue; and her great-grandson, Tyler.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport with the Rev. Larry Loffelmacher and the Rev. Randy Nicholas officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Dell Cemetery in rural Shannon.
Visitation will be from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial funds have been established for Salem United Methodist Church, multiple sclerosis research and Gideons International.
Berdine Kleckler
FREEPORT -- Berdine Kleckler, 91, of Freeport died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Freeport.
She was born Sept. 7, 1913, in Waddams Grove, the daughter of Alfred and Blanche (Cook) Rice. On Nov. 24, 1943, Berdine and Earl E. "Pidge" Kleckler were married. The couple was married 52 years before his death.
Mrs. Kleckler was employed at numerous factories and operated her own jewelry business. She was a member of Lena United Methodist Church and a charter member of McConnell Legion Auxiliary. She recently received her 50-year pin.
Surviving are her daughter, Patricia Grilliot, and her life partner, Brian Palmer of Freeport; three grandchildren, Sheri Holmes and Cathy Holmes, both of Freeport, and Michael Holmes of Commerce City, Colo.; two sisters, Iola Kleckler of McConnell and Jeraldine Bartlet of Freeport.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Earl "Pidge" Kleckler, on Nov. 23, 1995; three sisters, Bernice Mahoney, Marcella "Peggy" Mahoney and Betty Lincicum-Rufer; two brothers, William "Art" Rice and Harold "Dutch" Rice; and her parents.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Leamon Funeral Home in Lena with the Rev. Scott McClellan officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Mabel L. Mims
FREEPORT -- Mabel L. Mims, 82, of Freeport died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. at the church.
Arrangements were made by Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home.
Omar M. Murray
CHADWICK -- Omar M. Murray, 88, of Chadwick died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, at his home.
He was born Jan. 6, 1916, in Clay Hill, Pa., the son of John McKinley and Nellie (Haugh) Murray. On Dec. 24, 1942, Omar and Leona E. Volz were married in Lanark. Leona passed away on Aug. 5, 2002.
Mr. Murray came to Illinois in 1933, and was a lifelong area farmer. He was a member of Carroll County Farm Bureau and Chadwick Lions Club.
Survivors include his children, Lynn (Pam) Murray of Freeport, Jerry (Peg) Murray of Mount Carroll, Fred (Theresa) Murray of Rock Falls, Jan (Chris) Murray of Chadwick and Linda (Ellis) Applegate of Lanark; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, Wayne (Louella) Murray of Greencastle, Pa.; and five sisters, Dorothy Jean (John) Musselman of Greencastle, Betty Long of Chambersburg, Pa., Nellie Bingaman of State Line, Pa., Doris (Richard) Lescher of Chambersburg and Shirley (John) Frain of Greencastle.
Preceding him in death were his wife; his parents; and five brothers, Raymond, Charles, Nevin, John "Bud" and Marlin.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark with the Rev. Arnie Owens of First Brethren Church in Lanark officiating. Burial will be at Lanark Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon Saturday to the time of service.
A memorial fund has been established in his name.
