Obit of Ruth (Dugger) Hubly

Ruth Evelyn Dugger Hubly, 90 of Chatsworth, IL, died on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 12:53 PM at Brighton Gardens of St. Charles, IL.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, with Father BK Tran officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:45 – 10:45 AM at the Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth. Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Chatsworth. Memorials in Ruth’s name may be left to the Chatsworth Township Library or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Ruth was born on February 14, 1922 in Hillsboro, IL a daughter of Joe M. and Gertrude (Feraris) Dugger. She married Charles Joseph “Joe” Hubly Jr. on April 16, 1947. He preceded her in death on March 20, 2007.
Survivors include her children: Chuck (Nancy) Hubly of St. Jacob, IL and Ellen (Don) Slome of Batavia, IL; a daughter-in-law: Linda Hubly of Wilmette, IL and seven grandchildren: Justin, Brendan, Taylor and Savannah Hubly and Lauren, Lexi and Melissa Slome. She was preceded in death by her son: Michael in 1998 and her sister: Edna Bess in 2009.
Ruth graduated from Hillsboro Community High School in 1940 and earned a B.S. degree in Education at Illinois State Normal University in 1944. Her nearly 40 years of teaching started at Fairbury High School, with time at Cullom and Piper City before retiring in 1985 from Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School.
She has been a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and its Altar and Rosary Society and Catholic Women’s League. She was also a member of the Livingston County and Illinois State Retired Teachers Association, the Illinois State Half Century Group and the Chatsworth Township Library Board.

Obit of Marvin Kenneth Merkle

Marvin Kenneth Merkle, 87, of Gilman, IL., died at 7:55 A. M., Saturday, January 12, 2013 at his home following a sudden illness. His funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the Redenius Funeral Home, Gilman, with Rev. Pete Hinrich officiating. Burial will be in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth., IL., with military rites by the Chatsworth American Legion Post 613. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at the Redenius Funeral Home, Gilman. Memorials may be made to the Donor's Choice.

Marvin was born on December 25, 1925 in Danforth, IL., to Marion Cope & Rose Johanna (Conrad) Merkle. His childhood was spent in Danforth. He attended school in Ashkum, IL., and graduated from Clifton High School.
Surviving children are Harold (Nancy) Merkle of Lovington, IL., Duane (Carla) Merkle of Champaign, IL., and Elizabeth (Tim) Crawford of Houston, TX. Eight grandchildren. Seven great grandchildren. Three sisters - Joyce (Ardell) Schaumburg and Janice Mitchell all of Paxton and Shirley Scarboro of California One brother - LeRoy (Jackie) Merkle of Kentucky. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and infant son - Robert.
He had been the manager of the DelRey and Loda Grain Elevator and also owned and operated his own truck, working for Conrad Trucking, Danforth. Marvin was a Veteran of the Navy and member of the Chatsworth American Legion Post 613. He was an avid Cubs and Bulls fan. Marvin enjoyed his special friends at K & H, Gilman, and the Long Branch in L Erable, IL. Arrangements by the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman, IL. Please sign the guest book at www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com 

Obit of Robert G. Petro

Chatsworth- Robert G. Petro, 81, of Chatsworth, IL passed away at 8:55 

am on Monday, January 21, 2013 at Good Samaritan Home in Pontiac.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 25, 2012 at Chatsworth Cemetery. Father B.K. Tran will officiate. Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth. Memorial contributions in Bob’s name may be made to Livingston County Humane Society.

He was born April 3, 1931 in North Judson, IN a son of George and Veronica (Ivan) Petro. He married Ann Pugner on June 15, 1957 in Dalton, IL. She survives.

Also surviving is one sister: Irene Weinert of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and six sisters.

He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the Chatsworth American Legion Post #613.

Bob loved to fish, hunt and be outdoors. He enjoyed his springer spanials like his own children. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Obit of Harold L. Dassow

Chatsworth- Harold L. Dassow, 90 of Chatsworth, IL passed away at 11:35 am on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Evenglow Tjardes Health Care Center in Pontiac where he was a resident for four years.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at Chatsworth United Methodist Church. Rev. Ivy Silas will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at Chatsworth United Methodist Church and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Burial will follow services at Germanville Cemetery in rural Chatsworth. Memorial contributions in Harold’s name may be made to the Chatsworth Area Food Pantry or Evenglow Lodge in Pontiac. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth is handling arrangements for the family.

He was born March 1, 1922 at his home in rural Chatsworth, IL, a son of Ralph and Laura (Tanner) Dassow. He married Maxine (Wessels) Dassow on January 9, 1949 at Rooks Creek. She passed away on November 23, 2009. He was also preceded in death by his parents, step mother: Amanda Dassow, and one sister: Gladys Brunner.

Surviving are his two sons: Duane (Connie) Dassow and Neil (Joy) Dassow both of Chatsworth; two daughters: Diane (John) Osman of Macon and Marilyn (Jim Jones) Dassow of Chatsworth; nine grandchildren: Michelle (Dave) Kramer, John (Megan) Dassow, Joe Dassow, Ryan Dassow, Jeremy Dassow, Kent Dassow, Pete Osman, Greg Osman, and Dion Osman; three great grandchildren; one brother-in-law: Eldon Brunner of Reddick; one sister-in-law: Ruth Wessels of Fairbury; three nephews; and two nieces.

Harold was a farmer all his life in the rural Chatsworth area. He served on the Board of Directors of the Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District. In 1958 he won the Outstanding Conservation Farm Family of the Year Award. In his youth he was on the 1941 Chatsworth Softball Team who won the Livingston County Tournament and went on to win the State Softball Tournament in Champaign.

Harold was a lifelong member of the Chatsworth United Methodist Church. He served on various boards at the church and was instrumental in the building of the current church. He was also on the church Dart Ball Team.

He enjoyed going to Estate Sales and collecting various things. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and family very much. He will be greatly missed.

Obit of Elmer L. Bryant

Elmer Bryant

Jan. 14, 2013, 10:00 am  

Elmer L. Bryant, 87, of Bourbonnais, died Thursday (Jan. 10, 2013) at Regency Nursing Home in Springfield. Visitation will be from noon Wednesday until the 1 p.m. funeral service at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. Burial will be in Maternity Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to the Kankakee County Humane Foundation. Mr. Bryant was a retired employee of Roper Corp., Kankakee division. He was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Chatsworth, the son of Bert and Bertha Tomblin Bryant. His wife, the former Marilue B. Stevenson, whom he married March 20, 1953, in Kankakee, died Dec. 23, 2010. He loved animals and sports. Surviving are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Leonard Taylor and his fiancee, Tanya Smith, of Springfield, and Steven and Mounia Bryant, of Germany; one daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Dennis Henderson, of Spring, Texas; six grandchildren, Jad Bryant, Kenza Bryant, Adam Bryant, Zachary Bryant, Lindsay Taylor and Jamie Henderson; and two great-grandchildren, Jaden and Lilly Henderson. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Maurine Snodgrass; and four brothers, Ralph, Robert, James and Richard. Please sign his guestbook at clancygernon.com.

Obit of Betty (Richard) Woolley

BEMENT – Betty A. Woolley, 73, of Bement passed away at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 8, 2013) at her residence in Bement.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Bement United Methodist Church, 249 N. Piatt St., Bement. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of services on Saturday at the church. The Rev. John Helenthal and the Rev. Larry Hallman will officiate. Burial will be in the Bement Township Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Methodist Inn in c/o Methodist Foundation, 120 N.E. Glen Oak Ave., Suite 209, Peoria, IL 61603.
Betty was born Oct. 24, 1939, in Streator, a daughter of Arthur W. and Charlotte A. Logan Richard. She married the Rev. Arthur V. Woolley on Feb. 14, 1959, in Saybrook, and he survives of Bement.
Surviving children include Thomas (Mary) Woolley of Frisco, Texas, John (Pam) Woolley of Monticello, Mark (Carol) Woolley of Monticello, Sandra (Lenny) Summar of Bement and Matthew Woolley of Villa Grove.
Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four sisters, Evelyn (Ernest) Schnoor of Reedsburg, Wis., Grace Ann (William) Cushman of Bloomington, Shirley Sullenberger of Bradford, Ohio, and Marcia Caputo of Humble, Texas; and a brother, Paul (Diane) Richard of Knoxville, Tenn.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
Betty was an Avon Presidents Club member for over 27 years, Red Hat Society member, Hobby Club of Farmer City, a life member of the Women Christian Temperance Union, and active in the First Christian of Bement. She participated in many community activities including VBS and various dinners.
Betty was a seamstress and loved her Raggedy Ann Doll collection.
Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, 348 N. Piatt St., Bement, has been entrusted by her family to honor Betty's life.

Obit of John W. Howell

• John Winthrop Howell, 91, of Whitewater, Wis., and formerly of Palatine and Chatsworth, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, surrounded by his loving family in Whitewater, Wis.
  His funeral was held at 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, Palatine. A calling was held from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral.
  Mr. Howell was responsible for bringing Fairbury Industries and a hundred new jobs to Livingston County in the early 1960s, when he introduced the Chicago-based owners of Nicoh Tube to local business leaders in Fairbury. He was familiar with the community, as he had spent summers visiting cousins in Fairbury, and had later lived in Chats-worth while married to his first wife, Joyce Conrad Howell.
  John Howell was born on Jan. 1, 1921, in Chicago, the son of Leroy and Grace (Williams) Howell. His wife Lois Patricia Howell preceded him in death.
  Survivors include his children, Susan Fox of Chatsworth, Virginia Sharp of Aurora, Steven (Linda) Howell of Streamwood, Judith (Ken) Lazar of Sherman, Mary Betz of Palatine, and June (Glenn) Wilharm of Whitewater, Wis.; 15 grandchildren, including Michelle Brand of Fairbury; and many great-grandchildren, including Michael and Dustin Brand and Nicolas Salinas, all of Fairbury; and great-great-grandchildren.
  He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Patton, a brother, David Howell, and his parents.
  During his career, Mr. Howell was the owner and operator of various trucking companies, including Transcontinental Rigging & Loading Corp., which hauled thousands of large Naval and Coast Guard ships, as well as custom-build yachts and racing sailboats across the country. He and his son also moved several dozen commercial paddlewheel boats from Wisconsin to major tourist areas, two of which are located at Lake Mead, Nev., and Lake Tahoe, Calif.
  He always claimed, “No job too large.” He took pride in his work and happily worked until the age of 83 when he finally retired.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice Care, 147 W. Rockwell St., Jefferson, WI 53549.

Obit of Thelma "Gladys" (Ford) Sharp

Chatsworth- Thelma "Gladys" Sharp, 93, of Chatsworth will be spending New Years in heaven with her beloved husband. She passed away at 11:25 a.m. on Sunday, December 30, 2012 at OSF St. James–John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac.

Funeral Services for Gladys will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 4, 2013 at Chatsworth United Methodist Church. Rev. Ivy Silas will officiate. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service on Friday at the church. Burial will follow services at Brenton Township Cemetery in rural Piper City. Memorials may be made to the Chatsworth United Methodist Church. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth is handling arrangements for the family.

Gladys was born to Andrew and Emily Isabel Ford on February 21, 1919 in Chatsworth, IL. She married the love of her life, Carl Sharp, on August 13, 1938. Together they spent the next 73 years showing the world what “happily ever after” really means.

Gladys spent her entire life surrounded by people who loved her. She is survived by her three sons; Gene Sharp of Chatsworth, Don Sharp and his wife Eleanor of Mt. Pulaski, and Rick Sharp and Dana Spies of Champaign; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was also survived by her sisters Velma and Dorothy, and her brother Clinton. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; her brother, Floyd; her sister, Hazel; and her grandson, Eric Carl.

Gladys was a very busy farmwife assisting with farm duties and raising 3 boys. For a time before Don was born, they also raised a nephew, Alan. She had a large garden and no girls, so the responsibility primarily fell on her shoulders. She canned, froze and preserved vast amounts of food each year. She also had the responsibility for 1,000 chickens. Many a family member enjoyed fried chicken, raised on this farm. In her spare time, she enjoyed paint by number kits, crocheting afghans, and embroidered quilt squares for quilts jointly made by herself and sister-in-laws, Mildred, Jessie, and Madie. She also enjoyed bowling. In 1993 Gladys and Carl retired from farming and moved to town. During retirement you would find her daily working on her crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles which adorned many of the walls in her home.

See photo here.