Michelle Osterbur

DANVILLE – Michele Marie Osterbur, 51, of Danville passed away at 8:14 p.m. Monday (April 6, 2015) at home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.

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

Michele was born on March 27, 1964, at Danville, the daughter of Elmer and Louise (Lois) Schlueter Osterbur.

She is survived by one brother, Jim (Hilda) Osterbur of Virginia; seven sisters, Terri (Bob) Herbst, Cheryl (Tyrone) Ferrell, Charlie Osterbur, Susan (Ethan) Moe of Arizona, Sharon (Nick) Manea, Debbie Kahn and Barb (Tom) Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

Michele was a graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

She loved the outdoors, bowling, cats and her family and friends. Michele had a strong love of God.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Joanne Hartman

ST. JOSEPH – Joanne G. Hartman, 85, of Normal died on Jan. 20, 2015, at her apartment at Evergreen Place, Normal.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, with the Rev. Mike McGaughan and the Rev. Deana Reed officiating.

Joanne was born March 13, 1929, in Glasgow, Ill., daughter of Glenn and Florence Yates Graybael, and grew up in Winchester.

She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois where she was also a Bronze Tablet Scholar.

On Sept. 2, 1951, she married Arlin P. "A.P." Hartman. He died in February 2014. Her parents, and a brother, Ed Graybael, also preceded her in death.

Surviving are a son, Chuck (Lexi) Hartman of St. Joseph; a daughter, Jan (Deana Reed) Hartman of Napa, Calif.; two grandchildren whom she adored, Jordan and Courtney Hartman of St. Joseph; and several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joanne worked throughout her life in a variety of administrative assistant roles at the University of Illinois Athletic Association, Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign and the ISU College of Business. The work she enjoyed most, however, was that of wife, mother and grandmother.

Joanne was an avid reader who devoured newspapers, magazines and stacks of books from the library on a weekly basis. Throughout her life, she was interested in the world around her and was conversant on a wide range of both historical and current events.

She enjoyed watching sports, especially college basketball and the Chicago Bulls, and anything that her grandchildren happened to be playing.

Joanne excelled at cooking and baking, and was especially known for her pies.

She was a lifelong correspondent, maintaining relationships with family and friends around the country through calls, cards and the disappearing art of letter writing.

We will miss her happy chatter, her enjoyment of a good laugh, the twinkle in her eye, and the sweet and steady presence that she was in our lives.

The family would especially like to thank Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Nancy Erwin and all those at the OSF Oncology Center who treated Mom's leukemia and gave us many more months to be with her; the incredibly kind and caring staff at Evergreen Place; and our special friends, Glen and Ginny Schmidt - it truly does take a village and Mom was so grateful for all of you, as are we.

Memorials may be made to Faith in Action, the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor's choice.

Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.

Frances Jervis

ST. JOSEPH – Frances D. Jervis, 82, of St. Joseph passed away at 6:34 a.m. Thursday (April 2, 2015) at home.

Private services will be held.

Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph is handling arrangements.

Frances was born June 13, 1932, in Broadlands, the daughter of George and Kathryn Krukewitt Dohme. She married Palmer Jervis on Oct. 21, 1961, in Champaign. He preceded her in death on July 28, 1998.

She is survived by two sons, Todd (Marni) Jervis of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Mike (Julie) Jervis of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Emily Jervis and Michelle and Miranda Jervis; and one great-granddaughter, Audrey.

Frances retired from Chanute Air Force Base Fire Department as its secretary. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Charles Alt

ST. JOSEPH – Charles Alt, 88, of St. Joseph passed away at 12:44 a.m. Thursday (April 2, 2015) at home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with Pastors Jeff Brown, Chuck Alt and Kyle Alt officiating. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Charles was born March 22, 1927, at Cropsey, the son of Wesley A. and Ethel M. Miller Alt. He married Geraldine Lockhart on June 17, 1951, at Hoopeston. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Debbie Alt of Champaign, Chuck Alt of Hoopeston, Greg (Sherry) Alt of Normal, Nancy (Mike) Devitt of Whitestown, Ind., Terry Alt of Champaign and Mary (Jeff) Brown of Devils Elbow, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ken (Sharon) Alt of Sublimity, Ore., and Alvin (Lorraine) Alt of Keizer, Ore.; and a sister, Sandy Heisinger of Salem, Ore.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Roger, Robert, Richard and Clifford.

Charles was a member of IUOE Local 841, working as a machine operator, mechanic and welder in Illinois and Indiana.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Besides his family, Charles enjoyed camping, fishing, tractor pulls and visiting with neighbors.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association.

Edith R. Schiff

ST. JOSEPH – Edith R. Schiff, 89, of St. Joseph passed away at 2:50 p.m. Monday (March 30, 2015) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at noon Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with the the Rev. Norm McCormick officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at the funeral home.

Edith was born Dec. 5, 1925, in Urbana, the daughter of Edward and Dottie Heater Munds. She married Robert W. Schiff on Sept. 20, 1947, in Urbana. He survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Don W.(Eva) Schiff of Pontiac, Darrell D. (Mary) Schiff of St. Joseph and Dale J. (Linda) Schiff of Collinsville; grandchildren, Andrea (Niel )Dose of Belvidere, Ingrid (Brandon) Schwoerer of Washington, Michael Schiff of Chicago, Troy (Ashley) Schiff of Urbana, Todd (Bailey) Schiff of Ogden, Kelli (Mat) Williams of Troy and Jennifer (Todd) Hecht of Troy; and great-grandchildren, Landon and Ingrid Dose, Nora and James Schwoerer, Owen Schiff, Dean Schiff, Beau Hauersperger, Noah Starr and Sam Starr.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marguerite Bruce.

Edith was a member of First Baptist Church of Urbana. She drove a school bus for St. Joseph Grade School for 21 years; she also worked at Avis for 10 years. Edith helped farm for many years and liked to take bus trips and play bingo, and she enjoyed driving.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.

Aaron Farmer

NEWMAN – Aaron M. Farmer, 27, of Newman, formerly of Broadlands, died at 2:52 p.m. Friday (March 27, 2015) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands, with Pastor John Sharp officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday in the church. Burial will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Joines Funeral Home, Illinois 130 South, Villa Grove, is handling the arrangements.

Mr. Farmer was born June 27, 1987, in Urbana, a son of Jody Schweineke Farmer; she survives in Broadlands.

Also surviving are one brother, Matt Schweineke of Tolono; his maternal grandmother, Jaunita Schweineke of Newman; two aunts, Roxie Sage and Nancy Aden; and several cousins.

Aaron earned his Eagle Scout badge in 2003. He was a member of the Boy Scout Troop No. 72 in Newman and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Broadlands. Aaron loved cars and motorcycles.

Memorials can be made to the Newman Rehab Center, Newman, or to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Broadlands.

Eleanor Knipfer

URBANA – Eleanor "Ellie" Knipfer, 77, passed away peacefully at 7:45 p.m. Friday (March 20, 2015) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with Pastor Paul Dinges officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.

She retired from the university of Illinois and enjoyed spending time with her family and taking care of her dogs that she fondly referred to as her "boys." She also enjoyed fishing and traveling with her husband.

Ellie was born June 20, 1937, in Saybrook, the daughter of Jay and Edna Bowen Koch. Ellie married Delmer Knipfer. He preceded her in death on Aug. 11, 2014.

She is survived by her children, Jeff (Tina) McCarty of Urbana, Rhonda Bates of Pesotum, Karen (Sam) Shreeves of Homer and Kelly (Luke) Castrogiovanni of Oak Lawn; stepchildren, Sandy Roberson of Colorado, Mike (Sue) Knipfer of Hartford, Wis., Bruce (Kathy) Knipfer of Wisconsin, Terrance Dallas of Colorado, LoriMae (Alan) Reynolds of Ohio, Larry Bradshaw of St. Joseph, Delmer "Buddy" (Shaun) Knipfer of Huntley, Chris (Karen) Knipfer of St. Joseph, Todd (Debbie) Knipfer of Tolono, Ivory "Willy" (Donna) Knipfer of Rochester, Minn.; 19 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She is also survived by her siblings, Sheree (Kenny) Kirby of St. Joseph, Delores (Kermit) Grogan of LeRoy and David (Becky) Koch of Mayview; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son Michael McCarty, stepdaughter Theresa Knipfer, step-grandson Donavan Knipfer and step-grandson, Tylor Knipfer.