Arthur S. Kossman
Arthur S. Kossman, late of Oak Forest, Illinois, passed away on March 17, 2003, at Ingalls Hospital in Harvey. He was born in Blue Island on January 14, 1925. Arthur was a retired purchasing agent for the Rock Island Railroad.
Arthur was husband to the late Lois nee Scatena; father to Diana (Patrick) Iler of Medford, Oregon, and Candice (Kevin) Doogan of Oak Forest; grandfather to five.
Visitation was held at HICKEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 4207 W. 147th St. in Midlothian, on March 19, 2003, from 4-8 PM. Funeral services were held there at 11 AM on Thursday, March 20, 2003. Private interment was at St. Benedict Cemetery.
Helen M. Lakin
Helen M. Lakin passed away on March 11, 2003, at her home in Pompano Beach, Florida. Helen was born to William Scott and Mae Kingman Scott in State Center, Iowa, on January 29, 1905. Helen's family lived in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, where she graduated from East High and attended Des Moines University.
On February 27, 1927, Helen married (Marion) Hill Lakin at Clear Lake, Iowa, and shortly thereafter they moved to Blue Island where he was editor of the Blue Island Sun-Standard for many years and Helen was employed with a public relations firm in downtown Chicago.
The Lakins were very active in community affairs and Helen continued to receive the FORUM so that she could keep abreast of what was happening back in Blue Island.
In 1970 Helen and Hill moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where they remained until 1986 when they relocated to John Knox Village in Pompano Beach. Hill passed away in 1995.
While at the Ft. Lauderdale cooperative apartment complex, Helen managed the business office affairs, and when she moved to John Knox she was a volunteer activity center receptionist and Chairman of the Chapel Committee. She was known as a very capable and efficient manager.
A memorial service was held at the John Knox Chapel on March 13 and a further service will be planned for Yale, Iowa, at a later date.
Helen is survived by a sister, Joan Wright of Redondo Beach, California; a brother, Harold Scott of Willow Springs, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews.
Betty Ann Orrico
Betty Ann Orrico nee Fleischer, 76, of Cathedral City died on February 6, 2003, in Palm Springs. She was born on December 7, 1926, to George John Fleischer and Anna Josephine Kempf in Blue Island. She married Robert Orrico on September 28, 1968, in Tinley Park. She was an administrative secretary with the Rock Island Railroad for 25 years and was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and the Woman's Guild.
Betty Ann Orrico is survived by her sister, Carol Sieben of Palos Heights; two brother, George Fleischer of Elwood an Donald Fleischer of Blue Island. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert in 1998.
Funeral Mass was held on Monday, March 10, 2003, at 11 AM at St. Louis Catholic Church in Cathedral City. Interment was at Desert Memorial Park with Palm Springs Mortuary of Cathedral City in charge of arrangements.
Philip W. Schute
Philip W. Schute of Blue Island passed away on January 29, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on September 11, 1924, and worked with sheet metal. Philip was a member of the Builders Tee and Blue Island Meadows Golf Course.
Philip was the beloved husband of the late Mary Jane Shute; loving brother of Dorothy (Robert) Burkhart and the late Robert (Carol) Shute; uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at HALLINAN FUNERAL HOME, 2601 Vermont St. in Blue Island, from 3-9 PM on Friday, January 31, 2003. Funeral services were held there on Saturday, February 1, 2003, at 10:30 AM. Pastor Judy Jones of United Christ Memorial Church officiated. Interment was private.
Lillian 'Libby' Berndt
Lillian 'Libby' Berndt nee Cione died on June 1, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island. She was born on May 4, 1917, in Blue Island and was a retired employee for Libby's Foods.
Lillian Berndt was the wife of the late Franklin Berndt (1981); mother to Beverly (Robert) Yunker and Betty (Kenny) Fox of Momence, Illinois, Robert (Diane) Berndt of Herrick, Illinois, and Barbara (Fred) Rice of Blue Island; sister of Jenny Moecker of Midlothian, Illinois; grandmother of 13; great-grandmother of 26; great-great-grandmother of four.<>/p>
Visitation was on Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at HICKEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 2429 W. 127th St., Blue Island, from 2-9 PM. Prayer services were on Thursday, June 5, 2003, 9 AM, followed by Mass at St. Benedicts Church at 9:30 AM. Interment was at St. Benedict Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Blue Island's Blue Cap.
Joseph Cialdella
Joseph Cialdella of Kalamazoo, Michigan, formerly of Blue Island, passed away on May 30, 2003, in Kalamazoo. He was born in Blue Island on March 18, 1911 and was a retired shipping manager.
Joseph Cialdella was the husband of Anne Cialdella; father of Linda (John) Fanella of Orland Park and Gary (Joyce) Cialdella of Kalamazoo; grandfather of two.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 7, 2003, from noon til 1:30 PM, at HICKEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 2429 W. 127th St., Blue Island. Interment of cremains was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.
John O. Cozzi
John O. Cozzi, 59, passed from this life on Saturday, May 17, 2003, at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. He was born in Blue Island on June 16, 1943, to Thomas and Albina Cozzi. Formerly of Blue Island, he has been a resident of Palos Heights for the past 20 years.
John was the treasurer of the Palos Heights Fire Department. He worked for Modern Drop Forge in Blue Island as the vice-president of manufacturing and was with the company for 40 years.
John O. Cozzi was the husband of Patricia Cozzi; father of John (Caroline); grandfather of Amanda, Tiffany, and Jonathan; uncle to Danny, Stephanie, Patrick, Heather, Michael, Wally, Michael, Pam, Maria, Anna, Elaine, Philip, and Anthony; godfather to many.
Visitation was on Monday, May 19, 2003, from 3-9 PM, at the Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home, 11300 S. Central Ave. in Oak Lawn. Funeral services were on Tuesday, May 20, 2003, at 11 AM. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth.
Donations to Blue Cap School in Blue Island would be appreciated.
Celia Delangel
Celia Delangel passed from this life on June 4, 2003, at Alden Health Center in Harvey, Illinois. She was born in Mexico on April 12, 1926 and was a housewife.
Celia Delangel was mother to Olivia (Julio) Huertas and Nicolas (Genoveva) Vicencio of Blue Island; sister of Francica Delangel, Juana Delangel, Vicente Delangel, and Angel Delangel, all of Mexico; grandmother of seven; great-grandmother of six.
Visitation was on Sunday, June 8, 2003, 2-5 PM, at HICKEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 2429 W. 127th St., Blue Island. Prayer service was at 9:30 AM on Monday, June 9, 2003, followed by Mass at St. Donatus Church at 10 AM. Interment was at St. Benedict Cemetery.
Wilfred A. Koehler
Wilfred 'Bill' A. Koehler, 83, of Kewanee died on Saturday, May 24th, at St. Francis Hospital OSF, Peoria, Ill. He was born on April 15, 1920, in Blue Island to Sophie nee Wille and Walter Koehler. Wilfred graduated from Blue Island High School, then attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and he worked as a funeral director for the W.W. Fern Funeral Home in Chicago.
Wilfred married Betty Swedman in 1944 in Kewanee and moved to Kewanee in 1947. He was a partner in the Davis & Koehler Food Store, now the site of the VFW in Kewanee. After that he worked for the Siefert & Smith Funeral Home in Kewanee and also several funeral homes in the area. He then opened the Koehler Monument Co. in Kewanee and ran that until his retirement in 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; two sons: Andrew 'Andy' Koehler of Kewanee and Tom (Mary) Koehler of Kansas City, Kansas; three daughters: Mary (Lary) Garrett of Elmwood, Ill., Kristen Parish of Sebastian, Florida, and Nancy (Todd) Swinderman of Kewanee. He has 13 grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and two sisters: Viola Albrecht of Green Valley, Arizona, and Elaine Johnson of Roseland, Florida. He was preceded in death by one brother, three sisters, one niece, and one grand-daughter.
Known to many as 'Uncle Bill', he loved family parties and Illini and Chicago Bills basketball. He also enjoyed his winter vacations in Florida since 1936, gardening, family and friends. Wilfred was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Kewanee since 1947.
Memorial services were at Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 31, 2003, 11 AM, with the Rev. Susan Kent officiating.
Mary J. Taylor
Mary J. Taylor, 86, a lifelong resident of Blue Island, passed away on March 4, 2003, at Plaza Terrace Nursing Home. Mary was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 5, 1916, and had worked as a medical secretary.
Mary J. Taylor is survived by a sister-in-law, Virginia Coffen.
Services were handled by HALLINAN FUNERAL HOME, 2601 Vermont St., Blue Island. Visitation was held on Friday, March 7, 2003 at 10:30 AM. A chapel service followed at 11 AM. Rev. Judy Jones of Christ Memorial Church officiated. Entombment took place at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Bernice L. Barry
Bernice L. Barry nee Rauch, 74, of Orland Park, formerly of Palos Heights and Blue Island, passed from this life Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at her residence. She was born November 29, 1928 in Blue Island to the late Emma nee Hunstock and the late Arthur C. Rauch.
Bernice was the beloved wife of the late Maurice L. Barry, who passed away September 28, 1997. She is the beloved mother of Jim (Debbie) Germany of North Carolina, Pat (Jerry) Landman of Washington, Judy Tuma of Monee, Tom (Sheryl) Germany of Palos Heights and Terry (Barbara) Germany of Mokena. Bernice is the cherished grandmother of Rhonda Domurat, Scott Tuma, Bret and Steve Landman, Jeff, Kristy, Michelle, Jimmy, Candice, Carissa and Courtney Germany and the late Mark Germany. She is the devoted great grandmother of Ashley Tuma and the dear sister of Lucille (late Robert) Knirsch, Ray (Joan), Marjorie, the late Arthur Jr, the late Herbert (Grace), the late Elmer and the late Roy (late Dorothy).
Bernice was an lifetime Cubs fan and for many years organized bus trips to Cubs games for family and friends. She was an active member of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and former treasurer of Silver Lakes Townhome Association.
Visitation for Bernice was held Friday, September 12, at THE KRUEGER FUNERAL HOME, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, September 13, at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Palos Heights. The Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Basch, Pastor officiated. The Rev. Warren D. Freiheit, Bishop of Central/Southern IL Synod gave the eulogy. Interment took place at First Ev. Lutheran Cemetery.
John P. Buis
John P. Buis, 88, of Manteno, formerly of Blue Island, passed from this life Monday, September 8, 2003, at the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno. He was born March 13, 1915 in Summit, Illinois to the late Katie nee Grima and the late Cornelius Buis.
John is the beloved husband of Eva May Langlois nee Fick and the late Irene nee Ames. He is the loving father of Judy (the late John F.) Plate of Blue Island, Sandra (Les) Leikel of Oak Lawn and John (Diane) Buis of Bloomington. John is the dear step-father of Terry (Marcia) Langlois and Gregg (Dawn) Langlois. He is the devoted grandfather of twelve and cherished, great grandfather of twenty-two. John is the fond brother of Peter (Virginia) Buis and the late Richard (Marcella) Buis.
John was a resident of Blue Island from 1938 until 1993 at which time he relocated to Manteno. He is a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Manteno and former member of Ev. Community Church of Blue Island. John is a United States Navy veteran of World War II who served in the South Pacific. He was employed as the vice president and cashier of Clearing Bank of Chicago, retiring in January of 1981. John was a member of the Manteno American Legion Post #755 and former member of Blue Island American Legion Post #50, B.P.O.E. Blue Island Lodge #1331 and Blue Island Kiwanis Club.
Visitation for John was held Wednesday, September 10, at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home of Manteno. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, September 11, at First Presbyterian Church of Manteno. The Rev. Linda Burr Moxley officiated. Interment took place at Beverly Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to THE KRUEGER FUNERAL HOME, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island.
