Robert Mumm

 
Robert "Bob" Mumm, 57, of Champaign passed away Thursday July 2, 2026 at 8:24 A.M. at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

He was born February 22, 1969 in Urbana. The son of Steve Mumm and Margaret "Kay" (Williams) Charles.

Bob is survived by his mother Margaret "Kay" (Ron) Charles of St. Joseph. Sisters Angela K. Mumm of Cape Coral, FL, and Vicki Sparks of St. Joseph. Niece Kayla (Garrett) Flessner and nephew Brandon (Micaela) Sparks. Numerous good friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Steve Mumm. Maternal grandparents Murray and Ruth Williams and Paternal grandparents Russell and Lillie Mae Mumm. Dear friend Suzanna Kramer.

Bob worked at CDG in Champaign for many years where he met friends that he considered family. Most recently he was working at CVS Pharmacy in Champaign.

He loved to spend time with his friends. Several nights were spent at Texas Roadhouse, the Axe Bar, and Pia's in Champaign, IL and the Monkey Bar in Cape Coral, Fl

Services will be held at a later date.

Freese Funeral Home 302 E. Grand Ave. is in charge of arrangements

Richard M. Corn

 Richard M. Corn, 88, of St. Joseph, Illinois, passed away on July

13, 2026, at Accolade Health Care Senior Living Center in Paxton, Illinois. He
received compassionate and loving end-of-life care from the staff at Accolade
Health Care, in partnership with Transitions Hospice.
He was born May 24, 1938, in Coe, Ind., to R. Floyd and Stella Corn. He was the
youngest of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Stella Corn; all eight of his
siblings and their spouses; and one newborn great-grandson.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of 69½ years; his sons, Dale (wife, Michele)
and Jeff (wife, Terri); five grandchildren, Bryan Corn, Isaac Corn, Lydia Crouse,
Tasha Rickman, and Raychel Brandt; and eleven great-grandchildren.
Richard and Carolyn were married by her father, Elder Lloyd Clapp, in
Champaign, Ill., on January 27, 1957.
Richard enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from high school and served
most of his military service in Florida. He was very proud to be a veteran. He
returned to Illinois, where he attended Illinois Commercial College. He worked in
many different jobs, including 20 years at Super Valu and as part owner of the St.
Joseph IGA. He retired in 1998 after 13 years with Rehabilitation Education
Services of Danville. After retirement, the couple traveled extensively throughout
all 50 states and parts of Europe.
Richard was a lifelong member of the New Liberty Primitive Baptist Church in
Champaign, Ill, where he served as a deacon.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 22, 2026, with funeral
services immediately following, with Elder Chris Crouse officiating, at Freese
Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Ill. Graveside services will follow at Mt. Olive
Cemetery in Mayview, Ill.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the
American Diabetes Association.

https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/Richard-Corn

Kenneth F. Meier

 Kenneth F. Meier, 88, of Champaign passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at Memory Haven of Tolono.

Kenneth was born on January 9, 1938 in Champaign, IL the son of Jerry F. and Ida D. (Wolken) Meier. They lived in St. Joseph Illinois and Kenneth graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1956

He was baptized in January of 1938 at Flatville Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville. He was confirmed in April 1954.

Kenneth married Carol J. Janssen and they had two children. Steven Meier of Boulder Colorado who preceded him in death, and Brian Meier of Chicago Illinois.

Kenneth later married Karen G Helm and welcomed two stepchildren, Michael Helm of Dallas Texas and Stacey Helm (Stoner) of New Hampshire. Additionally, he is survived by one granddaughter; Raleigh Meier of Chicago Illinois and one grandson; Dane Meier of Hanford California. Kenneth had three brothers, Derald (Sandra), Dale who preceded him in death (Jean), and Virgil (Jane).

Kenneth attended the United Electronics Institute in Louisville Kentucky and subsequently worked at Magnavox in Urbana and Zenith Corporation in Paris Illinois. He spent many years working for Manny & Martin TV and Appliances in Champaign and ended his working career at Hobbico in Champaign. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Champaign.

Services for Kenneth will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at Morgan Memorial Home1304 Regency Dr. West, Savoy with Rev. Jeff Caithamer officiating. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. (The family suggests casual attire) Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Kenneth’s name to Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org).

https://www.morganmemorialhome.com/obituaries/Kenneth-F-Meier?obId=49204257

William A. Wilson

 William A. Wilson, 90, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, leaving behind a life deeply rooted in family, faith, friendship, and the farmland he tended for more than six decades.

Bill was a graduate of Oakwood High School and proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Reserve. He shared his life with his wife, Sandra (Ray) Wilson, and together they built a family and a lifetime of memories. He was the proud father of William J. (Julie) Wilson and Allison (Joe) Sinclair. 

For 65 years, Bill farmed in Champaign and Vermilion Counties, dedicating his life to the land and to a way of life he deeply valued. Farming was more than his occupation—it was part of who he was. He knew the anticipation of planting, the long days of summer, the urgency of harvest, and the satisfaction that came at the end of another season. Through good years and difficult ones, he remained a farmer at heart, always looking ahead to the next crop and the next season.

Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit extended well beyond his own farm. Throughout his life, he was a partner in a number of local agricultural businesses, including ventures in fertilizer, farm equipment, and grain elevators. These partnerships reflected not only his knowledge of agriculture and business, but also his commitment to the farming community and the relationships he built throughout his lifetime.

Bill was a member of Ogden United Methodist Church, where his faith and church family were an important part of his life.

While he worked hard, Bill also appreciated life’s simple pleasures. He especially enjoyed time spent with his coffee shop friends, where conversation and a good cup of coffee were an important part of the day. And those who knew Bill knew there was always room for something sweet—he never met a dessert he didn’t like.

Above all, Bill’s greatest legacy is his family and the values he leaves with them: hard work, perseverance, faith, loyalty, and an appreciation for the simple blessings of everyday life.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, William J. (Julie) Wilson and Allison (Joe) Sinclair; grandchildren, Mary Pat (Eric) Beatty, Wilson (Rachel) Sinclair, Hugh (Becca) Sinclair, Hannah Wilson, and Olivia (Ryan) Bott; and eight great-grandchildren. Mother in law Faustene Nicoson

He was preceded in death by his parents, G. Woodrow and Thelma Wilson; his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Stella Wilson; and his great-granddaughter, Grace Beatty.

Visitation will be held Sunday August 9, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Illinois. Funeral services will be held August 10, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. at Freese Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Visitation 9:30 A.m. to service time on Monday

Memorials may be made to Ogden United Methodist Church.

Bill’s life can be measured in many ways—in 90 years well lived, 65 years of farming, countless acres planted and harvested, businesses built, cups of coffee shared with friends, and more desserts than anyone could count. But most importantly, it can be measured in the family he loved, the friendships he made, the faith he carried, and the legacy he leaves behind.

The fields will continue to change with the seasons, but the life he built and the values he planted will remain for generations to come.

https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/William-Wilson

Lee Allen Chesnut

 
Lee Allen Chesnut, 72, of Sidney, Illinois, passed away on August 3, 2026 at home with family by his side.

Lee was born on October 13, 1953 at Burnham hospital in Champaign, Illinois to William Wayne Chesnut and Violet Marie Taylor Chesnut. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend whose quiet strength, generous spirit, playful banter, and lighthearted wit will be remembered by all who knew him.

On April 26, 1980, Lee married the love of his life, Lisa (Johnson) Chesnut. Together they shared 41 wonderful years of marriage until Lisa's passing on September 15, 2021.

Lee is survived by his three sons: Christopher (Emily) Chesnut, Jason (Tara Dewitt) Chesnut, and Andrew (Blair) Chesnut. He is also survived by two brothers: Dean (Sandra) Chesnut and Chuck (Denise) Chesnut. He will truly be missed by his dear grandchildren: Khloe, Taylor, Weston, Owen, Bristol, and Elsie. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will cherish his memory. Lee also leaves behind his cherished four-legged friend Maizie (Yorkie).

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lisa Chesnut, his parents, William Wayne Chesnut and Violet Marie Taylor Chesnut; and his siblings Gene Paul "Dick" Chesnut, Norma (Richard) Dunkman and John (Judy) Chesnut.

Lee graduated from Unity High School in Tolono in 1972. He then attended business school in Peoria, Illinois at Midstate College where he earned an Associates degree. He spent much of his career in the food and hospitality industry, including the day-to-day operations of the family business, Marbles Catering. He later joined the University of Illinois food service, where he worked until his retirement.

Lee found joy in life's simple pleasures. He loved fishing, tending his garden, visiting botanical gardens, searching for hidden treasures at auctions and appreciating art which were frequent finds at the auctions. Lee had a genuine appreciation for experiences that brought people together. He was never the life of the party, but he really enjoyed hosting parties and making sure everyone had a wonderful time. He will be known for making the most beautiful and delicious deviled eggs for our family get-togethers.

Above all, Lee treasured time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was always eager to go to their sporting activities, hear about the new hobbies and interests they were exploring, and never missed an opportunity to see pictures of their latest adventures. Their stories brought him immense joy, and nothing made him happier than watching them grow.

A celebration of life to be held at a later date.

In honor of Lee, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or at stjude.org

https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/Lee-Chesnut

Richard Kenneth Orr

 

Richard (Rick) Kenneth Orr passed away peacefully in Sonoma, California on July 24th, surrounded by friends and family.

He is preceded in death by his Mother Audrey Lanier Orr, Father Kenneth (Kenny) Orr and brother Ronald and his wife Maggie Orr.

He is survived by his brother Donald (Judi) Orr of Sonoma CA; Nephews: Sean (Barb) Orr of Mahomet IL, Bryan (Debbie Klein) Orr of Hanover Park IL; Niece: Jennifer Caramucci (Gary Wilbanks) of Novato, CA; and great nephews and nieces: Zachary and Matthew Orr, Kai Nelson-Orr, Julia and Sara Klein, McKenna and Garrett Caramucci.

Rick was born on December 17, 1942, at Lakeview Hospital in Danville, Illinois. At the age of five, his family moved to a farm south of St. Joseph, Illinois. Rick always said that living on the farm was the best time of his life. He went to two one-roomed country schools — Lipton (which still stands) and Clark. While on the farm, he raised Hampshire hogs for 4-H and looked forward to showing them at the Champaign County Fair. He graduated from St. Joseph Grade School and St. Joseph High School. While in high school, he participated in annual speech contests and plays, and in his senior year his class wrote the class play "Suspense on Sandy Key". He received a scholarship to attend Illinois State University to study special education, but after one year he decided that was not the field for him. Taking a year off to travel, he then enrolled at the University of Illinois as a theatre major — his true love. He was the first undergraduate student to be asked to direct a mainstage production in the Krannert Center. He received his BFA and Master's degree in Theatre and went on to study Leisure Studies and Speech Communication at the University of Illinois. Through graduate school, he was a teaching assistant and an instructor of Lifetime Fitness for the Physical Education Department. He was also a tutor for the Athletic Department. Paying for college himself, he worked many jobs. He made pizza at night at the Italian Patio. He worked in the produce departments at the St. Joseph and Gibson City IGA. He was a model for the U of I's and Purdue's Art Departments. He discovered his love of flowers while working at Fritz Flower Shop at Five Points in Urbana. While still in college, he also started working at Art Floral, where he continued to work for 22 years, increasing his floral design skills. He eventually left Art Floral and opened his own flower shop, Rick Orr Florist, in downtown Champaign where he worked for 27 years until he closed that shop and began his freelance design work from his studio at home.

As a floral designer, Rick became well-known throughout the State of Illinois. He was named Illinois State Floral Designer three times. He was the official florist for the Kemper PGA Golf Tournament in Lake Zurich, Illinois, in 1989. His dried floral arrangements were featured in the Ralph Lauren Store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. His designs appeared in the magazine "Flowers &", taking the First-Place Award twice. His dried wreaths were featured in "House Beautiful" magazine, and he began shipping wreaths nationally from his shop in Champaign. He served on design panels in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas, and was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 1987. He was a member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association as well as a member of the President's Council.

In 1971, Rick founded The Celebration Company at the Station Theatre in Urbana, taking an old, abandoned train station and converting it into a well-respected local theatre and serving as its Artistic Director for the next 50 years, directing more than 120 productions. The Celebration Company presented a wide variety of challenging, provocative and entertaining works and quickly became well known for producing some of the best theatre to be seen in central Illinois, receiving state-wide recognition and multiple awards. Rick's production of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" was so popular that it was repeated twice and invited to be presented at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. His production of "The Shadow Box" was entered in the American Community Theatre Association Festival where it won top honors at the state and regional levels and competed in the national competition in Kalamazoo, MI. Rick also served five terms on the Illinois Arts Council.

Rick also enjoyed gardening. His gardens on John Street and LaSell Drive were featured on local garden walks. His garden on John Street was featured in the book "Empowered Gardens" and in Midwest Living magazine. Rick often said that directing stage productions was like arranging flowers in a vase. Instead of working with Mother Nature, he worked with human beings to provide a well-balanced picture of height, color, texture, rhythm and motion. Rick was a master of both floral design and stage pictures.

Rick loved to travel. He spent many long Labor Day weekends in Puerto Rico and enjoyed Flamenco Beach on the nearby island of Culebra. A picture of a flower box he had planted on the side of his garage won him a national design contest with a first-place prize of an all expense-paid trip to Venice, Italy. He also traveled to the Netherlands to visit the flower markets there. He traveled to Denmark (his mother's heritage), Germany, Brussels, and Spain. In the winter, he would visit the Hawaiian Islands, staying with his good friend and guide Brian McCormack. Even though he could not swim and was somewhat afraid of the water, he managed to stand up on a surfboard and ride a wave at Waikiki at the age of 73 thanks to two private instructors of the Ohana Surf Project, Sean and Chelsea. He looked forward to his annual visits to the wine country of Sonoma, California to spend time with his brother Don and Don's wife Judi. His yearly travels to New York City brought many design elements from the NYC Gift Show back to his Champaign flower shop as well as many plays and musicals to be directed at the Station Theatre.

Throughout his many years of giving folks visual and theatrical pleasures, he was always grateful for the many friends he met along the way — especially his dear friends Jonathan Johnston, Trisha Locke, Carol Kamradt, Hector (his barber), Dr. Brasch, Dr. Paul, Dr. Ahn, Pete Samek, Gary Ambler, Barb Evans, Mike Trippiedi, Steven Keen, Kay Holley, and many other theatre friends.

“I did the best I could to give people joy” - Bette Midler

“So long - enjoy a good life” - Rick Orr

Visitation to be held from 4-7pm at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E.Grand, St. Joseph, IL on Tuesday August 4th, 2026.  There will also be viewing on Wednesday August 5th 10-11am with funeral  service beginning at 11am followed by graveside at Homer (G.A.R.) Cemetery, 600 E. Second St., Homer, Illinois.

Monetary tributes can be sent to: Allerton Park & Retreat Center C/O Rick Orr 515 Old Timber Road Monticello, IL 61856, or online:  https://allerton.illinois.edu/donate-to-allerton/

https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/RichardRick-Orr