Inez Britt

Inez Britt

Ogden – Inez Britt, 83, of rural Ogden died Friday (Sept. 20, 2013) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana,
She was born Sept. 10, 1930, in Jesse Lake, Minn., the daughter of Magnes and Inga Kongsjord. She married Robert Britt of Ogden on Sept. 13, 1954. He preceded her in death.
She is survived by three sons, Jeffrey Britt of Eagan, Minn., John Britt of Champaign and Paul Britt of Indianapolis, Ind.; a daughter, Deborah Britt of Livermore, Calif.; and a grandson, Daniel Britt of St. Peter, Minn.
She worked for 30 years as a bookkeeper at Meier Duitsman Oil Co. in Royal.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Memorial services will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Alma Denhart

Alma Denhart

ST. JOSEPH – Alma Denhart was graciously lifted up into the loving arms of her Lord on Sunday (Sept. 8, 2013).
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph, with a 7 p.m. prayer service.
Alma was born Dec. 3, 1922, in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, a daughter of Heinrich and Katherina Funk. She met Merle Denhart while he was stationed in Germany after the war. After the war, Alma came to the United States and was married on Dec. 2, 1947, in Linden, Ind.
She is survived by her children, Ellen (Alan) Woods of St. Joseph, Christina Weyer of St. Joseph and Roger (Lanna) Denhart of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Anthony (Larisa) Woods of Hillsboro, Ore., Elizabeth (Mike) Barber of Fort Collins, Colo., Stacia Denhart of Mesa, Ariz., Matthew Weyer of Aurora, Marcus Weyer of St. Joseph, Jeff (Nicki) Steinman of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Brooke Steinman of Wixom, Mich. Great-grandchildren are Oliver Woods, Timothy, Mary, Lucas, Andrew and Joseph Barber and Alex Steinman.
Alma was preceded in death by her husband Merle, her parents, two brothers, and a daughter, Linda Holmberg.
Alma was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Royal Neighbors of America, and the St. Joseph Senior Citizens.
Alma loved to watch sports. She was a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan and an Illini fan. She would ride her bike to watch her grandchildren participate in sporting events or any other activity that they participated in.
She loved vegetables and flower gardening. She won prizes for her gardening talents at the St. Joseph Fall Festival and the Champaign County Fair.
She loved riding her bike all around town to do her grocery shopping, going to special events and visiting special friends and family, as this was her only method of transportation, since she never drove a car. Occasionally she would ride the Office of Aging van that picked up seniors in rural areas if she wanted to go to Champaign-Urbana. Her family would also take her places.
She loved being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She really loved people and never met a stranger.
She will be greatly missed by all who are thankful for her life on this earth.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Homer Kuder

Homer Kuder

ST. JOSEPH – Homer M. Kuder, 93, of St. Joseph passed away Tuesday (Sept. 3, 2013) at Country Health Nursing Home, Gifford.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with the Rev. Kric Light officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Homer was born Oct. 4, 1919, in St. Joseph, the son of Frank and Juanita Gibson Kuder. He married Wanda LaVon Wacker. She preceded him in death on March 3, 1986. He then married Ruth L. Madsen Wacker. She died on Nov. 25, 2010.
He is survived by his son, John (Andrea Kabcinel) Kuder of Ithaca, N.Y.; and daughters, Karel (Rich) Earl of St. Joseph and Gayle (Mike) Massingiill of Fithian. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Howard.
Also surviving are a stepson, Gary (Terry) Wacker of Champaign; a stepdaughter, Debra (Tom) Yeagle of Farmer City; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert (Barbara) Kuder of Texas; and former son-in-law, Terry Howard.
He was also preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, John.
Homer was a member of the University Place Christian Church, Champaign Lions Club and Illini Alumni Club. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1941.
Homer was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as an officer during World War II. Homer got to go on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
Homer worked for the USDA as a soil scientist from 1945 to 1975. Homer also liked to camp and enjoyed traveling all over the world. He was also a member of the St. Joseph American Legion.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Association or donor's choice.

Willard Cox

Willard Cox

OGDEN – Willard R. Cox, 85, passed away at Heartland Healthcare Center in Champaign on Sept. 4, 2013.
Visitation will start at 2 p.m., followed by a short funeral service at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph. Pastor Kathy J. Murphy will officiate. Burial and military rites will follow in Stearns Fithian-Muncie Cemetery.
Willard was born May 5, 1928, in Urbana Township, the son of Elmer Daniel and Olive Edith Cox.
He attended elementary school in Sidney, and graduated from Pontiac Township High School. In 1952, Mr. Cox received an honorable discharge from the Army after serving in the Korean Conflict, where he served in the infantry repairing military tanks and trucks.
He retired from the University of Illinois, where he met his wife of 46 years, Dorothy M. Cox, who passed away on Dec. 20, 2012.
Willard was also preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Delores Weber and Lois Brownfield; his brother, Wayne Cox; and one great-grandchild.
Survivors include two stepsons, Donnie K. Harlan (Tina) of Estero, Fla., and Bobby C. Harlan of Ogden; one stepdaughter, Sandra Osterbur (Randall) of Urbana; and five granddaughters, Deanna Burgess of Urbana, Melinda Shafer (Chris) of Troy, Valerie No of St. Louis, Mo., and Kimberly Walden (Mike, deceased) and Kelly Kuchefski (Eric), both of Urbana; and five great-grandchildren.
Willard was known for having a hammer, nail or shovel handy and was able to realize his lifelong dream of building his own home.
The family is grateful to the staff at Heartland Healthcare Center for their care, kindness and compassion shown to Willard and his family during his time there.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Nancy Chamnik

Nancy Chamnik

ST. JOSEPH – Nancy Jean Chamnik was born Sept. 21, 1941, to Harry Eugene Wilson and Iola Mary Wilson and completed her life on May 28, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nev. Her last loving act was to donate her tissues and organs to others and her remains for medical study.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, Frank Hoffner and William Thomas Chamnik. William died March 18, 1996.
She is survived by her children, Tammy Josephine Wisenhunt, Diana Veronica Hoffner, Frank Michael Hoffner and Martin Jay Hoffner; grandchildren and her half-brother, Robert N. Drew (Jolene G. Drew) of St. Joseph.
Her cremated remains will be buried beside her mother and grandmother in Iroquois Memorial Park in Watseka, with a private graveside service.

Majorie Clark

Marjorie Clark

ST. JOSEPH – Marjorie A. Clark, 89, of St. Joseph passed away at home at 7:07 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 7, 2013).
Celebration of Life memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, at the St. Joseph United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paul Dinges will officiate.
Heath and Vaughn Funeral Home, 201 N. Elm St., Champaign, is assisting with arrangements.
She was born June 27, 1924, in Waggoner, a daughter of Edgar and Bertha (Lewis) Arnold.
She married Darrel Clark on June 22, 1944, in Charleston. He preceded her in death in 1966.
She is survived by two sons, Ross (Paige) Clark, of Arcadia, Fla., and Gregory (Dana) Clark, of Carmel, Ind.; one sister, Carol Stevens, of Springfield, Ill.; a brother, Thomas Arnold, of Farmersville, Ill.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her parents and a son, Richard (twin brother to Ross).
Before her retirement, Mrs. Clark was a receptionist at Doddson Travel Agency and a receptionist for Dr. H. J. Kolb, in St. Joseph.
Known for her delicious cherry pies, she enjoyed baking pies for family and friends.
She was a member of St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, Senior Citizens of St. Joseph, and a member of Curves. She was a St. Louis Cards fan.
Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.HeathandVaughn.com.

Janice Freeman

Janice Freeman

OGDEN – Janice Virginia Freeman of Ogden and Bradenton, Fla., passed away at 96 on Sunday (Sept. 1, 2013) at her home in Bradenton, surrounded by family.
Janice was the daughter of Stella Divan and Fernie Clark. She was the loving wife of Carl Freeman.
She is survived by her daughter, Jan Freeman of Bradenton, Fla., and her son, Gary Freeman of Novato, Calif. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Estella, Clark and Maggie of Bradenton, Fla., and Jennie and Laurel of San Francisco. There are three great-grandchildren, Shawn Isaac, Ella and Lucine.
Janice graduated from Ogden High School as well as beauty college in Chicago. For a time she ran a beauty shop in Ogden.
Janice and Carl owned and ran a bar and restaurant in Ogden for many years. They also owned a beach cafe on Anna Maria Island, Fla., called Skinny's.
Janice lived a rich, full life. She loved to travel, especially by train. She was a fan of live theater and ice skating shows and she loved to tell stories of her life in Ogden.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the GAR Cemetery in Homer. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements. There will be an informal gathering afterwards at the family home in Ogden. All are welcome to either or both. For information, call Jan Freeman at 941-580-2267.
The family will miss mom, grandma, Gigi, very, very much.

Roche Cain

Roche Cain

ST. JOSEPH – Roche A. Cain, 34, passed away Aug. 29, 2013, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, Wis.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Vineyard Church, 1500 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, with Pastor Dan Putnam officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Ivesdale. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.
Roche was born Jan. 30, 1979, at Urbana, the son of Roche A. Cain and Louise Manning.
He is survived by his parents, Roche (Heather) Cain of St. Joseph and Louise (Jim) Bryant of St. Joseph; a daughter, Gracie Cain, at home; fiancee, Jackie Larson and his unborn daughter of Urbana; siblings, Kara and Nathan Rewerts, Jason, Austin and Payton Cain, all of St. Joseph; paternal grandmother, Doris Cain of Savoy; and maternal grandmother, Maxine Manning of Urbana.
He was preceded in death by both his grandfathers.
Roche was a member of the Sheetmetal Workers Union. He enjoyed cooking, his dogs, playing softball and spending time with his family. Roche just enjoyed having a good time in life.
Memorials may be made to Angels for Roche Jr. at Busey Bank, St. Joseph.
In honor of Roche, the family will have a balloon release at the cemetery after the service.

Bruce David

Bruce David

ST. JOSEPH – Bruce David, 97, of St. Joseph passed away at 5:20 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 31, 2013) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with the Rev. Jud Travis officiating. Burial will be in Murdock Cemetery, Murdock. Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Bruce was born Dec. 24, 1915, at Murdock, the son of Louis and Cora Chaffin David. He married Louise Duncan on Oct. 4, 1938. She survives.
He is also survived by a son, Ronald (SunHu) David of California; grandson, Bruce David of California; and sister Alice Shumaker of Broadlands.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.
Bruce farmed in the St. Joseph area until 2006 and also worked as a locksmith. He lived on the farm from 1941-2006.
Bruce enjoyed fishing and woodworking and loved gardening and spending time with his wife.