Norma Jean Olds

 Norma Jean Olds, 92, of Sidney passed away at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney with Rev. Barry West officiating.   Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sidney.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7PM Friday at the funeral home.

Norma Jean was born October 20, 1929 in St. Elmo, Il, a daughter to Samuel Shannon and Myrtle Ruth Stine Fristoe.  She married Fred Olds on November 21, 1966 in Corinth, MS, he survives.  Also surviving are six children; Larry (Barbara) Berg of Effingham, Gary (Deborah) Berg of St. Elmo, Karen (Ronald) Omark of Danville, Sharon Fulton of Chicago, Michelle Holland of Altamont, and Robin (Mike) Kuhnline of Brighton, nine grandchildren; Jason (Sara) Berg, Victoria Omark, Ben Omark, Alicia (Lantz) Wills, Erica (Kris) Biggs, Adam (Kelly) Sloan, Amanda Sloan, Rebecca (Brian) Sass, and Drew (Crystal) Harlow, many many great-grandchildren, and sister; Joyce (Everett) Smithson of Farina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister; Mary Lou Fristoe.

Norma Jean was a homemaker, a wife, a mother and a gardener.  She was a member of the Sidney Christian Church where she volunteered much of her time.  She also volunteered her time at the Sidney Grade School and at nursing homes.

Memorials may be made to Oblong Christian Children’s Home or donor’s choice.

Condolences may be made at freesefh.com

Freese FH website 12/2/2021

Andy Davison

Andy Davison, 46, of Homer passed away at 7:30 A.M. Tuesday November 30, 2021 at his home.

 Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M. Sunday December 5, 2021 at Freese Funeral Home 302 E. Grand Ave. St. Joseph. Rev. Darla Holden will officiate. Burial will be in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be held Saturday from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

 Andy was born November 19, 1975 at Urbana. The son of James and Helen (Wolf) Davison. He married Stacey McGarigle on September 19, 1998 at Sidney. She survives.

 He is also survived by his children; Kenzie Davison and Noah Davison at home. His parents of Homer. Brother Jamie (Nikki) Davison of Homer. Sister Katie (Shannon) Patterson of Homer. Several nieces and nephews; Cody, Kane, Keagan, Clair, Jaden, Rylie, Hannah, Luke and Eli. His faithful Lab, Charlie.

 He was preceded by his grandparents; Don and Doris Wolf, Kenneth and Mary Davison.

 Andy was a union electrician for 27 years in Local 601. He worked for Davis Electrical for 17 years. 

He enjoyed sitting in the garage listening to loud music, collecting guns, cooking and watching the St. Louis Cardinals. Most of all he loved spending time with his family. 

 The family request everyone wear casual attire to the services.

 Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Freese FH 11/30/2021

Cory A. Abernathy

Cory A. Abernathy 40 of Ogden passed away at 8:35 A.M. Saturday November 27, 2021 at the Richard L. Owens Hospice House, Peoria.

 Visitation will be held Friday December 3, 2021 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Freese Funeral Home 302 E. Grand Ave. St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Gifford Community Building, Gifford Saturday December 4, 2021 from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. with services at 4:45 P.M. Thad Sweet will officiate.

 Cory was born August 14, 1981 in Champaign. The son of Gary and Sandy (Shotton) Abernathy. He married Stephanie Brockway on July 18, 2009 in Rantoul. She survives.

 He is also survived by his children; Sydney and Wesley Abernathy at home. Father Gary (Irene) Abernathy of Colorado Springs, CO. Mother Sandy Abernathy of St. Joseph. Two sisters Carrie (Gabe) Clements of Ogden, Lori (Jake) Cross of Armstrong. In-laws Ken (Maureen) Brockway of Rantoul.  Several nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by his Paternal grandparents James and Jean Abernathy, Maternal grandparents James and Kathleen Shotton, nephew Payne Clements.

 

 Cory worked at Illinois State University as the Intellectual Property and Export Officer. 

 He was a 1999 Graduate of Armstrong High School where he played Basketball and Baseball. He received a B.S. from the University of Illinois and his M.B.A. from Eastern Illinois University.

 Cory loved watching his daughter's sporting events, and thought Wesley was the best baby.

 He was an avid Indiana Jones Movie fan and enjoyed reading Stephen King books. Cory loved to vacation, travel and spend time with friends and family.

 Memorials may be made to the Cory Abernathy Memorial Fund at the Gifford Bank or to the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home 8630 IL Route 91 Peoria, IL 61615

Freese FH website 11/28/2021

Michael D. Showalter

 BROADLANDS — Michael D. Showalter, 73, of Broadlands passed away Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2021) at home.

Michael was born on May 4, 1948, in Waurika, Okla., to Raymond and Juanita (Smith) Showalter. He married Jeanie Ray on July 23, 1967, in Tuscola.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeanie Showalter; two children, Kevin (Barbi) Showalter and Regina (Rick) Tweedy; six grandchildren, Brittany (Andrew Hudson) Showalter, Lauren (Jon) Ashmore, Bailey (Makenzie) Means, Hunter (Harlee) Tweedy, Dalton (Kenzie) Tweedy and Dillon Tweedy; five siblings, Shirley Foster, Darlene (Dave) Trinkle, Shelba (Dee) Brown, Randy (Donalda) Showalter and Max (Vivian) Showalter; and one brother-in-law, Gary “Butch” Ray.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Juanita Showalter; one sister, Gayle Ryans; two brothers-in-law, Claude Ryans and C.E. Foster; one sister-in-law, Sheila Ray; and his mother- and father-in-law, Claude and Betty Ray.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Joines Funeral Home, Villa Grove, with Pastor Trevor Oetting officiating; military rites will be conducted. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Broadlands Fire Department or the Newman American Legion Post 201.

Lorena A. Smith

 Lorena A. Smith, 89, of St. Joseph died at 11:31 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

She was born Sept. 10, 1932, in Urbana, to Raymond K. and Dena Stein Wilson, and graduated from Urbana High School in 1951. Lorena married her UHS Class of ’51 sweetheart, Robert E. Smith, on Nov. 8, 1952. Bob died April 25, 2005.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ray, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Lorena is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cyndi and Scott Paceley of Champaign, as well as friends Katie Andersen, Clayton Bosch, Tammy Knight, Joetta Morgan, Marjorie Taylor and Sandy Wilson.

She enjoyed growing beautiful flowers, feeding and keeping track of her yearly hummingbird residents, and watching the families of deer that visited her yard. Lorena was especially fond of the many 150-year-old trees that grace the family farm.

According to her wishes, private graveside services were held. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, assisted with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Unity Prayer Ministries, 1901 NW Blue Parkway, Unity Village, MO; DSC, 1304 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign; or Carle Hospice, care of Carle Center for Philanthropy, 611 W. Park St., Urbana.

Freese FH 11/17/2021

Mark D. Youmans

 ARMSTRONG — Mark D. Youmans, 55, of Armstrong died at 7:32 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2021) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville, with the Rev. James T. Lehmann officiating. Burial will follow in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, in Diers Hall, Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville. Baier Family Funeral Services, Flatville, is handling arrangements.

Mark was born Sept. 3, 1966, in Danville, the son of Ralph E. and Frances Miller Youmans. He married Teresa Castle on Feb. 23, 1985, at Hope United Church of Christ. She survives.

Along with his wife, Teresa, he is survived by two sons, Travis (Kate) Youmans of Gifford and Michael (Jackie) Youmans of Champaign; three grandchildren, Hannagan, Bentley and Lennon and grandbaby Youmans No. 4 arriving in early December; his mother, Frances Youmans of Armstrong; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ronald and Nancy Castle of Thomasboro; and numerous other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Mark graduated from Armstrong High School in 1984 and attended Danville Area Community College. Farming was his passion, and he became a third-generation family farmer. Mark was also well known for his one-of-a-kind Toy Tractor Collection, as he has been a collector for over 40 years.

He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville and the Champaign and Vermilion County Farm Bureau. Mark was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He had an extreme love for his dogs, but his greatest joy was his grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rescue Me Clifford or the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.

11/13/2021 NG

Matthew John Hinrichs

 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Matthew John Hinrichs, 50, passed away Friday (Nov. 13, 2020) in Springfield Mo.

Matt was born in Peoria and raised in Flatville. He married his wife, Debbie Merkle, on Nov. 24, 1990. She survives.

Also surviving are their four children, Austin, Jesse, Lane and Lauren; two grandsons, Kyson and Kylo; brother, James (Lori); cousin, Debbie Elliot; in-laws, Tim and Pat Phillips; many neices and nephews; and best friends, Steve Duitsman and Ward Birch.

Matt is in heaven with his parents, Ken and Delores Hinrichs; a brother, Timothy; and his other best friend, David Nelson. 

Matt's greatest joys were his family and friends, fishing, cookouts, creeks, rivers, arrowhead hunting and traveling. He is dearly missed by us all.

NG 11/13/2021