Obit of Geraldine (Martin) Wiles

Geraldine “Geri” Wiles, 76, of Chatsworth, passed away at 8:52am, Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at her residence in Chatsworth.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, August 30, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Fairbury with Pastor Steve Anderson officiating. Burial will follow the service in Chenoa Twp. Cemetery, Chenoa, IL.

Visitation will be from 4-8:00pm, Friday, August 29, 2014 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and one hour prior to her service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be directed to First Baptist Church of Fairbury or Fairview Haven Retirement Community.

Geri was born May 18, 1938 in McLeansboro, the daughter of Harley R. and Wilma (Hutchcraft) Martin. She married John Wiles on November 17, 1956 at the Chenoa United Methodist Church, Chenoa. He survives in Chatsworth.

Other survivors include one son, James (Janice) Wiles of Fairbury, IL; one daughter, Judy (Mike) McCoy of Gays, IL; eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren; five sisters, Norma (Franklin) Fosdick of Fairbury, IL; Mary (Bill) Decker of Grand Rivers, KY; Delores (Bob Fauber)Meiss of Danvers, IL; Connie Aberle of Benton, KY; LaVerne (Mark) Aberle of Chatsworth, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one grandson, Austin Wiles.

Geri was a 1956 graduate of Chenoa H.S. She was employed by Zimmerman’s Hardware in downtown Fairbury for over 20 years and later was a Certified Nurses Aid at Fairview Haven Retirement Community for 36 years.

Geri enjoyed gardening, spending time at their home on Lake Mattoon with her dog Benji never far from her. Above all she loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren.

Obit of Francis N. Walle

Many will know this gentleman:

BLOOMINGTON — Francis N. Walle, 101, of Bloomington, died at 7:12 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 23, 2014) at

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, with his family surrounding him.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Church of Downs, with Monsignor Greg Ketcham

officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home,

Bloomington, with a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be 30 minutes prior to Mass Friday

at the church. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Melvin Cemetery, Melvin. In lieu of flowers,

memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church of Downs, Melvin Fire Department or American

Cancer Society.

Francis was born Oct. 26, 1912, in Pella Township, near Piper City in Ford County, to Frederick G. and

Matilda Bouhl Walle. He married his love and lifetime partner, Ardell A. Zimmerman, on Jan. 28, 1943, in

Piper City.

Surviving are his wife, Ardell; five children, Carol (Gordon) Dremann, Princeton; Steve Walle, Bloomington;

Dean Walle, Tucson, Ariz.; Mary (Stephen) Peterson, Bloomington; and Richard Walle, Tucson, Ariz.;

daughter-in-law, Karen Walle, Petersburg; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers; son, David Walle; and grandson, Eric Peterson.

He graduated from Piper City Community High School in 1930, continued to help on the family farm for

several years, then went to work for Ford County Service Company (later called Growmark FS) in Melvin,

from which he retired 40 years later.

Francis belonged to St. George Catholic Church in Melvin for 60 years, serving as parish council president,

lector, choir member and parish hall manager. He was past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post

6334 in Melvin, past president of Melvin Lions Club, 66-year member of the American Legion in Melvin,

Peach Orchard Township trustee for 29 years, 31-year volunteer of Melvin Fire Department and a member

of the Melvin State Bankers bowling team for 40 years. After moving to Downs 10 years ago, he became a

member of St. Mary’s Church of Downs, VFW Post 6289 in Gibson City and Downs Senior Citizens group.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1942, and served in World War II as a lieutenant in the 310th Field Artillery

Battalion attached to the 79th Infantry Division in Europe (England, France, Belgium and Germany) from

1944-1945.

Francis was a musician who sang and played by ear many instruments, beginning as a boy with the Walle

Brothers band in Piper City. He was trumpeter for the Jolly Sailors dance band that performed in Central

Illinois in the 1940s and 1950s, and played taps for military funerals and patriotic holidays until he was well

into his 80s.

Francis was an entertaining, charismatic fellow who was liked by everyone he met.

Underneath his jovial charm, Francis had a strength of character that inspired others — he showed by

example that every person is worthy of kindness and respect, and that you can lead a good life by workinghard and loving each other. It's hard to say which he did better: make you laugh or make you feel loved.

Endlessly interested in his physical world, he was a gifted gardener and could fix almost anything. He liked

watching sports, especially the Cubs, Bears and Illini basketball. In particular, he enjoyed family gatherings,

where he loved to tell stories of his many life experiences. His memory will always bless his loving wife and

family.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

Obit of Lila M. (Wilson) Dohman

Lila M. Dohman, 91, of Cullom, passed away at 9:13 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 23, 2014) at Tjardes Health Care Center at Evenglow Lodge.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m. funeral services at St. John's Catholic Church in Cullom, with the Rev. William Kiebler officiating. The family requests those attending dress casual. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in Cullom. Memorials may be made to Cullom Fire Department or Livingston County Humane Society.

Lila was born on Sept. 2, 1922, in Chatsworth, a daughter of Claude and Mayme (Berlet) Wilson. She married William C. Dohman on Feb. 24, 1941, in Cullom. He preceded her in death on Oct. 1, 1994.

Surviving are one daughter, Marcia (Ronald) Green, of Cullom: two grandchildren, Christopher Fraher, of Rantoul, and Eric Dohman, of McHenry; two great-grandchildren, Westyn Fraher, of Montrose, Iowa, and William C. "Liam" Dohman, of Antioch; one brother, Claude Wilson, of Dwight; four sisters, Lois Wallrich and Marilyn Dehm, both of Chatsworth, Frances Friedman, of Fairbury, and Mary Lou West, of Knoxville.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Gerald Dohman; five brothers; and one sister.

Lila was educated in Chatsworth schools, was a homemaker and helped her husband on the farm. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Cullom.

Please sign her online guestbook atcalvertmartinmemorial.com.

Obit of Harry Keith Cluts

TREMONT - Harry Keith Cluts, 83, of Tremont passed away at 6:55 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin.

He was born Jan. 11, 1931, in Normal to Sylvester F. and Agnes C. Shipley Cluts. He married Eleanor Sue Westfall on Dec. 22, 1956, in Bismark and she passed away March 3, 1993. He then married Shirley I. Nash on Feb. 16, 2001, in Pekin and she survives.

Also surviving are one son, Larry K. Cluts of Peoria; one daughter, Patricia E. Zellner of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one stepson, Charles Nash of Mississippi; five grandchildren, Valorie Mills, Christopher Cluts, Alisha Zellner, L.J. Zellner III and Anthony (Shannon) Zellner; four step-grandchildren, Troy Nash, Robert Nash, Jocelyn Nash and Chad Turner; four great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; and one sister, Eleanor Marie Dayton of Mason, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold Ray and Francis Owen. Keith graduated from I.S.U. in Normal in 1957 with a B.S. in education. In 1964, he received his master's degree in science. He taught music for two years at Chatsworth School District and 28 years at Tremont School District, retiring in 1986. After retiring, he worked at Sears in Pekin and Sherwin Williams Co. for several years.

He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, attaining the rank of boatswain mate 3rd class.

He was a member of Tremont United Methodist Church, Arts & Crafts Lodge 1017 in Bloomington, Bradley Community Chorus, Tremont Masonic Lodge 462, Tremont American Legion Post 1236 and Laborers Local 231 in Pekin. He was a former member of Peoria Philharmonic Chorus and the Pekin Civic Chorus. Keith was grand marshal of the 1986 Tremont Homecoming Parade.

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, at Tremont United Methodist Church. Pastor Dan Perry will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Davis-Oswald Funeral Home in Tremont, followed by a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, with military honors.

Memorials may be made to Tremont United Methodist Church music department.

To express condolences online, visit www.davisoswaldfh.com

Obit of Harlan D. Kahle

Harlan D. Kahle, 85 of Bloomington, died at 8:55 PM, Friday, August 15, 2014 at his residence in

Bloomington.

His funeral service will be held at 11am, Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at the Resurrection Lutheran Church,

Bloomington with Pastor Jerry Koch officiating. Burial will be in Germanville Cemetery, rural Chatsworth.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7:00 pm, Monday, August 18, 2014 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury; and

one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be

directed to Resurrection Lutheran Church, Bloomington, OSF Hospice or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Mr. Kahle was born July 27, 1929 in McLean County, the son of Edward and Esther (Gillan) Kahle. He married

Erma Rhoda on September 2, 1951 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chenoa. She survives in

Bloomington.

Other survivors include his children, Gary Kahle of Chatsworth, IL; Linda (Bill) Kahle-Langston of Davis

Junction, IL; Steven (Kathy) Kahle of Gibson City, IL; Susan (Michael) Andresen of Bloomington, IL; David

(Norah) Kahle of Seattle, WA; one sister, Dorothy (Jerome) Rhoda of Chenoa, IL; two sister in-laws, Pat Kahle

of Bloomington, IL; and Alma (Robert) Brucker of Chenoa, IL; six grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah

Langston, Douglas Kahle, and Bradley (Michelle) Kahle, John and Kahlee Andresen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Lowel Kahle, Keith Kahle and daughter in-law,

Barbara Kahle.

Harlan was a member of many community boards, some of which are the Chatsworth Area Planning Society,

Vermilion Valley Bank Board, Lyman Drainage District Board, Chatsworth Lutheran Church Council, and both

Chatsworth and Livingston County school boards.

Harlan was a lifelong farmer and cultivated his faith as he did his crops. Although Harlan loved farming, his

greatest love was his family.

Obit of Michael D. Murphy

Michael D. Murphy, 65, of Chatsworth, passed away at 12:50 pm, Friday August 15, 2014 at Carle

Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, August 18, 2014 at Sts. Peter and Paul

Catholic Church in Chatsworth with Father Richard Brunskill officiating. A visitation will be held one hour

prior to service at the church with Holy Rosary being said at 9:00 am. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Catholic

Cemetery, Chatsworth. Memorials in Mikes name may be made to HOPE. Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in

Chatsworth is handling the arrangements.

Mike was born on February 9, 1949 in Waukegan, IL a son of Vern M. and Helen P. (Monahan) Murphy. He

is survived by his life partner, Judith Steidinger of Chatsworth, two sons: Brian (Ann) Steidinger of Chenoa,

Todd (Billie) Steidinger of Fairbury; one daughter: Tana (Brian) Schulz of Baudette, MN; six grandchildren:

Jordan, Kristen, Kyle, Alyssa, James and Robert; one brother: Patrick J. (Linda) Murphy of Laura, IL; two

sisters: JoAnn (George) Telesz of Pontoon Beach, IL, Denise (Jay) Steinberg of Highland Park, IL; Several

Nieces and Nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Sean.

Mike was educated in the Chatsworth Schools and was a graduate of Arizona State University. He was a

member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He owned and operated Murphy Masonry Construction in

Chatsworth until his retirement.

Chatsworth Train Wreck Fans!

For "Chatsworth Train Wreck" Fans

Jack Keefe will be doing a program on the wreck, Sunday, August 10

At the Bloomington Public Library at 2 pm.

Try to attend!