Gladys Hord

Gladys Hord

ST. JOSEPH – Gladys Hord, age 99, of St. Joseph passed away at 4 a.m. Friday (March 14, 2014) at Heartland Health Care, Paxton.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2014, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Gladys was born Nov. 11, 1914, at Sidney, the daughter of Frank and Ressie McElwee Kirby. She married Lester Hord on June 15, 1931, at Champaign. He preceded her in 1999.
She is survived by one sister, Lela Carder of Paxton; one sister-in-law, Goldie Kirby of Paxton; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, one daughter and two brothers.
Gladys was a member of University Place Christian Church, Urbana. She attended Sidney schools.
She retired from the Cunningham Children's Home. She enjoyed gardening and flowers.

Agnes Pinaire

Agnes Pinaire

URBANA – Agnes Annette (Asher) Pinaire, 84, of rural Urbana, formerly of St. Joseph, died on Sunday (March 9, 2014) at her home.
She was born Sept. 16, 1929, in Champaign County, to Ruby Agnes (Sitts) Asher and Andrew Jackson Asher. She married Claude Ellis Pinaire Jr. on Sept. 19, 1947. They were married for 66 years.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph (telephone: 217-469-2331).
Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 17, at the Freese Funeral Home. The Rev. Dr. Randy J. Gauger, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church at Savoy, will officiate. Burial will follow in Mount Olive Cemetery in Mayview.
Annette, as she was known by her family and friends, is survived by her husband, Claude of the home; and their four children, Richard (Margie) Pinaire of Junction City, Kan., Daniel (Lydia) Pinaire of Madison, Tenn., David (Annette) Pinaire of Germantown Hills, Ill., and Deborah Linn of Hendersonville, Tenn.
She was blessed with 14 grandchildren, Benjamin (Courtney) Pinaire, Joseph Pinaire, Emily Pinaire, Chris (Nicole) Pinaire, Nicole (Eric) Yorgason, Kaylyn (Billy) Short, Daniel Pinaire, Stephen Pinaire and his fiancee, Micah Krantz, Nickolaus (Allison) Pinaire, Sean Pinaire and his fiancee, Erin Humphrey, Adam Pinaire, Lorelei (Nick) Steen, Zachary Linn and Alexis Linn.
She was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren, Hollis Yorgason, Jackson Steen, Bowden Pinaire, Brooklyn Steen, Sophie Pinaire, Finley Pinaire and Zoe Pinaire. Annette was anticipating the arrival of two new great-granddaughters from Kaylyn Short and Micah Krantz.
In addition, she is survived by four siblings, Etha Broom of St. Joseph, Vareta Hartley of LaGrange, Ore., James (Ruby) Asher of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Roberta (John) Harriss, who thought of Annette more as a mother, of Harlem, Ga.; brother-in-law, Larry (Sandy) Pinaire, and sister-in-law, Sandy (David) Barcus, both of Urbana, and brother-in-law, Homer Gorbett; along with many nieces and nephews and their children.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Eula (Asher) Tucker, Julia (Asher) Gorbett, Frances (Asher) Graves and Andrew Asher, and brother-in-law, Robert Pinaire.
With the encouragement of a home economics teacher at St. Joseph High School, Annette was introduced to the food service industry, which became her lifelong career. She worked at several public institutions and private entities beginning at the University of Illinois Student Union.
Her career culminated with the establishment and operation of the Truckers Homestead Restaurant, located adjacent to Interstate 55 at the Auburn/Pawnee Exit 82. For 22 years, she and her husband owned and operated the restaurant, where they were well known for their broasted chicken, fine desserts and friendly service.
Annette will be remembered as a positive role model and a highly accomplished kitchen artisan. She played an active role in the lives of her family and others by her encouragement and support through phone calls, visits, cards and notes. Family, friends and customers enjoyed her delicious recipes. She will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives she touched.
Annette had a deep faith and was actively involved in the United Methodist Church for many years. Later in life, she attended the First Baptist Church at Savoy. Annette's philosophy was "the more you give, the more you receive." In this spirit, Annette wished to establish a scholarship fund for high school graduates pursuing a career in the food service industry.
Her husband and children want to especially thank Larry and Sandy Pinaire, David and Sandy Barcus, the Carle Palliative and Hospice team and the home health care team of Alpha Care for the comfort and care that they provided to Annette at her home during her last days.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church, 205 N. Third St., St. Joseph, IL 61873; the First Baptist Church at Savoy, 1602 S. Prospect Ave. at Burwash, Savoy, IL 61874; or the Annette Pinaire Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, P.O. Box 890, St. Joseph, IL 61873.
Online condolences may be made through www.freesefuneralhome.com.

Anna Funk

Anna Funk

DANVILLE – Anna E. Rademacher Funk, 79, of Danville passed away on Thursday (March 6, 2014).
She was born May 16, 1934, in Royal, the daughter of Harm and Martha Pollman Rademacher. She married Taylor Funk on April 15, 1956, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville.
She is survived by her husband, Taylor; her daughter, Rhonda Royce; her son, Randall (Jan) Funk; her brother, Edgar (Judy) Rademacher of Rapid City, S.D.; her sister, Esther Hartz of New Port Richey, Fla.; her grandchildren, Mark "Andy" (Erica) Swisher of Seattle, Wash., Timothy Royce of Seattle, Wash., and Stephenie Royce of Bismarck, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Heye Rademacher and her son-in-law Eric Royce.
Anna was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville. She held offices in both the Danville Jaycees and the AMBUCS. Anna was on the board of directors for the 1st Illinois Credit Union. She was pageant director at the Vermilion County Fair for 18 years. Anna was also a proud member of the Ostfriesland Historic Society.
Anna loved to travel with her family, especially her husband Taylor, and they traveled extensively throughout Europe. She had been to Germany nine times; and on her last trip, she had a family reunion in which she gathered with 31 of her first cousins.
Above all else, Anna loved her family, and she will be dearly missed by anyone who was fortunate enough to have known her.
A celebration of Anna's life will be held at noon Wednesday, March 12, at Immanuel Lutheran Church with an hour visitation just prior to the service.
A visitation will also be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, A Life Celebration Home in Danville.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made in Anna's name to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Please join the Funk Family in sharing memories, pictures and videos of Anna's life on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Kenneth Landreth

Kenneth Landreth

DECATUR – Kenneth E. Landreth, 87, of Decatur, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away at 9:30 a.m. Friday (Feb. 28, 2014) at Fair Havens Christian Home, Decatur.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 6, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph.
Mr. Landreth was born Feb. 25, 1927, at Urbana, the son of Clem and Lily Green Landreth.
He is survived by a brother, Robert Landreth of Aurora.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.
Mr. Landreth retired from Illinois Power at Decatur with 39 years of service. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a BSEE in 1950. Kenneth served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the Moose Lodge of Decatur.
Memorials may be made to Fair Havens Christian Home, 1790 S. Fairview Ave., Decatur, IL 62521, or Safe Haven Hospice, 628 1/2 Broadway, Lincoln, IL 62656.

Gordon Chambliss

Gordon Chambliss

WHEATON – Gordon Delmar Chambliss, 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014).
A Wheaton resident for 50 years, he was born Oct. 7, 1919, in the farming community of St. Joseph, to Walter and Minnie (Stonecipher) Chambliss. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and High School, graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Gordon received an ensign's commission in the Naval Reserve in June 1941. He was called to active duty following college graduation in June 1942. His first naval assignment was to Cal Tech in Pasadena, Calif.
After graduating in aeronautical engineering, he went for further training in the Assembly and Repair Shops at the Naval Air Station in San Diego.
From there, he was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and served as an aviation engineering officer in Carrier Aviation Service Units 1 & 88.
After his tour of duty in the Pacific Fleet, he was assigned as inspection and test officer at the Assembly and Repair Shops at Glenview. He was also assigned as a member of the General Court Martial Board.
Gordon claimed that Glenview was the "Country Club" of the Navy. One of his roommates was movie actor Robert Taylor. For a time, Gordon would have breakfast every morning with Marshall Field IV, who had a distinguished career as a gunnery officer in the Pacific.
Following Gordon's honorable discharge from the Navy as a lieutenant commander, he was employed as a research engineer with Shell Oil Company at the Research Laboratory located at the Wood River (Ill.) Refinery.
In 1947, he met his wife-to-be on a blind date to the Indianapolis 500 race. He married the former UI coed, Ruth Turner, of Lincoln on June 27, 1948.
They had two children, Wally and Sue. Gordon was very proud that his two children and four grandchildren all graduated from distinguished universities.
Shell transferred Gordon to Chicago's Product Application Department in 1963. His department was responsible for product specifications, product quality and field testing new products.
A three-year span of his Chicago duties was spent in the "Honesty in Advertising" capacity for the Shell Platformate TV commercials. He retired after 33 years as a staff engineer.
Gordon was active as a leader in Boy Scouts in Wood River. He served as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church, Alton. He was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church, Wheaton. He served on the Wheaton Environmental Commission and was president of the Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District for several years.
Gordon was an avid golfer and spent much of his retired years golfing with the weekly seniors group.
Gordon loved growing up in a farming community and was fascinated by the machinery that acted as his inspiration to pursue mechanical engineering. Farmers in those days were self-sufficient and fixed their own machinery. Gordon continued all his life to try to fix everything until computer electronics took over.
He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Society of Automotive Engineers and Military Officers Association of America.
Gordon was a kind, fascinating man of great knowledge, intellectual curiosity and integrity who loved his family and friends. They will all miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marie Chambliss Tapscott; brother-in-law, Charles Tapscott; sister-in-law, Jane Turner Scott; and brother-in-law, Richard Dashner.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth; his son, Walter (Lauretta) Chambliss of Lilburn, Ga.; his daughter, Susan (William) Kamm of Wheaton;, his grandchildren, John (Tiffany) Kamm of Austin, Texas, Jennifer Chambliss (Finn) Smith of Alpharetta, Ga., Adam (Desty) Kamm of Chicago and Julie Chambliss (Sean) Murray of Jacksonville, Fla.; his great-grandchildren, Austin, Kamryn and Finley Smith, Will and Katie Kamm, Griffin Murray, baby Murray due in May and baby Kamm due in June; his niece, Elizabeth Tapscott Cupps (William); brother-in-law, Charles Scott; and sister-in-law Alice Turner Dashner.
He was blessed with many wonderful nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, along with his loving caregivers Donna, Harriet and Helen.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until time of service at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at First Presbyterian Church, 715 N. Carlton, Wheaton. Interment will be private.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, donations to First Presbyterian Church (www.firstpreswheaton.org) or DuPage Children's Museum (www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org) would honor him.
Friends and family may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.

Fern Kingery

Fern Kingery

ASHLAND, Ala. – Mrs. Fern Mary Kingery, 75, of Ashland passed away Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014) at the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.
She was born in Minnesota but lived most of her life in Ogden, Ill., and had lived in Ashland, Ala., for the past three years.
She along with her husband of 58 years, Clinton, were owner-operators of the Beer Barrel Tavern and Restaurant in Ogden for several years and were also members of the Fairview Sportsman's Club.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Clinton Kingery of Ashland, Ala.; two sons, Steven Kingery (Melia) of St. Joseph and Michael Kingery (Denise) of Ashland, Ala.; three sisters, Maggie McCoy of Illinois, Donna Hietala and Carol Stockdale, both of Minnesota; one brother, Charles Bimberg, also of Minnesota; six grandchildren, Justin, Joshua, Danny and Cory Kingery, and Tyler Minter and Christin Hurt; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Merle R. Manselle and Lucille Mary Riest Manselle; plus seven brothers and sisters.
Per her request, there will be no services.
Memories and online condolences may be offered at www.benefieldfuneralhome.com.
Benefield Funeral Home in Ashland, Ala., is in charge of the arrangements.

Irma Paden Ennis

Irma Paden Ennis

URBANA – Irma Paden Ennis, 101, died at 10:49 a.m. Sunday (Feb. 23, 2014) at Canterbury Ridge in Urbana.
There will be a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign. The Rev. Steve Brady will officiate. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service (10:30 to 11:30). Burial will be at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Greenup.
Irma was born on Oct. 28, 1912, in Greenup, a daughter of Ransom and Flora (Devall) Packer. She married Frederick Paden on July 7, 1930, in Greenup. She later married Robert Ennis on Dec. 7, 1961, in Westville.
Survivors include one son, James Paden of St. Joseph; one daughter, Mary Wallace of Peoria; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by three sons, five brothers and two sisters.
Irma was a longtime member of Unity Baptist Church in Champaign. She worked at the University of Illinois as a cook, earning retirement in 1962. She later worked at both Bishop's Buffet and Wal-Mart.
Irma was very active her entire life and was quick with a smile and an "I'm OK" no matter what the circumstances. She loved to cook and was never one to shy away from a bit of work.
Irma's contagious laugh and generous hugs will be missed by her entire family.
Condolences may be offered at www.owensfuneralhomes.com.
Memorials may be made to Unity Baptist Church in Champaign.