John K. Bohlander
John K. Bohlander, age 89, of 688 Oak Street, Galesburg, passed away at 4:50 p.m. Friday, January 8, 1999 in Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Danville.
He was born December 2, 1909, in Mommouth, the son of John Adam and Mary Alice Keane Bohlander.
He married Julia Enes. She preceded him in death. He married Alberta Sopher on August 29, 1976, in Galesburg.
Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Vicki Ann Mohr, Davie, Florida; one step-daughter Myrna L. Johnson, Cameron; two step-sons, Stanley R. Sopher, Galesburg, and Jon M.Sopher, Knoxville; one sister, Helen Jackson, Tucson, Arizona; and one granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
He was graduated from Monmouth High School. He worked 28 years as a truck driver and dock foremen for Burlington Truck Lines, retiring December 1, 1973. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He served in the Army 141st Field Artillery, Camp Sutton, North Carolina, for about six years. He was a member of the Galesburg Moose Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2257, and a lifetime member of American Legion Post 285.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Home with Rev. James McAteer officiating. Burial was in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Monmouth. Memorials may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Galesburg.
Roger Helms Jr.
Roger L. Helms Jr., 30, of 90 Country Elms Estates, Galesburg, Illinois, passed away at 12:30 a.m. Sunday, January 10, 1999, at his home.
Born October 13, 1968, in Macomb to Roger L. Sr. and Mary L. Gilmore Helms, he married Connie L. Myrick on August 12, 1989, in Knoxville. She survives.
Also surviving are his parents of Galesburg; one stepson, Shawn Duerre at home; one stepdaughter, Jennifer Duerre at home; and one sister, Mrs. Timothy (Virginia) Gilberg, of Abingdon.
He was employed as a driver for City Cab Company.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with Rev. Gary Burnett officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Burial will be in Hamlet Cemetery in Hamlet.
Byron Irwin
Byron Junior Irwin, age 68, of Littleton, passed away at 1:52 a.m. Friday, January 1,1999, in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
Born May 27, 1930, in Cuba, Illinois, to Byron "Pink" and E. Leila Schoonover Irwin, he married Jacqueline Setelin on March 5, 1983, in Rushville. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Shawn of Camden; one stepson, Stacy Kamp of Abingdon; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Steve (Lori) Wieters of Glendale, Arizona; six grandchildren; one brother, Darwin of Rushville; and one sister, Mrs. Carl (Donna) Lerch of Cuba.
He was preceded in death by one sister and one brother.
He was self-employed as a heavy-equipment operator for many years, retiring in 1995. He was a Korean War Navy veteran. He was a member of First Baptist Church, where services were held at 10:30 Thursday with Rev.Thomas Rittichier and Matthew Haberman officiating. Military rites were conducted by Schuyler American Legion Post 4.
Wood-Roby Funeral Chapel in Rushville was in charge of the arrangements. Burial was in Littleton Cemetery.
Mary E. Allison
Mary E. Allison, 90, of near Knoxville, passed away at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 1999, at home.
She was born July 2, 1908, in Clark county, MO, the daughter of Abel Calvin and Clara Bertha Leighton Brown.
She married Harry O. Poulson on October 15, 1924. He passed away in October 1951.
She was also preceded in death by three sons, John, Howard and Richard Poulson, one grandson, three sisters, and four brothers.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Jack (Dolly) Patch of Prairie City and Florence Patch of Rogers, AR; two sisters, Charlotte Beard of DeLong and Olive Hagmier of Keokuk, IA; One brother, Oscar Brown of Abingdon; 15 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.
She and her husband were farmers in Abingdon and Wataga. She was a nurse’s aide at Galesburg Cottage Hospital and also a beautician for several years. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Wataga.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home in Knoxville. Burial was in Wataga Cemetery. Memorials may be made to any charity.
Wayne R. Meadows
Wayne R. Meadows, age 87, of Gerlaw, passed away at 11:45 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 1999 in Community Medical Center, Monmouth.
He was born September 10, 1911, in Berwick, the son of Harvey Herschel and Maude Ross Meadows. He married "Bobbie" Miller on April 2, 1938, in Monmouth.
Surviving are his wife; one niece, Donna Hallam, of near Monmouth; two great-nieces; two great-nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one nephew.
He was reared and educated in the Berwick area, and attended Alexis High School. He was a World War II veteran. He worked at Butler Manufacturing Company, Galesburg, for many years. He retired 25 years ago. He was a member of Gerlaw Christian Church, where he served as deacon for many years. He was a member of the Alexis Masonic Lodge. He was president, secretary and sexton of Gerlaw cemetery.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Turnbull Funeral Home, Monmouth with Rev. Paul Lydic officiating. Burial was in Gerlaw Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Gerlaw Christian Church.
Cecil Graves
Cecil Floyd Graves, age 82, formerly of 1147 East Carroll Street, Macomb, passed away at 5 a.m. Monday, January 4, 1999, at the Care Center of Abingdon.
Born May 8, 1916, in McDonough County to John Albert and VaVina Mae Mitchell Graves, he married Garnet Lee Reed on September 21, 1933, in Keokuk, Iowa. She died March 27, 1988.
One son, Allen, one grandson, five brothers and two sisters also preceded him in death.
Surviving are two sons, Eugene of Gilson and Larry of Macomb; one daughter, Dianne Elliott of Morton; one foster son, Frankie Simpson of LaHarpe; one brother, Marvin of Navarre, Florida; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He and his brother, Harley, owned and operated Graves Garage and Wrecker Service in Macomb for 40 years. He also built stock cars. He attended Macomb Baptist Church. He was a member of Argyle Gas Engine Club and Macomb Masonic Lodge 17, AF&AM.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Sargent-Worthington Funeral Home, Macomb with Rev. Gerald Seabaugh officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Macomb. Memorials may be made to his Masonic Lodge or the Care Center of Abingdon.
Helen Harshbarger
Helen M. Harshbarger, 97, of 358 S. Pearl Street, Galesburg, passed away at 12:55 a.m. Sunday, January 10, 1999, at the Care Center of Abingdon.
Born May 5, 1901, in Galesburg to William and Margaret Bonney Hendryx, she married Guy A. Harshbarger on June 21, 1919, in Monmouth. He died April 19, 1991.
She also was preceded in death by one daughter, Jean Seckler Alves, on September 6, 1998, and three brothers.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Fred (Louise) Cline of Abingdon; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was a precinct committee woman, past secretary and treasurer of the Knox County Republican Central Committee. She was former president of the Parent-Teacher Association at the former Weston School. She was former president of Burlington-Northern Women’s Auxiliary. She was a member of the Rootabaga Jammers Band at Carl Sandburg College, the Cable TV Commission, Daughters of the American Revolution, Order of Eastern Star and First United Methodist Church. She was former president of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Club and a board member of the Carl Sandburg Birthplace. She volunteered at the former Galesburg Mental Health Center and for the American Red Cross.
Services will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with Rev. Robert Snider officiating. Visitation will be two hours before services at the chapel. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to her church or any charity.
Dudley R. Purlee
Dudley R. Purlee, age 63, of 2876 40th Ave., Alexis, passed away at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 1999 at home.
He was born April 10, 1935, in Monmouth, the son of Robert V. and Evelyn Jellinger Purlee. He married Ann M. Lavender on February 1, 1959, in Galesburg.
Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Tracey Winbigler, Monmouth; two sons, Robert Purlee, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Sam Purlee, Alexis; two sisters, Judy McCrery, Abingdon, and Marilyn Smith, Mason City, Iowa; three brothers, John Purlee, Corvallis, Mont., James Purlee, Galesburg, and Joe Purlee, Alexis, and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He was reared in Alexis, and was graduated from Alexis High School in 1953. He served in the Army Reserve for six years. He was a farmer and a salesman for Alexis Realty. He was a member of Alexis United Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder. He was a former Republican precinct committeeman in Mercer County.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 Monday in Alexis United Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Marti Jones officiating. Cremation rites were accorded following the service. Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Alexis was in charge of the arrangements. A memorial fund has been established; a recipient will be designated later.
Winifred House
Winifred A. House, age 83, formerly of Gerlaw, passed away at 2:20 p.m. Friday, January 8, 1999, at LaMoine Christian Nursing Home in Roseville, where she was a resident.
Born May 28, 1915, in Alexis to Willis Eugene and Mildred Fernald Gilmore, she married Dell Joseph House on September 23, 1933, in Alexis. He died June 9,1994.
Two brothers also preceded her in death.
Surviving are two sons, Edward of Kingsland, Texas, and John of Roseville; one daughter, Shirley Flanagan of El Paso, Texas; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross for many years. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Monmouth.
Services were held January 12 at Corman Memorial Home in Roseville with Rev. Ron Enderlin officiating. Burial was in Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery in Monmouth. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
