Obit of Eileen M. (Gerdes) Martin

Eileen M. Martin, 92, of Piper City, IL., passed away 10:40 A.M., Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the Piper City Rehab and Living Center in Piper City, IL. following a one week illness. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at St Paul Lutheran Church Chatsworth, IL with Pastor Mauricio Vieira officiating. Burial will be in the Chatsworth Charlotte Township Cemetery Chatsworth, IL. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. Tuesday October 31, 2017 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Chatsworth. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Chatsworth. Eileen was born May 1, 1925 in Charlotte, IL., the daughter of George C. and Margaret H. Sterrenberg Gerdes. She attended Charlotte's one room elementary River School and graduated from Chatsworth High School. Eileen married Raymond T. Martin February 23, 1943 in St. Charles, Mo. He passed away July 19, 1993. Eileen is survived by six children. Jerry (Fran) Martin of Lake Iroquois Loda, IL, Virgil (Judy) Martin of Alva, FL., Darla (Gery Brown) Propes of Piper City, IL, Donna (Tom) Bargmann of LeRoy, IL, Barb (Bob) Hethke of Judsonia, ARK. and Jean (Jim) Helpap of Wautoma, WI. Fifteen grandchildren. and twenty-five greatgrandchildren. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Donald Gerdes, son-in-law Rondal Propes, and special friend Jack Reynolds. Eileen was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatsworth. A homemaker, she was know in the community for her volunteer work. She loved seeing and hearing from her children and grand- children. Arrangements by the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman and PiperCity, IL. Please sign the guest book at http://www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com

Obit of Brian K. Grady

CHATSWORTH – Brian K. Grady, 43, of Chatsworth died at 12:45 a.m. Monday (Oct. 23, 2017) at his home in rural Chatsworth, surrounded by his loving family after a hardfought battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Strawn, with Father Archer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. Brian was born on Sept. 16, 1974, in Urbana, a son of Cecil J. and Sandra S. (Swanstrom) Grady. He married Denise Freehill on April 9, 2005, in Gibson City. She survives in Chatsworth. Also surviving are a son, Zach Grady of Melvin; his parents, Cecil "CJ" and Sandy Grady of Paxton; a sister, Kelly (Chris) Morton of Genoa; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents and an uncle, Shawn Swanstrom. Brian was a 1992 graduate of PBL. He was a welder at Eagle Wings for 12 years, a farmer and a Scout Master of Troop No. 29. He loved camping, working on cars, riding his Harleys and NHRA Drag Racing. Memorials may be made to Gibson City Boy Scout Troop No. 29 or Handle of Hope. The family requests casual dress for the visitation and funeral: "That's what Brian would want."

Chellis "Jim" & Mary Jane (McGreal) Kessinger 60th Anniversary

From the Pantagraph

BLOOMINGTON — Chellis "Jim" and Mary Jane Kessinger of Bloomington, formerly of Chatsworth, will observe their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 22 by attending the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna, Bloomington, followed by a dinner for family and friends at 12:30 p.m. in the parish hall. They also celebrated in August with their entire family at Disney World in Florida. Kessinger and Mary Jane McGreal were married Oct. 19, 1957, at St. Peter & Paul's Catholic Church, Chatsworth. Their attendants were Patricia McGreal Frye and Gene Wyant. They are the parents of Mike Kessinger and Kay (Wayne) Shold, both of Chatsworth; Sharon (Doug) Benway, Strawn; Dan (Kelly) Kessinger, Normal; and Debbie (Mike) Coffman, Heyworth. They have 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Son Mark Kessinger and granddaughter Lindey Hornstein are deceased. He was sales manager of Hendrix Town & Country, retiring in 2015. She was a secretary at Pafco Inc., retiring in 2000.

Obit of John R. Hanson

John R. Hanson, 62, formerly of Chatsworth and Pontiac, and most recently Fitchburg, Mass., died Oct. 1, 2017, at home, surrounded by his family. John was born in Bloomington and was the son of Kenneth and Johanna Hanson. He served as sergeant in the U.S. Army and also the Army Reserve. John retired after 20 years' combined service in both. He worked as a correctional officer at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Facility in Shirley, Mass., for 14 years and retired in 2014.

John leaves a wife, Ruthe M. Lepp Hanson, Fitchburg; two sons, Michael Hanson, Keene, N.H., and Kenneth J. Hanson and his wife Renee, Grandville, Mich.; two daughters, Maria Pappas and her husband Alex, Fitchburg, Mass., and Carli Murphy and her husband Michael, Ashburnham, Mass. Also surviving are two sisters and one brother, Joan Gerjets and husband Duane, Metamora; Ann Hanson, Bloomington; and Paul Hanson and wife Gail, Winfield. John also leaves nine grandchildren and other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a sister, Pamela Hanson.

October 6 Update

NEW PHOTOS

2016 Auxilliary Officers

Marie & William Lee

Edna & Paul Gillett

Bertha Gillett

St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

New Album- Maps

Inside Higgins Store and ISRA Headquarters

Obit of Sandra Kay (Sleeth) Houser

Sandra Kay Houser, 74, Fairbury, died at 9:50pm Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with Pastor Brian King officiating. Burial will be in Chatsworth City Cemetery, Chatsworth. The family has requested that all in attendance dress in casual attire. Visitation will be 11:00 to 11:45 am Saturday also at the memorial home. The family suggest memorials be given to the Sandra Kay Houser memorial fund. Mrs. Houser was born December 30, 1942 in Fairbury, IL the daughter of Roy and Bertha Crews Sleeth. She married Bobby Houser. He preceded her in death on 1974. Survivors include two daughters, Ullena (Danny) Offenbacker, Forrest; Dawn Hamilton, Fairbury; one son, Bobby (Angie) Houser, Branson, MO; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, one granddaughter, Tiffany; one grandson, Bobby; one son-in-law, Chris Hamilton and two sisters.

David Sutherland, Engineer in the Chatsworth Wreck

Engineer of the lead Engine No. 21

David Sutherland died January 28, 1921 in Peoria

 David Sutherland, who died this week in Peoria was an engineer of the T.P. & W. railroad for many years and, while in the employ of that line, pulled the first engine of the double header Niagara Falls Excursion special, the "death train" that went in the ditch August 10, 1887, due to the burning of a small  bridge near Chatsworth. The engine driven by Sutherland crossed the bridge in safety, but the structure collapsed immediately sending scores to their death.Illinois. He was married to Sara Jane Zollinger.

See memorial here.

Photo used with permission of J.M. Zollinger, owner and descendant of the Zollinger family.