Obit of Mildred (Beckoff) Cole

COLFAX — Mildred Ione Cole, 90, of Colfax passed away Saturday (Dec. 17, 2011) at Asta Care Center of Colfax.

A graveside service for Mildred will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Wiley Cemetery, Colfax. Visitation will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Monday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax.

Mildred was born Sept. 19, 1921, in Forrest, the daughter of Albert and Ruth Basil Beckhoff. She married Floyd Cole on June 21, 1941, in Lutesville, Mo. He died Oct. 24, 2004.

Surviving are her daughter, Jorja (Gary) Milton of Colfax; son, Dean (Cathy) Cole of Normal; grandchildren, Jeff (Kelly) Cole, Bradley (Joette) Cole, Gregory (DeeDee) Milton, Timothy Milton and Krista (Drew) VanNote; great-grandchildren, Kassadie, Peyton, Braelyn, Lauren, Averi and Addison Cole; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Madison Huff and Quintin Rogganbauck.

Mildred was a member of the Methodist Church in Lexington and Chatsworth.

Memorials may be made to the Eastern McLean County Ambulance Association or Asta Care Center of Colfax.

Condolences and tributes may be made to the family atwww.duffypilsmemorialhome.com

Obit of Barbara J. Allen Kramer

DWIGHT — Barbara J. Allen Kramer, 64, Dwight, peacefully passed away at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2011) at her home surrounded by family and friends after a 15-month battle with cancer.

Her funeral will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dwight United Methodist Church, 701 S. Columbia St., Dwight, with the Rev. Lance Leeds officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded. Hager Memorial Home, Dwight, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials can be made to the Livingston County Humane Society.

Barbara was born April 12, 1947, in Fairbury, daughter of Orville R. and Hazel Franklin Allen.

She is survived by her partner in life, William J. Hooker, Dwight; her son, David J. (Michelle) Kramer, Mansfield; three grandchildren, Douglas J., Kolby R. and Trista L. Kramer; and her mother, of Dwight.

She also had a special relationship with Bill’s children, William T. (Heidi) Hooker and Brian J. Hooker, as well as grandsons, Matt and B.J.

She was preceded in death by her father and two siblings, Richard Allen and Linda Allen Moore.

Barbara attended Kempton-Cabery Grade School and graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1965. She earned a degree from Brokaw Hospital School of Medical Technology in 1967.

From 1967 to 1993, Barbara worked in the medical profession at several facilities, including Brokaw Hospital, Bloomington; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Alton; St. James Hospital, Pontiac; Wooster Hospital, Wooster, Ohio; Fairbury Hospital; and Gibson City Community Hospital. She worked at Morris Hospital from 1993 to 2002.

In 1988, Barbara obtained an insurance license and worked part time for the Shafer-Pearson Agency in Chatsworth. After retirement from the medical field in 2002, she worked full-time for William J. Hooker Agency in Dwight. She also completed the CISR and CIC designations in the insurance field.

Barbara was a member of Dwight United Methodist Church. She was active with United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, acting as a youth group leader and with the admin council. She was active with the Dwight Chamber of Commerce.

Barbara loved to travel and most recently visited Paris, France, in 2010, with her niece, Leanne Moore of Tampa, Fla.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending their sporting events. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, as well as her backyard pond. She liked visiting flea markets and festivals and really enjoyed her pets.

Please share condolences or memories online at www.hagermemorialhome.com.

Obit of Larry V. Stemke

CHATSWORTH — Larry V. Stemke, 68, Chatsworth, died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2011) at the Good Samaritan Home of Pontiac.

His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth, with the Rev. Jerry Gentes of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatsworth officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Chatsworth. Burial will be at Wenger Cemetery, Gilman. Memorials in Larry’s name may be left to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Larry was born March 2, 1943, in Kankakee, a son of Vincent W. and Evelyn Goller Stemke. He married Joan Chase on June 30, 1963, in Gilman.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Stemke, Chatsworth; one brother, Gerald (Janet) Stemke, Alberta, Canada; and two sisters, Linda (John) Whitlow, Normal, and Beverly (Rodger) Gillenwater, Normal.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Todd Stemke in 1991; and one brother, Billy Stemke.

Mr. Stemke graduated from Gilman-Danforth High School. He had worked as a custodian for the Chatsworth schools. He later worked for Hicksgas and Trimble Oil in Chatsworth, delivering fuel to farmers. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatsworth, the Chatsworth Masonic Lodge and the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left atwww.martin-funeralhomes.com.

Obit of David L. Zeller

ONTIAC — David L. Zeller, 61, of Pontiac passed away Saturday morning (Dec. 10, 2011) at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Pontiac.

A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Chatsworth, with the Rev. B.K. Tran and the Rev. Richard Brunskill officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday prior to the Mass at the church, where in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his family. Cremation rites have been accorded and a private inurnment will be at a later date. Martin Funeral Home, Chatsworth, is in charge of arrangements.

David was born Feb. 14, 1950, in Fairbury, a son of Leo Zeller and Mary Lou Dohman Teel.

He is survived by three daughters, JoAnn (Michael) Riedel and Brandy (Jason) Pekarovich, both of Forrest, and Janna (Damon Lynch) Zeller of Fisher; eight grandsons; his mother, Mary Lou Teel of Chatsworth; five sisters, Diane (Ulf) Olsen of El Paso, Texas, Linda (Bob) Arquette of Streamwood, Beth Ann May and Mary Jo (Mark) See, both of Joliet, and Marcella Ratliff of Florida; three brothers, Larry Zeller of Pontiac, Joe Zeller of Florida and Ricky (Ellie) Zeller of New Jersey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, David E. Zeller, on November 27; a brother, Russell Zeller; and his father.

David was a paint contractor for 3M National for many years.

This obituary may be viewed, and private condolences sent to the family online at www.martin-funeralhomes.com.

Obit of Sharon Lawless Neville

FAIRBURY — Sharon Lawless Neville, 70, of Palatine passed away Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2011) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

She was born in Fairbury to the late Thomas and Ruth Lawless and lived for more than 40 years in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights, Island Lake and most recently Palatine. Sharon, who had a long career of 30 years at Miami Corp., had quite interesting stories of commuting to the Wrigley Building on a daily basis. She was known as an adventuresome traveler with friends or family, which included frequent trips to visit children and grandchildren. A most passionate Chicago sports fan, Sharon was often the loudest cheerleader in the room following the Bulls and Bears and a devoted listener to Ron Santo and Pat Hughes.

She was the beloved wife of the late Patrick Kenneth Neville and the loving mother of four children, Tricia (Rich) Bingham of Edmond, Okla.; Michael Neville and Christine (Jack) Busby, both of Arlington Heights; and Matt (Kelly) Neville of Dallas. She was the proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren, Adrienne, Ken, Connor and Luke Bingham; Rachelle, Brad, Corinne and Will Busby; and Sarah and Danny Neville — all have fond memories of a grandmother who provided unconditional love and support.

She loved attending many school and sports activities related to all her grandchildren and was most proud of their accomplishments. She was also a dear sister to Joyce Lawless of Bloomington, Kay (John) Ryan of Peoria, and Judy Lawless of Bloomington; and had strong connections to her in-laws, extended family and too many to name but all dearly loved.

A memorial gathering will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. A visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, with a service at 2 p.m. at Hager Memorial Home, Dwight. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Chatsworth. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Chicago Botanic Garden atwww.chicagobotanic.org.

The Great Chatsworth Fire-1881

Files from the Chatsworth Plaindealer

130 Years Ago, the  Great Fire of 1881

from the Chatsworth Plaindealer

As you can see, it is rebuilt by 1885

 

Merle & Pearl Lang-50th Anniversary

See picture here.

CHENOA — David E. Zeller, 31, Chenoa, died at 9:28 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 27, 2011) in Chenoa.

A memorial service will be at 6:30 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, Fairbury. The Rev. Steve Anderson will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. before the service today at the church.

Memorials may be made to Livingston County Sheriff Drug Prevention Fund, 844 W. Lincoln St., Pontiac, IL 61764, or to the family. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements.

David was born April 30, 1980, in Pontiac, a son of David Zeller and Wendy Boundy. He is survived by his parents, David of Pontiac and Wendy (Larry) Boundy of Melvin.

Also surviving are his sisters, JoAnna (Michael) Riedel and Brandy (Jason) Pekarovich, both of Forrest; and Janna (Damon Lynch) Zeller, Fisher; stepsisters, Stephanie (Derek) Kietzman, Gibson City, and Michelle (Lonnie) Engel, Elliott; a stepbrother, Scott (Paula) Boundy, Chatsworth; his eight nephews who adored “uncle,”Brandon Riedel, Logan Riedel, Sheldon Riedel, Logan Tate Pekarovich, Brayden Pekarovich, Rayce Pekarovich, Landen Lynch and Blaine Lynch; and his grandparents, Dorothy Smith, Gibson City, and Mary Lou Tell, Chatsworth.

David was a welder and was working for Chenoa Welding. He was an avid sports fan, especially loving the Chicago Bears.