From www.pantagraph.com

LeROY — Glenn McKinley, 83, LeRoy, passed away at 2:12 p.m. Sunday (July 10, 2011) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.
His funeral will be at noon Thursday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, LeRoy. Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2424 W. Nebraska Ave., Peoria, IL 61604.
Glenn was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Charlotte Township, son of Clarence W. and Alice Milstead McKinley. Glenn married Sheralyn Shoemaker on Oct. 8, 1950, in Chatsworth. She passed away June 24, 1998.
Surviving are two daughters, Kathy (Ted) Lacina, Bartlett, and Debbie (Bobby) Underwood, Pontiac; two sons, Kevin McKinley, Bloomington, and Mark (Diana) McKinley, Tucson, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley Gifford, Lena, and Phyllis Leathers, Pinella Park, Fla.; one brother, Robert McKinley, Bloomington; and very dear friend, Patsy Walker, LeRoy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and two grandsons.
Glenn was a 1945 graduate of Chatsworth Township High School. He was a World War II veteran serving with the occupation forces in Germany. He belonged to American Legion Post 1015, Mahomet, and worked for more than 50 years as a carpenter and carpenter contractor.
Glenn was a loving father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and devoted friend who will be deeply missed.

SPRINGFIELD - Mick Rosendahl, 55, of Springfield, passed away at 12:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at St. John's Hospital after a valiant battle against cancer the past three months.Mick was born February 24, 1956 in Chatsworth, IL, the son of William and Constance Manthey Rosendahl. He married Kimberly Cunningham on October 30, 1982 in Springfield.Mick earned his bachelor's degree in Park and Recreation Administration from the U of I in Champaign. He worked as a Senior Grant Administrator for IDNR for 25 years where he assisted in the development of parks and recreation facilities in communities throughout Illinois. Mick also had a passion for ensuring recreation facilities were accessible for anyone with a disability to enjoy. Over the years, Mick volunteered his time with Big Brother/Big Sister, Boys Clubs and United Way. He was also an FBI Citizens Academy alumni. Mick enjoyed working with young people and actively followed his son's and nieces' and nephews' sports teams, especially soccer.Mick's great sense of humor and his compassion for anyone, especially kids, who needed a helping hand will not soon be forgotten by the many people whose lives he touched.Mick was preceded in death by his parents.He is survived by his wife, Kim of Springfield; two sons, Zachary (wife, Brittany) Rosendahl and Joshua Rosendahl, both of Springfield; grandchildren, Carter Holloman and one on the way; siblings, Steve Rosendahl of Phoenix, AZ, Julie Waldschmidt of Odell and Danny Debien of Belgium; brother and sisters-in-law, Barbara (husband, Ken) Graves of Springfield, Bob (wife, Brenda) Cunningham of Springfield and Pam (husband, Mike) Corrigan of Clinton; mother and fathers-in-law, Arlene "Annie" and Richard Bales of Springfield and Bob and Judy Cunningham of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews.Cremation was accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.Memorial Gathering: 4 – 7 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2011 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.Memorial Ceremony: 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Chiola officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.Memorial contributions may be made to: Mick Rosendahl Memorial Fund @ Southwind Park c/o Bank of Springfield, 850 E. Madison, Springfield, IL 62701.Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences

Alfred G. "Allie" Haase, age 82, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at 9:30 pm on Tuesday April 26, 2011 at his residence. "Allie" was born on December 8, 1928 in Chatsworth, Illinois and is the son of Fred G. and Gladys F. Dennwitz Haase. He was raised in Fairbury, Illinois and educated in the public schools and graduated from High School. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving as Sargent in the First Cavalry of Seventh Division during Korea. "Allie" married Marilynn Smith on June 14, 1958 in Berwick, Illinois and she is surviving. Allie was first employed by Rock Island Southern Railroad and then the Sante Fe Railroad for about ten years. He then worked at Killey Cleaners in Monmouth, and did farm work for Clete Smith. Allie also worked for a time at the Monmouth Sale Barn. Allie also put in 30.6 years at Maytag where he retired as Leadman. Alfred has also been in the registered quarterhorse business for much of his working life. He has purchased and sold many horses and shod horses as a weekend job. He loved raising and showing horses. He loved fishing with his son and spending time with his great grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Marilynn of Monmouth, and one daughter, Vickie Jo Haase of Monmouth, and one son, Tony ( Sandy ) Haase of Gilson, Illinois. Three grandchildren Tony Jr., Aaron, and Sarah Haase. Three great grandchildren Kara, Kyleigh, and Nathan Haase. There are three brothers surviving, Marvin, Ivan, and Irvin Haase. Two sisters Eunice Gaskill of Monmouth, and Florence McBroom of Chenoa, Illinois survive. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, one in infancy.

Services: Cremation has been accorded. A graveside committal service will be planned at a later date. A memorial fund has been established by his family for the Warren County Saddle Club and may be sent to Marilynn Haase @ 1823 75th Street in Monmouth, Illinois.

From www.pantagraph.com

SPRINGFIELD -- Several area libraries are among 65 chosen to receive almost $4,000 worth of equipment, hardware and software to help businesses and entrepreneurs create jobs.
The grants were announced by Secretary of State Jesse White, who also is the state librarian. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin obtained the $300,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Participants were selected on the basis of the local unemployment rate, poverty level, proximity to a Small Business Development Center, SCORE or other business organization, and statewide geographic distribution.
They include:
The sixty-five libraries receiving technology packages are Bloomington Public Library, Chatsworth Township Library, Paxton Carnegie Library, Reddick Public Library District, Towanda District Library.

From www.pantagraph.com

CHATSWORTH — Tom Beck, 83, formerly of Chatsworth, passed away on May 26, 2011, in his residence in Ocala, Fla.

Master Sgt. Thomas A. Beck was buried June 1 at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., with full military honors and a 21-gun slaute.

Tom was born Thomas Andrew Beck on Oct. 12, 1927, in Chatsworth, the oldest of three sons born to Stircow and Ersie Piercy Beck. He also had five sisters. He attended elementary schools in Chatsworth and graduated from Chatsworth Township High School in the class of 1946.

Tom was first employed by his father, Stircow Beck, a contractor and builder in the Chatsworth, Strawn and Piper City areas. He then became a general contractor under his own name in the Chatsworth and Piper City areas from 1956 to 1975. He specialized in new home construction, new kitchens and farm buildings. More than 20 structures in the area bear his signature.

He became a career military officer in the U.S. Army. He first served in the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1952 and received the Purple Heart for a wound sustained in battle. He served as an adviser with the U.S. Army in the war in Vietnam from 1962 to 1968. He achieved the rank of master sergeant, the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. From 1975 to 1987, he was employed by the United States government. He finally retired in 1987. He lived in the Geneva and Rochelle areas until he moved to Ocala, Fla., in 2004.

Tom is survived by Carol Clark Beck, his wife of 55 years; two sons, Allan Anthony and Mark Andrew, both of Ocala, Fla.; a granddaughter, Candice Anderson; and two brothers, William G. Beck, Colfax, and John Robert Beck, Midland, Ga.; and 20 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers-in-law; and his five sisters, Virginia Beck, Blanche Lane, Janette Curtis, Corinne Cavanaugh and Gwen Evans.

The Little School Museum

Pics from the re-opening day June 17, 2011

Heritage Days 2011

Album is not complete-will be adding more

From the Pontiac Daily Leader

Pontiac, Ill. —
Donald E. Foster, 93, of Pontiac, died at 8:45 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011, at Evenglow Lodge Tjardes Health Center, Pontiac.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, the Rev. Gretchen Stinebaugh officiating.
Burial will be in Patty Cemetery, rural Pontiac.
Friends may call one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home.
He was born April 25, 1918, in Yates Township, rural Chenoa, the son of Harold and Wilma (Donnell) Foster. He married Catherine Lorraine Schade Jan. 23, 1939, at Kentland. She passed April 3, 1998.
Surviving are one sister, Jeanette (Richard) McCabe, Pontiac, and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Foster was also preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Landon Foster.
Don was a graduate of Chenoa High School Class of 1936. He then attended Milwaukee School of Engineering for one year.
Don had farmed in the Pontiac, Chatsworth and Gibson City areas. He was the owner/operator of the Chatsworth Locker Plant from 1958-68. He was then a meat inspector for the Department of Agriculture from 1968-80 until retirement.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Pontiac.
Don had belonged to the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butchers Union.
Online condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com.
The family suggests memorials may be made to Evenglow Lodge Tjardes Health Center or to a charity of donor’s choice.