Category: Obituaries

After a long battle with cancer, Rick Charles Bower, age 69, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026, at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 6, 1957. Rick was the beloved husband…

Mary Elizabeth Sweeney, nee Maher, 73, of Braidwood, IL, entered into Eternal Life unexpectedly at 2:46 am on Thursday, August 27, in the Year of Our Lord, 2026.  Her final moments were at Morris Hospital, surrounded by many of her…

Donald “Don” McNamara, 76, of Frankfort, Illinois, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born and raised in Dwight, Illinois, Don spent most of his adult life in Frankfort, where he built a life filled…

Michael “Mike” Leo Noonan, 73, passed away peacefully at 2:52 A.M. on Monday, August 24, 2026, at his lifelong home in Dwight, Illinois. Mike was born on November 13, 1952, in Pontiac, IL.  He was the son of Leo and…

“On the eighth day, God looked down on His planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker.” So God made a farmer.”                                                                -Paul Harvey Everett Paul Severson, 82, passed away at his home August 21, 2026 after succumbing to…

William Joseph “Fatz” Hooker, 79, indomitable patriarch, of Dwight, Illinois, died on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026, after a lengthy illness. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Hager Memorial Home, 201…

Mary Ellen Turner, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026 at the ARC Nursing Home in Dwight, Illinois. She was 92 years old. Mary Ellen was born on June 8, 1934 in Ottawa Illinois to Luther and Hilda Wentz who…

Bernard C. Vigna Jr. “Barney” age 91, of Gardner, IL, passed away Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Manteno, IL. Born July 31, 1935, in Mazon, IL, Barney was the son of Bernard C. Sr. and…

Charles L. “Charlie” Schmidt Sr., age 80, of Diamond, IL passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family at his home on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. He was born on April 21, 1946 in Joliet, IL to Andrew J. and Rose…

Richard E. Von Qualen passed away on July 19th, 2026 at the age of 83. He was born on September 22, 1942 to Earlen and Margaret Von Qualen. Richard attended Good Farm grade school in rural Gardner and graduated from…

Linda “Joyce” Grotevant, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at OSF St. Francis in Peoria. Services for Joyce will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026 at Pontiac United Methodist Church, 219 N Chicago Street, Pontiac, IL…

James Gerald Phelan (“Jim”)August 30, 1947 – June 28, 2026James Gerald Phelan, affectionately known as Jim, was born on August 30, 1947, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to Hugh E. (Ed) and Geraldine Phelan. He was raised on the family farm…

Brian Vecera, age 57, of Dwight, IL, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026 at Loyola University Medical Center. He was born on April 21, 1969, in Joliet, IL, the son of the late Paul and Mary Jo (nee Hogan)…

Arnold D. “Arnie” Spandet, 74, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away at his home surrounded by family. He was born November 2, 1951, in Streator, Illinois, and was raised in Dwight, Illinois. Arnie was the son of the late Arnold…

Dennis R. Tkachik, 76, passed away at his second home on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Born on June 2, 1950, in Joliet, Illinois, Dennis was the son of John and Pearl (Lacore) Tkachik. He attended Gardner-South Wilmington High School in…

Barbara Ann Mortensen, 82, of Dwight, passed away on June 12, 2026 at The Arc nursing home in Dwight. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday June 16, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dwight, with visitation…

Derek “DT” Tjelle, 56, of Coal City, Illinois passed away on June 5, 2026. Born on May 7, 1970, in Streator, Illinois, he was raised and educated in Dwight, Illinois and graduated from Dwight High School with the class of…

Mary Hairald, age 78, of Dwight and formerly of Wilmington, Illinois, died Thursday morning, June 4, 2026, at Morris Hospital in Morris, Illinois. Born on February 11, 1948, in Joliet, Illinois, Mary was the daughter of Melvin Allen and Josephine…

After a brief and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Jeffrey R Fraher, 64, of Owings, MD passed away in the early hours of May 17, 2026, at home, surrounded by his loving family. Born in 1962 in Fairbury, Illinois, Jeff…

Gilbert Lew Nielsen, 88, of Dwight passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 1, 1938 in Streator, the son of Kenneth and Louise Lippold Nielsen. He married Karene Marshall on September…

Joseph Lyle King, age 73 of Reddick entered new life on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Miller Health Center in Kankakee. He was born to Dale and Emma King on October 28, 1952. Joe was a farmer at heart, finding…

Harold Lee Schreiner, 88, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, in Lafayette. Born on August 16, 1937, in Crawfordsville, Harold was the son of Peter and Mary Helen (Grimes) Schreiner. Harold is survived by his beloved…

Herman Eugene Fearman, also known as “Hermie” or “Gene,” age 91, of Odell, IL, passed away on Monday, April 20, 2026, peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side in Odell, IL. Visitation will be held from…

Gardner, Illinois, feels a little quieter today. On Monday, March 16, 2026, David Stuart Nelson, 83, passed away peacefully at home—the very house he grew up in. Born in Streator in 1942 to Bernard Christian Nelson and Enola (Cumming) Nelson,…

Theresa Rose (Dzuryo) McNamara, 98, of Dwight, Illinois, passed away peacefully at 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday April 1, 2026, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 100 West…

Thomas “Bubbles” Burkhardt, 67, Dwight IL, a husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on March 23rd, 2026, surrounded by his family leaving behind a legacy built on love, laughter, and countless cherished memories. His presence filled…

Lorene “Reen” (Burton) Adams, 74, of Dwight, Illinois, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, at her home in Dwight, Il. Memorial visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Hager Memorial…

Patricia “Ann” Naretto, 73, of Odell, Illinois, passed away at 8:14 P.M. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M on Thursday, March 19,…

James D. Meece, 81, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, passed away at 9:24 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. He was born in Pontiac, Illinois to the late Delno Meece and Lura (Stephens) Meece. James proudly served his country in the…

Melvin A. Drechsel, 88, of Dwight, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Arc of Dwight Nursing Home. Visitation will be held Friday, March 6 at Hager Memorial Home, Dwight at 10a – 11a.  With grave side services…

Ronald “Ron” Kerry Gay, 64, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025 in Spanish Plaines Hospital in The Villages, Florida. Born on January 23, 1961 in Streator, Illinois, Ron was the devoted son of Elizabeth “Betty” (Ziegler) and Robert Keith Gay.  …

Ruby Alice (Crone) Thomas, 99, of Dwight, Il., passed away at 5:14 P.M. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at OSF Saint James John W, Albrecht, Pontiac, IL. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February…

Paul B. O’Brien, age 99 of Reddick, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the Villas of Herscher. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, followed by a memorial Mass…

Paul J. Lund, 94, formerly of Herscher, IL, passed away following a short illness at Majestic Care of Carmel, Carmel, IN, on Friday, January 16, 2026. He was born on July 18, 1931 in rural Gardner, IL to the late…

Harry Lynn Johnson, 77, of Dwight, Il., passed away surrounded by his family at 11:30 P.M. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at OSF Saint James Hospital in Pontiac, Il. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on…

Henry T. Lund passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 22, 2026.  Henry was born in 1930 to Theodore H. and Maren Lund.  Henry was one of four sons, raised on a farm in rural Gardner/Dwight.  Henry…

Rosemary Cassady, 94, was born at St. Mary’s Hospital, Streator, in May 1931, to Charles and Marie Cassady.  She was raised on the family farm in Sunbury Township and educated at Dwight Township High School, and St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing…

Melody Lynn Stickles Melody Lynn Stickles; beloved daughter of the late Arnold and the late Dorothy; loving sister of Karen (late Eugene) Wojcik, Kristen (late James) Przybylski, Scott, Braylene (Don) Gasperini, Dawn (Thomas) McErlean, Lance (Sharon), and the late Knight;…

Julia F. Dwyer, 94, of Geneva, Illinois, passed away at 8:39 P.M., on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. on Friday, January 16, 2026,…

Steven E. Snyder, 39, of Streator passed away Saturday, January 3, 2026 at O.S.F. St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria surrounded by his loving family. Steven was born on February 13th, 1986, to Harold “Mike” and Linda (Noel) Snyder, in…