Richard Menzer

South Elgin — Richard Menzer, 86, of South Elgin, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday morning (Aug. 22, 2019) at Heritage Woods in South Elgin.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at the St. Joseph United Methodist Church. Pastor Gene Turner will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. The family would like for everyone to join them in wear bright colors to celebrate Richard's life.

Richard was born April 27, 1933, in Hackensack, N.J., the son of George W. and Virginia F. (Lueneburg) Menzer.

He married Phyllis Schaefer on April 26, 1958, in Bergenfield, N.J. She survives.

He is also survived by his children, Carin (Brad) Rodemoyer of Western Springs, Eric (Leanna) Menzer of Sycamore and Jenny (Mike) Tabb of Dwight; grandchildren, Breelyn Menzer, Carsten and Caroline Menzer, Brian Rodemoyer, Taylor Rodemoyer, Kyle Osterbur and Lane Osterbur; one great-grandchild, Makayla Osterbur; sister, Alma Boland of Charlotte, N.C.; sister-in-law, Eleanor Menzer of Lincoln, Vt.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles Menzer.

Mr. Menzer was a Eagle Scout. He was a graduate of Hasbrouck Heights High School and Farleigh Dickerson University. He worked for Lederle Laboratory in New York, Cooper Laboratories in New Jersey and Combe Laboratories in Rantoul as research director, retiring in 1998. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 at Fort Carson, Colo., as a medic.

Richard was a member of the St. Joseph United Methodist Church and active in the Boy Scouts. He was a volunteer with Empty Tomb in Champaign, Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham and Hospital Sisters in Springfield.

Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph United Methodist Church or Midwest Mission Distribution Center 1001 Mission Drive, Pawnee, IL 62558.

Champaign News-Gazette 8/25/2019

Arthur McElwee

CHAMPAIGN — Arthur McElwee, 89, of Champaign passed away at 10:13 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 21, 2019) at OSF Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Pastor Dale DeNeal will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Arthur was born June 13, 1930, at St. Joseph, a son of Albert and Beatrice (Schoolcraft) McElwee. He married Willadean Aumiller on March 8, 1953. She preceded him in death on Sept. 20, 2014.

He is survived by his children, Sheila (Carl Wise) McElwee of Danville, Robin McElwee of Champaign and Kimberly (Joe) Frost of Fithian; grandchildren, Rebekah (Chris) Tazelaar of Lockport, Joshua (Jeanna) Wise of Danville and Calem McElwee-Wise of Danville; great-grandchildren, Aiden and Arianna Tazelaar, Kendalyn Wise, Dylan and Ella Tazelaar and Karsyn Wise; and sister, Shirley Crumpler of Olympia, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James.

Arthur was U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War as a radio operator.

He retired from the Northern Illinois Water Company, Urbana. He also farmed in the Fisher area for the Banner family.

Arthur attended the Number 10 School and Armstrong High School. He was a graduate of St. Joseph High School. 

He was an avid Illini fan. He bowled for many years and served on league boards as a secretary. Arthur enjoyed Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He loved horses and traveled across the U.S. for horse shows.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Champaign and attended River Valley Church of Christ, Fisher.

Champaign News-Gazette 8/25/2019

Milford Ray Allen

Milford Ray Allen, 95, died at home at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, surrounded by family. He was reunited with his wife, Bee, and son, Larry.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana.  Rev. Gary Fairchild will officiate. Burial with Military Honors will take place at Patterson Cemetery in St. Joseph. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00-11:00 a.m., at the funeral home.

Ray was born Aug. 7, 1924, in Gideon, MO, to Mamie (Corey) and Finis Allen. He grew up in Missouri and Arkansas. He had to leave school after the 8th grade to work in the cotton fields to help support his family.

Ray joined the Army (555th AAA Battalion, Battery B) and was an anti-aircraft artillery gunner during WWII. He landed at Omaha Beach and they were soon attached to the 104th Division (Timberwolves). They went north to Belgium and joined the 9th Army during the Battle of the Bulge. They crossed the Rhine River and he was wounded by shrapnel. He refused to go back across the river to the hospital and served 195 consecutive days in front line combat. He re-upped after the war and was an MP. He was a life member of VFW Post 5520.

Ray married Bernita (Rodgers) Brennan on Dec. 24, 1948. They had one son, Larry, who died in 2000. Bee died in 2013.

Ray was also preceded in death by his siblings; Geraldine Sample, Elwood, Vern, Jim and Junior.

He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Darlene; grandsons Brad (Tonya) and David (Susan); great-grandchildren Karli, Madeline and Logan; along with many nieces and nephews.

Ray was a brickmason for more than 50 years and he was a lifetime member of BAC Local 17/8. He was able to live 60 years in the house he built. Ray’s niece, Pauline (Don) Schaudt, was like a daughter to him and she took wonderful care of him after Bee died.

Ray and Bee joined Grace United Methodist Church, where he was baptized in 1985. He helped with the church’s sweet corn and popcorn sales, many renovation projects and he enjoyed Wednesday morning breakfasts with the men’s group. He loved cooking at pancake breakfasts and making wood crafts for bazaars at the church.

Ray coached Little League baseball and he and Bee rarely missed their grandchildren’s events. Ray loved taking trips to Branson with Bee. They also enjoyed attending Army reunions with the Five by Fives. He enjoyed Cardinals baseball and getting phone calls from his niece, Karon Rasmussen, during each live telecast. Ray took meticulous care of his cars and taught Brad and David how to change the oil and brakes on their cars, among many other life lessons. When he was not working, he was a sharp dressed man. He enjoyed watching Westerns but most of all, he cherished time with family.

Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or First Gig Rock N Roll Camp for Kids.

Alyson "Aly" Cortney McDuffy

Heaven gained a beautiful angel, while Earth lost a vibrant soul, with the unexpected passing of Alyson “Aly” Cortney McDuffy, 30, of Champaign, on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at 12:42 a.m.
Alyson was born in Champaign on September 20, 1988 to Kenny and Gwen (Lewis) McDuffy of Pesotum. She is survived by her parents; sisters, Andrea Flenniken of Pesotum and Kelly (Josh) Vail of Villa Grove; her maternal grandmothers, Betty Sue Lewis of St. Joseph and Elisabethe (Roy) Walton of Highland, Arkansas; and her precious nieces and nephews, Alexis Benskin, Raegen and Heath Stringer, and Ethan and Adalyn Vail.
She was proceeded in death by her grandparents Bill and Jackie McDuffy, Richard “Jack” Lewis, and Jim Rexrode.
Alyson graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 2006. She obtained a cosmetology license at Midwest College of Cosmetology, Normal, in 2007. After working several years as a cosmetologist, Alyson attended Parkland College and completed the Radiologic Technology degree program in 2017. She was currently employed at the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute in Interventional Radiology, while continuing her cosmetology career. She also volunteered as a co-leader for her youngest niece’s Daisy Girl Scout troop.
Alyson was a St. Louis Cardinals fan, adored cats, enjoyed traveling, and was a fashion enthusiast. She was devoted to her family and friends, especially her nieces and nephews, who were her pride and joy.
The family invites you to celebrate her life with them at her visitation services on Sunday, August 25 from 3-6 p.m. at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 26 at 10 a.m. at Morgan Memorial Home. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign.
Memorial contributions can be made to an educational fund established in memory of Alyson for her nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be offered at www.morganmemorialhome.com.

Daniel Mowry

ST. JOSEPH — Daniel Mowry, 89, of St. Joseph passed away at 5:50 a.m. Sunday (Aug. 18, 2019) at Meadowbrook Health Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. The Rev. Chuck Alt will officiate. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday.

Daniel was born June 8, 1930, in Springfield, a son of Orin and Florence Rothrock Mowry. He married Ruth Holman on Jan. 20,

1952, in Farmer City. She survives.

He is also survived by his children, David (Cheryl) Mowry of Fisher, Daryl (Sharon) Mowry of St. Joseph and Dana (Kent) Lutz of Homer; six grandchildren, Kristopher, Heather, Shannon, Cal, Dannielle and Emily; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale Mowry of Michigan; and two sisters, Alma Stallings of California and Ada Johnson of Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, David and Dick; two sisters, Alta and Anna Mae; and a daughter-inlaw, Linda Mowry.

Daniel was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Italy. He retired from Illinois Bell as a lineman and had farmed in the area.

He was an avid BMW motorcycle owner. Daniel also enjoyed traveling and square dancing.

Lance William Loschen

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Lance William Loschen, 47, of Virginia Beach, Va., passed away at 3:15 p.m. Friday (Aug. 16, 2019) from severe injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs in Virginia Beach.

Lance was born Dec. 11, 1971, in Urbana. He lived his life in Champaign; St. Charles, Mo.; Ozark, Mo.; and moved to his dream location, Virginia Beach, a year ago.

He is survived by his wife, Micke Anderson Loschen; two children, Auggie Loschen and Alivia Loschen; one grandson, Easton Loschen; his mother and father, Norlyn and Karen Loschen; one brother, Lyndon (Jennifer) Loschen; two nieces, Avery and Annie Loschen; one nephew, Jax Loschen; paternal grandmother, Bernice Loschen; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Ralph Loschen; and maternal grandparents, William and Irene Keller.

Lance grew up and went to school in Champaign, where he excelled in sports

(football, basketball and baseball) at Centennial High School. He was a member of the baseball team in 1990 that went to state. He played baseball all through high school and three years for the Champaign American Legion baseball team and went on to play for the Gifford Flatville EI baseball team.

Lance’s love for baseball continued, and he was so proud to coach his children in Little League and Auggie’s Tribe Travel Team for several years. He was president of the Robeson Little League and was instrumental in getting a new concession stand with restrooms built. His love of baseball carried over to umpiring for a few years. He also joined his father and helped coach the Champaign American Legion Senior baseball team for several years. Being a Loschen meant loving baseball whether he was coaching, umpiring or following his children’s games. Most recently, his pride and joy was being a grandfather (Opa) to Easton Loschen.

Lance worked for Hamburg Distributors, Cavit Wines, and most recently was working as a salesman for Cosentino, selling granite and quartz countertops. He just recently returned

from Brazil, where he went to the quarries and sold several trucks full of granite.

Lance gave the gift of life by being an organ donor. He was able to save the lives of three people by his donation of his kidneys and liver.Services will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. with a celebration of life from 6 to 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to share in the celebration.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family requests contributions in memory of Lance be made to help with the college education of his grandchildren. Fond memories and condolences may be offered online at morganmemorialhome. com.

Champaign News-Gazette 8/21/2019

Glenn D. Archer

SAVOY — Glenn D. Archer, 95, went to meet his Lord, Savior and family at the gates of heaven Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, at University Rehabilitation Center of C-U, Urbana.

Glenn was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Allerton, where he was raised and lived the majority of his life. His parents were Cecil and Bertha Lazzell Archer.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kathryn (Jones) Archer; siblings, Helen Ennis, Opal Whitson and Ruth Stiegman; a grandson, Cody Patton; and a great-grandson, Austin Archer.

He is survived by his current wife of 30 years, Helen (White) Archer; children, Don (Barbara Delanois) Archer of Oakwood and Shelley (Jim) Patton of Sidell; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Glenn grew up on the same street where hisfamily lived for more than 100 years. He attended Allerton High School and graduated in 1943. While in school, he was an outstanding athlete lettering in basketball, track and softball. Sports writers in the Danville Commercial News tagged him as “Smiling Archer” because he would always have a big smile on his face when scoring a basket. Later, he was on an all-star basketball team in Danville that played against the Harlem Globetrotters. Glenn always talked about competing against Dike Edelman in the high jump and Olympian Bob Richards in the pole vault while going to the state track meet for three years. As an adult, Glenn was a fast-pitch softball player, bowler, golfer, horseshoe pitcher and loved playing any and all types of games.

After high school, Glenn went to work with his father, Cecil, doing construction work. Glenn and his father, and later with his son, built over 200 houses, apartments, farm buildings and commercial buildings, of which the majority stand today as a tribute to his construction knowledge and abilities.

Glenn’s right leg was 2 ½ inches shorter than the left, and here is his story as written by his hand: “One day when I was 5, I was standing and just kind of fell over. My parents thought I might have polio. This was around 1930, and hardly anyone had money because of the Depression. After a short time, some local men that belonged to the Masonic Lodge told my dad they could get me in the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. Of course, no one had any money, so it was going to be hard for my dad to get me to the hospital.As luck would have it, my dad had an aunt inChicago. They came to Allerton to visit my grandma who lived next door, and my dad made an agreement with them to take me to the hospital. My mother said my dad went behind the shed and cried when I left with them. When they took me to the hospital, the doctor found I had fallen and broke the blood vessel that wrapped over my hip which let the bone die and looked like a sponge. It was called Perthes of the Bone. The doctors decided to put a cast around both hips and down to the right ankle of the leg. This would keep the joint from moving and let the blood vessels grow back into the bone in my hip. The doctors changed the cast every two months. They would place the cast,and I would stay overnight

and then go to my aunt’s house and stay in bed for about a week till the cast was completely dry. In the summer, when I was home with the cast on, I was placing my right foot on a scooter and pedaling with my left. Of course, I fell and broke the cast. My dad tried to put it back together but couldn’t get it to stay. Like I said, money was hard to come by then, and here my dad had to come up with the bus fare to take me back to the hospital. When they put on the new cast, the doctors placed a board in the back to reinforce it. When they would take the cast off, they would bend my leg at the knee because it would have a tendency to get stiff. When they bent my leg, it sure hurt. I never broke a cast again!”

Mr. Archer was a member of Allerton United Methodist Church, Allerton Lions Club and a 32nd degree Mason and grand master from 1966 to 1973 at the Broadlands Masonic Lodge 791 AF& AM.

Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, at Joines Funeral Home, 401 W. Gillogly St., Newman, with a memorial service following. Masonic funeral rites will be given at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, northeast of Newman, following the memorial service.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago (donate at lovetotherescue.org) or to Allerton United Methodist Church.

CU News-Gazette 8/21/2019

Gary F. Decker

BELLEVILLE — Gary F. Decker of Belleville, formerly of Sidney, passed away on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, after a short illness.

Gary was born on Oct. 11, 1939, to Ferrell and Linna Bostic Decker in Hutton, Ill. He married Judith Churchill of Longview. She preceded him in death in 1994.

He is survived by three sons, Tim (Lisa) Decker of St. Joseph, Joe (Anita) Decker of Taylorville and Shane (Destiny) Decker of Watertown, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Tyler Decker, Nick Decker, Devlin Decker, Ron Decker, Amanda Decker, Sydney Decker, Eric Decker, Shelby Decker and Nola Decker; and his brother, Ron Peery of Belleville.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Andy Decker.

Gary served in the Army as a Ranger and will have a military funeral at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis on Aug. 16, 2019, at 2 p.m. There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be made to The Gary Sinise Foundation for veterans or donor’s choice.

Champaign News-Gazette 8/16/2019