CHAMPAIGN - Annette B. Tramm, 85, of Champaign, formerly of Neoga and Kankakee, died Wednesday (Feb. 21, 2001) at her residence.
A private family graveside service will be 10 a.m. Sunday at the Neoga Memorial Cemetery, Neoga.
No visitation is planned.
The Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born March 9, 1915, in Neoga, the daughter of Oscar W. and Anna C. Capper Blomquist.
She married Gilbert E. Tramm; he died in 1970.
Surviving are two sons, Tom Tramm of Wilmette and Capper Tramm of Ashville, N.C.; one daughter, Martha Beaumont of Champaign; one brother, J. Robert Blomquist of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and six grandchildren.
Mrs. Tramm was a retired high school teacher at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Champaign and the Needle Worker's Guild in Kankakee.
VELMA R. MILLS
CASEY, IL - Velma Rardin Mills, 86, of Casey, died at 8 a.m., June 4, 2001, at Birchwood Nursing Home in Casey. Her funeral will be on Thursday, June 7, 2001 at 1 p.m. at the Markwell Funeral Home in Casey.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in the Washington Street Cemetery. Rev. Mark Kaley will conduct the service.
Mrs. Mills was born February 24, 1915, in Rardin, Illinois, a daughter of John Hull Rardin and Lillie Brothers Rardin. She married Forrest F. Mills on December 25, 1946 at the First Methodist Church in Casey. He survives.
Also surviving are one son, William F. Mills and wife Elaine, of Los Angeles, CA; and one daughter, Ruth A. Mills Arbogast and husband Daniel S. Arbogast of Casey. She has one granddaughter, Beth Ann Arbogast of Casey. A sister, Lucille and husband Leon Stewart of Champaign, IL; and one sister-in-law, Edna Mills Bruce of Olney, IL, also survive.
She was predeceased by four sisters and two brothers.
Mrs. Mills graduated from Charleston High School. She continued her education graduating from Eastern Illinois University and then Indiana State University. She taught school for thirty-four years beginning in the country schools and retiring several years ago. Most recently, she had taught fifth grade at Roosevelt School in Casey.
She was a member of the Clark County Retired Teachers and the Casey United Methodist Church.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to a charity or organization of the donor's choice.
Paul Zang
GREENUP - Paul M. Zang, 81, of rural Greenup, Illinois, died at 8 a.m. Sunday (Feb. 25, 2001) at his residence.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday (March 1, 2001) at the Swengel-O'Dell Funeral Home, in Neoga, Illinois, with the Rev. Roger James of Greenup, officiating.
Burial will be in Greenup Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at Noon Thursday at the funeral home.
Masonic rites will be at 2 p.m. Thursday conducted by the Toledo Masonic Lodge No. 834 also at the funeral home.
He was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Enola, Penn., the son of Foster and Annie (Raffensberger) Zang.
He married Alvirda Benner on Nov. 1, 1939, in Mifflintown, Penn.
Survivors include his wife, Alvirda Zang of rural Greenup, Ill.; sons, Thomas M. Zang and wife Sandy of rural Greenup, Ill. and Steven F. Zang and wife Kim of Carbondale, Ill.; daughter, Mrs. Roy (Nancy) Souder of Zephyrhills, Fla.; brothers, Lucian Zang of Okeechobee, Fla., Gene Zang of Ruby, Mich., and John Zang of New Bloomfield, Penn.; sister, Mrs. Evelyn Winters of Elizabethtown, Penn.; 16 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Paul; one daughter, Robin; one brother and four sisters.
Mr. Zang was a retired truck driver, the owner and operator of Kenosha Auto Transport in Kenosha, Wis.
He attended the New Hope Church in rural Greenup, and was a member of the Toledo Masonic Lodge # 834 of Toledo, Ill., Eastern Star Chapter #231 of Toledo, Ill., and the Danville Consistory, Danville, Ill. -
Memorials may be made to New Hope Church in rural Greenup, Ill. and Lincoln Land Hospice, Mattoon.
Betty Baldwin
SHELBYVILLE - Betty Lou Baldwin, 75, of Shelbyville died at 10:15 a.m. Friday (Feb. 23, 2001) at her residence.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at the Howe & Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville with the Rev. David McHenry officiating.
Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery.
Visitation was Sunday at the funeral home.
She was born July 9, 1925, in Shelby County, the daughter of Wilburn and Della Maude Miller Rodman.
She married Dwight Baldwin in 1942. He survives.
Also surviving are one son, Roger Baldwin of Shelbyville; one daughter, Karen Gatson of Shelbyville; one brother, Junior Rodman of Findlay; one sister, Jeanette Beasley of Shelbyville; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Mrs. Baldwin was a nurse's aid at Shelbyville Memorial Hospital and a member of the Cornerstone Community Fellowship.
Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Community Fellowship, Lincolnland Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Mary Routh Beem
NEOGA - Mary Routh Beem, age 95, of Neoga, formerly of Mattoon, passed away 8:40 a.m. Sunday, February 25, 2001 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with Rev. Ron Dickson officiating.
Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to service time Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mary Routh Beem was born February 13, 1906 at Connersville, Indiana, a daughter of Harrison and Cora Lee Waltz Bottles.
She married Harlan Dennett Beem December 3, 1927 at Greencastle, Indiana; he preceded her in death March 16, 1964.
Surviving is a God-daughter, Patty Stiff and her husband Lew of Mattoon, their children Lisa Bond and her husband Brett and children Ashley, Amanda and Amber all of Mattoon and Greg Stiff and his wife Marcia of Apopka, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.
Mrs. Beem was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Mattoon and served as choir director for thirteen years.
She earned a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois and served as acting Coles County Superintendent of Schools during World War II.
She retired as Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School at Southern Illinois University and was a Certified Professional Secretary.
Mrs. Beam was a fifty one year member of Elect Lady Chapter #40 Order of the Eastern Star, the National Secretaries Association, the State Universities Annuitants Association, Sarah's Circle and the Quadrangle Reading Club.
Mrs. Beem was voted National Secretary of the Year in 1963.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Jack Bennett
EFFINGHAM - Jack Bennett, 81, of Effingham died at 2:22 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 25, 2001) at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Effingham.
Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
He was born Dec. 9, 1919, in St. Elmo, the son of Harland D. and Clura V. Askins Bennett.
He married Ruby Crumbaugh in 1939. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Gary L. Bennett of Lexington, Mo.; one daughter, Audrine Hubbartt of Mattoon; one sister, Joyce Eyestone of Fredricksburg, Va.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mr. Bennett was the owner/operator of Ruby's Propane Gas Co. in Effingham and supervisor of Douglas Township.
He was a U.S. WW II veteran and member of the First Christian Church in Effingham.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church or the donor's choice.
Fern Blaase
ARTHUR - Fern E. Blaase, 86, of Arthur died at 12:30 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 24, 2001) at Carle Foundation Hospital.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Vine Street Christian Church in Arthur with the Rev. Michael Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in Arthur Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Shrader Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born Nov. 23, 1914, in rural Garrett, a daughter of Sylvan E. and Vinnie G. Jividen Wildman.
She married Floyd Thompson Blaase in 1938. He died in 1970.
Surviving are two brothers, S.R. and Kenneth Wildman, both of Rock Island, and two sisters, Esther Von Lankin and Grace Dick, both of Tuscola.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers.
Mrs. Blaase was a member of the Vine Street Christian Church and Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 427 of Arthur.
Memorials may be made to the Vine Street Christian Church.
Arvie Elder
ARCOLA - Arvie True Elder, 96, of Arcola died at 3:50 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 24, 2001) at Arcola Health Care Center.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Arcola with the Rev. Barney Wells officiating.
Burial will be in Arcola Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
She was born April 26, 1904, in Short Creek, Ky., the daughter of Archie and Lillie Allen Edwards.
She married Willie Kane Elder in 1924. He died in 1967.
Surviving are two sons, Ivan Elder of Mattoon and Larry Elder of Hazel Dell; two daughters Ruby Gray of Assumption and Pansy Bumpus of Charleston; one sister, Dora Hendrickson of Sun City, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by one son, two grandchildren, four brothers and six sisters.
Ms. Wilder was a Christian.
Memorials may be made to the Illini Children's Home.
Kaleb Hayes
CHARLESTON - Kaleb Joshua Hayes, 6 months, died at 5:15 p.m. Friday (Feb. 23, 2001) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital.
The graveside funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Kickapoo Cemetery with the Rev. Kenneth Pate officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.
He was born Aug. 13, 2000, at Mattoon, the son of Chris Harrison and Amanda Hayes.
Surviving are his parents; one brother, Kory W. Grove of Charleston; grandparents William Harrison and Sherri Hayes, both of Charleston, James H. Hayes Sr. and Cheryl Meyerhoff, both of Bushton; great-grandparents Gene Hayes of Bushton, and Delmas and Jackie Tyron of Charleston and great-great-grandfather Verl Laws of Bushton.
Scott Meers
STEWARDSON - Scott Edward Meers, 22, of Stewardson died at 7:40 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 24, 2001) at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Gymnasium in Stewardson.
Burial will be in Stewardson Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Gymnasium in Stewardson.
He was born Dec. 7, 1978, the son of Edward and Elaine Speaker Meers.
Surviving are his parents; two brothers, David Meers and Michael Meers, both of Stewardson; grandmother Mrs. Doris Speaker of Richmond and grandfather Wilbert Meers of Stewardson.
Mr. Meers was a student at Greenville College and a 1997 graduate of Stewardson-Strasburg High School.
