Dennis Reed

CHAMPAIGN – Dennis Reed died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 26, 2015) at home in the arms of his loving wife and with his beloved cats keeping vigil nearby. He will be missed more than anyone can know.

Dennis Ray Reed was born on Nov. 9, 1953, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Danville, where his mother was a nurse. His parents were Dale L. "Jack" and Alta Mae (Rice) Reed. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in the Class of 1971 and attended Illinois Commercial College.

In July 1978, he was working as the night innkeeper at the former Holiday Inn on North Neil Street in Champaign when he asked a desk clerk, Dana Finney, to go have a beer and listen to a band at Panama Red's. From that night on, they became inseparable and married on July 11, 1981, at the White Oak Church near Oblong.

Dennis was a wonderful husband who was full of surprises, such as leaving gifts in the kitchen on Ground Hog Day and April Fools. Life with Dennis was always interesting, never dull, full of fun, and he ate everything Dana cooked, proclaiming it delicious even when it wasn't.

Dennis worked in the restaurant business for more than 35 years, co-owning a local barbeque joint. No one could grill a baby back rib like he could. We were all awed by his BBQ skills which endeared him to friends, family, in-laws and strangers he met on the road, including Australia where he used the barbie to grill a fabulous local fish.

More than anything, Dennis loved music. Even when he was very ill, he arranged to go to concerts with Jimmy Buffett and the Rolling Stones, and enjoyed both events to the max. His little black sports car has license plate "Prthead."

He loved to travel and bought art showing the terrified traveler in the rental car that Dana was driving in Europe. He lived his life as he wanted, and he had no regrets. He walked his sister onto Lido Beach for her marriage just two weeks ago, and was delighted to be there.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Dana; mother, Alta; sister, Karen (David) Trautman; in-laws, Jim and Lulu Finney; and nieces, nephews and aunts he loved dearly. Five cats are looking for him. Since grade school, he was a best friend of Duane Crider. He was preceded in death by his father and brother, Dale Reed Jr.

There will be no services. Dennis was cremated and some of his ashes will be scattered in the Florida Keys, while the rest will be buried later at White Oak. A memorial celebration of Dennis' life will be held for the family and friends at his and Dana's home in Champaign.

Dennis was deeply saddened by the death of his cousin, Lewis Childress Jr., in Vietnam. Anyone wishing to remember Dennis is asked to donate to the Wounded Warriors Project in his name.

Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 710 N. Neil St., Champaign, has been entrusted with arrangements. Please join Dennis' family in sharing memories and photos of his life on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Maxine Smith

SAVOY – Maxine Lois Smith, 92, of Savoy, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away at 11:45 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 26, 2015) at Mattoon Healthcare Center, Mattoon.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview, with Scott Stevens officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

Maxine was born to Ray and Rose Goddard on March 27, 1923. She married Herman T. Smith on Dec. 10, 1941, and he preceded her in death on Aug. 30, 1995.

Also preceding her were her parents; a son, Herman Smith Jr.; brothers, Dale Goddard and Robert Goddard; and an infant grandson.

Survivors include children, Rose Munds, Connie Hacker, John H. Smith and Cindy (Scott) Stevens. Her grandchildren are Ron J. Munds, Robert Munds, Andy (Margo) Hacker, Doug (Kelly) Hacker, John (Leslie) Hacker, Amanda (Corey) Smalley, Spencer Stevens and Chase Stevens.

Her great-grandchildren are Alyson (Steven) Warmbier, Kassidy Munds, Brittany Hacker, Jordan Hacker, Kayla Hacker, Morgan Hacker, Adam Munds, Alyssa Hacker, Alexia Hacker, Tyler Hacker, Karsyn Stevens and Kinley Stevens.

Mrs. Smith also leaves two great-great-granddaughters, Trinity Marie Jefferson and Naleigha Grace Mitchell, as well as a sister, Charlotte Varner; sister-in-law, Fonda Smith; and special caregiver, Kathy Chao.

Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and an active member for many years of the Champaign County Riding Club and the Illinois State Stock Horse Association. She enjoyed bingo and reading Danielle Steele novels.

For over 13 years, Mrs. Smith loved being a resident of Parkview Senior Apartments of Savoy.

Please do not give memorial contributions.

Janet Cornelius

PENFIELD – Janet Cornelius died peacefully at home in Penfield on Saturday (Sept. 19, 2015,) surrounded by her family, after a four-year battle with ALS.

Mrs. Cornelius was born Jan. 20, 1938, in Danville, a daughter of Heye J. and Mary Ellen (Michael) Duitsman. She married Eldred J. Cornelius on June 10, 1956, in Royal.

Survivors include a brother, John Duitsman (Monika) of San Diego; two daughters, Kristin Camp (Michael) of Collison and Valerie Viverito (Larry) of Wheaton; two sons, Eric Cornelius of Penfield and Kent Cornelius (Mickey) of Danville, Ind.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Dr. Cornelius attended Ogden High School and earned B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. She taught history and served as an administrator at Danville Area Community College, where she was named Faculty of the Year in 1996. She also taught at the University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University and the University of St. Francis. She was the author of four books on Illinois constitutions, literacy, slavery and religion, and women in Danville, and numerous book reviews and articles in historical journals. She served on the Illinois Archives Board and the board of the Illinois Historical Society and as president of the Danville branch of the American Association of University Women. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church at Royal where she served on the church council and the synod's Global Mission Committee as world hunger coordinator.

From early in their marriage, Janet formed a passionate affinity for the farm. Though they loved their home, she and her husband Eldred traveled extensively, alone and with friends. Together, they explored three continents and 23 countries. She traveled with friends to another six countries. Her travels reinforced her deeply held convictions of equality and dignity for women and of tolerance and kindness toward everyone, regardless of background.

She was an avid reader, constantly sharing books with her book group as well as with her children and grandchildren. She also loved music passionately, becoming a regular patron of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as well as the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also sang for many in the Oratorio Society at the University of Illinois. She often traveled to Canada for its annual Shakespeare festival and promoted the arts wherever she could.

Dr. Cornelius and her husband Eldred also enjoyed a home in Venice, Fla., in their retirement years where they became avid Tampa Bay Rays baseball fans. She enjoyed many hours walking on the beach.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Royal. The Rev. Jay Johnson will officiate. Burial will follow at Kopmann Cemetery, St. Joseph.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Les Turner Foundation for ALS or to Carle Hospice.

Loren D. Wood Sr.

Loren D. Wood Sr., 87, Cook, graduated to Heaven on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at the Cook Hospital. 
He was born Loren Dean Wood on July 19, 1928, in St. Joseph, Illinois, where he grew up on the family farm, which included animals like pigs and chickens. He had memorable times hunting and fishing with his father, brother and uncles. The family moved to Lincoln, Illinois when he was 15 years old, He went to work at Stetson China Company until he joined the Marine Corps at 17 years old. Loren served during World War II. and spent his 18th birthday with the Marines in China, where he learned to operate a 155 artillery gun. 
He married Mariann Wilson in 1947, they had almost 68 years together! 
To this union they were blessed with two children, Loren Jr. “Dean” and Shirley. 
He leased and operated the Shell Station in Lincoln for two years, then in 1951, was called back in the Marine Corps to serve in the Korean War. 
After his tour of duty, he was a truck driver for Melvin Trucking Company for ten years. 
Loren, Mariann and family moved to Cook in the fall of 1959. They came because of their love of Lake Vermilion and fishing. Loren worked for Century Motor Freight for 28 years, working both locally and over the road, and as a dispatcher. He drove one million miles without an accident! 
In 1988 Loren retired and enjoyed working around the farm, golfing, boating and traveling with Mariann. The family enjoyed the cabin Loren built on Schmidt Island for many years as well as their lake lot on Lake Vermilion. He was an avid fisherman, and because of that his family and friends enjoyed many, many fish fries. 
Loren was an active member of the Cook Covenant Church, where he served as chairman, Sunday School Teacher, and many other positions. He was a man who lived out his faith in God quietly day by day. 
He was a lifelong member of Vermilion Fairways where he served as Chairman of the Board for several years. He also was a member of the Sportsman’s Club of Lake Vermilion and of the China Marines. 
He is preceded in death by a son, Loren “Dean” Wood Jr.; 4 sisters, twins- Marie Wood (1932) and Marion Knott (1999), Loren’s twin sister-Lois Ramlow (1986) and Iris Elsas (1994); and one brother, Allen Wood (2007) 
Loren is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, Mariann; 1 daughter, Shirley (Charles) Nicholas of Cook; 3 grandchildren: Mandy Wood, Cam Nicholas and Trevor (Renee) Nicholas; a great grandson, Braden Johnson; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends, including longtime neighbor and friends of 56 years Bill and Beryl Sersha. 
SERVICES: Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday (Sept. 18th) at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Cook. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Pastor Jeff Shirle will be the officiant, with guest pastors Rev. Reuben Rosnau and Rev. Dennis Morriem. Special music will be provided by Trevor Nicholas, Bailey Conger and singing by the trio comprised of Chuck, Cam and Trevor Nicholas, along with congregational singing. Honorary bearers will be Mandy Wood, Cam Nicholas, Trevor Nicholas, Renee Nicholas and Bill Sersha. 
Military honors will be accorded by the combined honor guards of the Cook Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1757, and the Orr American Legion Post #480. Interment will be in the Cook Community Cemetery. A reception in Loren’s honor will follow in the Covenant Church social hall. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Cook Food Shelf, P.O. Box 633, Cook, MN. 55723, or the Cook Covenant Church, P.O. Box 427, Cook, MN. 55723. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To sign the online guest book, or to send a condolence to the family, go to: www.mlakerfuneralhome.com

Mary Josephine Otis

URBANA – Mary Josephine Otis, 85, of Urbana passed away at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 9, 2015) at Champaign County Nursing Home in Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Road, Urbana. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at the funeral home.

Mary was born in Wayne County, Ill., on Oct. 13, 1929, to parents L.P. and Alberta (Close) Whitlock. They preceded her in death. On Aug. 12, 1948, she married Richard Earl Otis in Edwardsville. He passed away on Jan. 8, 1995. Mary is survived by their children, Roger (Susie) Otis of Urbana, Ronald (Nancy) Otis of Urbana, Steven (Valerie) Otis of Urbana, Peter (Christie) Otis,of New Orleans and Sharon (Doug) Timmerman of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Also surviving are her sisters, Doris Oliver, Phyllis Fresen, Jessie Castegnaro and Cara Suchman; 20 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. Mary loved and cared for her family.

She was a graduate of St. Joseph High School and Julia F. Burnham School of Nursing. She worked as a LPN at Carle Foundation Hospital, Americana Nursing Home and Clark Lindsey Village.

Mary was a member of Stone Creek Church in Urbana. She was a devout believer in our Lord Jesus Christ and cared for her church family deeply.

She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, quilting and baking delicious pies, but mostly she enjoyed loving and caring for her family.

Memorials in Mary's honor may be made to Wycliff Bible Translators, 100 Wycliffe Drive, West Chicago, IL 60185. Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.

Floyd "Charles" Wisehart

HOMER – Floyd E. "Charles" Wisehart, 68, of Homer went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 9:58 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2015.

Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 7, in Homer with Pastor John Earl Skillings and Pastor C.W. Greer officiating. Charles was laid to rest in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer.

Charles was born on Sept. 5, 1946, in Champaign County, the son of Floyd Earl Wisehart Sr. and Edna Mae Keeling. He married Sharon White on Aug. 18, 1984, in Champaign. She survives.

Survivors also include three daughters, Tresha Wisehart of Sherman, Texas, Paulette Mott of Des Moines, Iowa, and Nicky (Tony) Banks of Savoy; nine grandchildren, Hailey, Isaac, Aaron, Nathan, Faith, Noel, Mackenzie, Benjamin and Joseph; one great-grandson, Tyler; three brothers, Edward F. (Nancy) Wisehart of Homer, George D. (Carla) Wisehart of Homer and Raymond T. (Sharon Coey) Wisehart of Ogden; five sisters, Gladys Zook of Gibson City, Mildred Jones of Champaign, Myrtle Wisehart of Homer, Joanne (John) Skillings of Champaign and Elizabeth M. (Jerry Duckworth) Holloman of Homer; and several loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Florine and Brenda Wisehart.

Charles was a retired painter from JSM Management. He also worked many years at Eisner Foods, Champaign.

His hobbies included camping, fishing, bowling and restoring his 1954 Ford.

Charles enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes. He thoroughly enjoyed watching golf and hanging out with his "buddy" dog, Jack. He also enjoyed antique cars and shows, antique tractors and motorcycles.

Charles was admired, adored and is dearly missed by his family and three daughters.