Beatrice Holzem Woodard

LA GRANGE PARK — Beatrice Holzem Woodard passed away in the late afternoon on Tuesday (Jan. 8, 2019) at Adventist Hospital in LaGrange Park, following a stroke the previous weekend.

She was the wife of the late Ralph Eugene Woodard, and after having raised their family and been living in St. Joseph for almost 60 years, she became a resident of Plymouth Place retirement home in 2012.

Betty, as she was usually known, was born in Chicago on Nov. 27, 1926, to Otto and Marian Holzem.

Betty first attended DePaul University and then later transferred to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1949. Betty met Ralph there and they married on June 14, 1949. Ralph and Betty brought five sons and one daughter into the world, Scott, married to Nancy, of Chicago; Keith, married to Adrienne, of Charlottesville, Va.; Daryl, of Tulsa, Okla.; Mark, married to Debbie, of Hookstown, Pa.; Paul, married to Laura, of Fitchburg, Wis.; and daughter Nancy, married to her husband Phil Weber, of Hellertown, Pa. She is also survived by her brother, Jim Holzem of Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ted Holzem of Chicago.

Betty and Ralph have 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, Clark, son of Scott, and Tim Morrissey, son of Scott’s wife Nancy; Angela Narayani married to Neal with children Dilan and Dru, Andrea Schwartz married to Jeremiah with daughters Prema and Alina, Anthony married to Lindsey with son Turner and daughter Bella, and Anna-Marie, children of Keith; and Kevin, Andrew and Leslie Elmore, children of Keith’s wife Adrienne; Jennifer engaged to Mike Parks, Robbie married to Kelsy, Ryan married to Hailey with son Parker, and Ross, children of Daryl and Linda; Brian, Ben married to Jessie with sons Joshua and Judah, Leah, and Luke, children of Mark and Debbie; Alex and Michelle, children of Paul and Laura; and Cooper and Avia, children of Nancy and Phil.

Having grown up in the city with her brothers, Jim and Ted, Betty adapted to the "country life" in St. Joseph shortly after marrying Ralph. Ralph established his real estate and insurance business in St. Joseph, and together with Betty, they helped to "Grow St. Joe." When Ralph passed in 2012, the family dedicated land for a park in St. Joseph: the Woodard Family Park.

Betty took great pride as she raised the family in her calm, quiet, supportive way. Later, she enjoyed watching her children grow and have careers and families of their own. Betty attended Mass regularly at St. Patrick’s Church in Urbana. She enjoyed swimming regularly in Urbana and continued when she moved to La Grange Park. Betty was a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years, at the time Ralph was the Pack 40 Cub Master. After her children were all out of the house, Betty was a substitute teacher in St. Joseph. Betty was a member of the St. Joseph Garden Club and the Red Hatters Society.

Together, Ralph and Betty instilled values and expectations of good education and hard work in their children … beginning with delivering newspapers, babysitting and mowing yards to building houses and more. They also encouraged adventure and travel. When their children were young, Mom and Dad would pack them all up in the car and take off for a day of hiking in Indiana or camping in Michigan or out west for a week or two, stopping at all the state capitals along the way. In their retirement years, Ralph and Betty continued their travels visiting children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as taking trips around the country and around the world.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Freese Funeral Home in St. Joseph. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at St. Patrick’s Church in Urbana. Burial will be in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Mayview, followed by a luncheon at St. Patrick’s.

Betty’s love, care and thoughtfulness for all her family will be forever treasured. Betty is now resting with the Lord in Heaven, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

NG 1/10/2019

Jim Fitzgerald

SIDNEY — Jim Fitzgerald, 87, of Sidney passed away at 6:20 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 3, 2019) at Amber Glen, Urbana.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 701 E. Florida, Urbana, with Pastor DonEhlers officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olive, Mayview. There will be a lunch served following the burial at the cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is assisting with arrangements.

Jim was born Nov. 24, 1931, in Urbana, a son of Patrick “Dick” and Alfreda Deedrick Fitzgarald. He married Priscilla Shively on Oct.4, 1952, and she preceded him in death.

Surviving are three daughters, Susan (Tim) Frick of Longview, Jill Corradi of Urbana and Jamie (Scott) Perry of St. Joseph; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Fitzgerald of Urbana; nine grandchildren, Amy Tighe, Lori Broady, Kimberly

Luthy, Tyler and Steven Corradi, Shannon and Seth Fitzgerald and Priscilla and James Perry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy Mae Anderson; a son, Richard Fitzgerald; and a grandson, Patrick Fitzgerald.

Jim graduated from Urbana High School in 1949. He worked at Meadow Gold with his father. Jim was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Urbana, where he was on the church council. He served in the United States Navy. He was a member of American Legion Post 433, where he was past commander and received the Hall of Fame Award. He retired from at Chanute Air Force Base as an electrician. He enjoyed working of his house and spending time with his family.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Amber Glen Activities.

Nancy C. Spoor Gamblin

RANTOUL — Nancy C. (Spoor) Gamblin went to the Lord on Thursday (Jan. 3, 2019).

She was born Nov. 6, 1931, in Birmingham, Ala., and was adopted by Sgt. William and Ruby Frye Spoor; she spent her younger years in Louisiana.

After the death of her father in 1939, she and her family moved to St. Joseph, where she spent her formative years with her best friend, Sally Rasner.

Nancy had six children; surviving are Steven Higgs of Urbana, Jackie (Pat) O’Leary of San Diego, Calif., and Belinda (Will) Barton of St. Louis. Nancy had 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Spoor, and three children, Rita, Tamara and Connie.

Memorial services will be at noon Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

Donald Gayle Fruhling

ST. JOSEPH — Donald Gayle Fruhling, 83, of St. Joseph passed away Sunday (Jan. 6, 2019) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, at St. Joseph Church of Christ with David Barcus officating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Mayview. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church.

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

Don was born Nov. 1, 1935, in Penfield, the son of Jacob and Marge Ohms Fruhling. He married Edna J. Castle on July 28, 1956, in Monticello, Ind. She survives.

He is also survived by his daughters, Tami (Mike) Fruhling-Voges of St. Joseph, Teri (Tim) Frerichs of Royal, Traci (Dave) Bosch of Broadlands and Trini (Fred) Fruhling-Bensyl of Royal; 10 grandchildren, Mason, August, Timbra (Paul Hilton), Thea, Tenneal, Jacob (Lauren), Clayton (Larissa), Ty, Tegan and Erin; and two great-grandchildren, Holt Hilton and Kendall Bensyl.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barb Harmon.

Don was a member of St. Joseph Church of Christ. He worked at Meadow Gold Dairy for 40 years. He also worked for Arends John Deere Equipment for 15 years. Don enjoyed camping, attendeding his grandchildren's sporting events, spending time with his family and his McDonald's family.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Church of Christ or the Mount Olive Cemetery Care Fund.

Randall Joseph Lutz

ST. JOSEPH — Randall Joseph Lutz, 56, of St. Joseph passed away at 4:34 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 3, 2019) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services to celebrate Randy’s life will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory, Urbana. Pastor Tom Clark will officiate. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded.

Randy was born in Streator on May 15, 1962, to parents John D. and Lucille M. (Coley) Lutz. They preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death was his brother, Jeff Lutz.

On March 26, 2005, Randy married Laura Lee Virtue in Urbana; she survives. Also surviving are his sister, Judith (Robert) Carr of Youngsville, N.C.; father- and mother-in-law, Jim and Marilyn Virtue of Crown Point, Ind.; nieces and nephews, Jenna (Matt) Palumbo, Jacob (Sara) Carr and Adam (Andrea) Virtue; great-nephews, Niko Carr and Austin Virtue; and his beloved dog, Tyler.

Randy earned his associates degree from IVCC and his electrician certification from the University of Illinois. He worked as an electrician for the U of I for 20 years and was a member of IBEW. Randy donated blood every opportunity he had and was told that he had donated enough blood to save 300 lives.

Randy loved sports, even playing on a softball team for many years. He was an avid Chicago Blackhawks fan and also cheered on the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Vikings.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in Randy’s memory. Condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com.

Tara Jackson

ST. JOSEPH — It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Tara Mae Jackson of St. Joseph. Tara was born Feb. 13, 1989, in Urbana, to David K. Jackson and Molly (White) Jackson. Tara leaves behind two beautiful children, Faith, 9, and Brandon, 6. They will dearly miss their mother who was taken from this world unexpectedly. Tara leaves behind uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family and friends.

Tara graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School, Class of 2007. Tara had a passion for dance and music. She was a member of the dance team and cheer squad. Her love for animals and rescuing stray dogs and cats were part of her caring soul. She loved the outdoors and nature.

How does a family write an obituary when they lose a loved one, especially a child of any age? There is not enough space to share how Tara touched the lives of some many. The part that is also hard is the outpouring of love and stories since her death. Tara will never know that she had such a positive impact in the lives of some because of how she helped them when she herself was struggling at times.

Tara was a deep caring soul that could sense the pain in others and want to help them see the good in themselves and better themselves. She longed for a better life for those less fortunate and searched for answers to cruelties that hurt her and others. Tara’s message to all: In this world, choose kindness and not judgement.

To the community that knew her growing up, remember Tara and her smile and beautiful face. To her children, Faith and Brandon, know years from now when you read and reread your mommy’s obituary, that she loved you so much. Look at the stars above, and when the breeze touches your face, know that your mommy is there.

When spring comes and the birds return and flowers start to bloom, there will be a celebration of life. Family will post a notification through Freese Funeral Home. At this time, services will be private.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family has set up a fund for the children at Busey Bank, St. Joseph, called Keeping the Faith.

Dora Belle Willms

ST. JOSEPH — Dora Belle “Granny” Willms, 94, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Dora Belle was born on Nov. 8, 1924, to Joe and Agnes (Bickers) Shoemaker. Shae married Adolph Willms on Jan. 5, 1942. They had six children; five survive — Ruth Ann (Bob) Beals of Monticello, Paul Richard (deceased), Donna (Rhody) Pittsley of Wakefield, Mich., Steven of St. Joseph, Marilyn of St. Joseph and Wanda (Gene) Osterbur of Ogden. Dora is also survived by her nine grandchildren and spouses, and a number of great-grandchildren and great- great- grandchildren.

Dora Belle was an amazing cook, from canning to homemade meals and goodies. She was known for her green thumb; her love for plants and trees were very apparent. She made a career of spreading her knowledge of horticulture to all who looked for advice. In her younger years, she worked for Magnavox and Stanton Greenhouse, then Milhouse Centre, Hidden Acres Nursery, Country Arbors and finally FS Farm Store. She loved her garden and her little plot of woods. She lived independently and spoke her mind as she saw fit; she always stayed true to herself.

Dora Belle was loved and adored by so many. We will all miss her laugh and expressions. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Arbor Day Foundation.

A celebration of life will be held in Dora Belle’s honor from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at the Masonic Lodge, 111 S. East St., Ogden. Please join her family in sharing memories, photos and videos on her tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.

NG 1/2/2019