MATTOON - Mary Gabriella Miller, 86, of Mattoon, died
at 8:50 p.m. Sunday (May 6, 2001) at her residence.
A graveside service will be conducted at noon Thursday
at the Graceland Cemetery in Decatur with the Rev.
Derold R. Doughty officiating. No visitation is planned.
The Schilling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She was born June 5, 1914, in Wayne County, the
daughter of Ulyssis and Minnie Pettigrew Bell. She
married Walter Clarence Miller in 1931; he died in 1976.
Surviving are two sons, Dallas Gene Miller of Decatur
and Burnell Miller of Effingham; three daughters, Yulanda
Perry of Mason, Rita Dearman of Decatur and Lorraine
Knotts of Mattoon; two sisters, Rena Kramer and Trulla
Langsfield, both of Decatur; nine grandchildren; six
great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, two brothers,
one sister and one grandchild.
Mrs. Miller was a homemaker.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Orlie Zike Jr.
CHARLESTON - Orlie Lester Zike Jr., 79, of Glendale,
Ariz., formerly of Mattoon, died Wednesday (May 2,
2001) at his residence.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Adams Funeral
Chapel. Burial with military rites will be in Salisbury
Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the
funeral home, with Masonic rites at 6:45 p.m.
He was born Sept. 12, 1921, in Mattoon, the son of Orlie
L. Sr. and Bessie (Quinn) Zike. He married Pauline
Hoseney in 1949; she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Virginia Ludders of
Glendale and Martha Gudeman of St. Joseph; one brother,
Charles Zike of Mattoon; one sister, Helen Borntreger of
Mattoon; seven grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Mr. Zike was a railroad engine house foreman for 33
years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in
Glendale, Mattoon Masonic Lodge 260, Valley of Danville
Consistory and Amaranth 14 in Paris. He was an Army
veteran of World War II.
Marian Kamm
ATWOOD - Marian G. Kamm, 85, of rural Atwood, died at
11:05 a.m. Saturday (May 5, 2001) at Carle Arbours
Nursing Home in Savoy.
The graveside funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the
Mackville Cemetery in Atwood with the Rev. Kenneth
Kramer officiating. No visitation will be held. Hilligoss
Shrader Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born January 8, 1916, in Charleston, the daughter
of Will and Elizabeth Shoot Gannaway. She married
Alfred Jacob Kamm in 1936. He survives.
Also surviving are one son, Adrian J. Kamm of Port
Lavaca, Texas; one daughter, Ruth Ann Cothron of
Atwood; and four grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother, two sisters and
two grandchildren.
Mrs. Kamm was a homemaker and member of the United
Church of Atwood, Atwood Women's Club and
Daughter's of the American Revolution.
Memorials may be made to the United Church of Atwood,
P.O. Box 397, Atwood, Ill. 61913 or to the donor's choice.
Joseph Metzelaars
EFFINGHAM - Joseph E. Metzelaars, 85, of Effingham,
formerly of Mattoon, died at 1:35 a.m. Sunday (May 6,
2001) at Lutheran Care Center in Altamont.
The graveside funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the
Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be
from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Johnson Funeral Home in
Effingham.
He was born August 22, 1915, in Mattoon, the son of
Peter H. and Sarah Webster Metzelaars. He married
Marjorie W. Hubbart in 1938. She died in 1987.
Surviving are one son, John Metzelaars of Effingham; one
daughter, Sally Sherrick of Watson; one brother,
Lawrence Metzelaars of Windsor; and five grandchildren
and three great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his parents and two
brothers.
Mr. Metzelarrs retired from CIPS after 40 years of service
and was a member of the Centenary United Methodist
Church in Effingham.
Memorials may be made to the Mason Christian Academy
in Mason.
Patricia Nickles
GREENUP - Patricia Joan Nickles, 67, of Greenup, died at
4:30 a.m. Sunday (May 6, 2001) at Sarah Bush Lincoln
Health Center.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Barkley
Funeral Home in Greenup with the Rev. Roger James
officiating. Burial will be in Greenup Cemetery. Visitation
will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
She was born Dec. 26, 1933, in Paris, the daughter of
Howard and Marvel Justice Mullins. She married Eugene
Nickles in 1955. He died in 1983.
Surviving are two sons, Mike Nickles and Jim Nickles,
both of Greenup; three daughters, Pam Hensley, Kathleen
Carl and Tammy Oakley, all of Greenup; one sister, Leona
Parker of Paris; and 11 grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers and two
sisters.
Mrs. Nickles was a cook at Cumberland Nursing Center
and was a member of New Hope Christian Church in
rural Greenup.
Margaret C. Blunschi
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - Margaret C. Blunschi, age
84, of Louisville, Kentucky, formerly of Charleston,
passed away at 2:43 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2001 at Caritas
Hospital in Louisville.
Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 9,
2001, at Mound Cemetery, Charleston with Dr. Mark
Prevo officiating. There will be no visitation.
Harper-Swickard Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Margaret C. Blunschi was born February 14, 1917 at
Charleston, Illinois, a daughter of John M. and Lola M.
Frances Bails. She married Marion A. Blunschi April 22,
1946 at Charleston, he preceded her in death. She is
survived by one son, Eric C. Blunschi of Louisville,
Kentucky; two brothers, Richard Bails of Charleston and
John J. Bails of Glendale, Arizona; and two sisters, Marian
Montgomery and Anna Mae Hamilton both of Charleston.
Three nieces, Gai Anthony of Phoenix, Arizona, Donna
Sue Derwort of Marissa, Illinois, and Jeanne Cox of St.
Elmo, Illinois survive as well as three nephews, Harold R.
Bails of Abilene, Texas, John Bails of Seattle, Washington
and Mike Bails of Sparks, Nevada. She was preceded in
death by one brother and one sister.
Mrs. Blunschi graduated from Charleston High School
and attended Eastern Illinois University. Prior to her
marriage, she taught the Primary Sunday School Class at
Methodist Church in Charleston, and after marriage
became a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic
Church. Margaret loved children and working with them.
She greatly enjoyed being outdoors whether working or
in her leisure. Margaret worked in the Catholic Church
library in Louisville and was an avid reader. She also was
the author of several poems, some of which have been
published.
Lee Croft, Jr.
MATTOON - Lee Croft, Jr., age 77, of Mattoon, passed
away at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2001 at Carle
Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2001
at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home. Interment will be in
Dodge Grove Cemetery with military rites by the Honor
Guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post
1592. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at
the funeral home with Masonic Rites at 7:30 p.m.
conducted by Mattoon Lodge #260, A.F. & A.M.
Lee Croft, Jr. was born August 14, 1923 at Mattoon,
Illinois, a son of Lee H. and Ruby Humphrey Croft. He
married Vida Howard May 18, 1943 at Rising Fawn,
Georgia. Surviving are his wife, Vida; two sons, Jim Croft
and his wife Marilyn of Chicago and Allen Croft and his
wife Terri of Champaign; a brother, Charles Croft and his
wife Nancy of Mattoon; and two sisters, Juanita Weber
and her husband Cecil of Mattoon and Betty McGillem of
Mattoon. Mr. Croft also leaves grandchildren, Jason Croft
of Champaign, Mark Croft and his wife Samantha of
Bartlett, Illinois, Dustin Croft and Jordan Croft of
Champaign; and step-grandchildren, Evan Donahue and
Erin Donahue of Champaign. His parents and two sisters,
Geraldine Croft and Thelma Croft preceded him in death.
Mr. Croft was a member of Plumbers and Pipefitters
Local 149 in Champaign and had been business agent for
Mattoon Local 563. He served his country honorably in
the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division during World War
II and was twice awarded the Purple Heart. Lee was a
member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post
1592 in Charleston, American Legion Lawrence Riddle
Post 88 and Eagles Aerie 3438 in Mattoon. He was a
member and past master of Mattoon Lodge #260 A.F. &
A.M., Danville Consistory and York Rite, Ainad Shrine
Temple in St. Louis and the High Twelve and Low
Twelve. Mr. Croft enjoyed league bowling and was an
avid musician. He played steel guitar in various country
music groups all over central Illinois and Western
Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson
Foundation at Carle.
DICK COWGER
Richard L. "Dick" Cowger, age 62, of rural Mattoon,
passed away at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, May 5, 2001, at the
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Funeral services celebrating his life will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday at the Schilling Funeral Home with the
Reverend Bill Rolman officiating. Burial with military
rites by the V.F.W. Post 4325 will be in the Zion Hill
Cemetery, southwest of Mattoon. Visitation will be from
noon until service time on Wednesday afternoon at the
funeral home.
Dick was born December 16, 1938, in Mattoon, a son of
Jim and Freda Blythe Cowger. He married Betty Jo Eaton
on May 4, 1959.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Cowger of rural
Mattoon; one son, Richard Canull of Tuscola; one
daughter, Hope Ireland and husband Greg of Springfield;
three grandchildren, Michael Ireland of Springfield, Erika
Canull and Lauren Canull, both of Effingham; two
brothers, Donald Cowger and wife Sue and John Cowger
and wife Yong, all of Greenup; three nieces, eight
nephews and ten great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, both of
Greenup; his daughters, Wendy Renee Cowger and Terri
Lynn Cowger; and three nephews, Dusty Cowger, Andy
Good and Alex Good.
Mr. Cowger was employed by Gardner Trucking
Company in Mattoon. He served in the Marine Corps
from 1955-1959.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer
Society.
Margaret R. Bernard
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA - Margaret R. Bernard, age 62,
of Antioch, California, formerly of Mattoon, passed away
April 20, 2001 in Solano County, California.
Memorial services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Saturday,
May 12, 2001 at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with
the Reverend Ron Lake officiating. Interment will be in
Dodge Grove Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be
from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral
home.
Margaret R. Bernard was born January 29, 1939 at
Mattoon, Illinois, a daughter of Milo I. and Marie B.
Patterson Sawyer. Her children survive her, Phil Bernard
of Modesto, California, Kendra Bernard of Anitoch,
California and Kim Bernard of Modesto, California. Also
surviving are four brothers, Tom Sawyer and wife Brenda
of Charleston, Max Sawyer of Mattoon, Ed Sawyer and
wife Lorraine of Wilmington and Dick Sawyer and wife
Deb of Seneca; two sisters, Marilyn Beals of Neoga and
Karen Malloch and husband Ron of Neoga and three
grandchildren also survive. Her parents, two brothers and
one sister preceded her in death.
Margaret moved to California in 1957 after graduating
from Mattoon High School. She was a dedicated, devoted,
loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister, and
sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt and friend to many people.
She loved to cook, paint and dance; and loved having her
picture taken with movie and country music stars. She
was a former president of Judy Field's Fan Club and once
entered the Southern California Lettuce Queen Contest.
Margaret was employed with First American Lenders
Advantage and will always be remembered for her smile
and generosity.
VERNON D. RICE
CHARLESTON, IL - Vernon Dale Rice, age 74, of
Charleston, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 3,
2001 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Services
celebrating Vernon's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, May 8 at the Bible Center Church, 2605
University Drive, Charleston. Pastor John Best will
officiate. Visitation will be held Monday evening from
5:00-8:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee
Drive in Charleston. Following the services interment,
with Military Rites conducted by the Honor Guard of
Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 of
Charleston, will be held in Tippett Cemetery, in rural
Cumberland County.
Vernon was born September 1, 1926 in Toledo, Illinois
the son of Oren and Clara (Letner) Rice. He married Irma
Carpenter on November 30, 1944 in Charleston. She
survives.
Other survivors include six sons; Mike Rice and his wife
Carol of Mattoon, Illinois, Jim Rice and his wife Mary of
Greenville, Illinois, Jerry Rice and his wife Dianne of
Silver Lake, Indiana, John Rice of Waukegan, Illinois, Joe
Rice and his wife Barb of Ashmore, Illinois and Steve
Rice and his wife Lisa of Bloomington, Illinois; two
daughters, Becky Douglas and her husband Jeff of
Mattoon and Debby Burt and her husband Brian of
Brewer, Maine; nineteen grandchildren, Andy Rice of
Carlsbad, California, Ben Rice and his wife Susan of
Palangka Raya, Indonesia, Jill Dickey and her husband
John of Decatur, Illinois, Cora Hill and her husband Jeff
of Chicago, Illinois, Bryan Rice and his wife Amy of
Burkett, Indiana, Megan Lozier and her husband Adam of
Warsaw, Indiana, Tony Rice of Silver Lake, Indiana,
Lance Rice and his wife Melissa of Abbeville, South
Carolina, Elisa Greenwood and her husband Gary of
Anderson, South Carolina, Baylee Rice of Ashmore,
Illinois, April Smith and Brittaeny Douglas of Mattoon,
Illinois, Alison Smith of Toledo, Illinois, Katie Burt,
Kelsey Burt and Sam Burt, all of Brewer, Maine and Kyle
Rice, Jacob Rice and Drew Rice, all of Bloomington,
Illinois; five great-grandchildren, Kristin Rice and Jessica
Rice of Abbeville, South Carolina, Keagan Rice of
Burkett, Indiana, Whitton Rice of Palangka Raya,
Indonesia and Trey Greenwood of Anderson, South
Carolina; one brother, Orville Rice and his wife Marge of
Stevens Point, Wisconsin; two sisters, Leora Stewart of
Charleston and Catherine Wibberly of Milo, Maine, and
one sister-in-law, Eleanor Rice of Charleston. He was
preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ken Rice;
two sisters, Florence Rice and Thelma Rice, and two
brothers-in-law, Kenny Stewart and Don Wibberly.
Vernon was a fifty-one year member of the Bible Center
Church in Charleston. His church and his family were his
life's missions. He served his church as a Member of its
Board, was actively involved in many of its activities, was
a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather. Yet, he always found time to help
others; often and generously using his carpentry skills in
assisting others in building homes for their families.
Vernon served with the United States Navy aboard the
USS Belleau Wood during World War II. He was
employed with Garwood Industries for twelve years,
U.S.I. for five years and Eastern Illinois University as a
Stationary Fireman for twenty-five years. For the past
four months, he resided at Hilltop Convalescent Center of
Charleston, where he was loved by everyone. His legacy
of love for his family, church and friends will inspire
memories for their lifetimes.
Vernon's family requests that memorials in his honor be
made to the Bible Center Church of Charleston.
Memorials may be made at the service or visitation, or
mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive,
Charleston, IL 61920.
