Gerald Durbin Wood

HOMER — Gerald Durbin Wood, age 86, of Homer, and formerly of Mattoon, passed to his heavenly home on Tuesday (Sept. 25, 2018) while at Meadowbrook Health Center in Urbana.

A graveside service honoring and celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston with Pastor Tom Farris officiating.

It is requested that donations in his honor be made to Coalition for People in Need. Gifts may be mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.

Jerry was born July 28, 1932, in Coles County, Ill., the son of the late Nels and Elizabeth (Durbin) Wood. He was a graduate of Mattoon High School and attained his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He faithfully served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and for 39 years was employed at the University of Illinois as an engineer for WILL Radio.

Jerry is survived by his sister, Virginia Lane of Utah; nephews, Robert (Deborah) Lane of McCordsville, Ind., and Darryl (Linda) Lane of Logansport, Ind.; niece, Elaine (Bob) Fruin of Portland, Ore., along with additional nieces and nephews and families.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Wendell Harman, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Margerie.

Jerry attended the Methodist Church in Sidney, was an avid reader and loved nature and being outdoors.

Jerry’s memorial website is available at www.adamsfuneralchapel.com.

Garland L. Conner

ST. JOSEPH — Garland L. Conner, 71, of St. Joseph passed away at 4 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 20, 2018) at his home.

Celebration of life services will be at noon Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Father Luke Spannagel will officate.

Garland was born Nov. 5, 1946, at Canton, the son of Samuel S. and Lucy Marshall Conner. He married Anna Aholt on Dec. 26, 1972, at Okawville. She survives.

He is also survived by his daughters, Cassie (Lou Dascole) Conner of Durham, N.C., and Carrie (Evan) Schwartz of Katy, Texas; two granddaughters, Lilliana and Halle; and one brother, Charles (Monica) Conner of Wimauma, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Garland was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam. He worked as a self-employed carpenter.

He was a model train enthusiast and an avid gardener. He enjoyed traveling to Florida and visting national parks around the country.

Memorials may be made to the National Park Foundation or CHADS Coalition for Mental Health.

News-Gazette 9/21/2018

Walter H. Wolken

GIFFORD — Walter H. Wolken, 88, of Gifford went to be with the Lord on the evening of Monday (Sept. 17, 2018) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

He was born April 28, 1930, in Urbana, a son of Henry and Dora (Eilers) Wolken. He married Velma Bergman on Jan. 12, 1951, at American Lutheran Church, Rantoul. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, Stanley (Beverly) Wolken of Gifford; daughter, Brenda (Kenny) Self of Rantoul; two sisters, Marie (Wilbert) Buhr of Gifford and Eileen Schurr of Aurora, Colo.; four grandsons; a granddaughter; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister.

Walter “Super T” farmed in the Gifford area all his life. He also drove for his son at Stan Wolken Trucking. He was a member of American Lutheran Church, where he served as a deacon. He also served on the Prairie Creek Drainage Board as commissioner. He was an avid Cubs fan.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at American Lutheran Church, Rantoul. The Rev. Matt Bahnfleth will officiate. Burial will be in Beckman Cemetery, Thomasboro.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or American Lutheran Church.

News-Gazette 9/19/2018

Robert "Bob" Carl Galbreath

SIDNEY — Robert “Bob” Carl Galbreath, 71, of Sidney passed away at 8:10 a.m. Monday (Sept. 17, 2018) at home.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, at Schilling Funeral Home, 1301 Charleston Ave., Mattoon, IL 61938. Burial will take place at a later date.

Bob was born May 5, 1947, in Mattoon, the son of Vern and Lucille (Nelson) Galbreath. He married Kandace Lane on June 9, 1967.

Survivors include his loving wife, Kandace Galbreath of Sidney; sons, Christopher Galbreath of Sidney and Scott Sean Galbreath of Wilmington, N.C.; grandchildren, Michael Morrison of Danville and Kaitlyn Morrison of Danville; and brother, Dennis (Jane) Galbreath of Sidney.

Bob enjoyed helping others working as a rehabilitation counselor for 41 years. He loved cooking and would do anything for anyone. Bob cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Online condolences may be expressed at schillingfuneralhome.net or Schilling Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

News-Gazette 9/19/2018

Deborah Kay Britt

GEORGETOWN, Calif. — Deborah Kay Britt, 59, of Georgetown, Calif., died at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2018) from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident near her home.

Deborah was born Oct. 24, 1958, in Urbana, to Robert and Inez Britt of rural Ogden. She graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School and attended the University of Illinois and Parkland College before moving to California, where she received a bachelor of arts in professional and technical writing from San Jose State University.

Also a trained veterinary technician, Deb passionately advocated for the humane and ethical treatment of animals. Her home frequently provided sanctuary for injured, neglected and displaced animals of all types. That same compassion and fortitude made her a strong ally to friends and family.

Deborah is survived by her brothers, John of Champaign and Jeffrey, his wife, Patricia, and their son, Daniel, of Eagan, Minn.; as well as her cherished horse, Belle; and Jiffy, her inseparable canine companion.

Her parents and brother, Paul, preceded her in death.

Cremation rites will be accorded by Foothill Cremation, Placerville, Calif. No services are scheduled at this time.

Expressions of sympathy may be made with contributions to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org) or to the Humane Society of the United States (humanesociety.org)

News-Gazette 9/16/2018

Howard Harold Steenbergen

RANTOUL — Howard Harold Steenbergen, 100, of Centerville, Ohio, passed away at home Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2018).

He was born Dec. 13, 1917, in Homer, the son of Charles Cleveland and Osa Ola (Sadler) Steenbergen; one of six sons who grew up on tenant farms in East Central Illinois. He attended a one-room school in Homer and went on to work nationally and internationally in electronic engineering for the Department of Defense for well over 40 years. After graduating from Ogden High School, he coached basketball in Penfield and worked for the FDR Rural Electrification Program and as a plumber’s apprentice at Chanute Air Force Base.

He married Patricia Buck of Penfield in 1941 shortly before entering the Army and World War II, serving in North Africa and Italy with the 3195th Signal Company.

Howard attended the University of Cincinnati and majored in engineering, after which he went to work at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, in the Avionics Laboratory. He retired from WPAFB where he was a supervisory electronic engineer in the Electronic Technology Division of the Air Force Avionics Laboratory. He was an Air Force working member of the Department of Defense Advisory Group on Electron Devices for 15 years. He was also a Defense Department representative to the Department of State for COCOM, an international organization responsible for control of critical technologies. He retired from the Department of Defense in 1976, but continued to do consulting work.

Howard was a member of the American Legion Post 598 of Kettering, and he was a member of St. Leonard’s Community of Centerville. He served as basketball coach at St. Lawrence Academy of Penfield for three years. He was an avid tennis player, skier, golfer, small-plane pilot and walked almost daily. He worked and supervised construction for Habitat for Humanity, as well as volunteering at The Dayton Art Institute. He was a member of the Greene County Transit Board and the Greene County Kiwanis Club.

Patricia preceded him in death in August 2000, as well as his parents and all five brothers.

He is survived by five children: Mary Jo (Al) Kubeluis, John Martin, James Edward and Kathy Lake, all of Ohio, and Susan (Eric) Vimr of Savoy; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Penfield. Fr. Michael Menner will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, please consider donating to Habitat for Humanity of Dayton, daytonhabitat.org.

News-Gazette 9/14/2018

Carolyn Margaret Rexroat Dodd

HOMER — Carolyn Margaret (Rexroat) Dodd, 80, of Homer died on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer, with the Rev. Leah Grayer officiating. Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Homer. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the funeral home. Services will be followed by a luncheon at the United Methodist Church, 301 S. Main St., Homer. All family and friends are invited to attend this celebration of Carolyn’s life.

Carolyn was born Jan. 27, 1938, in Champaign, the daughter of John and Vena (Provine) Rexroat. She married Byron Dodd on Nov. 24, 1965, in Champaign. He preceded her in death in 2010. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Connie, in 1957.

She is survived by son, John (Kelly) Dodd of Louisville, Ky.; daughter, Jill (Stan) Prosser of Goodfield; six grandchildren, Kiel, Kohl and Kaci Dodd, all of Louisville, Ky., and Chelsea (of California), Jordan (of New York) and Joshua (of Europe) Prosser; sister, Dolores Wisegarver of Mahomet; two nieces, Julie (Earl) Woller of Urbana and Merry (Chris) Evans of Farmer City; and two nephews, John (Kent) Wisegarver of White Heath and Guy (Karen) Wisegarver of Farmer City.

Carolyn was a member of American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary and Homer VFW with her husband. She was also a volunteer for the Homer Community Library and Unity Point Hospice in Peoria. She retired from the University of Illinois (School of Music) after 36 years of service.

Her greatest joy was in spending time with family and friends. She was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini basketball fan, but even more significantly, she delighted in attending her grandchildren’s sporting events. She was an avid reader and “sharer” of books with others. She loved the outdoors and nature, and camping, boating and fishing at Kentucky Lake with her Hesterville camping buddies.

Age was never an issue for Carolyn. She loved all people, young and old, and had a way of making everyone feel accepted and important. Laughter and fun were a big part of her life; she sometimes reminded others that her mother had told her she did not ever have to “grow up,” so she intentionally lived with childlike delight and brought delight to those around her.

Memorials may be made to the Homer Community Library or American Legion Post 290 Ladies Auxiliary.

Champaign News-Gazette 9/12/2018

Gwendolyn Jane Plotner

GDEN — Gwendolyn Jane Plotner was born Dec. 31, 1932, in Ogden, the only child of Glenn Hiser and Beulah Jane McPherren Hiser. She died peacefully at Willow Lake Place, Indianapolis, on Sunday (Sept. 9, 2018) after becoming a resident there July 30, 2018.

As a young girl, she was an accomplished pianist who won several competitions in Champaign County. After graduating from Ogden High School, she attended Illinois Commercial College. On Oct. 28, 1951, with his dad’s legal permission, she married her childhood sweetheart, David Lynn Plotner. David proudly served in the Illinois National Guard, was deployed during the Korean War, and he was later stationed in Santa Maria, Calif., where they lived together and she also worked at an Army base. After returning to Ogden, they lived in and later purchased the house that her grandfather had built in 1908 for her family.

Gwendolyn retired from Carle Clinic, where

More obituaries, B-4.

she was an X-ray transcriptionist for more than 37 years. She quite successfully transitioned from dictaphone recordings and typewriters to utilizing IBM personal computers and networked printers. She became computer literate, enjoyed mentoring and training others and was a very hardworking, loyal employee. Gwendolyn especially enjoyed working with Dr. Cesare Gianturco, who, after he retired from Carle Clinic, moved to Houston, Texas, to conduct research at MD Anderson Cancer Center. And Dr. George Miller and Dr. Richard Taylor, who were subsequently Radiology Department heads, were also among those fond memories of her long career at Carle. At home, she learned and loved to use AOL Mail to communicate with friends and family members.

Always interested in travel, she and David, who was an avid and very talented photographer his entire life, enjoyed countless trips and international travels capturing stunning memories along the way.Gwendolyn and David especially

enjoyed several tours with Judy Fraser of WCIA and her husband as their guides. She was a member of United Methodist Church.

Gwendolyn and David celebrated 62 years of marriage in 2013. Despite her own early battle with cancer, and helping David fully recover from cancer and later a stroke-like incapacity, she never lost her enthusiasm for life. Gwendolyn was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. David died on Father’s Day in 2014. She began developing signs of Alzheimer’s during 2012 and became a resident at Amber Glen Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Urbana in August 2014.

Gwendolyn is survived by her two sons, Gregory (Virginia) Plotner of Houston and Eric Plotner of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Nickolas (Kate) in Kentucky, Kyle (Julie) Key in Georgia and Zachary and Emily Modis in Houston; two greatgranddaughters; and two great-grandsons.Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph, with the funeral at 11 a.m. and burial immediately following in Stanton Friends Cemetery, north of St. Joseph.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Roy F. Block

SIDNEY — Roy F. Block, 90, of Sidney died Friday (Sept. 7, 2018) at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana.

Roy was born Aug. 17, 1928, to Ester and Alta Block. He graduated from Longview High School in 1946. In 1950, he married Joan McFall, who survives. Also surviving are three sons, David (Carol) Block of Champaign, Daniel (Marcia) Block of Urbana and Darrell (Cindy) Block of Tolono; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two nieces. 

He worked at the University of Illinois sheep barns until 1952 when he entered the United States Air Force and served as a staff sergeant until 1955. He served at Frances E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyo.; March AFB in Riverside, Calif.; Sturgate AFB in Gainesbrough, England; and Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb. While stationed in England, he was able to tour England, Scotland and Germany and see the rehearsal for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.

After his military career, he rejoined the UI sheep barns as a herdsman foreman until he retired. During his time at the UI and after, he also worked for Freese Funeral Home in Sidney and then as a driver for Renner-Wikoff Funeral Home in Urbana. Roy also farmed south of Urbana.

Roy was a member of Sidney United Church. He was also a member of the Sidney Masonic Lodge, an honorary member at the Tolono Masonic Lodge and the Consistory in Danville.

Roy was an avid Illini basketball fan and attended all home games for 62 years, only missing 10 of those games. He didn’t miss any of the home games during Lou Henson’s tenure at Illinois. He also enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals and fishing at the family pond.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Carl Richard Block and Howard Estor Block.

Memorials may be made to the Sidney Fire Department or Homer American Legion.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, at Sidney United Church with the Rev. Mike Picklesimer officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sidney, with military rites being accorded. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church with masonic rites at 7 p.m. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is handling arrangements

Betty Lou Hudson Daly

URBANA — Betty Lou Daly, 90, passed away on Sunday (Sept. 2, 2018) at her home in Urbana. She was born on Sept. 3, 1927, in Urbana to Cecil and Josephine (Stanton) Hudson. Betty married Charles B. Daly on Nov. 4, 1950, in Philo. 

Betty is survived by her children, Charles M. (Nessa Gayle) Daly, Daniel (Martha) Daly, Rebecca (Roy) Douglas and Celia (Scott) McCartney; grandchildren, Jason, Jon, Joshua, Dan, Michelle, Jacob, Mark, Charlie and Jamie; great-grandchildren, Jack, Jocelyn, Ben, Kyndal, Evan, Whitney, Jacob, Grace, Aidan, Alyvia, Finley, Blake, Belle and Alba; and her dog, Lilly, and cat, Jerry. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Carlos and Ray; and sister, Sara. Special thanks to her caregivers Sharon Smith and Pam Holcomb for their compassion, patience and love in caring for our mom.

Betty enjoyed cooking, walking, knitting and crocheting. She volunteered at Carle Auxiliary for many years, and she volunteered at St. Patrick church. In her early years, Betty worked as a secretary, and she was instrumental in helping on the family farm.   

Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 708 W. Main St., Urbana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at Sunset Funeral Home, 710 N. Neil St., Champaign. Burial will follow funeral mass at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Mayview. Memorial donations may be made in Betty’s name to St. Patrick Catholic Church or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in support of her grandson Jamie. Please join her family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.