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Wyoming. - John “Jack” Bitting 73, of rural Wyoming., died at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2004, at his residence.
Born July 21, 1930, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Percy Lee and Verna Dennis Bitting, he married June Hamil in 1960 in Peoria. She preceded him in death along with his father.
Surviving are his mother Verna Bitting of Wyoming.; one son, Jack Lee (Pam) Bitting, of Wyoming.,; one grandson, Branden Lee Bitting, of Toulon,; one granddaughter, Kristen Marie Lofquist, of Michigan; and three great-grandchildren, Haven May Lofquist, Hayes Henry Lofquist, and Heidi Jo Lofquist, all of Michigan.
He farmed with his father after graduating from high school and later became a butcher. He loved music and also had a talent for working with wood. He made all kinds of woodcrafts out of his wood shop in his home. His daughter-in-law, Pam Bitting, had been taking care of him the past few years because John had Alzheimer’s disease. He was a Korean War Navy Veteran.
Graveside services were at 1 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2004, at Hopeland Cemetery, Buda, Illinois. Elder Cliff Wys officiated. Visitation was from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 23, 2004, at Wyoming. Funeral Home, Wyoming..
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Wyoming. - Eileen H. Ballard, 86, died at 7:17 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, at Toulon Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, where she was a resident.
Born September 25, 1917, in Calhoun County, Illinois, the daughter of William L. and Mary M. Peuterbaugh Foiles, she married Louis C. Ballard on November 7, 1936, in Carthage, Illinois. He died on December 12, 1996, in Peoria.
Surviving are two sons, Rev. Joe (Sharon) Ballard, of East Peoria, Illinois, and David (Bobbie) Ballard, of San Lorenza, California; one sister, Cleo Neff, of Geneseo, Illinois; two brothers, Leon Foiles, of Overland Park, Kansas, and Donald Foiles, of Morton, Illinois; five grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Her parents, two brothers, and one sister preceded her in death.
She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene, Wyoming.. She and her husband, Rev. Ballard were pastors at churches of the Nazarene from 1965 until 1979, this included eight years at the First Church of the Nazarene on Galena Avenue in Wyoming.. She taught Sunday School for over 50 years and her musical talent was dedicated to support the church and their ministries.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at First Church of the Nazarene, Wyoming.. Revs. Tim Lourash and Donald Turner officiated. Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2004, at Wyoming. Funeral Home, Wyoming.. Burial was in Wyoming. Cemetery, Wyoming..
Memorial contributions may be made to her church.
Kewanee -Walter E. Jackson, 96, of Kewanee, Illinois died at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 21, 2004, at Royal Oaks Care Center in Kewanee.
He was born on April 20, 1908 in Elmira Twp. Stark Co., Illinois, the son of Ernest J. and Jennie (Armstrong) Jackson. He attended school in Toulon and later Kewanee where he graduated from Kewanee High School in 1926.
He married Frances Kewish on October 6, 1943 in Lafayette, Illinois. She survives along with one daughter Jane (Tom) Gramkow, Peoria, Illinois and three grandchildren Tracie, Marijane and Ty.
He was preceded in death by a daughter Mary in 1976 and three brothers and three sisters.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He was employed at Kewanee Machinery and Conveyor, retiring in 1973.
He was a former member of the Elmira Presbyterian Church and in 1926 became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee; where he was the oldest member. He was a member of the Kewanee Historical Society. He enjoyed gardening and woodworking.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 24, 2004, at the Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home, Kewanee. The Rev. Dr. James Breed officiated. Burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Kewanee. Visitation was one hour prior to services on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or the Kewanee Historical Society.
Toulon – Shirley M. Rieker, 67, of Toulon died at 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 at the Beloit Memorial Hospital, in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Cremation rites have been accorded and services and burial will be private. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Rieker was born July 15, 1936 in Elmira Township, the daughter of David E. and Opal M. (Tracy) Dunn. Survivors include one son, John Rieker, M.D., of Roscoe, Illinois; one daughter, Mrs. (Kevin) Dorothy Booth, of Goodman, Missouri; one sister, Marjorie Gang, of Belvidere, Illinois, and four grandchildren, Nicholas and Jacob Rieker, and John and Ryan Booth. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, James.
Mrs. Rieker graduated from Toulon High School and attended the St. Francis School of Nursing. She had been employed as a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service and had worked at the Kewanee Manufacturing Company.
She served her country in the U.S. Navy. She enjoyed farming, nature and her relationship with the Lord.
Chillicothe - Marie E. Ely, age 97, formerly of Camp Grove, Illinois, of 1208 North Second Street, Chillicothe, Illinois died Saturday, Mary 15, 2004 at 12:50 p.m. at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.
She was born on September 14, 1906, in Saratoga Twp, Marshall County, Illinois, the daughter of Thomas and Maude Salisbury Cain. She married Ivan Ely on February 20, 1930 in Lacon, Illinois. He preceded her in death on August 5, 1959.
Surviving are: one son: James (Barbara) Ely, of Bloomington, Illinois; one daughter: Audrey (Wayne) Hancock, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and daughter-in-law; Patsie Ely, of Chillicothe, Illinois
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Leland; one grandson, two brothers and one sister.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Chillicothe, Illinois. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge #113, of Chillicothe and Peoria, for 79 years. She was a former member of the Sweet Adelines of Chillicothe, Illinois. She was a former member of the Bradford Women’s Chorus, Bradford, Illinois.
Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Chillicothe, Illinois, Rev. Keith Ferguson officiated. Visitation was one hour prior to service time (1-2 p.m.) at the church. Burial was in the Saratoga Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or to Rescue 33.
Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Illinois in charge of arrangements.
Kewanee - Viola Roberts, 89, of Kewanee, died at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Kewanee Hospital, Kewanee.
Born June 4, 1914, in Bradford, Illinois, the daughter of Bert and Blanche Manning Harris, she married Lloyd Roberts on May 5, 1930, in Peoria. He died in 1991. Also preceding her in death were five brothers.
Surviving is one son, Lloyd Roberts, Jr., of Alexis, Illinois; one grandson, Scott Roberts; one granddaughter, Sally Smith; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Betty Miller, of Neponset, Illinois.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at DeBolt-Kidd Funeral Home, Toulon. Rev. Al Harmon officiated. Visitation was one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday. Burial was in the Toulon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Princeville - Betty J. Mursener, 83, of Monticello, Indiana, formerly of Princeville and Bradenton, Florida, died at 2:30 p.m. on May 5, 2004, at the Monticello Healthcare Center.
Born July 3, 1920, in St. Marys, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond E. and Mildred C. Baxter Brodbeck, she married James H. Mursener November 16, 1943, in Abilene, Texas. He preceded her in death on November 20, 1983. Also preceding her in death were a son, Dan Emil and two brothers, Pvt. Robert Brodbeck and David Brodbeck.
Surviving is one daughter, Jane (Robert) Wetzel, of Pasadena, California; one son Robert (Julie) Mursener, of Monticello, Indiana, five grandchildren: Jonathan James-Edward Wetzel, of San Francisco, California, Neil Mursener, of Tempe, Arizona, Chace Montelle Wetzel,of Pasadena, California, Amanda Mursener, of Muncie, Indiana, and David Mursener, of Monticello, Indiana, and one sister, Nancy Hobler, of Delaware, Ohio.
She was a 1938 graduate of South High School, Lima, Ohio, and a 1941 graduate of Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Lima, Ohio. She served as a U.S. Army Nurse during WWII for 3.5 years. She later worked as a nurse for Dr. Emil Loeffler in Princeville, retiring in 1976. She was a member of the American Legion, the Moose Lodge, the Disabled American Veterans and a past member of the Princeville United Methodist Church.
Graveside services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 8, 2004, in the Princeville Cemetery. Family members greeted Betty’s friends at the cemetery 30 minutes prior to the service. Rev. Rex Hendrix officiated. Memorial contributions may be made to: Women in Military Service Memorial Foundation, PO Box 96745, Washington, D.C. 20090-6745 or The National World War II Memorial, American Battle Monument Commission, PO Box 96766, Washington D.C. 20090-6766.
Princeville – Leonard Menold, 81, of 231 N. Ostrom Ave., died at 11:38 p.m. Monday, May 3, 2004, at his residence.
Born March 3, 1923, in Mackinaw, Illinois, the son of Albert and Luise Aberle Menold, he married Marie Leuthold on August 8, 1945, in Princeville.
She survives, along with two sons, Michael (Sharon), and Fred (Nancy), both of rural Princeville; three daughters, Rita Menold of Washington, IL, Connie (David) Hoerr, of Edwards, IL, and Karen (Bill) Schrock, of Gridley, IL; twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mary (Alvin) Farney, of Roanoke, IL, Martha (Nathan) Stoller, of Bradford, IL, and Emily (Joe) Stoller, of Speer, IL. Three brothers, two sisters, and two granddaughters preceded him in death.
He was a WWII U.S. Navy veteran. He farmed in rural Princeville all of his life, and also sold Pioneer Seed Corn for many years.
He was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, where services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2004. Ministers of the church officiated. Visitation was from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home. Further visitation was also from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial was in the Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Midwest Affiliate, or to OSF St. Francis Hospice. .
Brimfield - Mark A. Fitch, 50, of Brimfield, died Thursday, May 6, 2004, while trucking near Wheeling, West Virginia, due to an apparent heart attack.
Born July 9, 1953, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Merlyn R. and Betty L. Williams Fitch.
Surviving is his mother of Buckley, Washington; one daughter, Carrie Latta, of Peoria, Illinois; one son, Brad Fitch, of Peoria, Illinois; one grandson; four brothers, A. Dean (Sherry) Fitch, of Dallas, Oklahoma, Michael R. Fitch, of Yates City, Illinois, F. Daniel Fitch, of Buckley, Washington, and Kenneth W. Fitch, of Spokane, Washington; and four sisters, Marjorie L. Johnson, of Buckley, Washington, Patricia J. (Keith) Woertz, of Dunlap, Illinois, Gretchen M. (Paul) Stanley, of Waco, Georigia, and Jennifer F. (Alvin) Swanson, of Creve Coeur, Illinois. His father preceded him in death.
He was a Vietnam War Army veteran. He worked as a cross-country truck driver for many years, most recently for Carlson Trucking in Galesburg.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at Northwest United Methodist Church, Peoria. Rev. Deron Boyer officiated. Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2004, at Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home, Princeville. Cremation was accorded following the services and burial of ashes will be in Brimfield Cemetery, at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., 8605 Cameron St., Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Hammitt-Hott Funeral Home, Princeville, is in charge of arrangements.
Kewanee - Wendell S. Montooth, 86, of Kewanee, Illinois died at 6:10 a.m. Monday, April 26, 2004 at Toulon Health Care Center.
He was born September 5, 1917 near Modena, Stark County, Illinois the son of Samuel W. and Elma J. (Osborn) Montooth.
He graduated from Wethersfield High School in Kewanee. He married Jeanne McPherson on December 28, 1939 in Kewanee, Illinois She survives along with one daughter Sharon Montooth, of Elmira, Illinois; five sons, Samuel (Donna) Montooth, of Dahinda, Illinois, Paul (Mary) Montooth, of Kewanee, Illinois, Sgt. Timothy Montooth, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, Gary (Lila) Montooth, of Kewanee, Illinois and Daniel (Bev) Montooth, of Galva, Illinois; fifteen grandchildren and twenty five great grandchildren; one sister, Jean Winn, of Toulon, Illinois and one brother Stuart (Mary Sue) Montooth, of Earlville, Illinois and several nieces and nephews. His parents, three sisters and three great grandchildren preceded him in death.
Mr. Montooth farmed for 25 years in Stark County. He had worked as a Fuller Brush salesman and also sold for Moorman Feeds. He was a salesman in Illinois and State Manager in Indiana for the “Successful Farming Magazine”
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kewanee where he served as a deacon. He was also a member of Gideon’s Int’l. and Bill Glass Prison Ministries until his health failed.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2004 at the First Baptist Church in Kewanee, Illinois. Rev. Dr. Kevin Siscoe and Rev. Dr. Judith Cook officiated. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, rural Kewanee. Visitation was from 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday, April 29th at Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home, Kewanee, Illinois Memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church, Kewanee, Elmira Presbyterian Church, Alzheimer’s Foundation or Gideon’s International.
Stockton - Mort Enos, 91, born and raised in Bradford, Illinois, passed away May 8, 2004, in Stockton, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, Morton D. and Phoebe (Williams) Enos.
He was married to Joyce (Petty) Enos for 63 years. She passed away in 1995. He lived many years in Bradford, Henry, and Pontiac, Illinois with his daughter and his later years in Stockton, Illinois with his son.
He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn (David)McCullough of Arizona and his son, James (JoAnn) Enos of Stockton. He leaves 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was a life long member of the Engineer Local Union and respected by all who worked with him and for him. He was well known for his humor and love for his family. Funeral services are pending at Jenson’s Funeral Home in Princeton, Illinois. There will be a memorial service and internment will be at Osceola Grove Cemetery.
Wyoming. – Gertrude M. Lancaster, 74, of Wyoming., formerly of Peoria, died at 6:45 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2004, at her residence.
Born November 8, 1929, in Havana, Illinois, the daughter of James and Stella Cluney Tarvin, she married Samuel Lancaster on December 12, 1970, in Houston, Texas. He died February 10, 1994, in Delavan, Illinois. Also preceding her in death were five brothers and two sisters.
Surviving is one sister, Wanda (Andy) Anderson, of Wyoming., Illinois, one brother, Ernest Darling, of Clinton, Arkansas, and several nieces and nephews.
She was bookkeeper for several Peoria businesses. She also was a tax preparer for H&R Block in Peoria, eventually doing tax preparation out of her home. Most recently she helped her family operate the Covered Bridge Restaurant in Wyoming.. She was a former member of the Peoria Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and recently had attended the LDS Church in Kewanee. She was active in making crafts, especially known for her quilts, afghans, and crocheted items.
Cremation has been accorded. A memorial service was at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at Wyoming. Funeral Home. Rev. Prosper Tournear officiated. There was no visitation. Burial will be at a later date in Lawn Ridge Cemetery, rural Edelstein.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wyoming. Ambulance Service.
Kewanee - Mary A. Jackson, 87, of Kewanee, died at 5:55 a.m. Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Kewanee Hospital. Funeral services were on Wednesday May 12, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at the Elmira Presbyterian Church in Elmira. Rev. Judith Cook officiated.
Visitation was from 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 11 at the Rux Funeral Home, Kewanee. Burial was in the Elmira Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to the Elmira Presbyterian Church or the Kewanee Hospital Foundation.
She was born in Elmira, Illinois on September 13, 1916, the daughter of James E. and Agnes Armstrong Jackson. She is survived by one brother, Donald J. (Marjorie) Jackson, of Kewanee, five nieces and nephews, Ed (Tammy) Jackson and Laurie (Todd) Steger, both of Kewanee, Tammy (Dave) Slifer, of Missouri, Jean (Alvin) Swearingen, of Hickory Hills, Illinois, and George (Jackie) Jackson, of Toulon, and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Louis and Murray. She graduated from Kewanee High School in 1934. She attended Illinois State in Normal graduating in 1936 and then completed her four-year degree in 1954. She was a teacher for many years teaching in LaFayette, Wethersfield and Toulon and retired in 1974.
She was a member of the Elmira Presbyterian Church, the Garden Club of Kewanee, the Kewanee Hospital Auxiliary, the Wethersfield Retired Teachers and the Henry-Stark Retired Teachers. She enjoyed flower gardening.
Toulon - Mary Wilma Divelbiss, 73, of rural Toulon, Illinois, died at 12:09 p.m., Sunday, May 9, 2004, at Methodist Medical Center, Peoria.
Born June 14, 1930, in Marshall County, Illinois, the daughter of Frank and Mabel Keen Wright, she married Norbert Divelbiss on January 20, 1950, in Bradford, Illinois. He died July of 1972.
Surviving are three daughters, Julie (Arthur) Fletcher, of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Chris (Steve) Chesser, of Bradford, Illinois, and Areatha Elizabeth (James) Shaw, of Champaign, Illinois; one son, Robert Divelbiss, of Toulon, Illinois; four grandchildren, Paul Hill, Tramain Britt, Dominique Shaw, and Latavia Shaw; and two brothers, Donald Wright, of Hinckley, Illinois, and John Wright, of Sparta, Illinois. Her parents, one son, Jerry Divelbiss, and two brothers preceded her in death.
She worked at Colonial Hall Nursing Home in Princeton, Illinois, for many years. She loved quilting, crossword puzzles, crocheting, and her grandchildren. She was a member of Boyd’s Grove United Methodist Church, rural Bradford.
Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at DeBolt-Kidd Funeral Home, Toulon, Illinois. Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at DeBolt-Kidd Funeral Home. Rev. Paul Wier officiated. Burial was in Mound Cemetery, rural Bradford.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bradford American Legion Post #445
