Obit of William J. "Bill" Penicook

Bill is the husband of Joan Hubly

CHAMPAIGN — William J. "Bill' Penicook, 78, of Champaign, formerly of Wellington, died at 4:31 p.m.

Monday (Nov. 24, 2014) of complications from congestive heart failure, at his home surrounded by his

family.

His service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Presbyterian Church, Piper City, with the Rev. Wade Ditty

officiating. Burial will be in Brenton Cemetery, Piper City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at

Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home, Piper City. There will also be an hour visitation before the service at the

church on Sunday. Memorials may be made to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, The Salvation Army or

Presence Hospice.

Bill was born July 3, 1936, in Fairbury, to W.J. and Marguerite Siela Penicook. He graduated from Piper City

High School in Piper City and the IBA School of Banking at Southern Illinois University. He began his

banking career at the Piper City State Bank, where he rose to the position of vice president. He later moved

to Wellington to work at the Wellington State Bank and ended his career in the insurance business, owning

the Penicook Agency in Hoopeston and Milford.

Bill married Rosemarie Fiets on Dec. 27, 1958. She passed away on June 9, 2004.

He married Joan Hubly Rhode on Dec. 26, 2008. She survives.

Other survivors include his children, Mike (Ann) Penicook, Paxton; Julie (Dale) Katterhenry, Homer; Jill

Penicook, Hoopeston; Kaylyn (Jeff) Davis, Thawville; Bob (Rebeka) Rhode, Morton; Pat (Clarissa) Rhode,

Peoria; and Karen (Michael) McPherson, Naperville; 16 grandchildren; his older brother, John (Ruth Ann)

Penicook, Piper City; twin sister, Barb Powell, Channahon; and younger brother, Gordon (Sherry) Penicook,

Mahomet.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and first wife, Rosemarie.

He enjoyed getting together every Sunday with his family and traveling with Rosie and then Joan and with

his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Nancy Jacobsen. Golfing was another of Bill's passions,

especially with his brother Gordon and their group. He and Joan enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers,

Fla., and welcomed family and visitors while there.

Please sign the guest book at www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com.

Obit of Brian B. Gerdes

RANTOUL — Brian B. Gerdes, 56, of Rantoul, passed away at 1:45 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 30, 2014) at

Heartland Healthcare, Paxton, after a battle with cancer.

He was born May 24, 1958, Fairbury, a son of Leo Melicent (Blair) Gerdes.

He is survived by a daughter, Dana (Chad) Marshall, Ludlow; a sister, Marlene (Ed) Clampitt, Rantoul; and

three grandchildren, Gaven, Gage and Grysen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

Brian spent his lifetime painting homes and business. He owned and operated Gerdes Painting for the past

14 years. He loved his grandchildren, family and lived to ride on his Harley.

His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove, Rantoul. The Rev.

Jeffray Greene will officiate. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the chapel. Burial will follow at

Ludlow Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Serenity Shack or the American Cancer Society

Obit of Patricia A. (Kerrins) Monahan

Patricia A. Monahan, 84, of Piper City, and formerly of Chatsworth, passed away at 11:45 a.m. on

Thursday (Oct. 30, 2014) at the Piper City Rehab and Living Center.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Monday until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Saints Peter and

Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth with the Rev. Richard Brunskill officiating. Interment will follow

at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery near Chatsworth. Funeral arrangements are being handled by

Calvert and Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth. Memorials may be made to the HOPE fund at the

Citizen's Bank of Chatsworth.

Pat was born Sept. 19, 1930, the daughter of John and Margaret Kerrins, of Chatsworth. They

preceded her in death. She married Leo F. Monahan on Nov. 17, 1973. He preceded her in death on

Aug. 12, 1993.

She was a graduate of Chatsworth Community High School, a lifelong member of the congregation

for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Chatsworth, and a member of the church's Altar and

Rosary Society.

Surviving are one son, Michael (Valera) Monahan, of Bloomington; one daughter, Lynn (Rodney)

Frechette, of Piper City; grandchildren, Jessica Frechette, of Washington, Bryant Frechette, of

Pontiac, and Kean and Kerri Monahan, of Bloomington; cousins, Mary Ruth Donahue, of Oak Lawn,

Paula Farrell, of Woodridge, Mary Rathbun, of Fairbury, and Jim Trost, of Kankakee.

Although generally content with the rural downstate lifestyle, Pat did enjoy an occasional adventure.

As a teenager, she often visited a like-aged cousin in the Chicago area and the two of them would

sometimes explore the city via mass transit while the parents were at work. On another occasion, Pat

and a friend traveled by train to New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty and other sites just so

they could say they did so.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Piper City Rehabilitation and Living Center for their

sensitive and caring support during Pat's final days. Pat will be missed by her family, acquaintances

and friends, including the breakfast regulars at Ne's Restaurant in Piper City.

We will miss you "Mama!"

Please sign her online guestbook at calvertmemorial.com.

See Photo here.

Obit of Lauretta Ellen (Shell) Stehle

Lauretta Ellen Stehle, 91, of Piper City, IL, formerly of Chatsworth and Strawn, passed away at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Piper City Rehab and Living Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Forrest with Rev. Roosevelt Smith officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Strawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lauretta’s name may be made to Piper City Rehab and Living Center.

She was born April 18, 1923 in Lutesville, MO a daughter of Monroe Jesse and Ida Mae (Eaker) Shell. She married Raymond Stehle on September 15, 1978. He passed away on October 24, 1996.

She is survived by one sister-in-law: Lorene Shell Kelly of Fort Wayne, IN; and twenty nieces and nephews. Lauretta is preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers: Corum, Lester, Elmer and Raymond Shell; sisters: Opal Farney, Dorothy Donley, and Zetta Yoder.

Lauretta spent her childhood in Charlotte and Saunemin. She lived in Strawn for thirty-five years until she married Raymond and moved to Chatsworth.

She worked at Elwood Arsenal during WWII and then worked at Fairbury Hospital as a CNA for over twenty-five years until her retirement.

Special thanks to the entire staff at Piper City Rehab and Living Center for the excellent care given for our “Aunt Cheetie Bird” for the many years she resided there.

Pat (Ferguson) & Neil Hornickel 60th Anniversary

CHATSWORTH — Neil and Pat Hornickel of Chatsworth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a

family get-together.

They were married Sept. 19, 1954, at First Lutheran Church, Pontiac.

They are the parents of Cindy (Keith) Henrichs, Forrest; Vicki (Darrell) Haag, Kempton; Lori Shafer,

Chatsworth; Rich (Colleen), Fairbury; and Tami (Don) Pitzer, Danville. They have 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He farms and retired after 31 years as Chatsworth Township road commissioner.

See photo here.

Obit of Charles W. Loveall, Sr.

Charles W. Loveall Sr, 59, of Chatsworth, passed away at 8:47 pm Friday, September 12, 2014 at at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.

Cremation Rites will be accorded and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Calvert & Martin

Funeral Home in Chatsworth is handling the arrangements.

Charles was born on September 4, 1955 in Joliet, IL, a son of Charles M. and Christina “Pat” (Flemings) Loveall. He married Alice Kuykendall in Missouri on August 22, 1972, she survives. He is also survived by 2 sons: Charles W. (Debbie Gomez) Loveall Jr of Gibson City, Michael “Scotty” (Karen) Loveall of Chatsworth; daughter in law: Sue Loveall of Chatsworth; sister: Kathy (Jessie) Ramirez of Joliet: 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Tina Coffman.

Charles attended Joliet Central High School and served our country in the United States Marine Corp.

Stories of the Hobo Poet

News

If you're interested in the Hobo Poet that visited Chatsworth during our 1964 Fourth of July celebration,

I have added a few links where you can read about his visits to other towns,

and also see a photo of him.

Hobo Poet Returns to Chatsworth for Celebration