Biography of Ted Takasaki

From Chatsworth, Illinois Sesquicentennial-2017:

Ted Takasaki

 Hall of Fame Legendary Angler

Born Dec. 16, 1957

Graduated from Chatsworth High School 1976-Salutatorian

Graduated from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 1982

Systems analyst-Arthur Anderson & Co. 1982-1983

Computer Sales-Hewlett Packard Co. 1983-1999

President-Lindy Fishing Tackle 1999-2008

Full Time fishing Professional 2008 to present

A Fishing Hall of Fame Legendary Angler, Ted is one of the top competitors on the National Walleye Tour. Ted won the prestigious Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) Classic Championship in 1998 and the 1995 PWt Top Gun Angler Award. In 2002, he smashed the all-time, one day PWT tournament record with limit of 5 walleyes that weighted 53.2 pounds.

From 1998 to 2008, Ted was the President of Lindy Fishing Tackle, on the nation's largest freshwater fishing tackle manufacturers. During that time, the company doubled revenue and quadrupled profit under his leadership.

He was also a part of the Master's Walleye Circuit (MWC) Team of the Year in 1991. His credentials include qualifying for the MWC Championship 5 times, the PWT Classic 11 times, and has made it to the FLW Walleye Tour Classic 7 times, with several top ten's to his credit.

In addition, Ted was a part of the team that won the coveted 1993 Mercury National Tournament held on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin.

He has been featured in many national outdoor magazines, has conducted hundreds of walleye seminars across the Midwest, hosted numerous TV shows and is considered one of America's Walleye and multi-species experts.

June 27 Update

New Albums

The Compton Family Album

The Hornickel Family Album

Obit of Otto Adolf Albrecht

Otto Adolf Albrecht passed away June 10th, 2017 in Stockton, CA. Otto was born in Villingen, Germany on October 24th, 1943. He attended elementary school in Schwetzingen, Germany from 1949 until 1956 when the Albrecht family immigrated to the United States. They arrived in Chatsworth, Illinois in May of 1956, being sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation and the Vernon Hummel family of Chatsworth. Otto attended Chatsworth Elementary/High School where he graduated in 1962. He married Sharon Jensen of Piper City, Illinois in 1964. They had 2 children, a daughter Robin and a son Darin. Otto worked as a maintenance supervisor for a convalescent hospital in Piper City. Otto moved to Lodi, CA in 1987. He worked at Arbor Convalescent Hospital in Lodi for 18 years before retiring. He married Anne Watkins Cheney in 2001 and they then moved to Galt. Otto enjoyed fishing in the Sierra's, going to the cabin at Hathaway Pines, NASCAR races, his 1938 Ford Deluxe, and his cat Pokey. Otto is survived by his wife Anne Albrecht, daughter Robin Albrecht of New York, son Darin Albrecht of Illinois, step daughter Alana Millerick of Linden CA and step son Marc Cheney of Linden CA. He also leaves behind his brother Michael Albrecht Jr. (Kathleen) of Arizona, sister Erika Bekermeier (David) of Oregon, sister Angelika Brooks (Larry) of Oregon, sister in law Sharon Albrecht of Illinois, brother in law Tom Watkins (Gayle) of Linden CA, sister in law Jane Watkins of Rocklin CA and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Preceding him in passing were his parents Michael Albrecht Sr., Elsa Albrecht and brother Siegfried Albrecht. A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday June 27th at 1:00pm at Heritage Park 700 2nd St in Galt, CA. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of San Joaquin. Published in Lodi News-Sentinel from June 23 to June 29, 2017

Obit of Virginia (Leman) Wahls

Virginia K. Wahls, 91 of Chatsworth passed away at 3:57 pm, Thursday, June 22, 2017 at OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Bloomington. Her funeral will be 11 am, Monday, June 26, 2017 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church; Chatsworth with Pastor Mauricio Vieira officiating. Burial will follow Chatsworth Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 5 pm, Sunday, June 25, 2017 also at the church in Chatsworth; and 10 to 10:45 am, prior to the service at the church on Monday. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury has charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family of Virginia K. Wahls. 

Virginia was born December 2, 1925 in Strawn; the daughter of John and Flossie (Kessler) Leman. She married Albert Wahls on March 8, 1961, in Chatsworth. He died in May of 2001. Her parents and her best friend, Phyllis Shols also preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Fred (Gwen) Wahls, Strawn; and Steve (Becky) Wahls, Fairbury; and six grandchildren, Erin Wahls, Fisher; Andy Wahls, Rachel Wahls both of Strawn; Lacy (Joe) Turner, Chatsworth; Tyler Wahls, Loredo, TX; and Carson Wahls, Fairbury; and 4 great grandchildren, Dairn, Mariah, Wyatt and Ruby Turner. Virginia and Albert farmed for many years in the Strawn-Chatsworth area. She was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chatsworth. Virginia loved people and enjoyed any activity if she could be with friends and family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

 

Obit of Francis Johnson

Francis Johnson, 97, of Saunemin, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 3:40 p.m. at Evenglow Lodge Tjardes Health Center in Pontiac. His service will be held Monday, June 26, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cullom with Reverend Dr. Richard Riley officiating. Burial will follow at Sunny Slope Cemetery in Saunemin. Visitation will be Sunday, June 25, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements. Francis was born January 13, 1920 in Charlotte, IL to John and Elsena (Gerjets) Johnson. He married Mary Lehmann on September 21, 1941 in St. Charles, MO. She passed away March 30, 2015. He is survived by his sons, Francis (Joanne) Johnson, Jr. of Whitefish Bay, WI, Eric (Joan) Johnson of Saunemin, IL, and David Johnson of Sugar Grove, IL; daughter, Eileen Immke of Saunemin, IL; sister, Fannie Diemer of Pontiac, IL; grandchildren, Marianne Johnson, Chris Johnson, Scot Immke, Shannon Prewitt, Kirk Johnson, Kent Johnson, and Evan Johnson; and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; two brothers; and one sister. Francis attended Star School in rural Saunemin. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945 with the 67th Signal Battalion in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Philippines. He went on the Peoria Honor Flight for veterans to Washington D.C. in 2015. Francis was a lifelong farmer and also worked on the Norfolk and Western Railroads. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cullom, IL and the Saunemin American Legion. Francis was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. Memorials may be made Saunemin Fire and Rescue and Peoria Honor Flight.

Sesquicentennial Mementos Still for sale

Still For Sale

Sesquicentennial History Books

$20 - $7 S&H

Sesquicentennial Coins

Now $10

Sesquicentennial T-Shirts

$15

Available at Town Hall or contact

Richard Runyon-815-674-5497

Joy Dassow-815-848-2620

Dawn Hobart-815-848-5727

or

Send check or money order to:

Sesquicentennial Committee

P.O. Box 151

Chatsworth, IL. 60921

********************

Sesquicentennial Cookbooks

$16 - $5 S&H

Available at Baltz Library 

or 

Send check or money order to:

Baltz Library

P.O. Box 638

Chatsworth, IL. 60921

*****************

Sesquicentennial Crocks

$40

Contact Pat Frye at 815-635-3167

House fire-June 8, 2017

House fire in Chatsworth 

The home of the Glen Bailey family caught fire on the opening day (June 8, 2017) of the celebration. Here are personal pictures taken by my brother Randy Runyon.

      

Friar Aelred John Knittles

FOUND NEWS TREASURES 

A little history on Friar Aelred John Knittles

Scroll down

ABC Report on Balloon Accident

Link to hot air balloon accident on ABC

View Here

Train Derailment from the Pantagraph

From the Pantagraph.com

CHATSWORTH — Crews continue to clean up from Tuesday’s train derailment near Chatsworth in Livingston County. “They are working on it, but it’s not causing us any problems here in town,” said Mayor Richard Runyon. Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, a westbound Toledo Peoria & Western (TP&W) train derailed two miles east of town. Four cars derailed, Runyon said. One fell over while three others remained upright. Access into and out of Chatsworth was limited for about two hours and crews are still working on the tracks outside of town. The investigation is continuing, but Runyon said railroad officials think the hot temperatures this week had an impact. “The railroad people told me that because of the heat, the tracks have a tendency to buckle and will move up and down,” he said. “That’s happened before and it apparently happened again.” Temperatures were above 90 degrees earlier in the week. There were no injuries reported, Runyon said.   This wasn’t the first rail derailment, nor the worst, in Chatsworth. “For those of us that live here, we constantly are reminded about the one that kind of made us famous,” he said. “It’s part of our history and we recognize that during our anniversary celebrations.” In 1887, a TP&W passenger train on its way from Peoria to Niagara Falls derailed after crossing over a trestle damaged by fire. The Aug. 10 crash killed 85 of the 700 passengers. There also were derailments reported in 1951 and 2010. The accident in 2010 fell on the 123rd anniversary of the 1887 derailment and also was blamed on hot weather.

Obit of Gary Pendleton-January, 2017

Husband of Nancy Dickman

Gary F. Pendleton, 80 of Champaign; formerly of Paxton passed away at 4:05 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 14, 2017, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chatsworth with Rev. Emil Blobaum officiating. Burial will follow in Charlotte Cemetery, Chatsworth with military honors. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2017, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E Pells Street, Paxton and one hour prior to the funeral service from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Gary was born February 4, 1936 in Ashaway, Rhode Island the son of Delmar and Mona Hunt Pendleton. He married Nancy Dickman March 4, 1956 in Chatsworth. She survives. Along with his wife, he is survived by many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Bruce Pendleton, one daughter, Linda Pendleton; two brothers and one sister. Gary grew up in the Westerly and Coventry, Rhode Island areas. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years, retiring in 1974. During his service, he was stationed in Korea and Okinawa for 1 ½ years and also in California, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Delaware. After his retirement, he worked in Civil Service at Chanute Air Force Base until they closed in 1993. He was a former member of the First Lutheran Church, Paxton and the Paxton Lion’s Club. While stationed in Hawaii he was a Cub Master and belonged to the PTA. He was an avid Boston Red Socks and New England Patriots fan. Gary enjoyed working on his computer, watching TV and fishing. He was generous with his time and loved helping others. He was well known as the neighborhood fix-it man. Memorials may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be offered at www.baierfuneralservices.com.

More on the Balloon Accident

From the Pantagraph:

CHATSWORTH — One person was injured in a hot-air balloon mishap at the Chatsworth sesquicentennial celebration Thursday evening, but the balloon landed safely a short distance away. Four balloons were preparing to launch shortly before 6:30 p.m. when the incident occurred. Witnesses said the wind was calm before the accident. Livingston County Sheriff Tony Childress said Friday, “Apparently, there was a wind gust that caused one balloon to lift up.” The basket tipped and the pilot fell out, he said. The pilot was transported to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. Childress said he did not know whether the pilot, whom he did not name, was hospitalized. “It's our understanding at this point that the injuries were not life-threatening,” said Childress. “No one was injured other than the individual that fell out of the basket.” The sheriff said the incident remains under investigation. Mayor Richard Runyon, who was at opening ceremonies elsewhere at the time, said, “Luckily they knew enough to go past the power lines and out of town before pulling the rope” to bring down the balloon. According to one witness, Wayne Germain of Pontiac, “People followed it on the ground and told them what to do.”  Other bystanders told him some passengers got bumps and bruises when the baskets dragged along the ground. “Thank God there weren't any serious injuries,” he said. Germain shot video as the drama unfolded. “It was frightening,” said Germain, noting the wind had been calm for hours. “Out of nowhere, a gust of wind came — 20 mph at least,” he said. “Twenty seconds later, it was calm again.” But in those 20 seconds, there was chaos — and it didn't end when the wind stopped. Four balloons were lined up to take riders aloft and crews had just started to fill the colorful balloons with hot air when the gust blew in. Shortly after the video begins, the wind grabs one of the balloons. Germain notes, “You can hear the rope snap and see a guy fall about 4 feet.” That balloon collided with a second balloon, which had its basket dragged along the ground until it collided with a third balloon, goes airborne, then hits the ground hard before rising up again, with the pilot hanging almost upside down on the side of the basket. He pulls on a cord and falls as the basket hit the ground hard with the balloon again going aloft — this time, without its pilot. Germain said it was fortunate two of the teams were able to quickly deflate their balloons, none of the balloons went into the crowd of spectators and the pilot-less balloon was able to land safely with directions from the ground.  Childress said the balloon “didn't crash” but floated and came to rest at another location. Germain, a hot-air balloon enthusiast, said, “In my 30 years of watching hot-air balloons … I've never seen a gust of wind come across like that.” His video of the incident quickly went viral on the internet, receiving more than 100,000 views on Facebook, in addition to being shown on various television outlets. Germain said he has received calls “from around the world” from people involved in hot-air ballooning who want to use his video for educational and training purposes and he is happy to share it. “I'm glad I got the opportunity to video it,” he said. Although he described it as “a freak accident,” Germain said seeing how quickly conditions can change has cooled his desire to go airborne. “I always wanted to fly in a balloon but couldn't afford it,” he said. “Now, I don't want to go. No, thank you.” The Chatsworth sesquicentennial celebration continues Saturday, with music, fireworks and other entertainment, but Runyon said the hot-air balloon rides will not be rescheduled.

Sesquicentennial Events Happening

Sesquicentennial Events

(New photos added as they happen)

Balloon Launch Accident

See Facebook post of film of the balloon mishap posted by Wayne Germain. Things could have been a lot worse. The first balloon came down in a field northeast of town. 
Click on link below.

Balloon Launch-Sesquicentennial Event

Chatsworth Wreck Programs

CHATSWORTH WRECK MUSEUM

ATTENTION HISTORY BUFFS

CHATSWORTH WRECK PROGRAMS

OLD LIBRARY BUILDING

FREE ADMISSION

And more: local history books and displays

SPONSORED BY SAM DEPINO

JUNE 10, 2017 – 10 A.M. & 1 P.M.

(SESQUICENTENNIAL SATURDAY)

Reminder

What's New at the Chatsworth Illinois Memories website???

Click on the "Announcement" photo to go there.

Much more info that I have here on my blog!!

Obit of Marie Irene (Herr) Tyrrell

Former Chatsworth Teacher

Marie Irene Tyrrell "Irene" (nee Herr), at rest, peacefully, on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at her home after too much coffee! Irene retired from Walgreens as a Card Specialist, and she previously taught high school sciences at the Academy of St. Francis and Chatsworth Illinois High School. She was a former member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a current member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where Irene was a Catechists for 30 years and most recently, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Communion Ministries to the home bound and at Essington Place (Rock Run Place). Irene also volunteered for the Crisis Line of Will County. She is the beloved mother of Anne (Tom) Mosley, Mary Thayer, Paul, John (Krissy), Jane (Brent) Hanouw, Sarah and Ruth; grandmother of 16; and great grandmother of 12. Also survived by Tim Thayer and daughter-inlaw, Cindy (late Mark) Tyrrell; special friend, Judie Renz; her nephew, John (Kathy) Elder; her dog, Gus; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her beloved husband, Stanley K. Tyrrell (1995); her parents, Jesse J. and Marie Irene (Eddy) Herr; and one son, Mark (1998). Funeral services for Irene Tyrrell will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 9:15 a.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black (at Essington) Rd., Joliet, IL to Holy Family Catholic Church, 600 Brook Forest Ave, Shorewood, IL where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. 

For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com Published in The Herald-News from June 8 to June 9, 2017

Chatsworth Sesquicentennial

This is the Week!!

OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR!!

JUNE 8-10, 2017

Obit of Mark Bryan Aberle

Mark Bryan Aberle, 66, of Chatsworth passed away at 11:58 pm, Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at his residence in Chatsworth. His funeral will be 10 am, Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Apostolic Christian Church of Forrest with the ministers of the church officiating. Burial will follow in North Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery, Forrest. Visitation will be 2 to 6 pm, Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury; and 9 to 9:45 am, prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Fairview Haven Retirement Community – Serenity Villa, Fairbury. Mark was born October 27, 1950 in Fairbury; the son of William and Jean (Zimmerman) Aberle. He married LaVerne Martin on May 14, 1977 in Chatsworth. His wife survives in Chatsworth. Also surviving are his children, James (Kara) Aberle and Susan (Keith) Huber both of Fairbury; Shane (Sarah) Aberle of Mahomet; Shawn (Tami) Aberle of Forrest; Bryan (Lisa) Aberle and Marcus (Katie Fehr) Aberle both of Chatsworth; Ashley Aberle of McAllen, TX; Kevin Aberle of Chatsworth; two sisters, MaryJo (Mark) Rieger of Mahomet; and Dawn (Randy) Steidinger of Forrest; and 21 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Doug Aberle. Mark served our country in the US Army during Vietnam. He was employed by Nussbaum Plumbing and Heating Inc. and Steidinger Bro’s Inc., Fairbury and was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church of Forrest.