Marsha Lynn Hetman

ST. JOSEPH — Marsha Lynn Hetman, 67, of St. Joseph, formerly of Mahomet, passed away Monday (April 1, 2019) with her youngest son by her side.

She was born to the late Claude and Dorothy (Marvel) Adkins on Sept. 29, 1951, in Pontiac. She led what she felt was a “normal” life, somehow raising two sons on her own after an unsuccessful first marriage. Then she met and married Peter Hetman Jr. on April 1, 1983. They raised the boys in Mahomet and relocated to St. Joseph to downsize after the kids left the house.

After more than 33 years of marriage, Peter preceded her in death on March 5, 2017, yet managed to reach out to her and reunite on their anniversary to guide her to the other side. She passed peacefully in her sleep after suffering several debilitating strokes.

Marsha is survived by her son, David Jones (Phoenix); brothers, Dan (Roscoe City) and Larry (Pontiac); niece, Sheri (Oshkosh, Wis.); and nephew, Jeff (Monroe Center). Her oldest son, Michael Ray Jones, preceded her in death on Oct. 27, 2003, in Ironton, Ohio.

No viewing or visitation will be held locally, but friends are encouraged to reach out to one another and come together in a celebration of life on her behalf. Her remains will be transported to southern Illinois, where she will be surrounded by family and interred with her father (she was always daddy’s girl) on their family plot.

Condolences may be offered at owensfuneralhomes. com.

Ronald Eugene Bange

SAVOY — Ronald Eugene Bange, 79, passed away Thursday (April 4, 2019) at Palm Terrace of Mattoon.

He was born June 19, 1939, in Champaign, to Alfred and Ura (McElwee) Bange. Ron married LaDonna Ann Griswell on Aug. 7, 1960, in Homer.

Ron is survived by his wife; children, Greg (Diane) Bange and Kathy (Chris Hodge) Fogerson; grandchildren, Jordan (Joel), Brett and Austin; great-grandchildren, Kaiden and Ember; honorary family, Tracie (Mike) Harp, Ian, Marra and Logann; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, one brother and many special pets over the years. Ron was an outdoorsman; he loved nature, fishing and camping. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Ron was loved by many, and he never knew a stranger. He had many stories and jokes to tell, some true and some untrue.

Ron was a leader in his community of Homer and was active in school and civic events. Ron grew up as a farmer and was a farmer at heart. He was a member of Homer Church of Christ.

A celebration of life service will be at 3 p.m.Sunday, April 7, 2019, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 710 N. Neil St., Champaign. Visitation will be held prior from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Ron’s family and will be used to provide items in his memory to the several care facilities that served him during his life. Please join his family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.

CU News-Gazette 4/5/2019

Lawrence Anthony Smith

CHAMPAIGN — Lawrence Anthony Smith Jr., 82, of Champaign passed away at home Sunday morning (March 31, 2019).

He was the cherished husband of Pastor Donna (Hacker) Smith for 31 years. He is survived by her, as well as his children: Lawrence III (Jackie) of Spokane, Wash.; Amy Smith of Pardeeville, Wis.; Ann (William) Petersen of Crossville, Tenn.; Andrew (Lisa) Smith of Winnebago; Sean (Laurel) Smith of Priest Lake, Idaho; Alicia (Kent) Downs of Edwardsville; and Margaret (Chris) Bausman of Winnebago. He is fondly remembered by his nieces, Cindy (Ted) Neumann and Jenny Hacker. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews and many dear friends and colleagues.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard K. Smith Sr. of Savanna.

Lawrence was born in Rockford on Sept. 25, 1936, the son of Lawrence Smith Sr. and Alyce (Johnston) Smith. He was raised in Savanna and graduated from Savanna High School in 1954. He went on to earn a degree in commerce from the University of Illinois in 1958 and his juris doctor degree from the University of Illinois Law School in 1961. At the U of I, he played violin in the Symphony Orchestra and clarinet during a stint with the Marching Illini, endeavors in which he took great pride.

After graduation, he entered into practice at Smith Law Firm with his father and brother in Savanna until he was appointed an associate judge in Stephenson County in 1976. He was later elected a circuit judge

in the 15th Judicial Circuit, where he served until his retirement in 1996. In 2002, he and Donna moved to Champaign, where she served at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and he delighted in Illini sports and cultural life.

Professionally, Lawrence was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association, serving on many committees and bringing his unique experience and perspective to gatherings. He served on the American Bar’s International Legal Exchange and participated in study trips to South America and the (then) Soviet Union. He served on the Interdisciplinary Cooperation Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Judicial Ethics Committee of the ABA. Among his accomplishments was a certificate in judicial studies from the National Judicial College and the completion of a study of the judiciary at Oxford University, England. In his devotion to his calling and his participation in study opportunities and professional meetings, Lawrence aspired to serve with integrity, humanity and fairness as a lawyer and a judge.

Larry was similarly devoted to his Christian faith and was raised in the Presb yterian Church, laterbecoming a Lutheran. He served in any number of capacities as a lay leader in the church, including service on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and the President’s Cabinet of the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg. He was more than a “sidekick” in his wife’s church activities and involvements and was warmly welcomed andappreciated by her colleagues and fellow church members. He was most recently a

member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, where Donna recently has served as interim pastor.

Above all else, Lawrence was devoted to his wife and family and took tremendous pride in the accomplishments of his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He treasured time with family and friends.

In retirement, Larry’s passions were travel, reading and music. Those who knew him — whether as acquaintances or intimately, enjoyed his kindness, wisdom and humor.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, Lawrence suggested memorials be directed to the North American Lutheran Seminary, 311 11th St., Ambridge, PA 15003, or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 802 E. Douglas St., St. Joseph. Services will follow at 10:30 a.m., the Rev. James Lehmann presiding. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roselawn Cemetery, Champaign.

Condolences may be shared at morganmemorialhome. com.

CU News-Gazette 4/2/2019

Robert B. Siuts

LONGVIEW — Robert B. Siuts, 87, of Longview passed away at 6:55 p.m. Sunday (March 31, 2019) at Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 5, 2019, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands. Pastor John Sharp will officiate. Burial will be in Beckman Cemetery, Thomasboro, following the luncheon at the church. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church. Freese Funeral Home, 202 W. Main St., Sidney, is in charge of arrangements.

Robert was born March 25, 1932, in Urbana, the

son of Richard and Grace Wilken Siuts. He married Wanda Eiskamp on Dec. 5, 1954, in Thomasboro. She survives.

He is also survived by his sons, Alan (Tonia) Siuts of Tolono and Kevin (Karen Massey) Siuts of Tolono; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one sister, Florence Frerichs of Armstrong; one brother, Lorenz (Janice) Siuts of Urbana; and son-in-law, Rolane Renfrow of Broadlands.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynette Renfrow; parents; and brother-in-law, Mervin Frerichs.

Robert was a lifelong farmer. He was a U.S.

Army veteran from 19521954, serving in Korea. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands. Robert enjoyed attending auctions and traveling, but most of all spending time with his family.

Memorials maybe made to the Beckman Cemetery Care Fund or Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands.

CU News-Gazette 4/2/2019

Jerry A. Reeves

OGDEN — Jerry A. Reeves, 84, of Ogden passed away at 3:40 p.m. Saturday (March 30, 2019) at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2019, at Danville National Cemetery, Danville, will full military honors. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Jerry was born Nov. 19, 1934, in Posseyville, Ind., the son of Clarence L. and Wyetta Rainy Reeves.

He married Linda Sunday in January 1960. She passed away in 1991.

He is survived by three children, Glynis (Jim) Rosnett of St. Joseph, Sarah (Steve) Newby of Sun Prairie, Wis., and David (Kirstin) Reeves of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; one brother; and two daughters, Dilys and Rebecca.

Jerry was a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force,serving as an MP. He retired while at Chanute Air

Force Base. He also worked 23 years for the State of Illinois Bureau of Investigations. He enjoyed reading, working in his yard and feeding and watching birds.

Memorials may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America.

CU News-Gazette 4/2/2019

Loren Ricardo Ohmit

PHOENIX — Loren Ricardo Ohmit was born at Burnham City Hospital, Champaign, on May 6, 1969. He accompanied his parents, Ricardo “Rick” L. and Mary S.A. Pontius Ohmit, home to St. Joseph. There he attended St. Joseph Grade School and enjoyed Bible school in the summers, where he accepted Jesus as his Savior.

He moved to Urbana. As a young man, he deliveredThe News-Gazette in St. Joseph and later in Urbana.

For many years, he worked with and for his parents at Tri Color Signs.

In 2004, he moved to Phoenix, where he met and married Annalita Cason.

He passed away at Banner Estella Medical Center on March 18, 2019, with his family by his side. As per his wishes, no memorial service will be held. East Lake Mortuary, Phoenix, was in charge of cremation.

CU News-Gazette 4/2/2019

Virginia N. Miles

ST. JOSEPH — Virginia N. Miles, 86, of St. Joseph, formerly of Collison, passed away at 1:26 p.m. Monday (April 1, 2019) at home.

Virginia was born June 11, 1932, in Danville, to Charles Montelle and Mary Frances Kilbourne Saltsgaver. She married Robert A. Miles on Aug. 9, 1958, in Danville. He preceded her in death Sept. 17, 1998.

Also surviving are one son, Bob Miles of Collison; one daughter, Maureen (Mark) Fourez of Danville; and three grandchildren, Kevin Miles, Garrett (Rachel Storm) Fourez and Abby (Kyle) Hawkins.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Vern, and one daughter-in-law.

Virginia was a member of the I&I Antique Tractor club. She enjoyed sewing and gardening and was an accomplished seamstress. She worked alongside Robert on the farm for many years.

Funeral services will be at noon Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Robison Chapel, Catlin, with Pastor Patti Wise officiating. Burial will be in Lower Mound Cemetery, Covington, Ind. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Robison Chapel, Catlin.  Memorials to Carle Hospice. Online condolences at robisonchapel.com.

CU News-Gazette 4/2/2019