Martha Mae Barnett

 Martha Mae Barnett, 85 of Gifford, died at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at her home.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date with burial in Huls Cemetery, Gifford.  Baier Family Funeral Services, Flatville is handling arrangements.

Martha was born September 20, 1939, in Tuscola the daughter of Delbert Eugene and Mabel Faye Eckerty Warnes.  She married Jim C. Barnett on September 12, 1964, in Longview.  He preceded her in death January 22, 2018.

She is survived by a son, John W. Barnett of Gifford; two grandchildren, Darren (Amber) Barnett of Mahomet and Elaine Barnett of Rantoul.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, an infant daughter, Twila Faye, one sister and two brothers.

Martha was a member of the Gifford United Methodist Church.  She retired as an accountant from the University of Illinois.

She enjoyed crocheting, reading and was a collector of frog-themed items.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Memorials may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice.  Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.

Georgianna Noel

 HOMER — Georgianna Noel, 91, of Homer passed away Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2025) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Homer Funeral and Cremation Services, 708 S. Main St., Homer. Pastor Raymie Gordon will officiate. Burial will take place in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. There will be a visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Georgianna was born Jan. 4, 1934, in Danville, the daughter of Oliver and Cora Krabbe Lewis. She married Donald Noel on Aug. 22, 1954. He preceded her in death in 1987.

Survivors include her daughter, Stacy (Guy E.) James of Tuscola; grandchildren, Dalton James, Sophia James (Ryan Caulfield) and Parker James (Ayla DeLeva); great-granddaughter, Ava James; and faithful little companion, Scooter.

She was also preceded in death by S. Paul Krabbe, who was like a brother to her.

Georgianna enjoyed gardening and sharing laughs and drinks with her longtime friends. She will be dearly missed by her family.

Memorials can be made to G.A.R. Cemetery or the Champaign County Humane Society.

NG 8/21/2025

ROHL

Orville E. Rohl

 Orville E. Rohl, 98, of Homer passed away on Tuesday August 19, 2025 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

 Visitation will be Friday August 22, 2025 from 12:30 P.M. to 1:15 P.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church 390 CR 2400 E, Broadlands. Funeral services will be at 1:30 P.M.. Pastor Jason Braaten will officiate. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

 Orville was born December 22, 1926 in Homer. The son of William and Thelma (Heselden) Rohl. He married MaryAnn Rothermel on September 22, 1951. She preceded him in death.

 He is survived by a daughter Kathleen (John) Mackinson of Odell, son Keith (Brenda) Rohl of Homer. 4 Grandchildren John Mackinson, Kim (Matt) Taylor, Jason Mackinson, Collin (Nicole) Rohl and 9 great-grandchildren.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, 3 sisters Orthalyne Ressler, Olive Neihaus, Betty Erwin and a brother William.

 Orville attended Homer schools, during high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy (December 1944) and served on the USS Fillmore during WW II. Upon completion of his tour of duty he returned to complete his senior year at Homer High School.

 He attended Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands. 

Orville farmed in the Homer area all his life, his favorite color of machinery was green. Orville never met a day of farm work he did not enjoy. His favorite hobby was farm work.

 Memorials may be made to the Homer Fire Department or Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands.

Freese FH 08/20/2025

Ryan Michael Peccenino

 
Ryan Michael Pecchenino, age 42, of St. Joseph, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025

at his home. He was born on January 31,1983, in Kankakee, the son of Nathan and Patricia
(Lamie) Pecchenino.
Ryan was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He was loved by many and
will be dearly missed, especially by his wife and children. Ryan had many passions, including
sports, especially golf and baseball, poker, and cooking, but nothing compared to the love he
had for his family. He was always the life of the party and had a knack for telling the best
stories. Known as Chef Ryan by many, his dishes were as pleasant and robust as his presence
in a room. The food, and company, shared at his family gatherings will surely be missing a key
ingredient in his absence.
Ryan was a gifted athlete in his adolescence and carried his passion for sports into adulthood.
In 1995, his Little League team, the Aroma Park Lions, won the Illinois State Championship,
forever cementing his love for the game. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, he went on to
play golf for Bishop McNamara High School, where he could also be found playing poker with
his friends during lunch.
After high school, Ryan harnessed his culinary gift and began his career as a chef at the Elk’s
Country Club in St. Anne. After some time, he accepted a new position which required
relocating to Danville. There, he met Autumn, who would later become his wife. They eventually
moved to St. Joseph and started building their family together. He most recently worked at the
local IGA where he quickly became well-known around town for the delicious and distinctive
menus he provided.
In adulthood, Ryan was an avid fan of many Chicago sports teams, including the Bears,
Blackhawks, and most of all, the Cubs. He also enjoyed watching professional golf and would
relive his glory days by watching the Little League World Series. Above all else, he loved to
cook for people and to spend time at home with his family.
Ryan is survived by his wife, Autumn Pecchenino of St. Joseph; four children, Riley Ferber of
Catlin and Arianna, Nathan, and Enzo Pecchenino of St. Joseph; his father, Nathan Pecchenino
of St. Anne; one sister, April (Nick) Mancuso of Marseilles; and one brother, Eric (Amanda)
Pecchenino of Kankakee. Several nieces and nephews, and his in-laws.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Lamie; brother, Matthew Pecchenino; and his
maternal and paternal grandparents.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 23rd from 12:00PM-2:00PM at Freese’s Funeral
Home in St. Joseph, IL., with a service directly following at the funeral home.
All friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life from 3:00PM-6:00PM at Homer
Lake Forest Preserve at the Walnut Hills Shelter. An outdoor luncheon will be provided, please
dress accordingly to the weather. 2573 S. Homer Lake Rd., Homer, IL 61849.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Freese FH 8/19/2025

Kyle Jacob Clevenger

RANTOUL — Kyle Jacob Clevenger, 33, of Rantoul tragically passed away at 7:27 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Champaign.

Born on Oct. 3, 1991, at Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Kyle had a smile that would greet everyone with warmth and love. He lived hard, loud, fast and with such intensity. He is the beloved son of Deborah Routh and spouse Bill Routh of St. Joseph and Wayne Clevenger and spouse Karen Clevenger of Farmer City.

Kyle’s greatest pride and joy is his daughter, Sienna Marie Clevenger of Urbana. Kyle is also survived by his loving grandparents Kaye Mc-Cartney of Pahrump, Nev., Bill and Joyce Clevenger of Urbana and David Petroskey of Wheaton. Kyle is survived by numerous siblings whom he adored, his brother, Ryan Clevenger, spouse Katie and son Lincoln of Saukville, Wis.; sister Jessica Beasley, spouse Travis and children Harper and Nora of Eldorado; sister Alyssa Cox, spouse Russell and children Kinsley, Kailey and Russell Jr. of Richmond, Va.; sister Ayleen Boyett, spouse Cameron and children Jace, Dawson and Jocelyn Jean of Tolono; brother Krystofer Clevenger of Champaign; sister Vyctoria Clevenger of Winter Park, Fla.; and youngest brother Benjamyn Clevenger of Farmer City.

Kyle has many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins from across the U.S., as well as many loved ones waiting for him in heaven.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Charles (Chuck) Mc-Cartney, Susan Petroskey, Earl Routh and Mary Routh; uncles Scott Johnson, David Petroskey Jr., and Byron Evans; and an aunt, Cindy Knerr.

Kyle graduated from Urbana High School in 2010 and went on to play basketball at the University of Illinois-Springfield and Lincoln College. He was a gifted athlete in football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. He was a hard worker, excelling at many different trades. He worked in the automotive industry, landscaping industry, construction and also mastered logistics and equipment operation.

Interment will be held at a later date in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mayview.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heartland Bank, The Kyle Clevenger Memorial Fund, that will go to supporting his surviving daughter.

 

Carolyn Jane "CJ" Sperry Sadler

Carolyn Jane "CJ" (Sperry) Sadler, 84, died July 7, 2025, at her Autumnwood Village home in Tipton, Ind.

Born June 8, 1941, in Danville, she was the daughter of Glenn R. Sperry (1916-1995) and Leah E. Sperry (1919-2023). She married John Wm. Sadler on June 11, 1961, in Danville. He preceded her in death along with a grandson, Thomas R. Kuhn.

She is survived by daughters, Marcella "Marcy" (Thomas) Kuhn of Noblesville, Ind., and Michelle "Mick" Sadler Williams of Vancouver, Wash; grandchildren, Kenzie, Bram, Tynan (Mattie) Williams and Madeline Ling Kuhn; her brother, Larry (Jamie) Sperry; and many other family members and friends.

Carolyn graduated from Oakwood High School and St. Elizabeth Hospital's Medical Secretary School in Danville. With an incredible work ethic and boundless energy, she was employed at several businesses in Danville until her marriage. Once living on the Sadler farm west of Fithian, she was soon busy raising daughters with John and in-laws, John R. and Zelma Sadler. The rather impatient Carolyn soon found she was better suited for work in town than waiting in line at the grain elevator during harvest. She joined James L. Myers at his Ogden insurance agency and then at the First National Bank of Ogden as his secretary. Active in the National Secretaries Association, she was

honored as the Illinois Secretary of the Year. Her integrity and strength of character cracked her generation's glass ceiling from administrative work to loan officer and vice president. She thrived on helping customers' start and grow businesses as well as leading the bank's compliance and trust departments.

While her daughters were pursuing their educations, Carolyn continued hers, graduating from the School of Banking at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She left the bank to pursue new opportunities including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, University of Illinois Credit Union, Frey Finance and the Champaign County Circuit Clerk's office. After retirement, Carolyn and John moved to Leesburg, Fla., where they spent nearly a decade enjoying palm trees, sunshine and entertaining. She gained new friends, created beautiful quilts and learned to paddle on a senior dragon boat team. John and Carolyn were at their best entertaining friends and family on the farm, on the Sadler boat "Seabear", or in Florida. She loved decorating her homes, shopping for beautiful clothes, especially shoes, twirling her baton and driving fast cars. CJ kept the "pedal to the metal" either when driving or operating her sewing machines.

She was a member of the Ogden United Methodist Church, Ogden and the First Presbyterian Church, Leesburg, Fla., and Fithian Woman's Club.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

David F. James Jr.

 
David F. James, Jr 98 of Savoy, formerly of Urbana, passed away August 8, 2025 at Carle Hospital.  David was born April 24, 1927 in St. Joseph Township, Champaign County, the son of David F. and Mildred Mae (Robbins), James Sr.  He married Aleta Stark August 22, 1945 and she preceded him in death on October 12, 1998.  He married Betty Coon on June 10, 2000 and she preceded him in death on October 9, 2024. He is also preceded in death by a brother, Robert James.

David is survived by sons, Jeff James of Havana, FL, Scott (Tina) James of Rantoul, a daughter, Cindy Williams of Urbana, grandson, Joshua James, Stepchildren, Marvin Coon of Clear Water, FL, Bonnie Kumm (Ervin) of Champaign, Susan Wedig (Rick) of St. Joseph, step grandchildren, Jennifer Gussman, Nic Wedig, Ryan Wedig, Karen Turnbough and five step great grandchildren.

David served in the Navy during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific.  After the war, he worked at Inskip Co., had his own heating company, and then worked at Reliable Plumbing & Heating.  He finished his career as a sheet metal worker at the University of Illinois in 1988.  He was a lifelong member of Quest Church, a Community of Grace, previously Grace United Methodist Church, Urbana. 

David called square dances for 32 years across Illinois and locally for Boots & Bows square dance club in which he and his wife, Aleta made many friends.  He loved music and attended dinner theaters and other music shows in the area.  He enjoyed camping with friends in the earlier years and then wintering in Florida.  He could fix anything and enjoyed doing just that!  He was an avid Bears, Bulls, and of course, an Illini fan.  Betty and David watched them all.  He also liked his coffee group outings with friends at McDonald’s.

David loved his family dearly and would do anything for them.  He loved spending time with all his family especially his grandson, Joshua.  He enjoyed bringing flowers home weekly to his wife, Betty, and texting daily messages to all of his family.  He cared deeply for all and was the best Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle.

A Gathering of Friends and Family will be on Monday August 18 at 10:00 AM Monday with A Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 AM Monday, both at Renner-Wikoff-Chapel & Crematory.  Pastor Linda Vonck will officiate.  Burial will be at Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo, following the service.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com

NG 8/16/2025