Friday, August 24, 2012

Obit of Kathryn Bork Lehmann



 Kathryn Irene Bork Lehmann, 93, of Bexley. Originally of Chatsworth, Illinois, the daughter of Carl W. Bork and Kathryn Bork Rosenboom. Preceded in death by son William P. Lehmann, and husband W. Richard Lehmann. Survived by daughters, Carolyn Lehmann of Bexley and Sally L. (Tom) Hall of Camp Hill, PA; grandson, T. Gustaf Hall of Camp Hill; granddaughter, Kathryn L. Hall of Falls Church, VA; brother, Richard (Carol) Rosenboom of Gainesville, FL; devoted nephew and nieces, David (Mary) Woodyard and Kathy Woodyard, all of Columbus; many additional nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces. Kathryn was valedictorian at Chatsworth High School, 1937, a 1941 graduate of Capital University, a former school teacher in Glenford, OH, and Chatsworth, IL, and former employee of Lazarus Federated Department Stores. She served Capital University and Christ Lutheran Church through organizations such as CUAC, Capital Parents' Club, Women's Circles, Board of Trustees, Altar Guild, and ALCW. Kathryn will be remembered for her kind, generous heart and her "winkie" eyes. A private graveside service arranged by WOODYARD EAST CHAPEL will be held Monday. A memorial service will take place Saturday, September 8, at 1 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital University, Christ Lutheran Church, or Zusman Hospice of Wexner Heritage Village.
Published in The Columbus Dispatch on August 25, 2012


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Obit of Joyce Matich



Joyce Matich, 68, of Chatsworth, IL, passed away at 10:00 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth and one hour prior to services at Kolbus-John V. May Funeral Home in Chicago on Saturday. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at Kolbus- John V. May Funeral Home in Chicago, IL. Dr. Stephan Angel from the Eden United Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will follow services on Saturday at Saint Luke Cemetery in Chicago. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home is handling local arrangements for the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SELCAS or the Livingston County Humane Society.
Joyce was born November 12, 1943 in Chicago, IL a daughter of Wallace and Rosemary (Krause) Olson. She married Christ Matich on February 22, 1965 in Chicago.
She leaves behind her husband of 46 ½ years, Christ Matich of Chatsworth, IL; one son, Christ (Amy) Matich of Chenoa, IL; and one niece, Anna Olson of Chicago, IL.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents.
She was a member of Eden United Church of Christ from her time in Chicago. Joyce enjoyed animals, cooking, and crafting. She particularly enjoyed riding in B-17 Bombers after they were restored by the Collings Association.
Joyce was a homemaker and loved being with her family. She was a loving wife, mother and aunt who will be greatly missed.

Obit of Lawrence E. Ronna



Lawrence E. “Larry” Ronna, 86, of Paxton, died at 2:25 p.m. Sunday, Aug.19, 2012, at Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 407 W. Pells St., Paxton, with Rev. Jose Kadukunnel officiating.
Burial will follow in Chatsworth St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton, with the Rosary being recited at 8 p.m.
Lawrence was born March 18, 1926, in Loda, a son of Frederick and Mata M. (Hilgendorf) Ronna. He married Monica Kurtenbach in January of 1962. She preceded him in death Oct. 8, 1987. He married Reva E. Gleason Swanstrom Aug. 7, 1997, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paxton. She preceded him in death March 23, 2006.
Lawrence is survived by one brother, Delmar (Mary) Ronna, Paxton; two stepsons, Steve (Bonnie) Swanstrom, Morrison, and Stan (Carol) Swanstrom, Gilman; two stepdaughters, Sandy (C.J.) Grady and Shelly Swanstrom, all of Paxton; one stepgranddaughter; six stepgrandsons; four stepgreat-grandsons; seven stepgreat-granddaughters; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, six brothers and two sisters.
Lawrence attended Loda High School.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 and during his service received the following decorations and citations: Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon, two Bronze Battle Stars Philippine Liberation, one Bronze Star Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal Army of Occupation Japan.
He worked as a supervisor for the Fairbury Tube Company and also farmed in the Chatsworth area. He moved from Chatsworth to Paxton in 1997.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paxton, and the Chatsworth VFW.
Lawrence was an avid Cubs, Bears and Illini fan. He enjoyed playing euchre and bingo and spending time with his family.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paxton, or an organization of the donor’s choice.


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Obit of Gene H. Corban

Gene H. Corban, 79 of Chatsworth, died on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at OSF St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at the Chatsworth United Methodist Church with Rev. Ivy Silas officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be held in Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorials in Gene’s name may be left to his family.
Gene was born on March 22, 1933 in rural Piper City, IL the son of Clarence and Nellie (Martin) Corban. He Married Phyllis Pearson on March 23, 1952 in Chatsworth.
He is survived by his wife: Phyllis Corban of Chatsworth, IL: two sons: Larry (Joy) of Pontiac, IL and James (Debra) Corban of Greeley, CO; four grandchildren, one great grandchild and his brother: Robert (Betty) Corban of Roberts, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Merle and Wayne Corban.
Gene was a member of Chatsworth United Methodist Church and retired from Diamond Star Motors where he was a Quality Control Inspector. He enjoyed wood working, fishing, and spending time with his family.
See photo here.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Retired teachers will visit Little School Museum


Retired teachers will visit Little School Museum

August 11, 2012
My Times-Streator
Officers of the Livingston County Retired Teachers Association are planing a Tuesday, Aug. 21, meeting in Chatsworth — for a step back in time.

Members are invited to visit the Little School Museum in CAPS Park on First Street. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with the program and meeting at 10 a.m. in the pavilion at the park.

The school is one of the few school museums in Illinois and is more than 100 years old.

The school originally was built as a one-room schoolhouse in Chatsworth. As the school population grew, it was moved to the country and still was used as a school. After it moved to the country, it was attended mostly by children of workers in a sugar beet factory near Chatsworth, earning the name "Beet School."

In 1958, PTA members started the idea of restoring the Beet School. On April 17, 1971, the building was moved to its present location, and many fundraisers were conducted. The restored schoolhouse represents a community effort in the restoration project and was spearheaded by Louise Stoutemeyer and her committee.

At one time, the building was painted red, but in 2009, it was sided white.

At 11 a.m., following the program and meeting, a box lunch will be served in keeping with the theme of the day. Catering will be done from Vanilla Bean Catering, owned by Sandy Schrof. The cost will be $10.

Reservations are due by Tuesday, Aug. 14. To register, call Erma Hesterberg at 815-844-3456 or Alberta Kinate at 815-657-8381.

Obit of Jean (Meister) Kurtenbach




Jean Elizabeth Kurtenbach of rural Chatsworth, IL, passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 12:25 PM at her home with her family by her side after a six year battle with a brain tumor.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth, with Father David Sabel officiating. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at the Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth from 5:00 – 8:00 PM, with a rosary recited at 4:45 PM. Additional visitation will be held on Wednesday morning from 9:00 AM until the time of services at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Chatsworth. Memorials may be made in memory of Jean to Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute c/o Northwestern Memorial Foundation, 251 E. Huron St., Gaiter Pavilion 3-200, Chicago, IL 60611.
Jean was born on August 7, 1951 in Fairbury, IL a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Fehr) Meister. She married Thomas Kurtenbach on August 4, 1973 in Chatsworth, IL.
She is survived by her husband: Thomas Kurtenbach of rural Chatsworth, IL; one son: Andrew Kurtenbach of Pontiac, IL; two daughters: Tammy (Matt) Miller of rural Campus, IL and Teresa (Luke Thoensen) Kurtenbach of Silvis, IL; three grandchildren: Hannah, Holden and Hayden Miller; four brothers: John (Nancy) Meister of Ashkum, IL, Martin (Margie) Meister of Fairbury, IL, Duane (Karen) Meister of Ashkum, IL and Leroy (Marsha) Meister of Fairbury, IL; seven sisters: Evelyn (Harold) Neukomm of Fairbury, IL, Helen Meister of Fairbury, IL, Mary (Dave) Gilman of Pontiac, IL, Bernice (Pete) Hinrich of Clifton, IL, Alice (Glenn) Saathoff of Ashkum, IL, Barb Meister of Homosassa, FL and Becky (Gary) Merkle of Ashkum, IL and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister in infancy.
Mrs. Kurtenbach was a hog and grain farmer with her husband for over 30 years. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth, where she had been a member and former officer of the Alter and Rosary Society and had been in the choir. She was an avid volunteer. She was a loving and selfless daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother.
The family wishes to extend a thank you to OSF Hospice and her three caretakers: Ann Wegrzyn, Joan Marie Shepard and Sharon Huber for all they have done for Jean and our family throughout this journey.



Sunday, August 5, 2012

The Chatsworth Wreck Remembered-Pekin Times Report


PEKIN, Ill. —

The Great Chatsworth Train Wreck of 1887 happened in Livingston County, not Tazewell County, so at first glance one might not think it was relevant to Tazewell County history. Nevertheless, the Pekin Public Library’s Local History Room has a file on the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck.
A look into that file will quickly reveal the local connection. The main item in the file is a photograph of the disaster that had been reprinted in 1927. The photo caption says, “Although it happened in 1887, all of 40 years ago, one need only say ‘Chatsworth wreck’ in this part of the country and everyone knows what is meant. This picture of the famous wreck belongs to Chris Ziebold, Sr., 1213 Henrietta street, Pekin.”
Notably, this photo was the basis for one of the engravings that illustrated the Harper’s Weekly account of the wreck in the issue dated Aug. 20, 1887.
However, besides the local connection of the photograph, the disaster itself, in which at least 80 people died and probably hundreds were injured, touched the lives of many people throughout central Illinois. The train’s passengers no doubt included residents of Tazewell County.
The wreck, which happened shortly before midnight on Aug. 10, 1887, has been ranked as either the second or third deadliest train disaster of the 19th century. The number of dead has been placed at between 81 and 85 (reports at the time estimated more than 100 dead) and the number of injured anywhere from 169 to 372.
On the evening of Aug. 10, a Toledo, Peoria & Western train pulled out of Peoria, heading east through Eureka and Chenoa on the way to Niagara Falls. The train included two steam engines, six fully loaded passenger cars, six sleeper cars and three cars for luggage (and perhaps more cars). Aboard the train were as many as 700 people who had been attracted by a special offer to visit the Falls.
At a point about three miles east of Chatsworth, the train began to accelerate down a slope and reached a speed of about 40 mph. At this point the train began to cross a wooden trestle bridge over a creek. The first engine made it over the bridge, which then collapsed behind it, causing the second engine to slam into the hill side. Most of the cars behind the engine telescoped into the second engine and each other.
One of the survivors, J.M. Tennery, was on the first sleeper, whose passengers escaped with only a fright or minor bruises. He said, “I got out in safety, and the scene presented to the eye and ear was one I wish I could forever efface from my memory.”

This photograph of the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck of 1887 was owned by the late Chris Ziebold of Pekin, and was used as the basis for an engraving that illustrated the Harper’s Weekly report on the wreck.