Obit of Therese Murphy Burgard

Therese Murphy Burgard, 87, of Naperville, formerly of Chatsworth passed away at 9:41 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 1, 2012 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth. Father David Sable will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth. Burial will follow services.

Memorials may be made to “Food for the Poor”, 6401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073.

She was born on February 4, 1925 in Litchfield, IL a daughter of Gerry and Rosalie Kniery Wand.

Surviving are her children: Kevin (Kathleen) Murphy of Cullom, IL, Terry Ann (Don) Kaap of Bolingbrook, IL, and Bill (Kathy) Murphy of Ogden, IL; ten grandchildren: Dan Murphy, Joe Murphy, John Murphy, Steve Murphy, Ben Kaap, Tony Kaap, Lorcan Murphy, Christopher Murphy, Nate McIntosh, and Patrick McIntosh; five great grandchildren: Jesse Kaap, Michael Kaap, Jonathan Kaap, Brenna Murphy, and Addison McIntosh; many nieces and nephews; and countless students.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and three brothers.

Therese received her Bachelor’s in Chemistry and her Master’s Degree in Education and taught at Cullom High School for 28 years. She was a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth, Illinois Retired Teacher’s Association, and the EAA (Experimental Aviation Association).

Her main goals in life were to be a good wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher, and she excelled at each. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Obit of Betty (Grieder) Friedman

Betty Friedman, 82, of Chatsworth passed away at 3:10 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at Piper City Rehab and Living Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth. Pastor David Reynolds will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 25, 2012 from 4:00-8:00 pm at the United Methodist Church in Chatsworth and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Burial will follow services at Germanville Cemetery in rural Chatsworth. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth is handling arrangements for the family.
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, Piper City Rehab and Living Center, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Betty was born May 20, 1930 in rural Chatsworth, a daughter of Walter and Edna May King Grieder. She married John Friedman on February 22, 1953 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Chatsworth. He survives.
Also surviving are her children: Joe (Cheri) Friedman of Gibson City, IL, Lori (Dave) Welsh of Columbus, OH, Jay Friedman of Pontiac, IL, Lana Friedman of Champaign, James (Angie) Friedman of Roberts, IL, and Jason (Lori) Friedman of Fisher, IL; five grandchildren; one great grandchild; one step-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother: Cleotus Grieder; and one sister: Dorothy Rose.
Betty sang in the Harmonettes in Roberts, IL and was in the Kitchen Band in Chatsworth for many years, and the Germanville Club. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, dogs, cats, cross stitching, crafts, and painting. Betty was an eclectic collector. She was active in the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.
She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth where she played the piano and sang in the church choir for many years.
Betty was very family oriented. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who will be greatly missed.

Obit of Glen L. Dehm

CHATSWORTH — Glen L. Dehm, 90, Chatsworth, died at 9:50 p.m. Sunday (May 20, 2012) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, with the Rev. Garry Gromley officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Burial will follow at Chatsworth Cemetery. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home, Chatsworth, is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, the Chatsworth Township Library or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Glen was born May 24, 1921, in Ford County, a son of William and Hattie DeBoor Dehm, the third of five sons. He married Marilyn Wilson on Aug. 21, 1943, at the Methodist Church, Chatsworth. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Cary “Snook” (Jane) Dehm, Chatsworth; and Scottie (Tammy) Dehm, Lexington; one daughter, Gayle (Dennis “Sport”) Hornickel, Chatsworth; one brother, Lyle “Ike” (Wilma) Dehm, Chatsworth; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Glenda Carol Dehm; one son, Jimmy Dehm; one daughter, Glenna Rae Dehm McGreal; three brothers, Weldon, Lloyd (Bones) and Leland (Verneil) Dehm; and one grandson, Eric Dehm.

Glen was educated in the Piper City schools. He and his wife, Marilyn farmed in the Chatsworth area until he retired at the age of 88. He also sold Funks and Golden Harvest Seed for 40 years. In 1949, Glen became the fourth generation to own the property at 103 E. Elm St. in Chatsworth, where he built their home in 1950. Marilyn still resides there. They wintered in Naples, Fla., for 30 years where Glen enjoyed fishing and pitching horseshoes with friends.

Glen was an avid collector of antique farm equipment. He could be seen at most land and farm auctions. Glen and his family enjoyed driving the tractors in the Heritage Days Parade in Chatsworth every summer. He as a member of the Thresherman’s Reunion Association of Pontiac, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Wauseon, Ohio. In the 1960s, Glen and his son Snook entered many local tractor pulls.

He served on the Chatsworth High School board for nine years. He belonged to bowling and dartball leagues in the community.

Glen was a loving husband, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa who will be greatly missed.

This obituary may be viewed and guestbook signed at www.calvertmartinmemorial.com.

See photo here.

Chatsworth Boys & Girls Club

From the Blade
May 15, 2012

During the week of April 15 - 21, the Chatsworth Boys and Girls Club celebrated National Boys and Girls Club Week with theme days and activities. They celebrated smart choices on Thinker's Day Monday and conducted a community service project on Community Tuesday, where members assembled 20 care packages for elderly shut-ins in their community.

Note: See photo here.

Obit of Carl Sharp

CHATSWORTH— Carl Woodrow Sharp, 99, Chatsworth, died at 6:35 a.m. Sunday (May 13, 2012) at Piper City Rehab and Living Center.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wed-nesday at the United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, with the Rev. David Reynolds officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the hour of service Wednesday at the church. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth is handling arrangements for the family. Burial will be at Brenton Township Cemetery, rural Piper City. Memorials may be made in Carl’s name to First United Methodist Church of Chatsworth or the Chatsworth Library.
Carl was born March 4, 1913, in Roberts, son of Leonard Houk and Hattie Isabelle Brantley Sharp. He married Thelma Gladys Ford on Aug. 13, 1938, in Chatsworth. They spent the next 73 years together raising their family, working their farm and showing the world what “happily ever after” really means. He farmed all his life and retired in 1993 and moved to Chatsworth.
He was one of eight children born to the Sharp family and was the last to carry on the family tradition. He was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters, Jessie, Velma, Mildred, Madie and Theakla; two brothers, Leon and Digsby; and one grandson, Eric Carl.
Carl is survived by his wife, Thelma Sharp, Chatsworth; three sons, Gene Sharp, Chatsworth; Don (Eleanor) Sharp, Mount Pulaski; and Rick (Dana) Sharp, Champaign; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
He loved sports. He pitched horseshoes, played softball and pitched baseball for several years. Carl belonged to the Christian Dartball League for 60 years.
Carl was a member of United Methodist Church of Chatsworth and held several positions on church committees. He helped construct the new church in 1980. Carl was the secretary for the Kankakee-Streator men’s $20 Club for several years. He was a gifted and humorous writer who wrote poems for many different occasions. Carl was active in the Heritage Days Program for several years which he enjoyed very much. He loved trees and enjoyed helping plant trees for wind breaks and planting fruit trees wherever he lived.
He was a member of the Chatsworth Sportsman Club from the time it began until it disbanded, even serving as its president. Carl loved to play cards, square dance and work in the garden. He always kept his lawn mowed even at his advanced age.
Carl loved his family and grandchildren and always made sure they knew it. His life was a testimony of love, grace, generosity and kindness to all who had the good fortune to know him. He was never without a smile, never complained and never spoke an unkind word about another human being. He loved to sit on his front porch swing and wave to all who passed by and he loved welcoming family and friends into his home where he served as the consummate host. His passing leaves a void in his family that can never be filled, and he will never be forgotten.
This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.calvertmartinmemorial.com and www.martin-funeralhomes.com.

Earth Day Celebrated

From the Blade

May 8, 2012

Chatsworth Elementary recently celebrated Earth Day. Activities included a school-wide “Kiddie Litter Walk” to pick up trash around the town. Books were read about Earth Day and the need to respect our environment. In a partnership with Homeshield Industries, the students decorated flower pots for the factory’s employees. A shade tree was also planted in honor of Robert Thomsen. Mr. Thomsen taught 23 years for the Chatsworth and Prairie Central School Districts. Mr. Thomsen was also a coach and a member of the selection committee for naming our new school District “Prairie Central”.


Note:See photo here.

Obit of Cathy (Harwood) Kerber

PIPER CITY — Cathy Jean Kerber, 52, rural Piper City, died at 7:08 p.m. Sunday (May 6, 2012) at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, after losing her battle with leukemia.
Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. May 19 at Cathy and Matt’s home in rural Piper City. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are being handled by Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home, Piper City.
Cathy was born Oct. 24, 1959, in Salina, Kan., daughter of Herschel E. “Gene” and Rebecca A. Burch Harwood. Her childhood was spent in Watseka, and she attended schools in Watseka. She married Matt T. Kerber on Dec. 21, 1996, in Thawville. He survives.
Surviving children are Nicole K. (Joe) Griffin, Paxton, and David W. (Elizabeth) Price, Champaign; six grandchildren, Mary, Elizabeth and Patrick Griffin; E-lalliah May Price; David Matthew Price and Illiana Alexis Stano; and one brother, Billy (Tera) Harwood, Watseka.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Christopher; and maternal and paternal grandparents.
She was a homemaker. Cathy also was a member of the Chatsworth American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed camping and spending time with her grandchildren.
Please sign the guest book at www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com.

Obit of Barbara (Roach) Teter

BLOOMINGTON — Barbara “Bobbie” Teter, 80, Superior, Wis., formerly of Bloomington, passed away April 28, 2012, in Superior, Wis., in her home with family by her side.
Her memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bloomington, with a visitation one hour before the service. Interment will be in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth.
Bobbie was a member of the Scarlet Ladies Red Hat Society. She was also a member of St. Williams Parish.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and a grandson.
Bobbie is survived by her children, Pam (Stan) Jiles, Bloomington; Jack (Maria) Teter, Tucson, Ariz.; and Cheryl Teter, Superior, Wis.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and sister, Beverly (Bill) Kilmartin, Normal.

Obit of Agnes M. (Endres) Mangan

Agnes M. Mangan, 92 of Dwight passed away at 4:54 am Monday, May 7, 2012 at Morris Hospital.

Visitation will be 5-8 pm Thursday at Hager Memorial Home, Dwight. A mass of christian

burial will be 10 am Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dwight with Father James Rickey officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded with inurnment at St. Rose Cemetery in Strawn at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to her family.

Agnes was born March 25, 1920 in Chatsworth, the daughter of Charles and Mary Endres. She married William L Mangan April 19, 1941 in St. Louis, MO. He died December, 1967.

Surviving are 5 daughters; Margaret "Peg" Decker, Dwight, Kathleen Mangan, PawPaw,

Jane (Larry) Spray, Minooka, Julie Mangan, Morris, & Penny Mangan, Chicago; 2 sons,

John Mangan, Gibson City, Wm. Paul (Diane) Mangan, Minooka; 3 sisters, Mary Hayes, Florence Davis, and Loretta Bode; 5 grandchildren, Robert Mangan, William Spray, Connie Spray, Kristen Mangan, and Jonathan Mangan; 6 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband of 26 years, William, two children

Charles and Constance Mangan, a grandson, Christopher Spray, her brothers Albert, Vincent, Charles and Ambrose Endres and her son-in-law, Bill Decker.

After she graduated from high school Agnes attended Illinois State University earning an

associates degree in education.

She later worked as a nurses aide at Gibson City Hospital.

After her husband passed away she managed to put five of her children through higher education, as education was very important to her.

Agnes was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society.

She enjoyed plants and gardening, crossword puzzles, playing cards, reading and was

a challenge to defeat at Scrabble. She loved relating her life stories to her children and grandchildren.

Obit of Richard Duane Stork

Richard Duane Stork, 78, Chatsworth, died at 5:30pm Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Piper City Rehab and Living Center, Piper City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Forrest with Pastor Corinne Blissard officiating. Burial will be in Forrest Twp. Cemetery, Forrest with full military rites conducted by the J.A. Folwell American Legion Post #174, Forrest. Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:30 to 10:15 am Wednesday at the church. The family suggests memorials be directed to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation.
Mr. Stork was born November 28, 1933 in Fairbury, IL, the son of Henry and Ida Hanni Stork. He married Susie Hearne on July 29, 1956 in Chenoa, IL. She survives in Chatsworth, IL.
Also surviving are his children, Jean (Randy) Doran, Fairbury, Rich (Jamie) Stork and John Stork, both of Forrest, Bob Stork, Chatsworth, Lisa (Mark) Hall, Cropsey, thirteen grandchildren, three step grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and five step great grandchildren, three sisters, Lena (Gene) Jones, Helen (Fred) Voeste both of Forrest, Wilma (David) Kieser, Bloomington, seven brothers, Elmer (Darlene) Stork, Chatsworth, Wilmer (Gwen) Stork, Wayne Stork, both of Fairbury, Harvey (Alice) Stork, Chenoa, John (Eunice) Stork, Roberts, Edwin (Judy) Stork, Pontiac, Henry (Susan) Stork, Forrest, and a sister-in-law, Mary Stork, Chatsworth.
He is preceded in death by one brother, Donald, one infant sister, Anna Louise, and one daughter-in-law, Bev Stork.
Mr. Stork served in the US Army, farmed and was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Forrest.

Lucas Diller and Football

Lucas Diller will attend Illinois Wesleyan University in the fall of 2012, where he plans to continue his football career. Diller was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Prairie Central football program. He started in 30 consecutive games from 2009 -2011. He also started on the defensive line totaling 46 tackles. He was selected to play in the River Valley All Star game on June 16, 2012, at Olivet Nazarene University and the Illinois Coaches Association Shriners All Star game on July 14, 2012, at Illinois Wesleyan Universtiy.

Note: See photo here.

Chatsworth Elementary Wins Award

From the Blade

May 2, 2012

Chatsworth,Ill. -- Chatsworth Elementary has been selected by the Illinois State Board of Education as a2011 Spotlight School for the seventh consecutive year. The Spotlight Award recognizes a high-poverty school where academic performance is closing the achievement gap. Chatsworth Elementary is one of 167 Spotlight Schools in Illinois earning honors this year. If you would like to learn more about the Illinois Honor Roll go to http://www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu

Note: See Staff photo here.