Louise A. Friese

URBANA — Louine A. Friese, 89, of Urbana, formerly of Sidney, passed away at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday (July 26, 2017) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2017, at Sidney United Church, Sidney, with the Rev. Mike Picklesimer officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the church. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is assisting with arrangements.

Mrs. Friese was born March 13, 1928, at Alto Pass, a daughter to Graydon and Ruth Gore Browning. She married Howard Friese on Jan. 13, 1947, at Piggott, Ark.; he survives.

Also surviving are three children, Adrian (Gary) Cole of Niles, Mich.,Rodney (Linda) Friese of Marietta, Ga., and Roger (Shelly) Friese

of Indianapolis, Ind.; five grandchildren; and numerous great- and great-greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren; a brother, James Browning; and a sister, Elizabeth Aldridge.

She was a faithful wife and fun-loving mother and grandmother, who loved to play outdoor and table games. She was a member of Sidney United Church.

She was employed as a secretary at Sidney Grade School, for Dr. Martin Koeck III, at her church and the University of Illinois. She played the piano and organ at Sidney United Church and at times the funeral home. She also was an artist, loving to paint.

Memorials may be made to Sidney United Church.

Juanita (Nita) A. Brooks

ST. JOSEPH — Juanita (Nita) A. Brooks, 79, of St. Joseph passed away at 4:20 p.m. Friday (July 21, 2017) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with Kerry Bell facilitating the service. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the St. Joseph Middle School, 606 E. Peters Drive, St. Joseph.

Nita was born on Sept. 12, 1937, at Hoopeston, the daughter of Ola Manford and Esther (Davis) Bell. She married George A. Brooks on June 6, 1959, in Hoopeston. He preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 2003.

She is survived by her children, Tonia Farnum of Muncie, Timothy Brooks of Bondville, Kim (Aaron) Allen of St. Joseph and grandson Corey Brooks of St. Joseph whom George and Nita raised; four grandchildren, Kevin (Rachel) Farnum, Kelly Farnum, Kyle Farnum and Morgan Brown; four great- grandchildren, Hunter Brooks, Madelyn Farnum, Elliott Farnum and Keith Farnum; sister, Phyllis Martin of Carbondale; and sister-in-law, Sue Bell of Watseka.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and two brothers.

Nita retired from Solo Cup in Urbana. She started her second career in 2004 at the St. Joseph IGA where she enjoyed visiting with the high school students on their lunch hour.

She coached fast-pitch softball, played slow-pitch softball, coached bowling, and as a avid bowler herself, she was inducted into the Champaign County Bowling Hall of Fame.

Nita had a passion for SJO athletics, always supporting the teams no matter where they played. She was lovingly known as St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s No. 1 fan. She was inducted into the SJO Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Nita was a lifelong diehard Cubs fan who was beyond excited watching the Cubs win the World Series.

Nita will be missed tremendously by her family and friends. She has impacted many people’s lives through the years and has made a lasting impression on the SJO community.

Memorials can be made to the SJO Spartans Fan Club, c/o St. Joseph-Ogden High School, 301 N. Main St., St. Joseph, IL 61873.

Merle Schweineke

NEWMAN — Merle Schweineke, 85, of Urbana, formerly of the Homer/ Allerton area, passed away at 9:30 p.m. Friday (July 7, 2017) at Clark-Lindsey Village in Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Broadlands, with Pastor Don Ehlers officiating. Burial will follow in

the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Joines Funeral Home, 401 W. Gillogly St., Newman.

Merle was born on May 5, 1932, in Newman Township, the son of Louis W. and Laura Rothermel Schweineke.

He is survived by his niece, Vicki (Kent) Luth of Newman.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dick Schweineke.

He attended rural Gunn grade school in Newman Township and graduated from Newman High School in 1950.

He attended Valparaiso University, where he graduated with a B.A. degree majoring in business and accounting. He began working at the State Bank of Allerton, where he stayed until he retired in March of 2000 as CEO and executive vice president. He still served as a director on the bank board.

He was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands, having served at one time as treasurer for seven years.

He was a member of the Allerton Lions Club, having served as secretary- treasurer, a member of the Illinois Gladiolus Society serving as treasurer, a member of The Margaret Scott African Violet Society, and he served as treasurer of the Village of Allerton making their financial reports for 40 years.

He enjoyed gardening and spent much of his time in retirement growing, hybridizing and showing gladiolus at shows including the Champaign County Fair and the Illinois State Fair, where he won several Grand Champions.

Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands, or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Joines Funeral Home, Newman, is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Dean Rush

OAKWOOD — Robert Dean Rush, 71, of Oakwood passed away at 6 p.m. Sunday (July 2, 2017) at Williamsport Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Williamsport, Ind.

Robert was born Jan. 17, 1946, in St. Joseph, to Lowell Robert and Cora Alice Eddy Rush. He married Angel Smith on June 13, 1995, in Versailles, Mo. She survives.

RUSH Also surviving are five daughters, Candi Rush of Christopher, Ill., Teresa (Kevin) Sanderson of Homer, Janet (Mike) Kock of Steeleville, Ill., Tanya (Greg) Bentley ofVeedersburg, Ind., and

Christel (David) Spellmeyer of Friendswood, Texas; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one son, Tracy Lowell Rush, and one sister, Joann Phillips.

Robert attended Homer New Life Church of Faith. He loved stock car racing and working in the yard. He was a beloved family man who loved playing practical jokes.

Funeral services will be at noon Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the Homer New Life Church of Faith, Homer, with C.W. Greer officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the church.

Memorials may be made to the family. Kirby Funeral Home, Homer, is handling the arrangements.

Charles Edward Frazier, Jr.

Charles Edward Frazier Jr, 55 of Ogden, left us suddenly on Sunday, June 25, 2017.  Per his wishes, Charles will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be from 3-5pm on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at his home in Ogden, 608 E. Maple Street. 

   Charles was born on December 1, 1961 in Danville to Charles and Barbara (Curry) Frazier Sr. He grew up in Danville and attended Danville schools. In his free time Charles was a sports fanatic, especially his Cubs, and he enjoyed spending time with those he loved.

   Charles leaves behind his daughter Stephanie Vincent (Ryan Derheim); his fiancé Vickie Boehme; a granddaughter Megan; two brothers Lawrence (Teresa) Long and Steve Frazier; and his dog Peanut, who was more like a child. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather Robert Lane Lawrence Long. Messages and memories may be left on our website at www.papefuneral.com, or on the Pape Family Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Charles' name to The American Heart Association.

 Print Obituary

Sign Guest Book

Marilynn "Mae" Sage

RANTOUL – Marilynn "Mae" Sage, 80, of Rantoul, IL, formerly of Flatville, IL, passed away on the afternoon of Saturday, July 1, 2017, at Carle Hospital, Urbana, IL.

She was born April 27, 1937, in Champaign, IL, a daughter of Stoffer and Grace (Meier) Frerichs. She married Alvin J. Sage on March 17, 1957, in Philo, IL. He preceded her in death on March 23, 1999.

She is survived by three children, Michele (Mike) Babb of Penfield, IL, Scott (Jana) Sage of Flatville, and Tracy (Jess) Childress of Gifford; two sisters, Wilma (Jack) Pierce of Champaign and Debbie Huls of Gifford; five grandchildren, Tyler (Laura) Babb of Penfield, Wyatt Sage of Flatville, Ashley (Tony) Grilo of Thomasboro, IL, Jesse Childress of Gifford, and Peyton Childress of Gifford; three great-grandchildren and another due in October; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a nephew, Kenny Pierce, and a granddaughter, Brittany Babb.

Mae was a member of the first graduating class (1955) of Unity High School, Tolono, IL. She retired from Carle Hospital after more than 20 years of service. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville, where she sang in the choir.

She and her husband loved to travel and spent many summers at Lake Mattoon. They also spent winters in Florida, a tradition that she continued after her husband's passing.

Funeral services will be held at 10 Wednesday morning at Immanuel Church, Flatville. The Rev. James Lehmann will officiate. Burial will follow at Beckman Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 on Tuesday evening at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Lux Memorial Chapel is handling the arrangements.

Eldon W. Craddock

SIDNEY – Eldon W. Craddock, 94, well-known Sidell and Allerton area farmer, passed away at 5:23 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2017, at Carle Hospital in Urbana.

He was born May 13, 1923, in Sidell, Illinois, to William and Lois Kestler Craddock.

Eldon married Marjorie Rowand on Jan. 19, 1947, in Sidell. Marjorie survives, as do a son, Steve (Peggy) Craddock of Allerton; a daughter, Annette (Larry) Luth of Hume, Illinois; five grandchildren, Jeffrey Craddock, Timothy Craddock, Amy Heppe, Lori Lovings, and Bradley Luth; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Helen Talbot, Violet Brown, and Melba Haskins.

Eldon attended the University of Illinois, then returned to the family farm in Sidell, where he continued working until the couple retired and moved to Sidney. He served as Sidell Township trustee, was a 4-H leader, and member of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau, Sidell Lions Club, and the Sidell United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals even though Marjorie was an avid Cubs fan. Above all else, he loved and enjoyed his family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Sidell United Methodist Church, with Pastor Don Shane officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery near Sidell.

Visitation is from 9 a.m. till servicetime on Wednesday at the Sidell United Methodist Church.

Memorials in Eldon's memory to the Sidell United Methodist Church or Alzheimer's Association.

The Robison Chapel in Catlin is handling service arrangements. Online condolences at www.robisonchapel.com.