Mary Anne Kilian

HOMER – Mary Anne Kilian, 85, of Homer passed away on Feb. 27, 2016, at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Homer United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Teri Shane officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial be in St. John's Cemetery, Broadlands.

Kirby Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mary Anne was born on Sept. 1, 1930, in Homer, the daughter of Henry and Gladys Rhodes Lee. She married Harold Glen Kilian on March 4, 1955, in Homer. He survives.

Survivors also include three sons, Keith (Anne) Kilian of Homer, Craig (Lorita) Kilian of Truman, Minn., and Brian Kilian of San Mateo, Calif.; five grandchildren, Tricia (Ryan) Kurtenbach, Reid (Shannon) Kilian, Wade (Mary) Kilian, Zachary Kilian and Cydney Kilian; great-grandchildren, Gabriel Kurtenbach, Miranda Kurtenbach and Cameron Kilian; and one brother, Kent (Marilyn) Lee of Homer.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brett Kilian, and her parents.

Mary Anne was a member of Homer United Methodist Church. Her hobbies included music and travel. She spent winters in California for many years.

Memorials can be made to Homer Fire and Rescue or Homer United Methodist Church.

Betty Hurd

SIDNEY – Betty J. Hurd, 89, of Sidney passed away at 5:45 a.m. Friday (March 4, 2016) at Heartland Health Care, Champaign.

Memorial services will be at a later date. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is assisting the family.

Mrs. Hurd was born on May 17, 1926, at Sadorus, a daughter to Elmer A. and Mary R. (Cramer) Sanford. She married Harold J. Hurd Jr. on July 30, 1950, in Champaign; he survives.

Also surviving are three sons, James Daniel (Gale) Hurd of Dora, Mo., Harold Stephen (Deanna) Hurd of San Jose, Calif., and Jeffrey Paul (Jill) Hurd of Mansfield, Ill.; a sister, Helen Brown of Urbana; six grandchildren, Lyndsey Hurd of Dora, Mo., Kerry Hurd of Champaign, Sara (Chad) May of Urbana, Jake (Eleesha) Hurd of San Jose, Calif., Luke Hurd of San Jose, Calif., and Alexandria Hurd of Fort Myers, Fla.; and five great-grandchildren, Korey James Murphy, Emma, Jayden and Suzanna May and Charlie Hurd.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Elmer A. Sanford Jr.; and four sisters, Pauline Starr, Evelyn Louks, Muriel Maxwell and Anita Kay Norton.

She was a wonderful person who will be missed by all who knew her.

Thomas Martin Wilson

SIDNEY – Thomas Martin Wilson, 81, of Sidney passed away at 10:23 a.m. Wednesday (March 2, 2016) at home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Freese Funeral Home in Sidney. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Countryside United Methodist Church, 1807 CR 1000 N, Urbana.

Tom was born on April 1, 1934, on Easter Sunday, in Urbana, the son of Arthur and Rosella Brown Wilson. He married Joyce Hale on Aug. 27, 1960, at the Methodist Church in Sidney. They enjoyed 55 years of married life. She survives.

Also surviving are sons, Thomas Martin "Marty" Wilson Jr., (fiancee, Kathy Schindler), of Broadlands; Paul (Tracy) Wilson of St. Joseph; Ross (Jen) Wilson of Windsor; Douglas Wilson of New York, N.Y.; John Wilson of Taylorville; and Steven Wilson of New York.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Jamie Meharry, Joshua Wilson, Lyndsay Tharp, Rachel Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Melissa Wheeler, Meghan Wilson and Evan Wilson; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ronald Wilson; two sisters, Mary Davison and Helen Hales; a grandson, Tyler Thomas Wilson; and great-granddaughter, Ashlyn Wheeler.

Tom went to Pleasant Hill Grade School and graduated from Longview High School in 1952. He attended Parkland College and graduated with an associate degree in applied science, agriculture business management, in 2002.

He served in the Air Force during the Korean War as an airplane mechanic. Tom farmed for 40 years in rural Broadlands, also working at Brewer Chevrolet in Homer, and McKinley Foundation Hospital.

He owned and operated Wilson Farm Drainage and during his farming career was able to improve the drainage on the entire family farm. After retiring from farming and moving to Sidney he drove a school bus for the St. Joseph-Ogden School District.

Tom received his pilot's license in 1986 and belonged to the F & W Flyers. He loved vanilla ice cream, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Illini sports, Longview School reunions, John Deere tractors, his "Blue Diesel VW Bug" and greatly enjoyed his morning "safety meetings" and his "Tom and Jerry Trips." He enjoyed woodworking and made numerous picture frames using wood recycled from the barn once located on the family farm.

Most of all, he enjoyed being with his family, grandchildren and countless friends! He will truly be missed and never forgotten by our entire family! Forever in our hearts!

He was active in the Sidney American Legion Post 433 and he once served as Champaign County commander. He was a past member of the Sidney Lions Club, Methodist Men and the Champaign County Farm Bureau. He was an honorary Chapter Farmer of the ABL Vocational FFA Agriculture.

Donations may be made to the Sidney American Legion Post 433, Countryside United Methodist Church or the donor's choice.

Charles Eugene Hodge

DECATUR – Charles Eugene Hodge, 82, of Decatur, formerly of the Allerton area, passed away Monday (Feb. 22, 2016) at St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Joines Funeral Home, 401 W. Gillogly St., Newman, with Pastor Kathy Murphy officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery north of Newman. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday prior to the service.

Charles was born Oct. 4, 1933, in Newman, the son of Claude Elmer and Mary Ruth Brown Hodge. He married Wilma Jean Cross on Sept. 29, 1953. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Steve (Bobbi) Hodge of Broadlands and Chris (Kathy) Hodge of Champaign; two daughters, Tina (Gary) Henderson of Allerton and Mary "Cha" (Mike) Bishop of Decatur; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Robert Hodge of Mansfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

He was employed at USI in Tuscola for many years and worked on the railroad. He belonged to the Army Reserves and was a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion Post 71 in Urbana.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Ruby Alice Robbins

HOOPESTON – Ruby Alice Robbins, 100, passed away on Sunday (Feb. 7, 2016) at Heritage Health Care in Hoopeston.

She was born on Sept. 26, 1915, in Lincoln, the daughter of Abe and Ethel (Sturgeon) Fulscher. Ruby married Raymond Robbins on April 24, 1936, in Monticello.

Ruby is survived by her sons, Jerry (Marsha) Robbins and Ronald Robbins; grandchildren, Heather (Garrett) Douglas and Sanci (Stan) Chafin; and great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Blake, Brennen and Cameron.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, three sisters, one daughter-in-law and one granddaughter, Andrea Robbins.

Ruby enjoyed baking, playing cards and spending time with her grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at Grand Army of the Republic cemetery in Homer at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Please join Ruby's family in sharing memories, photos and videos through her Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Dr. Martin Koeck III

SIDNEY – Dr. Martin Koeck III, 91, of Sidney passed away at 1:18 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 11, 2016) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

Memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at St. John Lutheran Church, 509 S. Mattis Ave., Champaign, with Pastor Mark Elliott officiating. There will be no visitation.

Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is assisting with arrangements.

Dr. Koeck was born on Oct. 28, 1924, at Fond Du Lac, Wis., a son to Martin and Frances Sendele Koeck Jr. He married Doris Labancz on June 22, 1946, at Chicago; she survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Janie (Earl) Breeden of Hanover, Pa., Chris (Duane) Reifsteck and Jackie Compton, all of Sidney; four grandchildren, Gregory Wood, Kurt (Katie) Reifsteck, Erik (Stephanie) Compton and Bryce (Caley) Compton; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Amber Stratz of Oshkosh, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.

Dr. Koeck graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois, Chicago Medical School in 1945 accelerated program.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a doctor in Long Beach, Calif., where he also did his residency. He practiced medicine in Sidney for 44 years, retiring on his 70th birthday. He was a 20-year participant in the Framingham Heart Study.

He was a Charter Fellow of American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), as well as a charter member/director of Sidney Community Bank. He served on the board for Unity Education Foundation. He was inducted into the 2007 Unity Athletic Hall of Fame for his work with Unity High School Sports programs as team physician.

He was also a member of the Sidney Lions Club and supporter of Toast of Champaign. He was an avid Illini sports and Chicago Cubs fan. He was a flyweight boxer in high school.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Sidney Lions Club.

Sandra Lou Lankford

BROADLANDS – Sandra Lou Lankford, 74, of Broadlands passed away at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 2, 2016) at her home.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at United Community Church in Broadlands, with the Rev. Kathy Murphy officiating. There will be no visitation. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sandra was born on June 5, 1941, in Gary, Ind., the daughter of Lloyd and Grace Fieldbinder Cable. She married Robert E. Lankford on Aug. 13, 1964, in Tuscola. He preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1984.

Survivors include one son, Robert Lankford of Broadlands; one daughter, Mindy (Rich) Thomas of Longview; and three grandsons, Caleb Thomas, Clay Thomas and Cole Thomas.

She was also preceded in death by her parents.

Sandra graduated from ABL High School in 1959 and Burnham School of Nursing in 1962. She was a school nurse at ABL in the 1970s. She was also a nurse at Burnham Hospital, which merged with Mercy Hospital. She then was a nurse at United Samaritans in Danville. She was last employed at Boxwood Nursing Home in Newman until her retirement in 2007.

She was a member of United Community Church in Broadlands and Burnham School of Nursing Alumni.

Sandra served her country during Vietnam as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves.

Memorials can be made to the Champaign County Humane Society.