Mark Aldrich Warwick

 HOMER — Mark Aldrich Warwick, 75, of Homer passed away at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Mark’s peaceful passing was attended by family members, including his grandchildren, children, spouse, niece, brother and friends of the family.

Mark was born in Keokuk, Iowa, on Nov. 1, 1950, to the late Charles and Betty Warwick of Urbana.

Mark is survived by three siblings, Joyce Warwick of Fairfield, Iowa, Dr. Susan Warwick Fisher of Delaware, Ohio, and Charlie Warwick of Champaign.

Mark lived most of his life in the Champaign-Urbana area. A 1968 graduate of Urbana High School, he attended Parkland Community College and subsequently began a long career of 40-plus years as a mental-health professional, first at the Adolph Meyer Zone Center in Decatur, followed by employment at Adler Zone Center in Champaign. His final place of employment was at the Developmental Services Center in Champaign, where he taught job skills to developmentally challenged adults.

Mark was a poised and compassionate mentor to his charges, sensitive to their learning styles and abilities. He had an infamous sense of humor and was not above wearing a clown nose to work and other social gatherings to help keep the atmosphere light and upbeat, if not a bit irreverent.

In junior high school, Mark played football as a fullback on offense and a lineman on defense. But his love of football ultimately gave way to his true lifelong passion for playing guitar. Mark helped form a local rock ‘n’ roll group called “The Varmits” in 1964 and ‘65. That group morphed into the “Finchley Boys” in the following year. Mark was the group’s first lead guitarist, and they developed a large following not only in Champaign-Urbana but ultimately throughout downstate Illinois and the Chicago area.

Mark married the late Victoria R. Fash of Carmel, Calif., in 1969. They have a daughter, Quaker Warwick of Homer. Quaker’s children are Abby Clark of Delaware, Ohio, who with her partner, Will Adamchak, have three daughters, Brianna (15), Madelyn (11) and Aria (10); a second daughter, Carol Clark, also lives in Delaware, Ohio. Quaker’s third daughter is Ruby Phelps of Thorntown, Ind. She and her husband, Michael Phelps, have a daughter, Addison (4).

Mark’s second wife is Jan Caffrey of Urbana. She and Mark have two children, Aryn Makenna of Urbana and Sean Warwick of Sunnyvale, Calif. Aryn and husband Mike Giberson have a son, Taegan Giberson (18) of Urbana. Aryn also has a daughter, Kelsey Hamilton (25) of Urbana. Sean Warwick is married to Hao Zhang.

Mark had a quiet, spiritual side. He learned transcendental meditation in 1971 and continued to practice it for the rest of his life. He inspired both his children and grandchildren to take up the practice.

The family plans on holding a private memorial service for Mark in the near future. If friends and colleagues wish to gather to celebrate Mark’s life, his daughter Quaker will host a gathering at Mark’s home in Homer. She can be contacted at quakerwarwick@gmail.com.

Mark’s family kindly requests, in lieu of flowers, that well-wishers send donations to the Urbana High School Music and Drama Department.

NG 12/5/2025

Roberta Robbins Bleichner

 Mrs. Roberta Robbins Bleichner passed away on Nov 27th 2025. "Berta", was born on July 26th 1942 in Sidney to Robert and Hazel Wilsey Heath Robbins who preceded her in death. She was a 1960 Graduate of Unity High School, and on Dec. 26th 1961 She married the late Paul Bleichner of Tolono. She was the mother of three, Marcella (Jim) Moon of Janera, Ohio, Chris Bleichner of Wapakoneta, Ohio, and William Bleichner of Tolono.                                                                            

  In 1966, the family moved to Lima Ohio and she remained in Ohio until 2012, returning to Illinois upon retirement at the age of 70. She was a lifelong seamstress, tailoring and altering clothing and uniforms. She also made many Wedding Gowns and Prom dresses. Roberta had many jobs over the years, sometimes two or three at a time. She was a church secretary at Calvary United Church of Christ in Lima for several years and also worked at The Piece Goods fabric store and Master Maintenance for many years. She then moved to Findlay and worked at Red Lobster for 12 years. Upon returning to Tolono, she spent her time volunteering at the Tolono food pantry, The Giving Place, the Downtown Garden Club, The Tolono Historical Society and cooked and served meals for funeral services in Tolono.  She was also a member of the Stitch & Sew quilting club in Tolono.

                   She was a woman of strong faith and was a member of the Tolono Methodist Church, where she had a strong bond with her Church family and friends.

                    Roberta is also survived by seven Grandchildren, Mathew (Mandy) Miller and Scot (Kylee) Miller of Spencerville Ohio, Michele (Conner) Fewell of Westerville Ohio Tiffany (Josh) Black of Urbana, Bradley (Allisha) Bergman, and Brent (Heather) Bergman of Botkins Ohio and Leslie (Matt) Sawmiller of Findlay Ohio, as well as 20 Great Grandchildren, whom she greatly cherished, and many nieces and nephews.

                     She was also preceded in death by four sisters, Maxine (Harold) Ruhe, Dorothy (John) Burr, Marjorie (Art) Peters, and Mildred (Bill) Davis, as well as two brothers, Lyle Robbins and Ben (Doris) Heath.

                     A Memorial service will be held at Freese funeral home in Tolono on Saturday Dec. 13th at 1pm, with a 2 hour visitation prior to the service.

Freese FH 12/4/2025

Dixie Frieden

 Dixie Frieden 91, of Champaign formerly of St. Joseph passed away at 6:35 P.M. Tuesday December 2, 2025 at her home.

 Dixie was born December 11, 1933 in Altamont. The daughter of Leo and Lillian (Smith) Logue. She married Henry Frieden on April 12, 1953 in St. Joseph. He preceded her on February 18, 2007.

 She is survived by her children; Pete Frieden of Champaign, Kathy (Dennis) Bott of Ogden, Lori (Gary) Duitsman of Ogden, Paul Frieden of Champaign. 9 grandchildren; Ashley Tennill, Kelsey Gilbert, Jesse Frieden, Lacy Frieden, Rebecca Bott, Michael Bott, Amie Byers, Rad Duitsman, Shelby Frizzo. 7 great-grandchildren.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, 1 brother, and 1 great-granddaughter.

 Dixie was a member of the Vermilion Heights Christian Church, Danville.

 She enjoyed puzzles, going out, cooking and her cats.

 Mermorials may be made to Vermilion Heights Christian Church 725 Oakwood Ave. Danville, IL 61832.

 Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday December 7, 2025 at Freese Funeral Home 302 E. Grand Ave. St. Joseph. Pastor Rod Godley will officiate. Burial will be in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Freese FH 12/4/2025