Chatsworth In The News 2015

Chatsworth in the News 2015

Tidbits of Chatsworth News from the Area Newspapers

This article is from the Pontiac Daily Leader 12.24.2014

This report is from 2014 but it starts this new page off right.

Story of how one person views Chatsworth at Christmas time.

Thanks to this reporter for reporting how most of us feel about our hometown!!

CHATSWORTH

BY MARE REARDANZ

There is much to be said about Christmas in a small town. It is free of the congestion, traffic and over stimulation. It relieves you of the rush and hurry of finding the perfect gift times one hundred. You don't have to stand in line to check out and never wonder if the gift you bought will be duplicated. Big cities have public transportation and cabs to wait for, small towns will never have that. The list goes on and one.

But Christmas in Chatsworth is more like it used to be. We have time to say hello to a neighbor--even if it is at a stop sign just for a moment. Our postal workers know you by name and everyone in your family.

They share the excitement when a package arrives in your box. They go out of their way to make sure your packages arrive on time.

When you walk down Locust Street and see the greenery planted in all the planters sparkling with ornaments, it is obvious that someone in town cares enough to decorate hoping to bring a smile to a passerby. Maybe walking down that street will rekindle a memory of parents and children and how many years have passed. Where does the time go?

The town employees have spent much of their days hanging decorations from the light poles. Even the town board members pitched in and assisted in the project to keep everyone safe. The town glows with small town pride. There is a peaceful silence as you listen to the Christmas music playing in the distance, the smell of a fireplace burning logs. Wrap your coat around yourself and remember the way your Mom used to do it before she let you play outside. Bring the happy memories out and relive the joy.

Christmas is still a lot more than 50 percent off sales and meeting deadlines, buying online and spending money. It's baking cookies to share and emphasizing your blessing. The appreciation for the loved ones you share this holiday season that might not be here next year. It's the children. The gifts money can't buy. Time. Taking time out to forget the job and the bills, the shortcomings and the failures. Love yourself, your family, your town and your country.

Merry Christmas everyone, from the town of Chatsworth.

Obit of Carol Kay (Rigsby) Haas

Carol Kay Haas, 72, Seymour, TN, formerly of Urbana and Fairbury, passed away Saturday, December 20,
2014 at her residence in Seymour, TN.
A private graveside service will be held Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the Chatsworth-Charlotte Cemetery,
Chatsworth with Pastor Spencer Homan officiating. The family suggests memorials be given to the Humane
Society chapter of their choice. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Haas was born August 10, 1942 in Fairbury, IL the daughter of Arnold and Mary Zorn Rigsby. Her
parents and step father, Delmar Petersen of Ashkum preceded her in death.
Survivors include one son, Shawn Haas, Elkins, WV; two sisters, Linda (Ervin) VanWinkle , Seymour, TN; Ruth
(James) Winterland, Sevierville, TN; one brother, Dale (Cathy) Rigsby, Fairbury; one step sister, Ruth (Darryl)
Kleinert, Chebanse; one step brother, Roy (Vicki) Petersen, Ashkum.
Mrs. Haas graduated from Fairbury-Cropsey High School and the University of Beauty Culture. She was a
hairdresser for 50 years and co-owned Pickle Tree Farm restaurant, Mahomet. She also worked with
Heirlooms by Gorham.

Obit of Phyllis (Lee) Shols

Chatsworth – Phyllis Shols, 89, of Chatsworth, passed away at 12:38am, December 20, 2014 surrounded by her family, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community.

Funeral will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church,

Chatsworth. Pastor Jerry Gentes will be officiating. Burial will be in Chatsworth Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chatsworth and one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Chatsworth

Fire Department or donor’s choice.

Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.

Phyllis was born March 29, 1925 in rural Melvin the daughter of William and Marie Eiben Lee.

She married Donald Shols on October 22, 1944 in Chatsworth. He passed away on September 25, 1996.

Surviving are her children Gary Shols of Rehoboth Beach, DE, Wayne (Kay) Shols of Chatsworth, and Bill

Shols of Dwight; grandchildren, Sarah (Dan) Kukuck of Colfax, Becky and (Brian) Miller of Fairbury, Phil and (Angie) Kratochvil of Fairbury, Steve (Sue) Shols of Abington, MD, Kevin (Sharon) Shols of Wickford,

England, and Dustin Shols of Dwight; great-grandchildren, Emily Shols, Rylee Kukuck, Mia and Reed Miller, Ainsley, Ashlyn and Acer Kratochvil and Rory and Melanie Shols; sister-in-law, Arleen (Max) Newby and her best friend Virginia Wahls. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter-in-law Brenda Shols, brother, Alfred Lee, sisters,

Mildred Read and Edna Gillett.

Phyllis and her husband farmed for many years. She was a member of the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran

Church, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Chatsworth American Legion Auxiliary.

Her hobbies were camping, playing card and working in her flower garden.

Phyllis was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great friend; this was her favorite hobby.

See photo here.

Obit of G. Douglas Hibsch

Husband of Nancy Zedyk Gerdes

G. Douglas Hibsch, 68, Fairbury, died at 7:33 am Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at OSF St. James-John Albrecht
Medical Center, Pontiac.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday, December 22, 2014 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury
with Pastor Tom Krieger officiating. Burial will be in the South Graceland Cemetery.
Visitation will be 2:00 to 6:00 pm Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and
9:00 to 9:45 am Monday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to South Eastern Livingston
County Ambulance Service or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Doug was born August 29, 1946 in Fairbury, IL the son of George and Anna Louise Aellig Hibsch. He married
Nancy Zeedyk Gerdes on July 28, 2001. She survives in Fairbury, IL.
Other survivors include 1 daughter, Lori (Jay) Hibsch Dietz, Naperville, IL; 1 son, Michael (Cindi) Hibsch,
Franklin, TN; 4 grandchildren, Claire and Jack Dietz, Sophia and Tyler Hibsch; 1 sister, Barbara (Ron)
Kanemura, Huntington Beach, CA.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Doug was a 1964 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School. He worked at Technical Metals, Fairbury for
over 40 years and enjoyed mentoring others in his work place. He was a current City of Fairbury alderman; a
former board member at Indian Creek Golf Course and member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairbury. As a
lifelong resident of Fairbury he was honored to serve his community. He had a passion for golf, which
included playing many courses around the country and his club making business. Doug’s many interests
include farming, supporting the Fairbury Fair, traveling the world and spending time with family and friends.

Obit of James L. Haberkorn

James L. Haberkorn, 86, of Chatsworth, IL, passed away at 5:15 pm on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Heartland Health in Normal.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Chatsworth with Father Richard Brunskill officiating.

Visitation will be held two hours prior to the Mass at church. Christian burial will follow at Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Livingston County Humane Society.

Jim was born September 11, 1928 in Chicago, IL a son of William and Helen (Koehler) Haberkorn. He married Shirley Hoelscher on October 18, 1950 in Pontiac, IL. She passed

away on May 15, 2009.

He is survived by his siblings: Alan Haberkorn of Chatsworth, Wayne (Karen) Haberkorn of Mundelein, Delores Wagner of Titusville, FL, and Jerome Haberkorn of Albuquerque, NM; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one brother: William Haberkorn.

Jim with his wife, Shirley, owned and operated Culkin Hardware Store starting in 1946 until 1994. He was a loving brother, uncle, and friend to all who knew him.

Obit of Sieg Albrecht

Per email from Bob Saathoff:

Sieg Albrecht, 69, died November 16, 2014. He was born June 14, 1945, in Schwetzingen, Germany. His family immigrated to the United States in 1956. He graduated from Chatsworth High School, Chatsworth, Il. in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served for three years. He lived in the Chicago, Il. area during his adult years where he was self-employed as a transportation agent. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Elsa Albrecht, a sister, Elsa, and a son, Sean. He is survived by his wife of forty six years, Margaret Sharon, nee Belsky; a daughter, Shannon (Shannon) Lange of IL; two brothers, Michael (Kathleen) of AZ. and Otto (Anne) of CA.; two sisters, Erika (David) Bekermeier of OR. and Angelika (Larry) Brooks of OR.; and four grandchildren, Matthew, Amanda, Conner, and Elizabeth.

Funeral services were held on November 24, 2014, in Alsip, IL. at St. Terrence Church. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.