Theodore “Ted” Max Roberts

 SIDNEY — Theodore “Ted” Max Roberts, 84, of Sidney passed away Thursday (Aug. 27, 2020) at 10:15a.m. at home surrounded by family.

Ted was born Oct. 24, 1935, to Walter and Myrtle Roberts. Ted was one of seven children.

He was preceded in death by Bud Roberts (brother), Lois Douthit (sister), Eileen Syfert (sister), Gernon Roberts (brother) and Neva Leach (sister).

He has one surviving brother, Bob Roberts of Philo.

He married Dorothy Dobbs on Aug. 1, 1954, and she preceded him in death on March 15, 1989. They had five children, still surviving: Ted (Teri) Roberts of Loda, Connie Roberts of Paris, Ill., Trina (Eric) Quam of Sidney, Zena (Tim) Pearman of Sidell and Dawn (Jimmy) Johnson of Terre Haute, Ind.

He then married Tammy K. Miller of Champaign on June 29, 1991, and she still resides in Sidney.

Ted was an active member of his community and served for several years as a member of the ABL School Board and an active member of the Sidell Assembly UPC. Ted spent most of his life as a famer, farming in the Sidney, Longview and Murdock areas. Ted has 12 grandchildren and 16 great- grandchildren. Ted loved farming at Roberts Rolling Acres and being surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney. Masks must be worn to enter the funeral home. There will also be a visitation from 10 to 1 11a.m. Tuesday at Sidell Assembly UPC, with the funeral to follow, with Pastor Tim Pearman officiating. Burial will be in Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo.

Online condolences may be offered at freesefh.com .

NG 8/29/20

John H. Morrison

 LITCHFIELD — John H. Morrison, 102, of Litchfield, formerly of Homer, passed away Tuesday (Aug. 25, 2020) at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Private services will be held with Pastor Heju Nam officiating. Burial will take place in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer, is handling the arrangements.

John was born Oct. 5, 1917, in Homer, the son of Carl and Edda Krukewitt Morrison. He married Christine Wiese on Nov. 24, 1946, in Homer. She preceded him in death on Jan. 8, 2009.

Survivors include his son, John F. Morrison of Santa Fe, N.M.; daughter, Jan (John) Ashbrook of Champaign; son, David (Susie) Morrison of Carlinville; son, Daniel (Tammy) Morrison of Forsyth; sister, Lois Nielson of Palm Harbor, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his brother, Willard Morrison.

John was a member of Homer United Methodist Church, Homer Masonic Lodge 199 and a 75year member of Homer American Legion 290. He served in the Marine Corps during WWII. John and Christine lived in Homer most of his life and then moved to Carlinville. He was a former volunteer fireman for Homer, Vance Township board member, and he was a Homer school board member and past president. John was an avid fisherman and loyal Illini basketball fan.

Memorials can be made to Homer United Methodist Church.

NG 8/27/20

Jack Faullin

 CHAMPAIGN — Jack Faullin, 86, of Champaign died Saturday (Aug. 22, 2020) at Champaign Urbana Nursing and Rehab, Savoy, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Jack was born July 12, 1934, in St. Joseph, the son of R.C. and Adelia Faullin. Jack was a friend to all who knew him and set standards for excellence, honesty and hard work for his sons to follow. He so loved his wife, Linda, who he married on Sept. 3, 1960, and who survives at Clare Bridge memory care, in Brookdale Senior Living, Urbana.

Jack could fix anything and served as the foreman of the University of Illinois electrical shop until his retirement in 1992. He was a lifetime member of Local 601 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, served his country in the U.S. Army and was an avid golfer. He was a member of First United Methodist Church Champaign, where he served as an usher. Jack’s love of family began with his older brothers, Bob and Dick, who passed before him, and his younger sister, Sherrill, who survives.

He will be dearly missed by his two sons, Mark (Lynne) Faullin of Normal and Jeff (Elizabeth) Faullin of Winston- Salem, N.C.; four grandchildren, Allison (Christopher) Piszar of Moorpark, Calif., Hayden Faullin, of Pacific, Mo., Jack Faullin II of Mooresville, N.C., and Joe Faullin of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and one great-grandchild, Cora Rae Piszar, who was born on July 7, 2020.

He had a special place in his heart for all his nieces and nephews, especially Sherrill’s children, Melissa and Angela, and their families.

A private graveside service will be held at Eastlawn Burial Park, Urbana. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy, assisted with arrangements ( morganmemorialhome. com). Memorial donations may be made to empty tomb, inc.

Billy Wayne Vermillion

 LONGVIEW — Billy Wayne Vermillion, 67, of Longview passed away Tuesday, Aug 18, 2020, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

A graveside service and burial was held Friday, Aug. 21, at Newman Township Cemetery with arrangements by Joines Funeral home, Newman.

Bill was born in Fountain Run, Ky., on Dec 30, 1952. Bill moved to Newman with his mother, Marie, and sister, Betty Sue, where he spent most of his formative years hiding in the shed listening to cubs games on the radio, reading anything he could get his hands on, paying his sister to clean his room, memorizing the TV Guide and being a genuine and caring friend, son and older brother.

Bill met the love of his life, Trena Tunkin (then of Tuscola), at the Newman Pool Hall in November 1971. He and Trena were married May 20, 1972. They moved to Longview around 1978 and had five children.

Bill is survived by his wife, Trena Vermillion of Longview; oldest son, Billy (Kelly) Vermillion; grandchildren, Alexandria and Connor Quinn of Champaign; son, Jamie (Jill) Vermillion of Santa Clara, Calif; daughter, Dulcie Vermillion (Justin Price) of Broadlands; son, Wesley Vermillion, also of Broadlands; son, Robbie Vermillion (Melinda Febus) of Urbana; sister, Betty Sue Vermillion of Tuscola; and brother, Bobby (Carol) Vermillion of Knoxville, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and David Vermillion of Newman, and sister, Becky (David) Walters of Sparta.

Bill had a lifelong passion for writing and published stories in Karamu and Ascent, including “The Ghost Gypsy,” which won an Illinois Arts Council Award in 1977. Bill was happily retired from the water treatment plant in Tuscola, enjoying his pursuits as a writer, reader, film and TV buff, Cubs fan, arts appreciator, chef, political enthusiast, nature lover and proud grandfather and father.

He delighted in entertaining and caring for his children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, friends, neighbors, cousins, siblings, and in-laws. Above all, he cherished his time spent just putzing around with his best friend and wife, Trena.

Memorial donations may be made to the Urbana Free Library Association, 210 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, urbanafreelibrary. org; Champaign Public Library Foundation, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820, champaign.org; St. Joseph Indian School, P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326, stjo.org; or please donate to your local library.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please vote in the upcoming general election.

NG 8/26/20

Betty Alene Chrestman

 URBANA — Betty Alene Chrestman, 82, of Urbana, formerly of Homer, passed away at 8:22 a.m. Monday (Aug. 24, 2020) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Betty was born July 2, 1938, in Valdosta, Ga., the daughter of Gary and Este Alene Hightower Cowart. She married Arthur M. Chrestman on Aug. 2, 1958, in Miami. Art preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 1999, after 40 years of marriage.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.

Betty is survived by her children, Cyndi (Dan) Pridemore of Monticello, David (Liz) Chrestman of Lakeland, Fla., Kim Warmbier of The Colony, Texas, and Carol (Paul) Radakovich of Pinedale, Wyo. She is also survived by her brother, Terry (Iris) Cowart of Alma, Ga.; grandchildren, Amanda and Melanie (Jen) Pridemore, Jacob (Leah) and Maurissa Radakovich, Tyler, Margy, Katelyn and McKenzie Chrestman and Jordan and Peyton Warmbier; and great-grandsons, Ryan Wallen, Ethan and Andrew Pridemore and Jack and Luke Radakovich.

Betty worked as a secretary to the dean in the Liberal Arts and Science Department at the University of Illinois for 25 years. She loved to cook, travel and bowl and was an avid reader. Betty loved everyone she met and will be missed dearly by her family and all who knew her.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. There will be no public visitation.

Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer, is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association in Betty’s memory.

NG 8/26/20

Mikhel Allen Cain

 PORT ANGELES, Wash. — Mikhel Allen Cain, 21, of Port Angeles, Wash., formerly Ogden, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.

Mikhel was born Sept. 1, 1998, in Urbana, to Jacki Wilcoxon (Brown) and Wayne Cain.

Mikhel will be put to rest in Mount Olive Cemetery. Arrangements will be taken care of by his mother and will be posted at a later date. Donations can be made to the GoFundMe page set up by Angela Varnum to help with expenses for Mikhel

NG 8/26/20

Ronald F. "Ron" Wiese

 URSA — Ronald F. “Ron” Wiese, 84, of Ursa died at 4:58 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 20, 2020) at Blessing Hospital, Quincy.

Ron was born Nov. 12, 1935, in Vermillion County, the son of Emil and Thelma Browning Wiese. He married Sylvia Uden on July 1, 1960, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Thomasboro. She survives.

Ron was a 1953 graduate of Homer High School in Homer. He was employed at John Deere just out of high school and also worked as a welder for Nelson Concrete in Champaign. He started with the Adwell Corporation in the Pekin area in 1966. In 1972, he continued working for them as he started farming in Meyer. He was a farm manager at Adwell until his retirement in 2005.

Ron had a passion for farming and loved spending time on the farm and making sure everything ran smoothly. His love of farming was also evident in his collection of toy tractors.

Ron enjoyed watching college basketball and was a die-hard Indiana Hoosiers fan. He was even known to wager on sports games. In recent years, Ron became an Iowa Hawkeye fan. He also enjoyed attending his great-grandchildren’s sporting events.

Ron was a devoted family man, and he dearly loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. His grandchildren and great- grandchildren were the lights of his life. He also had a love for dogs, and he always had a least one dog but never more than five at any given time. If you were fortunate enough to know Ron, you will remember his great smile and his love for visiting.

Survivors in addition to his wife, Sylvia, include three children, Lisa (Brian) Seals of Warsaw, Robin (Peter) Milnes of Bedford, N.H., and Mark (Linda) Wiese of Ursa; four grandchildren, Kelly (Kevin) Lash of Coatsburg, Andrew Milnes and Brook (Nicole) Milnes, both of Bedford, and Meredith (Brad) DeMay of Boca Raton, Fla.; 10 great- grandchildren, Austin, Kaleb, Reid, Sophie, Carter, Kale, Avery, Maci, Sadie and Logan; a sister, Carolyn Strickland of Alabama; three sisters-in-law, Phyllis Kopecky, Barbara Bush and Lori Price; three brothers- in-law, John Morrison, Raymond Uden and Melvin Uden; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lowell Wiese; and three sisters, Christine Morrison, Joan Tate and Irma Smith.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, 1535 State St., Quincy, with the Rev. Patricia Reep officiating. Please bring a mask if you plan to attend. To attend Ronald’s service remotely (or view a recording for up to 90 days), please join us at 10 a.m. Central time Monday, Aug. 24, at the following link: client.tribucast. com/tcid/37010042.

Burial will be in New Providence Cemetery, Ursa. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Please bring a mask if you plan to attend.

Memorials may be made to Unity High School for the FFA or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Coatsburg.

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements; hansenspear.com.

NG 8/23/2020

John William Funk

 URBANA — John William Funk, 63, of Urbana passed away Tuesday (Aug. 18, 2020) at University Rehab.

There will be a gathering Saturday, Aug. 22, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, Urbana, from 5 to 7 p.m. All guests are required to wear a mask. Thank you.

John was born on April 28, 1957, in Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, to parents John and Catherine Funk. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and worked at the City of Urbana Parks and Recreation.

John was preceded in death by his father and sister, Patty Lynn Funk.

Survivors include his mother; brother, Thomas E. Funk (LaDonna) of Michigan; and sister, Elizabeth Funk of Urbana.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to SJO Alumni. Online condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel. com.

NG 8/20/2020

Anthony Remesch

 ST. JOSEPH — Anthony Remesch, 69, of St. Joseph died at 4:16 a.m. Monday (Aug. 17, 2020) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Route 136 East, Rantoul. Father Joel Phelps will officiate. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Madeline Littlefield

 STANTONVILLE, Tenn. — Madeline Littlefield, 90, of Stantonville, Tenn., formerly of Allerton, passed away at home Sunday (Aug. 16, 2020).

She was married to Bobby R. Littlefield, who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Littlefield was a retired administrative secretary for the Jamaica school district and a member of Allerton United Methodist Church.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Richard Littlefield.

She is survived by four children, Larry (Kathy) Littlefield of Gibson City, Dianne (Jeff) Kincaid of Newman, Steve (Rhonda) Littlefield of St. Joseph and Marcia (James) Mullikin of Jackson, Tenn. She has 11 grandchildren, Jennifer (Duane) Coslet, Amy Kincaid (Jim Anderson), Greg Kincaid (Becky), Grant Kincaid (Sarah), Becky Littlefield (Chris Knecht), Stephanie (Trey) Coffey, David Littlefield, Ashley (Ben) Wolfe, Cory (Alexandria) Mullikin, Claire Mullikin and Natalie Littlefield, as well as eight great- grandchildren, Anna, Lia and Gwen Kincaid, Riley and Graydon Kincaid and Ethan Coslet, Addison Coffey and Liam Mullikin.

The family received friends Tuesday and will again prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Shackelford Funeral Directors, Adamsville, Tenn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the charity of choice.

Kermit Eugene Esarey

In celebration of his 97 plus years of a wonderful life, I wish to share that my father, Kermit Eugene Esarey, peacefully passed away last night in his sleep, at his home in Arlington, Texas.

He grew up in southern Illinois in the Keensburg area near his grandparents who lived in the Beall Woods. He served his country as an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following the war, he earned both his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love of agriculture with countless students at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. There was always a twinkle in his eye while spending time with his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. My mom, LaDema, his wife of 73 years, proceeded him in death in 2017.

A graveside memorial will be held at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211 at 10:15 A.M on Tuesday, August 20th, 2019. We will be wearing casual clothing and expect all others to do likewise!

A scholarship fund is being established at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for those students pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Maurice William Duitsman

ROCKFORD, Mich. — Maurice William Duitsman, 85, of Rockford, Mich., passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, after spending his final days surrounded by family.

Maury was born on April 28, 1935, to William and Lena (Busboom) Duitsman of Gifford. He was a 1953 graduate of Rantoul Township High School, where he met his beloved wife, Patricia Lee (Carter) Duitsman. They were married on June 22, 1954.

Maury began his career serving in the United States Army. He served from 1954 to 1956 and spent most of his time stationed in Western Europe, traveling throughout. After serving, he took a position as an insurance adjuster. In 1961, he founded and was the president of Duitsman Insurance in Rantoul. After retiring from insurance at the age of 60, Maury went on to serve as the VP of Business Development at Central Illinois Bank for 10 years. Maury was an active member of his community by serving on the Parkland College Foundation Board of Directors, American Lutheran Church Board, Champaign County Sheriff’s Department Merit Commission, the Champaign County Board, Republican

Precinct Committee chair, founder of the Sangamon Valley Ducks Unlimited Chapter, president of Rantoul Chamber of Commerce & Kiwanis International.

In 2005, Maury relocated from Rantoul to Rockford, so he could spend his summer months close to family. He always enjoyed his winter months in Key Largo, Fla., with Patsy and friends.

Maury was an adventurer and an explorer and loved sharing his passions with his family. He led many trips to Colorado, taking his family horseback riding and on mountain pack trips, camping and whitewater rafting. He was an avid boater and fisherman in both the Florida Keys and Lake Michigan. He spent many seasons duck hunting along the Illinois River in Havana and numerous fishing trips to remote lakes in Ontario, Canada. Maury lived life to the fullest and found his greatest joy in seeing happiness in those around him.

Maury was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; mother, Lena; father, William; and sister, Arlene.

He is survived by his children, Tim (Connie) Duitsman of Rockford and Marci (David) Fiedler of Landen, Ohio, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in Maury’s name may be given to American Lutheran Church, Rantoul.

A small memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the American Lutheran Church cemetery, Rantoul.

NG 8/12/20

Thomas Owen Jones

ST. JOSEPH — Thomas Owen Jones, 67, of St. Joseph passed away Monday (Aug. 10, 2020) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, following his battle with cancer.He was born March 5, 1953, to John and Juanita (Tate) Jones in Urbana.

He is survived by daughter Alison (Brian Myers) Jones; stepson Michael ( Heather) Thompson and their children, Hanna and Lewis; sister Edra Scofield; brothers Lyle, Parry and Virgil (Tracey) Jones; nieces and nephews Hunter and River Jones, Justin and Grant Scofield, and great-niece Delaney Scofield.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Juanita and John Jones.

He was a concrete finisher with the Plasterers and Cement Masons 143. Thomas enjoyed spending his time hunting, fishing, and, most importantly, spending time with his family.

A private memorial service will be held today.

Memorial contributions may be made in Thomas’ name to Wayward Children’s Fund, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 802 Douglas, St. Joseph, IL 61873.

NG 8/11/2020

Kathy Sue Hallett

HOMER — Kathy Sue Hallett, 63, of Homer passed away Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

Mrs. Hallett was born Aug. 12, 1956, in Champaign, the daughter of Don and Doris Wolf. She married the love of her life, Michael Hallett, on Sept. 13, 1975, in Villa Grove. That love continued even after his passing in 2015. She rejoiced in the fact they would be together again. Kathy spent a majority of her life living in rural Homer at Wolf Acres with her family close by. Family is what defined her. She was always willing to lend a hand when anyone needed it, and many of her nieces and nephews often found themselves under her watchful eye.

Through extended family, Kathy enjoyed many sports. She loved to watch anyone in her family compete and was often their biggest supporter. She enjoyed the St. Louis Cardinals and auto racing the most.

Kathy is survived by her son, Toby (Jill) Hallett of Pace, Fla.; daughter, Tera (Eric) Hallett of Lyons; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Don Lee (Wilma) Wolf Jr., James Wesley (Christina) Wolf and Thomas Wilson (Deana) Wolf; and one sister, Helen Marie (Jim) Davison, all of Homer; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two granddaughters and her mother and father.

There will be a celebration of life conducted at her home in rural Homer at Wolf Acres at 3p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5

NG 8/11/2020

Ronald Hugh Hood

 BROCTON — Ronald Hugh Hood, 82, of Brocton passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, following his battle with cancer.

He was born June 20, 1938, in Broadlands, the son of Lester Edward and Mattie Mae (Saulmon) Hood. He married Dixie Jones on June 6, 1978; she survives at home with their dog, Pepper (Peppy).

Ron was a 1956 graduate of ABL High School. He attended Parkland College for two years and retired from AT& T (formally Illinois Bell) in 1988 after 32 years of service. Ron returned to work at Champaign Telephone Company in 1990 and retired again in 1994. Ron was a member of the Hume Christian Church.

Ron’s talents were many. He loved spending time in is workshop (the barn), where he was usually busy inventing some new gadget or helping someone with a project. He was an avid race fan and woodworker; loved reading and karaoke; and in years preceding enjoyed RV travel with Dixie. Ron loved spending time with his family and enjoying all his beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ron is lovingly remembered by his children, Steven (Esther) Hood of Mahomet, Julie (Bob) Bialeschki of Freeburg, Richard (Julie) Hood of Brocton and Heather Glanzer of Tolono; 10 grandchildren, Alyssa (Jay) Hill of Mascoutah, Lindsey (Marcus) Hack of Pesotum, Abby Bialeschki of St. Louis, Paul Hood of Champaign, Courtney (Sean) Mankin of Hume, Kaleb Hood of Oakland, Cody Hood of Brocton, and Hannah Glanzer, Haley Glanzer and Lillian Glanzer, all of Tolono; eight great-grandchildren, Mason and Addison Davis of Pesotum, Raylan Bialeschki of St. Louis, Joetta and Isaac Hill of Mascoutah, Connor Hood of Oakland, Asher Hood of Brocton and Theo Mankin of Hume; two sisters, Judy (Max) Wall of Champaign and Joan Wyatt of California; and many nieces and nephews.

Ron was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother, Robert Hood; two sisters, Betty Lea Hood and Patricia Galardy; and his grandson Adam Bialeschki.

A celebration of life will be held from 5 to 8p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, at Krabel Funeral Home, Oakland.

Memorial donations may be given to Carle Cancer Center at Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, and Hume Christian Church, P.O. Box 87, Hume, IL 61932.

Condolences may be offered at www.krabel funeralhome.com.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Kenneth Rowland, nurses, Carle Cancer Center and all those who have supported the family during and after Ron’s battle with cancer.

NG 8/9/20

William "Bill" J. Bosch

BROADLANDS - William "Bill" J. Bosch, 88, of Broadlands passed away at noon Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, at home.

A private funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Bongard, with the Rev. Keith Walder officiating. A public graveside service will be at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, at St. Joseph Cemetery, Bongard. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is assisting with arrangements.

Mr. Bosch was born Jan. 28, 1932, in Broadlands, a son of Andrew and Frances Hausman Bosch. He married Vera Hopper; they had four children.

Surviving are his four children, Mark (Marsha) Bosch of Plainfield, Linda (Rudy) Carlton-Huber of Sullivan, David (Traci) Bosch of Broadlands and Robert Bosch of Littleton, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Carl) Bodin, Sydney Bosch, Craig (Angie) Negangard, Danielle Finn, Jacob (Lauren) Bosch, Clayton (Larissa) Bosch, Edwin Bosch, Bryson Bosch and Hayden Bosch; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ralph (Edie) Bosch of Connecticut; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Rita Bosch; an infant brother, Joseph; and a brother, Henry Bosch.

Mr. Bosch graduated from Longview High School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was employed at USI Chemical in Tuscola, retiring in 1991.

Mr. Bosch was active in the community; he was a past president of the ABL and Heritage school boards, a Cub Scoutmaster for 25 years, and he coached Little League baseball for many years. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Bongard, and enjoyed watching his grandchildren in their school activities. He was a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan.

Memorials may be made to St. Thomas School, Philo.

NG 8/9/2020

Dale Busboom

 

ST. JOSEPH — Dale Busboom, who passed away Thursday (Aug. 6, 2020), was born on Aug. 26, 1932, to Hie Busboom and Margaret (Schmidt) Busboom- Anderson.

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

His brother, Dean, of Austin, Texas, survives. Also surviving is his wife of 67 years, Loretta (Gronewold) Busboom.

Dale grew up on his family farm near St. Joseph. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and went on to serve in the Navy. But after the untimely death of his father, his service was cut short, and he returned home to care for his family and the family farm. He returned to his birthplace that would be his lifelong home. He married his high school sweetheart, Loretta, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville.

They had three children, who survive: Sheila (John) Connolly of White Lake, Mich., Sherrill (Mike) Ruesink of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Steven Busboom of Kalamazoo.

Included among his other beloved survivors are his five grandchildren, Bethany (Antonio) Botello of Lansing, Mich., Grace (Ashwin) Rao of Austin, David Connolly of White Lake, Leah Ruesink of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Tim Ruesink of Madison, Wis. He has two great-grandchildren, Sianna and Tony Botello.

He was a man who had many interests. He loved to fly and considered himself the luckiest pilot in the world to have his own flying strip just outside his back door. He always had at least one airplane to take up on a whim. He never tired of flying or talking about flying or hosting fly-ins. The flying club was his “tribe” and supported him till the end. He enjoyed baseball, later softball, and his family and grandchildren enjoyed several spring training weeks in Florida. He loved SJ-O sports and the Chicago Cubs.

He traveled to Europe to find his roots and reconnect with friends, to Colorado on several ski trips, and frequent treks to Michigan to watch hockey games, tennis matches and musicals (or just about anything his grandchildren were in). He bought a motorcycle and managed to put over 30,000 miles on his bike in the last 10 years of his life. His longest trip was to Sturgis with his good friend, George.

He was an avid reader. He loved Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and was a founding member. The church was the anchor to his week and his life. He was a member of the church choir and the Martin Luther Men’s Choir. His tenor voice will be missed.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He gained the respect of everyone he dealt with by his quiet direction.

His family hopes you will remember him fondly as they do: a man who lived with love, integrity and faith, and who extended a hand of friendship to all. He was the salt of the earth, gritty and resilient. His heart laid in the land. His gift to the world: a well-manicured lawn, a smooth landing and a life lived in love and infinite devotion. His flight/journey is not yet finished but is just beginning as he now sings with other tenors perfectly in heaven. But oh, how he will be missed on this earth.

The family wishes to express deepest gratitude for the caring people at his recent home at Autumn Fields Assisted Living for their extraordinary efforts. The support of neighbors and friends, even in these times of COVID-19, has been appreciated.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5p.m. Sunday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 802 E. Douglas St. A funeral service will be held at the same location at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10. Pastor Andrew Jones will officiate. This service will be limited to 80 participants due to COVID-19 restrictions. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Lester Frerichs

 

DANVILLE — Lester Frerichs, 80, of Danville passed away at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 5, 2020) at Hawthorne Inn, Danville. Graveside services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Kopmann Cemetery, Royal. Pastor Jay Johnson will officiate. Private funeral services will be held.

Lester was born Dec. 31, 1939, in Compromise Township, the son of Martin and Anna (Franzen) Frerichs. He married Rita Christins on Sept. 7, 1960, in Thomasboro. She survives.

He is also survived by his children, daughter Rhonda (Steve) Frerichs Littlefield of St. Joseph and her children, Stephanie (Trey) Coffey, Ashley (Ben) Wolfe and Natalie Littlefield; son Gayle Frerichs of Armstrong and his children, Madison, Logan and Alex Frerichs; son Doug (Lori) Frerichs of Ogden and his children, Carly, Adam and Josey Frerichs; brother, Larry (Eunice) Frerichs; and sisters, Loretta (Gene) Fruhling Elliott, Linda Frerichs and Laveda Pollock.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Lester was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Royal, and a former school board member at Royal, Prairieview and St. Joseph- Ogden High School.

He served in the Army National Guard and was a member of the Royal American Legion. Lester farmed in the Royal-Armstrong area all his life. He was a member of the Farm Bureau. He graduated from Armstrong High School in 1957.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, Royal, or Kopmann Cemetery.

Wade Earl Barcus

 URBANA - Ward Earl Barcus, 83, of Urbana passed away at 11:13 p.m. Wednesday (July 29, 2020) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, after suffering a stroke on July 17.

Ward was born March 5, 1937, in Champaign, the son of Charles and Cecil Kapp Barcus. He married Joy Brandon Barcus on Aug. 22, 1964, and she survives in Urbana.

Also surviving are their three children, Judy (Joe) Grindley of Tuscola, Mark (Carla) Barcus of Champaign and Sheri Barcus of Monticello; five grandchildren, Marci, Cory, Haylie, Brett and Cale; and two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Jordynn.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.

Ward graduated from Urbana High School in 1956. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He owned and operated Barcus Industries, a Formica countertop business, for 37 years in Urbana. He retired in 2002.

Ward had a smile for everyone and didn’t know a stranger. All knew him to be kind, honest and genuine. He could often be found enjoying time with friends at The Elite Diner many years ago and in recent years at Arby’s in Urbana. He could fix anything and enjoyed photography, fishing, playing cards with friends and playing guitar. He enjoyed his Arnold Palmer drinks and loved ice cream.

He will be missed by his family and all who knew him, but especially by his dog, Toby, who went everywhere with him.

Services will not be held at this time. Condolences can be sent to Joy and the family at 3102 Wynstone Drive, Champaign, IL 61822. Online condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com 

NG 8/2/2020

Robert E. Ackerman

GIFFORD — Robert E. Ackerman, 92, of Gifford went to be with his Lord on Friday morning (July 31, 2020) at Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Charleston.

He was born Oct. 8, 1927, on the family farm in Compromise Township, a son of Henry and Etta (Fruhling) Ackerman. He married Annetta Flesner on Aug. 21, 1954, in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville. She preceded him in death June 23, 2017.

He is survived by three children, Jeanette (Jeff) Harris of Morris, Robert K. Ackerman of Gifford and Judy (Jeff) Sebens of Seymour; five grandc hildren, Maegan (Jason Burney) Harris of Aurora, Amy Harris of Joliet, Brittney Ackerman of Tolono, Briley (Jacob Terven) Ackerman of Tolono and Justin (Katie) Sebens of Rogers, Minn.; and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Diane Bobbitt of Chenoa.

Robert served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked as a central

office supervisor at Alltel Phone Co., Rantoul, for over 30 years. He earned his high school diploma and walked the stage with the 1991 Urbana graduating class!

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir and was Sunday school superintendent. He was a gifted musician and will be remembered for his guitar, harmonica and solos; he played and sang for nearly 1,000 weddings and funerals. He was an avid Cubs fan.

In accordance with health regulations, there will be a drive-thru visitation from 5 to 7 Wednesday evening at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul. Cars may enter from the west entrance. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Huls Cemetery, Gifford, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife.

NG 8/2/2020