Geraldine E. Alt

Geraldine E. Alt of Westfield, Ind., formerly of St. Joseph, passed away at 11:35 p.m. EST Friday (Nov. 10, 2017) at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.

Geraldine was born May 16, 1931, in Hoopeston. She is survived by her children, Deborah Alt of Champaign, Charles Alt of Hoopeston, Gregory (Sherry) Alt of Hoschton, Ga., Nancy (Mike) Devitt of Whitestown, Ind., Terry Alt of Champaign and Mary (Jeff) Brown of Devils Elbow, Mo. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren.

Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Charles W. Alt; her parents, Joseph and Vera Lockhart of Hoopeston; and her 11 brothers and sisters.

Geraldine worked 23 years at Busey Bank (State Bank of St. Joseph). After she retired, she enjoyed many years camping and fishing with her husband Charles. She enjoyed cooking, working in her flower and vegetable gardens, and canning. Her greatest joy above all was spending time with her family.

Services will be held at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15. Funeral services honoring her life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with graveside services following.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Erna Mennega

THOMASBORO — Erna Mennenga, 92, of Thomasboro passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, at Helia Healthcare, Champaign.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville, with funeral services to follow at 11 a.m., officiated by the Rev. James Lehman. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign.

Erna was born Feb. 9, 1925, in Compromise Township, a daughter of John and Grace (Hinrichs) Franzen. She married Arnold Mennenga on Feb. 19, 1943. He preceded her in death on July 30, 1995.

She is survived by six children, Larry (Charlotte) Mennenga of Champaign, Ronda (Larry) Scott of Thomasboro, Sharon (Gayle)Duitsman of St. Joseph, Denice (Ron) Rock of Apache Junction, Ariz., Renee

Mennenga of Thomasboro and Kim (Mark) Plaza of Arlington Heights; 14 grandchildren; 15 greatgrandchildren; and four sisters, Annetta Frerichs, Bernice Loschen, Evelyn Paul and Lucille Ryan.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Michele (Rock) Noah, and her brother, Norman Franzen.

Erna was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was a homemaker, volunteer, member of several organizations, and worked side by side with her husband on their dairy operation.

Memorials can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville or the Melanoma Cancer Research in memory of Michele Rock.

Arrangements are being handled by Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul.

Betty Jo Eagan

CHAMPAIGN – Betty Jo Eagan, 92, of Champaign passed away at 7 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 4, 2017) at Illini Heritage Nursing Home, Champaign.

Private family services will be held.

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

Betty Jo was born Dec. 15, 1924, at Benton, the daughter of Everett and Nancy (Cleveland) Sands. She married Noah Eagan on June 10, 1942, at Old Monroe, Mo. He preceded her in death in 1995.

She is survived by her children, Kandra Miller of Urbana and Randall Eagan of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; four grandchildren, Shelley (Claude) Stanton, Jeremy (Emily) Miller, Amanda Miller and Wesley (Amanda Beth) Miller; and six great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Aidan Miller, Corinne Ferrill and Finn, Mia and Ellie Miller.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, David Eagan; and son-in-law, Walt Miller.

Betty Jo was a homemaker. She was a member of the Mansfield American Legion Auxiliary.

Memorials may be made to Roanoke Rugby Susan B. Komen Fund, 4809 Pleasant Hill Drive, Roanoke, VA 24018, or the Northside Sandlot Baseball, P.O. Box 785, St. Joseph, IL 61873.

Craig Dutton

TUSCOLA – Craig Michael Dutton, 53, of Tuscola died Sunday (Nov. 5, 2017) at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center, Joliet, due to cancer.

Craig was born on Nov. 21, 1963, in Urbana, to Ted and Lois (Lube) Dutton. He married Pam Leonard on April 1, 2011. She survives.

Also surviving are his mother of Urbana; stepsons, Sam (Kelsey) Leonard and Jack Leonard, both of Tuscola; stepdaughter, Marnie Leonard of Carbondale; granddaughter, Eva Leonard of Tuscola; stepmother, Marilyn of Morristown, Ariz.; brothers, Chris of Eugene, Ore., and Nick of Dallas, Texas; nephews, Derrick (Lisa) Dutton and Joey Dutton; as well as three grandnieces and two grandnephews. He is also survived and terribly missed by his loyal cats: Ginger, Mister, Milo and Rose.

He was preceded in death by his father and paternal and maternal grandparents.

Craig worked as security and grounds manager at Flex-N-Gate in Urbana for 17 years. He was a lifelong Cubs fan. Craig was a man of faith and belonged to the United Church of Christ in Tuscola.

Craig's wish was to be cremated and to have no funeral. We will host a celebration of life service for Craig at It'll Do, 600 S. Washington St., Tuscola, on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Please wear your Cubs gear and bring a funny Craig story to share. We know you have them.

Memorials are suggested to the United Church of Christ or donor's choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, Tuscola. Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com.

Thomas R. Fenters

OGDEN – Thomas R. Fenters, 78, of Ogden passed away at 8:40 a.m. Friday (Nov. 3, 2017) at Country Health Care and Rehab in Gifford.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, at Kirby Funeral Home, 708 S. Main St., Homer. Pastor Raymie Gordon will officiate. Burial will take place in GAR Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Thomas was born May 8, 1939, in Champaign, the son of Ralph F. and Lois Regina Womacks Fenters. He married Nancy Kay Cruse on Aug. 11, 1961, in Urbana. She survives.

Survivors also include his son, Thomas (Molly) Fenters of St. Joseph; daughter, Cyndi (Skip) James of Homer; grandchildren, Wade Frerichs, Lauren (John) Kasprzak, Chelsea (Tim) Stanley and Zach James; and great-grandchildren, Ryan and Reagan.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Nancy Osterbur.

Thomas was a member of Ogden Christian Church and St. Joseph Sportsman Club, and served as clerk of Ogden Township for 50 years. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1957.

Thomas was a lifelong Cubs and Bears fan. His hobbies included bowling, camping, motorcycle riding and mowing. He enjoyed going to Danville Dans baseball games.

Memorials can be made to Ogden Rescue Squad.

Gene Frerichs

ROYAL – Gene Frerichs, 78, of Royal passed away at 4:20 p.m. Friday (Nov. 3, 2017) at his home.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. Pastor Jay Johnson will officate. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Royal. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m.

Gene was born Jan. 19, 1939, at Champaign, the son of Gerhard and Anna C. (Busboom) Frerichs. He married Carolyn Pflugmacher on Oct. 15, 1961, in Gifford. She survives.

He is also survived by his children, Steven (Mary Lou) Frerichs of Fithian and Stacy (Fred Cast) Anderson of Collison; six grandchildren, Wade and Matthew Frerichs, Alex and Zach Anderson, and Paige and Paiton Frerichs; sisters, Sandra (Darold) Meier of Urbana and Lana (Dave) Sund of San Antonio, Texas; and brother, Randy (Glenda) Frerichs of Champaign.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Kevin Frerichs.

Gene was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. He farmed all his life. Gene was a licensed real estate agent and broker for 45 years.

He enjoyed studying new forms of energy, organic farming and soil conservation. He loved to read and pursue his hobbies.

Gene shared a love of quarter horse racing with his son Kevin.

He enjoyed the cowboy lifestyle and spending winters in Arizona.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, Royal.

Daniel Reed

URBANA – Daniel Reed, 60, of Urbana passed away at 3:40 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 2, 2017) at his home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, with Pastor Randy Boltinghouse officating. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Dan was born Aug. 2, 1957, at Danville, the son of Frank and Marjorie (Landsdown) Reed.

He is survived by his father, Frank (Sharon) Reed of Normal; two brothers, Mike (Valerie) Reed of Fort Myers, Fla., and Jeff Reed of Sunrise Beach, Mo.; one sister, Jean Ann Pumphrey of St. Joseph; half sister Nicole (Pete) Wiedman of Normal; several nieces and nephews; and special friend, Kathy Tomlinson.

He was preceded in death by his mother.

Dan retired from Ameren Illinois. He supported the Urbana VFW Post 630. Dan enjoyed spending time in Osage Beach, Mo., where he enjoyed boating on the lake.

Dan owned several miniature schnauzers in his life and enjoyed their company. He belonged to the St. Joseph Church of Christ. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Memorials may be made to the VFW Post 630 or the Humane Society.