Fredrick J. "Freddy" Smith

 
Fredrick J. “Freddy” Smith, 75, of Homer passed away Monday, January 26, 2026 at his home.

Celebration of life service will be at 6pm on Monday, February 2 at Homer Funeral and Cremation Services, 708 S. Main Street in Homer. Pastor Robin “RJ” King will officiate. There will be a visitation from 4-6pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial of cremated remains will take place at G.A.R. Cemetery at a later date.

Freddy was born May 1, 1950 in Tuscola, the son of Barton and Lora Wright Smith. He married Rebecca “Becky” Strawser on September 25, 1970 in Newman. She survives.

Survivors also include his son, Jason “Max” (Kristen) Smith of Ogden; granddaughters, Cheyanne Thomas and Tierra Thomas; great grandson, Devin Webb III; brother, Terry (Alice) Smith; sister, Jessie (Bud) Wyant; special sons Casey, Josh, Donavin, and Jeremy; and special grandsons Jamie, Jon Jon, Justin, and Adam.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jamie Cooper Smith in 2003, brother Herman Smith and sisters Glenda Peterson and Karen O’Dell.

Freddy was employed by JM Jones SuperValu in Urbana for 35 ½ years until his retirement in 2006. He loved playing music and once had a band, Freddy J and the Country Delegation. Freddy was an avid Elvis impersonator. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, watering flowers and spending time with his family.

Memorials can be made to the family.

https://www.homerfuneralandcremationservices.com/obituary/Fredrick-Smith

Laura Anne Bear

 Laura Anne Bear, 69, of Homer, passed away on Friday, January 16, 2026 at her home.

Funeral services will be 11am Thursday at Homer Funeral and Cremation Services, 708 S. Main Street in Homer. Pastor Chuck Alt will officiate. Burial will take place at G.A.R. Cemetery in Homer. There will be a visitation on Wednesday from 5-7pm at the funeral home.

Laura was born August 11, 1956 in Urbana, the daughter of Laurence “Jack” and Alice Rogers Bear.

Survivors include her daughter, April Westerfield of Tuscola; sons, Josh (Julie) Westerfield of Homer and Jeremy Westerfield of Champaign; 6 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren.

Laura was a supervisor for the State of Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. She enjoyed live music, river floating, gardening-especially making pickles from her harvest, target shooting, reading and going out with friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, and 3 brothers.

Memorials can be made to the family.

https://www.homerfuneralandcremationservices.com/obituary/Laura-Bear 1/30/2026

Laura Lea Evans

 Philo - Laura Lea Evans, 87, passed away at home in Philo from natural causes on

January 21, 2026, attended by her husband and daughter.

Burial was a private family graveside service at Mount Olive Cemetery in Mayview on January 28, 2026.

Laura was born January 25, 1938 in Homer, Illinois to F. Clyde and Goldia (Leonard)
Ford. Her family later moved to Royal and she graduated from Ogden High School in
1956. On September 15, 1956 she and Marion ‘Sonny’ Evans eloped to Corinth,
Mississippi.

After our first son was born on December 14, 1957, she spent the next
eleven years raising four kids almost single handedly while Sonny served in the Navy
and then worked nights as a plant operator for the water company.

In 1968 she began 47 years of working as a shipping/receiving clerk for first Kmart, then
Jerry’s IGA, and finally County Market. She loved work, was well respected and liked no
matter where she was working, and really hated it when she had to retire.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, brother Fred, two half sisters Wanda
Moore and Daisy Clark, and our oldest son Clifford Lee Evans.

Surviving Laura is her husband Sonny, sons Jeffrey (Terry) Evans of Ocala, Florida and Anthony (Peggy)
Evans of Philo, and daughter Lila Evans of Tolono. She is also survived by four
grandchildren, Roissa Evans of Montgomery, Alabama, Jamie (Nick) Fainter of Ivesdale,
Tyler (Courtney) Evans of Tolono, and Joel (Katie) Evans of Tolono, plus nine fantastic
great-grandchildren (Kenzlee, Odin, Clark, Vivian, Jensyn, Axel, Stanley, Swae, and
Austen) and numerous nieces and nephews.

We wish to thank the entire Carle Hospice team, specifically Abby and Linda, for their
guidance and kindness. Memorials donations may be made to the Champaign County
Humane Society or an organization of the donors choice.

Freese FH 1/30/2026

Mary Munds Kraft

 Mary Munds Kraft, 87, of Philo passed away at 7:20AM, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be 12:00 PM, Tuesday February 3, 2026 at Freese Funeral Home, Sidney.  Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.  Rev. Jeff Stahl will officiate.  Burial will be at Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo.
Mary was born December 9, 1938 in Champaign County, the daughter to Martha May Schoonover Munds and William John Munds.  She married Donald Ray Kraft on April 19, 1959 in Champaign, he survives.  She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters.
Survivors include: two daughters, Peggy (Chris) Lyn Kraft Creek of rural Tolono, Sandra (Randy) Lee Kraft Cunningham of Tolono, a son Thimothy (Joanne) Ray Kraft of rural Philo, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, siblings: Dale Munds of Bondville, Donald Munds of rural Champaign, Dorothy Munds Jay of Champaign, Nancy Munds Davis of Springfield, and James Robert Munds of Sebring, FL.
Mrs. Kraft helped farm in Philo and Sidney with her husband, and worked at Dr. Kaiser’s office and the County Public Health Nurses Office.  Then she purchased and managed apartment buildings by the U of I golf course.  She was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church.  
Memorials may be made to the church or organization of donor’s choice.   

Freese FH 1/31/2026

Anthony John Brunner

Anthony John Brunner (“John”) of Urbana, IL, passed away on January 20, 2026. John was born on June 6, 1970, in Urbana, IL, and attended St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

The expression “love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life” suited John perfectly. As a farm and dog kennel manager, John was in his happy place. He loved being surrounded by cows, dogs and even llamas—and he was a sucker for a stray cat.

John was funny and caring, and he loved spending time with those closest to him. Whether it was hunting with good friends, having a meal and conversation with his mother, camping and deer hunting with his dad, or driving through the countryside with his daughter (and best friend), John was a joy to be around.

John is survived by his daughter Ashley Brunner; mother Joyce Lain-Walden; brothers Rick Walden, Rex Walden and Jay Brunner; sisters Karen Berry and Melissa Walden; and many more relatives and friends who loved him.

John is preceded in death by his father Larry Brunner, grandparents Lloyd and Alice Lain, grandparents AJ and Esther Brunner, and others.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 2-4 PM, at Freese Funeral Home, 202 W. Main St., Sidney, IL 61877.

Memorial donations in John’s memory can be made to Hospice Hearts Animal Rescue at www.hospiceheartsanimalrescue.org. 

Ernest Frank "Ernie" Rademcaher

 

Gifford - Ernest Frank "Ernie" Rademacher, 89, of Gifford died at 1:54 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 11, 2026) at home.

Private family funeral services will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Gifford.

Ernie was born May 24, 1936, in Fithian, the son of Frank and Hiske Schlueter Rademacher. He married Marleen Huls on June 16, 1957, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville. She survives.

Along with his wife, Marleen, he is survived by a son, Rich (Cindy) Rademacher of Penfield; a daughter, Ranae (Jeff) Ault of Penfield; eight grandchildren, Reanna Rademacher, Lindsey (Brian) Keyes, Michael (Kami) Rademacher, Justin (Kaitlyn) Rademacher, Jordan (Kendra) Rademacher, Austin Rademacher, Jenna (Preston) Miles and Joni (Anthony) Hornbeck; 14 great-grandchildren; his daughter-in-law, Teresa Rademacher; two sisters, Elaine (Marvin) Flessner of St. Joseph and Carolyn (Duane) Schluter of Penfield; three brothers, Norman (Jeanne) Rademacher of Gifford, Marvin (Shirley) Rademacher of Rantoul and Wayne (Glenna) Rademacher of Fithian; and a brother-in-law, Ron Suits of Urbana. He is also survived by Barry Vilven, who was like an additional son, and Tanner McLain, who was like a grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons, Wesley Rademacher, Rodney Rademacher and Randy Rademacher; a grandson, Jared Rademacher; two brothers, Arnold and Vernon Rademacher; and a sister, Janet Suits.

Ernie graduated from Armstrong High School in 1954. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Gifford. After graduation, he worked in construction, and in 1957, he started Rademacher Construction with his brothers, Arnold and Norman. He was also a grain and cattle farmer.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Youth Ministry in Gifford. Condolences and memories can be shared with family at baierfuneralhome.com

Published by The News-Gazette from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, 2026.

Stephen Glasgow

Fairmount - Stephen R. Glasgow, 52, of Fairmount passed away Saturday (Jan. 10, 2026) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Stephen was born on July 18, 1973, in Urbana, to Gene and Jeanne McCurdy Glasgow. He married Dawn Bidner on June 5, 2004, in Savoy. She preceded him in death in 2010.

He was also preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Denise Patterson.

Stephen is survived by his children, Gwynna Glasgow and Drew Glasgow; and parents, Gene and Jeanne Glasgow.

Stephen graduated from Jamaica High School in 1991 and received a fine arts degree from Parkland College and a fine arts degree from the University of Illinois.

Growing up, he enjoyed going to Turkey Run to hike on the trails and loved to play on the computer and received most of his computer knowledge from his mother. This computer knowledge helped him begin his career as an independent commercial graphic designer, then he received a job at the UI as a graphic designer, and finally got a job at Carle Foundation Hospital as a lead designer.

He had a passion for design and art outside of work as well. He spent many hours working on his own projects and selling them at various local events and posting a lot of his work on his Facebook page for all to see. Stephen was involved in creating podcasts with friends from various parts of the country, attended Comic-Con for a few years, and loved to read an array of different genres of books, with some being science fiction, fantasy fiction, biographies and historical fiction. He also had a love of online video games, which is shared with his son and daughter, and was a member of the Broadlands Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Broadlands Immanuel Lutheran Church, 390 County Road 2400 East, Broadlands, with a funeral service beginning at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Fairfield Cemetery, north of Newman.

Memorial donations may be made to the Broadlands Immanuel Lutheran Church. 

Published by The News-Gazette from Jan. 15 to Jan. 16, 2026.