Obit of Ruah Kathleen Hubly

Visitation for Ruah Kathleen Hubly, 84, of Kankakee, will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, where funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Pastor Pete Hinrich will officiate.

Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens, Aroma Township. Memorials may be made to Prairieview Lutheran Home in Danforth. She died Wednesday (June 27, 2012).

Mrs. Hubly was a homemaker and volunteer. She was born Feb. 15, 1928, in Wray, Colo., the daughter of Frederick and Bethel Root Laase. Ruah was a longtime volunteer with the American Red Cross and was Volunteer of the Year in 1995. She had been a Girl Scout leader, past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star and served as a Kankakee County election judge. She loved to sing and for many years was a soloist at weddings, funerals and church services. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bradley. She was always active in her church, especially with the women of the church and served at the local and conference level. Ruah loved playing euchre, reading, doing crosswords, sewing, knitting, quilting, and watching baseball and "Jeopardy!" She was known for the loaded baskets of homemade goodies she delivered to friends and neighbors at Christmas. For several years, Ruah drove a special education bus and loved her special children.

Surviving are her husband of 65 years, James J. Hubly, of Kankakee, whom she married Jan. 27, 1947, in Kewanna, Ind.; one son and three daughters-in-law, James T. and Paula Hubly, of Limestone Township, Patricia Hubly, of Bourbonnais, and Debra Hubly, of Kankakee; one daughter and son-in-law, Carrie and Dan Petry, of Limestone Township; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Ray Stahl; and two sons, Raymond Hubly and Matthew Hubly.

Please sign her guestbook at clancygernon.com.

Obit of Donald J. Stephens

Donald J. Stephens, 90, Fairbury, died at 12:56 am Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Apostolic Christian Church, Forrest with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury where full military rites will be accorded by the J. A. Folwell American Legion Post 174.
Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Friday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury or the J.A. Folwell American Legion Post 174, Forrest.
Mr. Stephens was born November 8, 1921 in Chatsworth, IL the son of Shelby and Clella Perkins Stephens. He married Marjorie “Bunny” Nussbaum on March 14, 1948 in Forrest, IL. She survives in Fairbury.
Also surviving are their children, Tarry Knauer, Melanie (Warren) Gillett, Pam Weeks and Sam (Patsy) Stephens, all of Fairbury, Doug (Cindy) Stephens, Forrest, Candy Stephens, San Francisco, CA, eleven grandchildren, Stephanie Nelson, Kevin Knauer, Shannon Hughes, Kelli Reese, Tori Lemenager, Darren Weeks, Brent Weeks, Austin Stephens, Derek Stephens, Deanna DeLong, Dustin Stephens, sixteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Hazel Honzik, Seminole, FL, Mary Ruth Ricketts, Fairbury, Phyllis (Don) Fortna, Pontiac, IL, one brother, Tom (Carolyn) Stephens, Forrest.
He is preceded in death by one grandson, Derek Gillett, two sons-in-law, Neil Knauer and Jim Weeks, two brothers, Vernon and Raymond Stephens, and one sister, Shirley Ann Brucker.
Mr. Stephens farmed in Livingston County from 1937 until his retirement in 1985. He served in the United States Army during WWII, from 1942 to 1945, being stationed in Italy.
He was a sixty six consecutive year member of the J.A. Folwell American Legion Post 174, Forrest, a member of the Roland Nims VFW Post 9789, Fairbury, member of Knoll Lodge, Fairbury, and collected John Deere Tractors. In 2009 he was fortunate to be selected for the Honor Flight to Washington DC as a World War II Veteran.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be greatly missed.
See photo here.

Obit of Barbara (Drager) Kahle

CHATSWORTH — Barbara Ann Kahle, 67, rural Chats-worth, formerly of Melvin, died at 1 a.m. Monday (June 11, 2012) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.

A celebration of life service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Roberts, with the Rev. Priscilla Geerdes officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Germanville Township Cemetery, rural Livingston County. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Humane Society of Central Illinois or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Barbara was born Nov. 4, 1944, in Chicago, a daughter of Merle and Helen Milligan Drager. She married Larry Epperson in 1968. He died in 1991. She later married Gary Kahle on Valentine’s Day 1998 in Apache Junction, Ariz. He survives in Chatsworth.

Also surviving are a sister, Lois (Bruce) Ellingwood, Atlanta, Ga.; and a nephew, Geoff Ellingwood, Champaign. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She earned a nursing degree from Mennonite Hospital. Barbara dedicated more than 41 years of her life working at Gibson Area Hospital.

Her work brought her into contact with many people who continued to love and appreciate her, well past the time she cared for them in the hospital. She taught procedures to a long line of eager nursing students and helped guide them by her good example.

Gary introduced Barbara to the joy of farm living and soon she had countless pets from miniature goats and kittens to her precious Sheltie who was by her side from morning till night. Both Barbara and Gary drew great strength from their faith, using it to quietly offer comfort and service to others. Family and friends have always been important to them.

Barbara was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Roberts.

Online condolences can be shared at www.stpaulroberts.wordpress.com.

Elery Perkins Grand Marshal for Heritage Days Parade

Chatsworth, Ill. —

Chatsworth’s annual Heritage Days will be held June 14 to 17, 2012. This year, lifelong resident of Chatsworth, Elery Perkins, is the grand marshal for the parade at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Perkins was born on Sept. 9, 1915 on a farm east of Chatsworth. He farmed in the Chatsworth area his entire life, retiring as a farmer in 1981.
He continued to work at various jobs in the community and finally retired at 95 as a crossing guard for Chatsworth Elementary School of the Prairie Central School District in 2011.

See Photo here.

Archie Perkins turns 100 !

From The Blade

June 12, 2012

On June 26, 2012, Archie Perkins will become a centenarian! A Birthday Open House will be held in his honor on Saturday, June 23, from 2-4 p.m. in the Fairview Haven Family/Activity Room. All are welcome.
The world was still reeling from the April shipwreck of the Titanic when Archie Theodore Perkins was born on June 26, 1912. He was the second child of Elisha and Ida (Deck) Perkins. Archie had one sister, Verna Hoxworth, who is deceased, and one brother, Elery Perkins of Chatsworth.
Archie has vivid memories of his youth on his parents’ dairy farm in rural Chatsworth. When he was little, he remembers playing with his little wagon and riding Bessie, the family pony. When he was 10 or 11 years old, he began waking up every morning to help milk the cows. He remembers his father’s morning wake-up call, “Boys, wake up; it’s quarter till four!” The Perkins family had up to 23 cows on their farm. They ran a milk route in Chatsworth, delivering milk and cream door-to-door. Archie remembers making the deliveries in their old Ford. When asked what he did for fun in his youth, Archie says, “More chores! There was no fooling around in those days!”
Archie attended the Franey country school near Chatsworth through the eighth grade. He then went to Chatsworth Township High School, graduating in 1931.
The milk route ended up being a route to romance for Archie. When new folks moved into town, the Perkins milk route driver would visit the home to enlist potential customers. Archie heard about a widow that had moved to Chatsworth with her four children to be near her brother and family. When he visited the house, Myrtle Bailey came to the door. It turned out that Myrtle had moved from Missouri with the widow to help her take care of her children.
Archie and Myrtle dated for three years before they got married in 1934 at Myrtle’s hometown of Swinton, MO. Archie recalls it was during the Depression and they didn’t have any money. But they were able to provide for themselves on the farm. They had one son, James (Joanne) Perkins of Kempton, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Archie is proud of the many beautiful photos of his family in his room at Fairview Haven.
Archie and Myrtle had their own dairy farm near Chatsworth. They also raised beef cattle, hogs and grain. Traveling together was a highlight of their life. They visited all 50 states in the USA, as well as Canada, Europe and Mexico. For several years, Archie had his own airplane and he and Myrtle attended many Flying Farmer events by air.
After 40-plus years of farming together, Myrtle got pneumonia in the wintertime for three years straight. Archie was concerned about her health and, when the doctor advised him to take her south for the winter, they decided to quit farming. Archie says they “called in the auctioneers” and promptly sold all the livestock. Archie continued with grain farming, operating his combine until the age of 93.
In 1978, the Perkinses began a new phase of life as snowbirds, spending their winters in Florida. Archie fondly recalls many happy times there with friends, playing horseshoes and cards and visiting over coffee. After Myrtle passed away on Dec. 26, 2003, he continued to winter in Florida until 2010, when he moved to Fairview Haven. Archie delights in visits and phone calls from his many friends, including his special friend, Lois Shelby, whom he met in Florida.
Archie is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Fairbury and his faith is very important to him. He enjoys reading the Bible daily and listening to sermons.

See Photo here.

Obit of Van L. Perkins

Morton- Van L. Perkins, 86, of Morton died at 11p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Morton Terrace Care Center.

He was born July 4, 1925, in Chatsworth, Ill., to Ora and Anna (Weisser) Perkins. He married Marily Christianson in January 1951 in Moline, Ill.

Surviving are his wife, Marilyn Perkins of Morton: three sons, Glen (Sandra) Perkins of Manito, Dennis (Stephanie) Perkins of Morton and David (Kris) Perkins of Peoria; one daughter, Diana (Greg) Louis-Nont of Las Vegas, Nev.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and two sisters, Lucille Sternberg of Fairbury, Ill, and wanda Hamm of Indiana.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.

He was a World War II Navy veteran.

Van formerly worked as a highway construction supervisor. He later ownd and operated Monroe Kennel in rural Tremont for 20 years and bred German shepherds. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Morton.

Cremation was accorded. A graveside service, with burial of the crmated remains, will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 1, 2012, at Glendale Cemetery in Washington, where military rites will be conducted. Pastor Jeff Anderson will officiate. There will be no visistation. Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements. Online condolences may se sent to the family at www.knappjohnson.com.