NEOGA - Mable L. Smith, 81, of Neoga, formerly of Champaign and Urbana, died at 12:12 p.m. Monday (Nov. 5, 2001) at Provena Covenant Medical Center.
Funeral services will be noon Thursday at the Mittendorf-Calvert Funeral Home, Champaign, with Pastor Joey A. Condon officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.
She was born March 12, 1920, in Champaign, the daughter of John Edward and LueEtta McAnich Stiebner. She married Francis A. Smith in 1960; he survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Carolyn Phebus of Urbana and Marlene Gossard of Mattoon; two sisters, Jessie Schlorff of Rantoul and Helen Cook of Colorado Springs, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one stepson and one brother.
Mrs. Smith was a member of the St. Peters Evangelical Church in Champaign, VFW 630 Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary in Urbana.
Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross or to the American Heart Association.
Phyllis Still
ARCOLA, Illinois - Phyllis Ann Still, 75, of Arcola, died at 3:55 P.M. Monday, Nov. 5, 2001 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001 at Arcola United Methodist Church, 121 S. Locust Street, Arcola, with Reverend Margaret Misal as officiant. Burial will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5:00-8:00 P.M. Wednesday at Shrader Funeral Home, 204 N. Locust, Arcola.
Mrs. Still was born March 12, 1926, in Arcola, a daughter of Walter and Zelma Hood Kutz. She married Dale Still in Tuscola on March 24, 1944; he preceded her in death on Jan. 11, 1988.
Survivors include one daughter, Marsha Melton and her husband Denny of Arcola; Ron Still and his wife Regina of Arcola; 4 grandchildren, Shawn Still and his wife Amanda of Arcola; Brian Perkins of Galesburg; Ryan Melton and his wife Carrie of Arcola; Brandi Melton of Arcola; 9 great-grandchildren, Seth, Ethan, and Dale Still; Meghan and Bridget Perkins; Alexis and Jordan Melton and Madysen and Mackenzie Melton.
Mrs. Still was a homemaker. She was a member of the Arcola United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Singles Group. She enjoyed baking, making crafts and loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorials are suggested to the Arcola United Methodist Church.
Katherine Marie Sydenstricker
Katherine Marie Sydenstricker, 80, of Mattoon, died at 4:30 a.m. Monday at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 7, 2001 at the Epperson Funeral Chapel, with Father Ralph Zetzel officiating. Burial will be in Janesville Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until time of service today.
She was born April 23, 1921, in Mattoon, she was the daughter of Abednago J. and Nora Gibson Howard. She married Donald Sydenstricker. She is survived by one son, Benny Dent and his wife Linda of Mattoon; four grandchildren, Lynn Rawlings and her husband Roger, Chris Dent and his wife Marsha, David Dent and his wife Lynn, and Sherri Towle and her husband Shawn all of Mattoon; nine great-grandchildren, Kiersten Dent, Amanda Dent, Dalton Dent, Ericka Gregory, Kurtis Gregory, Madison Dent, Tiara Towle, Taylor Towle, and Haley Towle all of Mattoon; two nephews, Samuel Howard Jr. and his wife Karen of Normal and Barry Oliver and his wife Karen of California; one sister-in-law, Kathy Howard of Shermon. Her husband, Donald Sydenstricker; one daughter, Kay Frances Boroom; one brother, Sam Howard; two sisters, Frances Roberson and Pauline Howard preceded her in death.
Katherine owned and operated Westinghouse Laundry Mat in Mattoon for over seven years. She liked to do crafts and loved to play bingo, Katherine had a great love for her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the VFW 4325 Women's Auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union. Memorials may be made to the family c/o Epperson Funeral Chapel, 1313 So. 9th St., Mattoon, IL 61938.
Albert Biggs
ARCOLA - Albert Biggs, 79, of Arcola, died at 3:27 p.m. Monday (Nov. 5, 2001) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Arrangements are incomplete at the Edwards Funeral Home, Arcola.
Eric Blunschi
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eric C. Blunschi, 48, of Louisville, Ky., died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) at Norton Health Care Pavilion, Louisville, Ky.
A graveside service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mound Cemetery, Charleston, with the Rev. Mark Prevo officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.
He was born Nov. 2, 1953, in Louisville, Ky., the son of Martin Anthony and Margaret C. Bails Blunschi.
Survivors include two aunts, Marian Montgomery and Anna Mae Hamilton, both of Charleston, and two uncles, John Bails Jr. of Glendale, Ariz., and Dick Bails of Charleston.
Mr. Blunschi was a computer technician in Louisville, Ky., and California. He was a member of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Louisville, Ky.
Karen Bowen
DAVIS, Okla. - Karen Sue Bowen, 58, of Davis, Okla., formerly of Mattoon, died Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) in Sulphur, Okla.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fox Funeral Home, Davis, Okla., with the Rev. John Joughin officiating. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery, Davis, Okla.
She was born June 8, 1943, in Mattoon, the daughter of Glen and Agnes Rickleman Runner. She married Rick Bowen in 1977; he survives.
Other survivors include her mother of Mattoon; two sons, Rex Bowen of Norman and Lee David Bowen of Jones, Okla.; one brother, Bob Runner of Mattoon; and one grandchild.
Mrs. Bowen worked at First National Bank of Davis in the loan department.
Opal Brandenburg
CASEY - Opal Marie Brandenburg, 83, of Casey, died at 5:30 a.m. Monday (Nov. 5, 2001) at Union Hospital, Terre Haute, Ind.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Markwell Funeral Home, Casey, with the Rev. Kenny Inman officiating. Burial will be in Casey Cumberland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
She was born April 12, 1918, in Clark County, the daughter of Clark Frederick Wilson and Ellen Jane Lowe Wilson. She married Edgar Eugene Brandenburg in 1961; he died in 1981.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by five brothers and six sisters.
Mrs. Brandenburg had worked at the Ettlebrick Shoe Co. and the Casey IGA. She was a member of the Casey White Oak Church of God.
Henry Cachera
TAYLORVILLE - Henry Cachera, 88, of Taylorville, died at 2:50 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 3, 2001) at his residence.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Taylorville, with Father John O'Connell officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.
He was born May 29, 1913, in Auburn, the son of Charles Louis and Louisa Billet Cachera. He married Josephine Chesi in 1938; she survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Marie Klemm of Decatur, Andrea Body of Taylorville and Kathie Thacker of Charleston; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Mr. Cachera retired in 1976 from the Peabody Coal Company. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Taylorville, and the UMWA District 12 Local 9819.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary's School, Taylorville.
David Lapan
KEWANEE - David R. Lapan, 57, of Kewanee, formerly of Mattoon, died at 1:10 a.m. Monday (Nov. 5, 2001) at his home.
A memorial service will be 2:15 p.m. Monday at the Wethersfield High School Gym, Kewanee. Private burial will be at Galva Cemetery. Rux Funeral Home, Galva, is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wethersfield High School Gym, Kewanee.
He was born April 9, 1944, in Kewanee, the son of Richard and Gladys Dennis Lapan. He married Rita Miller in 1964; she survives.
Other survivors include one son, Brian of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two daughters, Audra Spies of Shellsburg, Iowa, and Renee Islas of Kewanee; one brother, Stephen Lapan of Sedona, Ariz.; one sister, Susan Fulton of Brookfield; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Lapan taught physical education in Atlanta, Ill., and coached boys' basketball and baseball. From 1969 to 1975 he taught P.E. and health at Lake Land College in Mattoon, coached golf and tennis, and was assistant basketball coach. He also taught at Black Hawk East Community College, Kewanee; Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Wethersfield High School from 1994 until present. He was a former member of the Galva school board and the Galva Park District Board.
Memorials may be made to the athletic departments/booster clubs of Wethersfield High School, Galva High School or Black Hawk East Community College, Kewanee.
Milon Reed
ARTHUR - Milon Reed, 82, of Arthur, formerly of Sullivan, died at 10:40 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Apostolic Church, Arthur, with the Rev. Gawain Bevis and the Rev. John Kellogg officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.
She was born Jan. 29, 1919, in Thompkinsville, Ky., the daughter of Arvie and Flossie England Bushong. She married Claude J. Reed in 1940; he died in 1991.
Survivors include two sons, James Reed of the Fiji Islands and Gary Reed of Amman, Jordan; two daughters, Sharon White and Yvonne Bevis, both of Arthur; one sister, Shirley Engquist of Janesville, Wis.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two sisters.
Mrs. Reed was a homemaker and member of the First Apostolic Church of Arthur.
Memorials may be made to the First Apostolic Church of Arthur or to the family for traveling expenses for her sons, who are missionaries.
