Audrey Lanier Orr

 Audrey Lanier Orr

The daughter of Glada and Albert Johnson, Audrey Lanier Orr was born on April 20th, 1921, on a farm south of Rankin, Illinois. Audrey spent her early childhood in the Potomac and Rankin areas. When she was 8 years old, she moved to Fithian, Illinois where she finished her grade school years. She graduated from Oakwood Township High School in 1939.

She married Kenneth Orr, (from Homer Illinois) on June 7th 1941, at the Fithian Methodist Church. Together they had 3 sons: Richard, Ronald, and Donald. During the first years of their marriage, they lived on a farm south of St. Joseph IL. They moved to St. Joseph in 1964, and both found work at the University of Illinois. Audrey proceeded to work there until she retired at the age of 80. Audrey spent 25 years working in accounting and then worked part-time for 16 years in the NCSA.

She was a member of the St. Joseph Methodist Church and Seniors group, the Danville Iris Chapter of the Easter Star, and was once also part of the St. Joseph Garden Club. She made many good friends while being involved in the community and her work. She would like to give thanks to all of those she holds dear. She would also like to thank the girls who kept her flower garden beautiful, the two that took her to lunch and shopping, her Houston friend, and all her caregivers and visitors. A special thank you goes to her great friend/handyman and who she referred to as her 4th son, Bob Silva.

She is survived by her two sons: Richard Orr of Champaign IL, and Donald (Judi) Orr of Sonoma CA; her 3 grandchildren: Sean (Barb) Orr of Mahomet IL, Bryan (Debbie) Orr of Hanover Park IL, and Jennifer Caramucci (Gary Wilbanks) of Novato, CA; and her 7 great-grandchildren: Zachary and Matthew Orr, Kai Nelson-Orr, Julia and Sara Klein, McKenna and Garrett Caramucci. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth and her son Ronald and his wife Margaret.

Memorial donations on her behalf can be made to:

The St. Joseph IL Library 201 N 3rd Street, St. Joseph IL 61873

St. Joseph Fire and Rescue 228 E. Warren St, St. Joseph IL 61873

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Freese Funeral Home, St. Joseph.  Burial will be at GAR Cemetery, Homer.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7PM, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the funeral home. 

Freese FH 8/25/2025

Harold Paul Wilken

 
Harold Paul Wilken 84, of Gifford passed away at 9:28 A.M. Saturday February 15, 2025 at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana. Passed from this earth to join his family that proceeded him.

He was born in Stanton Township on October 12, 1940. To Meine Jacob Wilken and Grace Ella (Ackerman) Wilken. He attended grade school at Armstrong and Ellis, then graduated from high school at Rankin Township High School in 1959. In November of 1960, he married Linda Shroeder. Together they had two wonderful little girls, Sandra Lynn, and Patricia Ann. As a family they enjoyed many camping trips and attending the girls activities. That marriage was dissolved in 1979. In 1980, Harold met the love of his life and on July 18, 1981 he married Nancy Simmons. She was a wonderful step mother to the girls and a guardian angel to Harold as he went through several heart surgeries, and then in January of 2006 was blessed with a new heart. Harold was employed for many years at Campbell Dental Laboratory, where he got his start as a dental technician. In 1985, he joined Jerry Ragle at Ragle Dental Laboratory and retired from there in 1999, but did return for part time help when needed. He was always treated so well by his employers, who also helped him so much through his illnesses. 

 Harold is survived by his wife Nancy, daughters Sandra Mohr of Urbana, and Patricia (Keith) Ball of Lebanon, IN. Four grandchildren; Chris (Carly) Tatman, Matt (Autumn) Tatman, Hayley (Rachel) Tatman, Hannah (Steffen) Ferguson. Five great-grandchildren; Madilynn Tatman, Colton Tatman, Jaxton Tatman, Emory Tatman and Jameson Tatman. Sister Emma Johnson of Gifford.

 Harold was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 10, 1955 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Gifford by Pastor William Ferne. He later became a member of Immanual Lutheran Church, Flatville.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two nephews.

 Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday February 21, 2025 at Immanual Lutheran Church, Flatville. Pastor Scott Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Kopmann Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Immanual Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be made to the Gift of Life Transplant House 705 2nd St. Rochester, MN 55902

https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/Harold-Wilken

Larry Dean Ideus

RANKIN - Larry Dean Ideus, 83, formerly of Rankin, passed away at 8:44 p.m. Monday (Sept. 11, 2023) at his niece's home.

Funeral services will be at noon Saturday, Sept. 16, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton, with Pastor Scott Guhl officiating. Burial will follow in Huls Cemetery, Gifford, with military honors accorded by Cissna Park American Legion Post 527. Visitation will be two hours before the service from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home.

Larry was born Aug. 4, 1940, in Champaign, the son of George U. and Anna Albers Ideus.

He is survived by one sister, Janis Loschen of Royal; two brothers, Donald "Gene" Ideus of Richland, Mich., and Allen (Deb) Ideus of Thomasboro; nine nieces and nephews, Connie Schwartz, Suzy Yana, Jim Osterbur, Cindy Gerard, Peggy Talbot, Amanda Ramm, Kari Ideus, Jessika Day and Michael Ideus; 12 great-nieces and -nephews; numerous great-great and great-great-great-nieces and -nephew; and many Ideus and Albers cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Lucille and Frank Osterbur, brother-in-law Elvin Loschen, niece Sheryl Boyer and great-nephew Jason Yana.

Larry graduated from Rankin Township High School in 1958. He served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1965 as military police, spending 13 months in Korea. Larry was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Rankin, where he served on the church council. He was also a member of the Cissna Park AMVETS, the Vermilion County Farm Bureau and was a commissioner for the Johnson Drainage District.

Larry farmed the family farm alongside his own. He enjoyed attending farm shows and had a passion for agriculture and family. Larry was a great neighbor who had love and appreciation for the rural Rankin area and was often a sounding board to those around him for advice.

Memorials may be made to the Rankin Lions Club or the Rankin Fire Department. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.

Published by The News-Gazette on Sep. 13, 2023.