Michael A. Rosnett

 Michael A. Rosnett, 77, passed away peacefully at 3:45 a.m. at the Tidewell Hospice House in Bradenton, Fla. on Good Friday (April 18, 2025).

     Mike was born August 26, 1947 to Buren and Alta (Smoot) Rosnett of Fairmount. He graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 1965.

    On November 15, 1969, Mike married his childhood sweetheart, Gay (Williams) Rosnett, who survives. They lived in Arizona for a few years and then returned to Illinois where they resided until moving to Florida in 2015.

     Mike worked as an IUOE Local 841 heavy equipment operator, retiring after 40 years of working for Urban Sand and Gravel. He was known as "Underdog" by his friends and co-workers.

     Mike was an Illini and Cubs fan. He loved to be out in nature, hunting mushrooms or fishing. He was the King of Puns and always joking. Spending time with his friends and family, and a cold Coors Light, were his greatest joys.

    Michael was a member of New Hope Church in Fairmount, which was founded by his great-grandfather. He volunteered for St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District for many years.

     Survivor includes: two children, Megan Miwa of Bradenton Fla, and Joe (Sara) Rosnett of Sidney; three dearly loved grandchildren, Akira Miwa, Maisie Miwa and Ellia Rosnett; siblings, Kay Lacey of Homer, Jim (Glynis) Rosnett and Susan Williams, both of St. Joseph, and Dan (Linda) Rosnett of Indianola; brother-in-law Murray Franzen of Sidney; and many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings, Gordon "Butch" Rosnett and Janet Franzen; in-laws, Gaylord and Ethel Williams; and brother-in-law, Dan Williams.

     A Celebration of Life will be held in Illinois at a later date.

     The family would like to thank the Tidewell Hospice House staff for their kindness and care of Mike during his last days

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mike’s honor to Tidewell Hospice Foundation, 3550 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239

Geraldine "Gerry" Ann (Shortsleeve) Truett Osterbur

 Geraldine “Gerry” Ann (Shortsleeve) Truett Osterbur, 97, of Royal, IL, died Thursday, April 24, 2015 at Country Health Care in Gifford IL.

Visitation will be at 10AM, April 29, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Royal, followed by the funeral service at 11AM. Burial will be at St. John Cemetery in Royal. Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph, IL is in charge of arrangements.

Gerry was born on March 14, 1928, the daughter of Roland H. and Gertrude E. (Kienietz) Shortsleeve of Royal. She was married twice; first to Vernon C. “Charlie” Truett on September 11, 1949, and then to Robert E. Osterbur on October 18, 1980.

In addition to her husbands, Gerry was preceded in death by her parents and her twin sister Polly
(Shortsleeve) Collins. She is survived by her son Scott (Leigh Lindahl) Truett of St. Peters, MO, her
grandson Chris (Abbie) Truett of Kansas City, MO, and 4 great granddaughters...Aliviah, Alexis, Chloe, and Madison.

Gerry was a lifetime resident of Royal, a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church, and a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Royal.

After graduating from Ogden High School, Gerry attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. 

Following her graduation in 1948, she worked as a nurse at Mercy and for several doctors in the
Champaign/Urbana area.

In the 1960s Gerry became a bookkeeper for her father at the Royal Insurance Agency, a position she held into the 1980s.

Gerry and her sister Polly were best known as “The Shortsleeve Twins" in the Royal area, and they used their nurse’s training to provide emergency first aid and medical care for dozens of people over the years. Gerry was an avid gardener and loved to cook and bake. But most of all, she was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother, and she was a friend to everyone she met.

Memorials can be made to St. John Lutheran Church in Royal, Country Health Care in Gifford, or to the Crisis Nursery in Urbana, IL.

Gerry’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Country Health Care for the care they have provided to Gerry over the last 9 years.

Freese FH 4/25/2025

Kathy Butzow

 

“Perhaps the greatest gift an animal has to offer is a permanent reminder of who we really are.” — Nick Trout

Who was Kathy Butzow? She was a fearless and fun-loving animal enthusiast whose life was marked by a fierce devotion to her family and her beloved animals. From a young age, Kathy's passion for animals was evident, and anyone fortunate enough to spend time with her would quickly feel the warmth of that love. Throughout her life, she lovingly cared for countless animals, including dogs, cats, longhorn cattle, pot-bellied pigs, deer, and her long-time love, Quarter Horses.

For over 50 years, Kathy was the proud owner and operator of West Wind Quarter Horse Farm in St. Joseph, Illinois. She remained actively involved in the farm's day-to-day operations. Kathy's journey in animal care began with training horses, and she even played a vital role in preparing racehorses as the first rider to get them out of the starting gate before they went to the racetracks.

Kathy's passion and love extended far beyond the barn. She was a truly one-of-a-kind person, often described as “one of the cool moms” who could find fun and mischief in any situation. Her playful spirit made her a wonderful friend to many—whether at horse shows, trail rides, or her “Curves Girls” get-togethers, Kathy embodied a love for life and for others.

Born on September 24, 1938, in Greenville, Tennessee, Kathy was the daughter of Phillips and Norma Garman. She graduated from University High School in Urbana, Illinois, in 1956. Her deep love for animals was part of the love story that brought her to her husband, Drew Butzow. They married on June 6, 1959, and their partnership flourished as they owned Pard’s Western Shop in Urbana and ran West Wind Quarter Horse Farm together. Drew lovingly describes Kathy as his partner in all aspects of life.

Surrounded by family, Kathy rode on to greener pastures on April 9, 2025, at Carle Hospital. She is survived by her husband, Drew; daughter Angie (Todd) Albers; son Mark Butzow (his girlfriend, Traci Cokley); sister Debby (Michael) Fox; niece Gaby Fox; brother Keats (Gail) Garman; niece Ketty Loeb; sister-in-law Linda Butzow; and nieces Martha and Faye McCamy.

In accordance with Kathy’s wishes, a celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Kathy’s name to Gateway Family Services of Illinois in Potomac, Illinois.

Charles Everett Thomas

Charles Everett Thomas, longtime resident of Homer, IL, passed away at home at the age of 72, on April 13, 2025, after a 10 year battle with
lung cancer.

Charlie was born May 18, 1952, the 7th of 8 children born to Wilbur and Lydia Thomas and grew up in Broadlands, IL.

He married Elaine Bell, but sadly they divorced. No children were born to their union. He met and married Susan Arndt, whose 2 young sons had begged for Charlie to become their new dad. No children were born to their union, but over the years, many neighborhood children came to the door to ask for Charlie to come out to play.

Charlie started his career at the age of 14 at Broadlands Star Market, becoming their meat cutter at age 16, then moving on to become Area Meat Manager for East Central Illinois & West Central Indiana Eisner & Grab-It-Here Stores by age 19. A few years later, he spent 9 months traveling around the United States on his motorcycle, and he had many stories to tell. He loved seeing various parts of the country so much that he decided to become an OTR truck driver, traveling all over the USA, Canada, & Mexico. But after about 10 years of trucking, he wanted to participate more in family life. That became the reason to stay local, so he started his own business, CT Home Improvement, which he operated until lung cancer forced retirement.

Charlie is survived by Susan Thomas & sons, Ken & Steve Arndt. Survivors also include his brother, James (Florida), and 2 sisters, Cora Whisenant (Alabama), and Patricia Ward (Allerton, IL) and many nieces & nephews. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur & Lydia, and his brothers, Archie & Wilbur, and his sisters, Barbara & Anna.

No visitation services are planned. A Celebration of Life Service is planned for May 18, 2025 at 2 PM at Homer Park, 400 E. Coffeen St, Homer. Jonathan Whisenant, Charlie’s nephew from Alabama, will be officiating. Cremation was provided by Evergreen Cremation Services.

Charlie accepted JESUS as his LORD & SAVIOR and really loved
this chorus:
“I’m a new creation,
I’m a brand new man.
Old things are passed away,
I am born again.
More than a conqueror,
That’s who I am.
I’m a new creation,
I’m a brand new man!”

I pray that Charlie may Rest in Peace until our LORD JESUS comes again to claim those who belong to HIM!

https://evergreencremationservices.net/obituaries?name=charles-everett-thomas

Robert Eldon Dunker

 Robert (Bob) Eldon Dunker, 74, of Savoy, Illinois, passed away on April 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL.

Bob was born on July 8, 1950, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Hannibal, Missouri, to Wilbur and Charlotte Dunker. He graduated from West Pike High School before continuing his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees.

Bob dedicated his career to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he worked in the Crop Sciences department until his retirement, serving as Superintendent of the Crop Sciences Research and Education Center. He found great fulfillment in his work and developed meaningful relationships with his colleagues throughout his tenure. He was also a Past President of the Research Center Administrators Society. Bob proudly served in the Army National Guard for 23 years from 1972 to 1995.

Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather known for his loyalty, supportive nature, integrity, and strong work ethic. He took immense pride in his family and was loved deeply by them in return. He was a master breakfast-maker, a teller of dad jokes, and a Euchre enthusiast. Always punctual, he was known for arriving early to events, sometimes even beating the team bus to his children's away sporting events.

Throughout his life, Bob quietly helped many people, never seeking recognition for his generosity. He consistently did what needed to be done to support not only his loved ones but anyone in need.

Bob was an active member of St. Joseph United Methodist Church and served in many roles. His faith was an important part of his daily life.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou Dunker (Yelton); his daughters, Kathy Garrison (Nathan), Carey Collier (Tim), and Courtney Dunker (Christian Volpe); his son, Clay Dunker (Kristin); and his 16 grandchildren: Haley Ahrens (Bretton), Hayden Garrison (Mazie), Emma Garrison, Grace Garrison, Aleigha Garrison, Elijah Garrison, Solomon Garrison, Samuel Garrison, Lydia Rossi, Max Rossi, Walker Bates, Ray Astle, Sloane Volpe, Jude Volpe, Poppy Dunker, and Rosie Dunker, and his 4 great-grandchildren: Jonah Ahrens, Charlotte Ahrens, Evelyn Ahrens, and Teddy Garrison. One sister Linda Dunker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Charlotte Dunker, his grandson Nathanael Garrison, and great-granddaughter, Cora Ahrens.

Services will be held at Freese Funeral Home  in St. Joseph, IL. Visitation will be on Friday, April 18 from 5pm-7pm and funeral service on Saturday, April 19 at 11am.

Memorials may be given to St. Joseph United Methodist Church, St. Joseph, IL, or a charity of the donor’s choosing.

Freese FH 4/13/2025

Marjorie L. Dodd

OGDEN — Marjorie L. Dodd, age 93, of Ogden, formerly of Homer, passed away at 9:05 a.m. Thursday April 10, 2025, at Blair House, Normal.

Private graveside services will be held at G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

She was born July 8, 1931, in Danville, the daughter of Harold and Katherine Kizer. She married Elmer R. Dodd on April 26, 1953. He preceded her in death on Nov. 29, 1996. Also preceding her in death, were her parents, son Greg Dodd, son-in-law Carl Hawkey, a brother and two sisters.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Hawkey of Tucson, Ariz., Nancy David of Ogden, and daughter-in-law Sheila Dodd of Normal. She also has five grandchildren, Jessica Hawkey, Josh Hawkey, Kaylah Reece, Leah Brooks, and Zach David. Four great- grandchildren, Scarlett Hawkey, Bryce Hawkey, Morgan Reece, and Natalie Reece. One surviving sister, Jean Ireland. Jeff David, former son-in-law, and Ryan Reece, former grandsonin- law, also remained very close to her.

Condolences may be left at Freesefh.com.

NG 4/13/2025

James G. Griffin

 HOMER — James G. Griffin, 77, of Homer passed away at 12:28 a.m. Saturday (April 5, 2025) at home.

There will be a visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Homer Funeral and Cremation Services, 708 S. Main St., Homer. Private burial of cremated remains at G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer, will be held at a later date.

James was born July 2, 1947, in Urbana, the son of James Hazo and Juanita Bear Griffin. He married Rita Shaffer on Nov. 22, 1968, in St. Joseph. She survives.

Survivors also include his son, James P. (Amanda) Griffin of Sidell; daughter, Becky (Kevin) Wallace of Urbana; brother, Merle Griffin of Ogden; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

James worked for the Urbana Public Works Department for 36 years. He enjoyed morel and deer hunting, fishing and watching golf and football.

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

Memorials can be made to the Homer Fire Department.

NG 4/10/2025

Lela J. Huls

 FLATVILLE — Lela J. Huls, 92, of Flatville died at 2:58 p.m. Friday (April 4, 2025) at Country Health Care & Rehab, Gifford.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville, with the Rev. Scott Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Huls Cemetery, Gifford. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 10, at the church. Baier Family Funeral Services, Flatville, is handling arrangements.

Lela was born Feb. 18, 1933, in rural Urbana, the daughter of Eilert and Johanna Ihnen Buhs. She married Melvin E. Huls on May 4, 1952, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville. He preceded her in death Dec. 24, 2015.

She is survived by one son, Marlon (Betsy) Huls of Bloomington; one daughter, Deanne Hinrichsen of Normal; six grandchildren, Kelly Borri, Andrea Loger, Jamie Daily, Laura Curtis, Carly Franks and Ross Hinrichsen; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Leslie Huls; her sister Norine Rademacher; an infant sister, Marlys Buhs; and her son-in-law, Daniel Hinrichsen.

Lela farmed with her husband in the Flatville area. She was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville.

She enjoyed baking and teaching her grandkids to bake bread. Her family loved her biscuits and sausage gravy, taco salad and homemade bread.

The family would like to thank Country Health for caring for her the past three years, Carle 4NT for care during her recent stay and Carle Hospice during the last 24 hours of her life.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville or Country Health Care & Rehab. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at baierfunerlservices. com.

NG 4/7/2025

Mike Behrens

Behrens, 61, of Ogden passed away at 9:23 A.M, Saturday April 5, 2025 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

 Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday April 9, 2025 at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. Pastor Gary Maxwell will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at the church.

 Mike was born November 22, 1963 in Urbana. The son of Gary L. and Connie (Sharp) Behrens. He married Kristie Baker on September 12, 1987 in Royal. She survives.

 He is also survived by his children; Katelyn (Calvin) Carter of Sidney, Jacob Behrens of New Mexico, Abby Behrens of Ogden. Granddaughter Lilith "Lily" Carter. Brother Doug (DeAnn) Behrens of St. Joseph. Aunt Sandra Criss of Mendota, IL. Brother in law Blaine (Darcy) Baker. Nephew Mason Behrens. Nieces Anna (Adam Cass) Behrens, Kylie (Dylan) Kaufmann, Karlie Baker, and two great-nieces.

 He was preceded in death by his parents.

 Mike was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Royal where he previously served as the youth group leader, on the church council and as council president. He also served at Ogden Township Supervisor.

 He was a graduate of the University of Illinois in 1993, Eastern Illinois University with a Master's in 2000. He taught school at Deland-Weldon and coached for one year. He then went to work at St. Joseph-Ogden High School and taught and coached football, girls basketball, boys basketball and boys baseball for 20 years. He taught math at parkland College at night for nine years. He then served as the Director of the Assessment Center at Parkland College for 10 years.

 Mike and his brother Doug competed in Dart tournaments, they also had a catering business together called Fat Stacks.

 Mike coached all of his kids in various sports t-ball, baseball and softball and basketball.

 He looked forward to Pheasant hunting with his son, brother, nephew and cousin's every year. He was a huge St. Louis Carninal fan, enjoyed making homemade pizza and trying new recipes.

About 10 years ago he became a health and fitness enthusiast. He loved to ride his bike and on his 61st birthday rode 61 miles. He competed in a Spartan race with his son.

 Mike was a hard worker and could fix anything. He loved family vacations and was very devoted to his family. Mike was loud, loved to laugh and loved being a gramps.

Freese FH 4/7/2025

Janet Lynne Franzen

 Janet Lynne Franzen, 81, of Sidney, passed away April 3, 2025.

Janet was born on June 24, 1943 to Buren and Alta Rosnett in Danville. She graduated from Ogden Community High School in 1961. Janet married Murray G. Franzen in 1963. Janet is survived by her loving husband Murray, three children, Chad, Brett, and Jill, as well as four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She started her career as a secretary and a beautician. During retirement she enjoyed volunteering at local hospitals and fostering rescue dogs.

Her pride and joy were her grandkids that she cherished and enjoyed taking to parks, zoos, sporting events, and family gatherings.

Janet was a kind, soft spoken person to everyone she met. She built long lasting friendships with neighbors in several states and abroad.

A memorial service will be held on April 8 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands. Family visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. with service to follow. Grave site service will take place at Stanton Friends Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands.

Freese FH 4/4/2025

Regina "Kay" Akers

 Regina “Kay” Akers, 77 of Sidney, born to Ollen and Hellen Carpenter Shelby of Sidney.  She is survived by a daughter; Jennifer Akers of Savoy, many stepchildren, brothers; Elba Shelby of Sidney, Dennis Shelby of Sidney, and sister; Lois Ann (Ron) Jaggers of Sidney, along with many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by husband; Nathan Akers, her parents, sisters, brothers and niece; Savannah.

Kay married Nathan Akers Nov 11, 1977.  She was an avid bingo player and a big sports fan.  Kay loved babysitting all her nieces and nephews.  She was also known to be very generous to her family.  Kay loved all her animals.

Kay passed peacefully on April 5, 2025 surrounded by her family.  Graveside services will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sidney.

Condolences may be made at freesefh.com 4/5/2025

Bryan K. McCoy

 ST. JOSEPH - Bryan K. McCoy, 62, recently of St. Joseph, formerly of Las Vegas, passed away at 4 p.m. Thursday (March 27, 2025) at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood.

Bryan was the son of the late Oathia McCoy and the late Barbara Fitch.

He is survivied by three daughters, Nicole (Brad) Wakefield and Randi Keeling, both of Mahomet, and Taylor McCoy of Urbana; three grandsons; three sisters; and one brother.

The family wishes to thank cousin Donald Allen Glenn Jr. and wife Sarah, who provided housing, care and support during his illness. Special thanks to the medical staff of the Loyola University Medical Center transplant, oncololgy and palliative care teams for his medical care and support of the family.

A celebration of life will be held at a time, date and locaton to be determined at a later time.

NG 4/4/2025

Crystal L. Dawson

 HOMER - Crystal L. Dawson, 57, of Homer passed away at 11:57 a.m. Saturday (March 29, 2025) surrounded by family in her home.

She was born on Jan. 10, 1968, in Indianapolis, the daughter of Eugene and Sharon (Dillman) Dawson. She married Mary Kay Anderson on Sept. 13, 2014.

Crystal is survived by her spouse, Mary Kay Anderson; sisters Juanita Stanley and Jo Ann Dawson, both of Urbana; uncle, Carson; aunt, Garrie; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a niece, Ashley; and her sister Bernice.

Crystal graduated from Homer High School in 1986.

She was a member of the Homer United Methodist Church.

She enjoyed playing softball and played on several leagues as an adult. She was an artist and showered family with many pictures, pieces and poetry. She also loved crafts. She collected dachshund figurines. Spending time with family and friends was very important to her.

Funeral services will be on Friday, April 4, at 1 p.m. at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 Philo Road, Urbana. Pastor Bobbi Dykema will be officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glen Cemetery, Paxton, with Pastor Heju Nam.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Ships, mercyships.org. Condolences may be made at renner-wikoff.com.

NG 4/4/2024

Alvin D. Schluter

 

URBANA - Alvin D. Schluter, 76, of Urbana died at 4:13 a.m. Wednesday (April 2, 2025) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at noon Monday, April 7, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Gifford, with Pastor Gary Maxwell officiating. Burial will follow in Kopmann Cemetery, with military honors accorded by Royal American Legion Post 996. Baier Family Funeral Services, Flatville, is assisting the family with arrangements. Visitation will be two hours before the funeral service Monday, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the church.

Alvin was born Jan. 19, 1949, in Urbana, the son of Mike and Elfrieda Hesterberg Schluter. He married Evelyn VanGeison on Aug. 12, 1989, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Gifford. She survives.

Along with his wife, Evelyn, he is survived by their children, Candace (Ricky) Robb, Beth Schluter and Justin (Ashleigh) Schluter, all of Oklahoma City, Gayla (Don) Matejowsky of Champaign, Dayna Taylor of Lexington, Ky., and Annette Flood of Urbana; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; his sister Evelyn (Larry) Miller of St. Joseph; and a twin brother, Marvin Schluter of Gifford.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jason Schluter; his brother Lawrence Schluter; and a sister, Marie Hoveln.

Alvin graduated from Rantoul Township High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968-1974. He was a heavy-equipment operator for the IUOE Local 841 and a truck driver.

He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Gifford and served on the church council and the youth organization. He was also a member of the Gifford Lions Club. Alvin enjoyed boating and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He loved to work, but his greatest joy was spending time with his grandkids and family.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Gifford or Kopmann Cemetery. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.

NG 4/4/2025

John Conerty

CHAMPAIGN - John Conerty, 90, of Champaign passed away peacefully at home on Monday (March 31, 2025).

He was born on Dec. 16, 1934, in Urbana, to Hugh James and Mary Helen (Henry) Conerty. John married his high school sweetheart, Joanne Hissong, in 1956 at St. Patrick's Church in Urbana. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter and cherished memories in their 68 years of marriage.

In addition to his wife, John is survived by three daughters, Corrine (Harold) Crawford of Thawville, Cheryl (Kim) LeNeve of East Peoria and Cathy (Don) Schaeffer of Taylorville; and one son, Chris Conerty of Urbana. He is also survived by his sister, Cleta Conerty of Champaign; and five grandchildren, Darcy (Kevin) Nekolny, Phillip (Skylee) Crawford, Jeff and Tim Schaeffer and Stasia Conerty. John's legacy also includes five great-grandchildren, Delaney and Alayna Nekolny of St. Joseph and Sydney, Leo and Ted Crawford of Roberts.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Hugh Conerty Jr.; and granddaughter, Lexi Barbour.

John graduated from St. Joseph Community High School, where he served as chapter president of the FFA and earned his Illinois Star Farmer Degree in 1951. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois in 1956. John served in the U.S. Navy Reserves and was honorably discharged 1961. He began his professional career in agriculture as an assistant farm adviser with the UI Agriculture Extension Office in Coles County. Later, he worked as an area adviser for Farm Bureau Farm Management in Douglas County. He was a life member of the Loyal Order of Moose.

In 1978, John transitioned to a successful banking career, serving as the president of Longview State Bank. He retired in 1999 as the vice president of three additional bank branches. During his working career, John remained deeply involved in agriculture, working on the family farm, which he continued well into retirement, along with establishing his own real-estate brokerage.

Always up for an adventure, John loved taking his family on trips to places such as Washington, D.C., Wyoming, Colorado and Canada. He was particularly proud of the brick home he and Joanne built along the Embarrass River in Tuscola, where they spent many joyful years surrounded by nature. Their home became a special place for their family to gather, explore and create lasting memories. Grandchildren reveled in searching for "Benny the Bear" in the hollow tree and enjoyed countless hours of fun playing "ping pong pool" in the basement.

John was a lifelong Illini fan and a proud member of the UI Alumni Association. He loved following the accomplishments of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially their sports and academic achievements. Known for his humor, John will be remembered for his sharp wit and classic "zingers," which brought laughter to everyone around him.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Champaign. The Rev. Father Nathan Hopper will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. in Feeney Hall at the church. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy, is in charge of arrangements.

A celebration of John's life will be held with an invitation for friends and family to wear orange and blue attire in honor of his love for the UI.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the St. Joseph-Ogden High School FFA, St. Matthew's Church in Champaign, St. Mary School in Taylorville or an organization of your choice.

John's presence will be missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Condolences may be offered at morganmeorialhome.com.

NG 4/2/2025