Friday, November 28, 2014

Obit of William J. "Bill" Penicook



Bill is the husband of Joan Hubly
CHAMPAIGN — William J. "Bill' Penicook, 78, of Champaign, formerly of Wellington, died at 4:31 p.m.
Monday (Nov. 24, 2014) of complications from congestive heart failure, at his home surrounded by his
family.
His service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Presbyterian Church, Piper City, with the Rev. Wade Ditty
officiating. Burial will be in Brenton Cemetery, Piper City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at
Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home, Piper City. There will also be an hour visitation before the service at the
church on Sunday. Memorials may be made to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, The Salvation Army or
Presence Hospice.
Bill was born July 3, 1936, in Fairbury, to W.J. and Marguerite Siela Penicook. He graduated from Piper City
High School in Piper City and the IBA School of Banking at Southern Illinois University. He began his
banking career at the Piper City State Bank, where he rose to the position of vice president. He later moved
to Wellington to work at the Wellington State Bank and ended his career in the insurance business, owning
the Penicook Agency in Hoopeston and Milford.
Bill married Rosemarie Fiets on Dec. 27, 1958. She passed away on June 9, 2004.
He married Joan Hubly Rhode on Dec. 26, 2008. She survives.
Other survivors include his children, Mike (Ann) Penicook, Paxton; Julie (Dale) Katterhenry, Homer; Jill
Penicook, Hoopeston; Kaylyn (Jeff) Davis, Thawville; Bob (Rebeka) Rhode, Morton; Pat (Clarissa) Rhode,
Peoria; and Karen (Michael) McPherson, Naperville; 16 grandchildren; his older brother, John (Ruth Ann)
Penicook, Piper City; twin sister, Barb Powell, Channahon; and younger brother, Gordon (Sherry) Penicook,
Mahomet.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; and first wife, Rosemarie.
He enjoyed getting together every Sunday with his family and traveling with Rosie and then Joan and with
his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Nancy Jacobsen. Golfing was another of Bill's passions,
especially with his brother Gordon and their group. He and Joan enjoyed spending winters in Fort Myers,
Fla., and welcomed family and visitors while there.
Please sign the guest book at www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com.



Monday, November 3, 2014

Obit of Brian B. Gerdes


RANTOUL — Brian B. Gerdes, 56, of Rantoul, passed away at 1:45 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 30, 2014) at
Heartland Healthcare, Paxton, after a battle with cancer.
He was born May 24, 1958, Fairbury, a son of Leo Melicent (Blair) Gerdes.
He is survived by a daughter, Dana (Chad) Marshall, Ludlow; a sister, Marlene (Ed) Clampitt, Rantoul; and
three grandchildren, Gaven, Gage and Grysen.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.
Brian spent his lifetime painting homes and business. He owned and operated Gerdes Painting for the past
14 years. He loved his grandchildren, family and lived to ride on his Harley.
His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove, Rantoul. The Rev.
Jeffray Greene will officiate. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the chapel. Burial will follow at
Ludlow Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Serenity Shack or the American Cancer Society


Obit of Patricia A. (Kerrins) Monahan

Patricia A. Monahan, 84, of Piper City, and formerly of Chatsworth, passed away at 11:45 a.m. on
Thursday (Oct. 30, 2014) at the Piper City Rehab and Living Center.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Monday until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Saints Peter and
Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth with the Rev. Richard Brunskill officiating. Interment will follow
at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery near Chatsworth. Funeral arrangements are being handled by
Calvert and Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth. Memorials may be made to the HOPE fund at the
Citizen's Bank of Chatsworth.
Pat was born Sept. 19, 1930, the daughter of John and Margaret Kerrins, of Chatsworth. They
preceded her in death. She married Leo F. Monahan on Nov. 17, 1973. He preceded her in death on
Aug. 12, 1993.
She was a graduate of Chatsworth Community High School, a lifelong member of the congregation
for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Chatsworth, and a member of the church's Altar and
Rosary Society.
Surviving are one son, Michael (Valera) Monahan, of Bloomington; one daughter, Lynn (Rodney)
Frechette, of Piper City; grandchildren, Jessica Frechette, of Washington, Bryant Frechette, of
Pontiac, and Kean and Kerri Monahan, of Bloomington; cousins, Mary Ruth Donahue, of Oak Lawn,
Paula Farrell, of Woodridge, Mary Rathbun, of Fairbury, and Jim Trost, of Kankakee.
Although generally content with the rural downstate lifestyle, Pat did enjoy an occasional adventure.
As a teenager, she often visited a like-aged cousin in the Chicago area and the two of them would
sometimes explore the city via mass transit while the parents were at work. On another occasion, Pat
and a friend traveled by train to New York City to visit the Statue of Liberty and other sites just so
they could say they did so.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Piper City Rehabilitation and Living Center for their
sensitive and caring support during Pat's final days. Pat will be missed by her family, acquaintances
and friends, including the breakfast regulars at Ne's Restaurant in Piper City.
We will miss you "Mama!"
Please sign her online guestbook at calvertmemorial.com.

See Photo here.