Reba Ridinger

Reba Ridinger

ST. JOSEPH – Reba Ridinger, 95, of St. Joseph, formerly of Homer, passed away at 12:23 a.m. Thursday (June 20, 2013) at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will be in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Reba was born Sept. 19, 1917, in Salem, Ind., the daughter of Harry and Verna Chastain Collier. She married Paul Lavaughn Ridinger on April 27, 1935, in Urbana. He preceded her on Oct. 25, 1998.
She is survived by a son, Paul (Pat) Ridinger of Sidney; three grandchildren, Sara (Allen) Glenn, Mary Ridinger and Mike (Annett) Ridinger; four great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louise Halverson of Laguna Hills, Calif., and Mary Jones of Las Vegas, Nev.; and one brother, Mervin Collier of Bedford, Ind.
She was preceded by one son, Charles Ridinger; two sisters and two brothers.
She was a member of the Church of Christ. Reba and her husband farmed in the rural Sidney area.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Erma Koehn

Erma Koehn

NORMAL – Erma C. Koehn, 101, of Normal, formerly of St. Joseph, died at 4:04 p.m. Saturday (June 15, 2013) at Heartland Healthcare in Normal.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 21, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal, with Rev. Randy Perry officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Cremation rites have been accorded by Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. Inurnment will be in Mansfield Community Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor's choice.
She was born Oct. 28, 1911, in Dietrich, daughter of Robert and Lena Grahn Prahl. She married Harold Koehn on March 21, 1931, in Mansfield. He preceded her in death on Aug. 4, 1978. She was also preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Surviving are one daughter, Carol (Delmar) Hillman of St. Joseph; one son, Kenneth (Nancy) Koehn of Normal; two granddaughters, Julie (Brian) Spiak of Orlando, Fla., and Bobbi Jo (Jared) Veazey of Mayfield, Ky.; and two great-granddaughters.
Erma graduated from Mansfield High School in 1928 and earned her teacher's certificate at Illinois State Normal University. She taught school in Piatt County in a country school.
She was a pianist for the Centerville Methodist Church, the Mansfield Methodist Church, and later for the St. Joseph Methodist Church.
She was one of the first women to actively drive tractors and trucks, assisting her husband with his farming operation.
Once her children were in college, she began working at the University of Illinois in the Office of Administration and College of Liberal Arts and Science, retiring in 1971.
After the death of her husband, she moved to St. Joseph, where she began volunteering for senior services and playing the piano for five nursing homes and the Methodist Church.
In 1988, Erma was named Queen of the St. Joseph Fall Festival for her service to the town and community.
After her 80th birthday, Mrs. Koehn enrolled in a class at Parkland College called "Creative Writing." She wrote short stories about her life growing up during the Depression. With the encouragement of her classmates and family, she published these stories in a book titled "Hand Me Downs."
Later she wrote another book about her sister's battle with ALS titled "Have You Ever Seen An Apple Blossom." She had book signings in Champaign, Monticello and Bloomington.
Erma moved to the Windsor of Savoy in 2002, where she continued entertaining with her piano skills by playing for singalongs and as pianist for their church services.
In 2012, she moved to the Blair House in Normal, where she made many new and dear friends.

Kerry Bryan

Kerry Bryan

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – His parting advice to his family was simple: "Never quit learning and never give up."
Kerry Lee Bryan certainly lived by his own advice. He always seemed to have the answer and on those rare occasions when he didn't, he instinctively knew the best path for hunting it down.
He passed away near the stroke of midnight on Monday (May 27, 2013), surrounded by his family. He was 69.
It almost didn't matter that there were still so many things to do in such a short lifetime because those things he did do, he did them well.
As if in a celebratory salute to life, the message on his desk was clear. Among the mounds of paperwork, the stuffed pheasants, insect specimens and the Groucho Marx glasses was a book opened to page 18. It read: "Belief 1: I have succeeded."
That is an understatement as Kerry had touched so many lives, with his incredible sense of humor and his unwavering willingness to help others at the drop of a hat.
Born on May 4, 1944, Kerry grew up on a farm in Homer. It was here - with his father, mother and younger sister - where the lessons of resourcefulness and resilience began.
He graduated from Homer High School in 1962 and within six years earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in zoology and botany from Eastern Illinois University. It was in 1964 that he married his high school sweetheart, Sara.
After teaching at a junior college in Illinois, he went on to teach science on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota.
In 1975, he embarked on what would be a lifelong career working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection and Quarantine division. He was stationed in San Diego, Chicago and eventually Albuquerque.
Kerry protected the nation's food and natural resources by being an emergency responder to several invasive citrus pests in Texas and California.
Then there was that pesky wheat disease in Texas, the cotton-munching boll weevil and a potato pest in Idaho. He was called upon to manage emergency grasshopper outbreaks throughout the West and worked with the U.S. military in the Middle East to ensure returning equipment was pest free.
He held various positions, including president of the National Association of PPQ Managers. His work sent him to Kuwait, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, Brazil and Newfoundland.
Early in his career, he was stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border, where he checked incoming shipments and kept an eye on the tuna boats along the California Coast. His BlackBerry always in his hand, there was no doubt that he loved his job.
Still, he made time for Boy Scout outings with his son and to watch his daughter play softball. There were also camping trips at Otay Lake in California and the building of massive snow forts during Chicago's brutal winters.
Kerry ran the Chicago Marathon one year and competed in running events in San Diego and Albuquerque until he decided to take up mountain biking. A few flips over the handlebars didn't slow him down.
He always pointed to his stash of vitamins, fresh garlic and swigs of apple cider vinegar. If it were up to his heart, it would have kept beating forever. A fan of the Sunday funnies, he never went far without his humor and his hankie.
Kerry loved "Old Green," his classic Ford pickup truck. It was a sleeper, certainly not as pretty as his beloved 1967 Mustang GT. Then there were the animals - from Clifford the pet raccoon to the twin Maine coon cats, Cleo his dutiful Nicaraguan dog and his faithful pup RJ. In Kerry's big heart, there was always room.
His family and friends are forever grateful for everything he was able to do for them, for the lessons he shared and for the outbursts of laughter he caused. The world is now a different place without him. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his mother, Charlotte Bryan of Homer; his wife, Sara; daughter, Libby; and son, Zachary and his wife Susan, all of Rio Rancho, N.M.; and sister, Peggy Foskett and her son, Roger Foskett, both of England.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, at FRENCH - Rio Rancho location, 1950 Pine Road NE, Rio Rancho, N.M. A reception will follow.
Please visit our online guestbook for Kerry at www.FrenchFunerals.com.

J. Martha Kappes

J. Martha Kappes

ST. JOSEPH – J. Martha Kappes, 94, formerly of Champaign, died on Monday evening (May 27, 2013) in St. Joseph.
There will be a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 30, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 403 W. Clark St., Champaign. The visitation will precede the Mass from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Crittenden Township.
Owens Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Martha was born on July 15, 1918, a daughter of Daniel Day Sr. and Julie Walters Day. She married Wilfred William Kappes on Oct. 15, 1940, in Urbana. He preceded her in death on May 4, 1980.
She is survived by their four children, Darlene Allen of St. Joseph, Robert Kappes (Kay) of Champaign, David Kappes of Champaign and Linda Schiaretti of Homer; 17 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three sisters, Amelia Edblad of Champaign, Harriette Pulliam of Champaign and Shirley Tagget of Michigan; and three brothers, John Day of Savoy, Robert Day of Urbana and Wilfred Day of Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband on May 4, 1980; two sons-in-law, Larry Allen and Frank Schiaretti; four brothers, Clifford, Daniel, James and William; and two infant brothers.
Martha worked at The Glove Factory, Champaign Unit 4 Schools Cafeteria and Holy Cross Cafeteria, where she worked until her retirement at age 80.
She was a parishioner at Holy Cross Catholic Church and a lifelong member of the Women of the Moose.
She enjoyed bowling, gardening, playing bunco and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also a lifelong Cubs fan.
Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church or Carle Hospice, 206A W. Anthony Drive, Urbana, IL 61801.
Condonlences may be offered at www.owensfuneralhomes.com.

Fred White

Fred White

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Fred E. White, 76, longtime broadcaster in Kansas City and the Midwest, passed away on May 15, 2013, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
He was born May 29, 1936, in the small town of Homer, to Edward E. and Mary Kate (Frazier) White. His death coincidentally came one day after announcement of his pending retirement from the Kansas City Royals, where he served as Director of Broadcast Services and Royals' Alumni, working with radio affiliates and former players, conducting broadcast seminars and hosting youth baseball clinics with alumni throughout the greater broadcast area.
He studied at Eastern Illinois University before starting his broadcast career at WITY radio in Danville. He then moved to KHAS radio in Hastings, Neb. He joined WIBW radio-TV in Topeka as sports director in 1967, where his broadcasts included K-State, KU, Washburn University, and high school sports coverage.
His affiliation with K-State took him to Russell, Kan., as a last-minute speaker for a Wildcat Club meeting, where he met his wife, Barbara (Boxberger), who was visiting family in her hometown. They married in 1974, living first in Topeka and then moving to Kansas City full-time when Fred left WIBW for his play-by-play duties as the Voice of the Kansas City Royals.
Fred hosted various shows for Metrosports TV in Kansas City, including a popular golf show "Tee Time"; and served as host of Hometown Heroes, profiling Kansas City sports legends, which won three Midwest sports EMMY awards.
Fred also did extensive play-by-play for ESPN, including Major League baseball, major college football and basketball, the NBA, NFL and Canadian professional football games. He broadcast seven NCAA Final 4's on radio; 11 college football bowl games on TV; two Canadian Grey Cup games; seven American League Championship series; and two World Series.
He served as lead announcer for Big 8, Big 12, ACC, Metro and Atlantic 10 conference basketball, as well as Kansas State, Memphis State and Illinois statewide television packages. His illustrious career included working for ESPN, CBS, NBC and ABC networks on free-lance assignments as well as various syndications.
Fred was involved with many charitable organizations. He was currently on the Board of Kansas Wildscape Foundation and worked with ALS, the March of Dimes, the Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society and the Special Olympics. He was a former board member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. He hosted the Royals for Rainbows golf tournament in Wichita for 20 years.
Among the honors he received were Kansas Sportscaster of the Year numerous times; the Kansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame; Honorary Graduate of Kansas State University; Kansas State Favorite Adopted Son; and Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Fred and Barbara own KRSL radio in Russell, Kan. They are co-owners of KHOM/KBMV in West Plains, Mo. Fred was an avid reader and also enjoyed golf, hunting, and spending time on the Florida beach with Barbara.
Survivors include his devoted wife, Barbara of the home; two sons, Joe and John White of Kansas City; one daughter, Stacy White, Auburn, Kan.; three grandsons; one brother, Jack (JoEllyn) White, Urbana; one sister, Marilyn Lynch, Fairmount; and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves a host of friends and colleagues - young and old - whose lives were greatly impacted by Fred's mentoring and generosity.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, Kan. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are suggested to any of the following: Kansas Wildscape Foundation (The Fred White Memorial Project), Rainbows United, Footprints-Royals' Charities, the Kansas City Hospice House, or a children's charity of choice and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.

Rita Head

Rita Head

ST. JOSEPH – Rita Rogers Head, 67, of St. Joseph and Palm Coast, Fla., passed away Wednesday (May 15, 2013) at home.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 20, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 302 Main St., Penfield, with Fr. Menner officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Rita was born Feb. 6, 1946, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of James Rogers and Eleanora Skruch Blaso. She married Kenneth W. Head on May 25, 1964, in Alexandria, Va.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years and their three daughters, Kendra Barnes Kirchgessner of Naperville, Kasha Barnes Matthews of Downs and Karrah Barnes Jensen of Bloomington. Grandchildren Camden and Madeleine Kirchgessner, Morgan, Hayden and Grayson Matthews, Avery and Bennett Jensen; and two brothers, Lawrence Rogers of Dayton, Ohio, and James Rogers of Palm Coast, Fla., also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, David Rogers.
In 1982, Rita and family were living in Bourbonnais. She began working part time for the Bradley Association of Commerce and Industry. Shortly after, she also was hired to work for the Bourbonnais Chamber of Commerce. Through her unending efforts and imaginative and innovative ideas, Rita was an impetus for many changes that led the two groups to grow in membership from 100 or so to a combined organization, the Bradley-Bourbonnais Chamber of Commerce, with a membership of 500.
It was her efforts in the '80s that changed the Saturday afternoon Bradley Christmas parade into the largest lighted night parade in the multi-county area for 25 years. When she moved from the area in 2002, she was hired by the five-county Home Builders of East Central Illinois Association. She brought her leadership and imagination to that group as well. She retired in October 2012.
Rita enjoyed her grandchildren, golfing, gardening and traveling.
Memorials may be made to Presence Hospice, 1501 Interstate Drive, Suite C, Champaign, IL 61822.

Siegfried Buhr

Siegfried Buhr

FLATVILLE – Siegfried Behrend Buhr, 89, of Flatville passed away at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday (May 14, 2013) at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.
He was born Nov. 26, 1923, in Compromise Township, to Ben and Theresa (Theessen) Buhr. He was married to Irene Bluhm on Aug. 2, 1947, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Royal.
He is survived by his wife Irene; his children, Marcie Buhr of Joliet, Steve (Martha) Buhr of rural Gifford, Russell (Marilyn) Buhr of rural St. Joseph and Kenny (DeAnn) Buhr of rural Thomasboro; grandchildren, Michelle (Brad) Camp of Norman, Okla., Jeff (Aimee) Buhr of rural Urbana, Andy (Missy) Buhr of rural Gifford, Tommy (Molly) Buhr of rural Ogden, Kyle Buhr and Leah Buhr; two step-grandchildren, Tana (Greg) Suits of Rantoul and Emily (Brandon) Williams of St. Joseph; seven great-grandchildren, Ella Camp, Adi Camp, Max Buhr, Avary Buhr, Sophie Buhr, Annie Buhr and Brody Buhr; three step-great-grandchildren, Logan Suits, Conner Suits and Mia Williams.
Siegfried graduated from Rantoul High School. He farmed all his life on the family Centennial farm in the Flatville area.
He was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council, was a member of the Historical Committee and was involved in several Bible Studies.
He was a member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau and served on the Board of Directors; was a member of the Gifford Lions Club for many years; was a member of the I & I Antique Tractor Club for many years and enjoyed collecting and restoring antique tractors.
He was a seed corn dealer for DeKalb Seed Corn and was employed part time by Hart Oil Company, Smith Auto Repair and Creative Builders.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Minnie Aden.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Flatville.
Memorial contributions can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church.