Obit of Ella (Thorndyke) Brown

Ella (Thorndyke) Brown

Ella L. Brown, 83, Fairbury, died at 10:50 am Monday, January 2, 2012 at OSF St. James-John Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, January 6, 2012 at the United Methodist Church, Forrest with the Rev. David Reynolds officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Twp. Cemetery, rural Wing.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. The family suggests memorials be given to the United Methodist Church, Forrest or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Mrs. Brown was born January 19, 1928 in Chatsworth the daughter of John and Hilda Frieden Thorndyke. She married Allan P. Brown on April 30, 1950. He survives in Fairbury.

Other survivors include her children: Gary (Jane) Brown, Saunemin, Donna (Carl) Anderson, Bloomington, Carol (Eric) Krag, Greencastle, IN, Sue (Dale) Rolando, Orlando, FL, Wayne (Sue) Brown, Gibson City, Paul (Linda) Brown, Petersburg, two sisters, Phyllis Bunting, Fairbury, Wanda (Lowell) Johnson, Manhattan, KS, fourteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

Mrs. Brown was a 1946 graduate of Saunemin High School and was a homemaker who farmed with her husband for many years.

Obit of Esther (Shell) Berry

Esther (Shell) Berry

Fairbury – Esther Marie Berry , 90, of Fairbury passed away at 9:02 am on January 5, 2012 at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury.

Her funeral will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at McDowell United Methodist Church. Pastor Donna Baker will be officiating. Burial will be in Avoca Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm on Monday, January 9, 2012, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and one hour prior to services on Tuesday at the church.

Memorials may be made to McDowell United Methodist Church, Fairview Haven Nursing Home, or OSF Hospice.

Esther was born February 10, 1921, in Chatsworth the daughter of Adam and Bessie Mae Eaker Shell.

She married James Graydon Berry on April 19, 1944, in Chatsworth. He died October 2, 1996.

Surviving are two sons James R. (Kay) Berry of Lexington and Michael G. (Cinda) Berry Rochester; two daughters, Denise K. (Alan) Haberkorn of St. Charles, MO and Renee M. (David) Enderli of Pontiac; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren + 3 on the way; three sisters, Helen Babcock of Washington, Agnes Wilkins of Bradley, and Margaret Herink of Canton.

Her parents, two brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.

Esther was a member of McDowell United Methodist Church.

She worked in a war factory in Rome, NY in 1944 while her husband was stationed there. She worked on the line making water jackets for machine guns.

Esther was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to garden, sew and quilt. She made quilts for all of her children and grandchildren. Esther was known for her great cooking, especially her pies. She had a love for animals and was loved by all. 

Obit of Mildred (Beckoff) Cole

COLFAX — Mildred Ione Cole, 90, of Colfax passed away Saturday (Dec. 17, 2011) at Asta Care Center of Colfax.

A graveside service for Mildred will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Wiley Cemetery, Colfax. Visitation will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Monday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax.

Mildred was born Sept. 19, 1921, in Forrest, the daughter of Albert and Ruth Basil Beckhoff. She married Floyd Cole on June 21, 1941, in Lutesville, Mo. He died Oct. 24, 2004.

Surviving are her daughter, Jorja (Gary) Milton of Colfax; son, Dean (Cathy) Cole of Normal; grandchildren, Jeff (Kelly) Cole, Bradley (Joette) Cole, Gregory (DeeDee) Milton, Timothy Milton and Krista (Drew) VanNote; great-grandchildren, Kassadie, Peyton, Braelyn, Lauren, Averi and Addison Cole; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Madison Huff and Quintin Rogganbauck.

Mildred was a member of the Methodist Church in Lexington and Chatsworth.

Memorials may be made to the Eastern McLean County Ambulance Association or Asta Care Center of Colfax.

Condolences and tributes may be made to the family atwww.duffypilsmemorialhome.com

Obit of Barbara J. Allen Kramer

DWIGHT — Barbara J. Allen Kramer, 64, Dwight, peacefully passed away at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2011) at her home surrounded by family and friends after a 15-month battle with cancer.

Her funeral will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dwight United Methodist Church, 701 S. Columbia St., Dwight, with the Rev. Lance Leeds officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded. Hager Memorial Home, Dwight, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials can be made to the Livingston County Humane Society.

Barbara was born April 12, 1947, in Fairbury, daughter of Orville R. and Hazel Franklin Allen.

She is survived by her partner in life, William J. Hooker, Dwight; her son, David J. (Michelle) Kramer, Mansfield; three grandchildren, Douglas J., Kolby R. and Trista L. Kramer; and her mother, of Dwight.

She also had a special relationship with Bill’s children, William T. (Heidi) Hooker and Brian J. Hooker, as well as grandsons, Matt and B.J.

She was preceded in death by her father and two siblings, Richard Allen and Linda Allen Moore.

Barbara attended Kempton-Cabery Grade School and graduated from Chatsworth High School in 1965. She earned a degree from Brokaw Hospital School of Medical Technology in 1967.

From 1967 to 1993, Barbara worked in the medical profession at several facilities, including Brokaw Hospital, Bloomington; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Alton; St. James Hospital, Pontiac; Wooster Hospital, Wooster, Ohio; Fairbury Hospital; and Gibson City Community Hospital. She worked at Morris Hospital from 1993 to 2002.

In 1988, Barbara obtained an insurance license and worked part time for the Shafer-Pearson Agency in Chatsworth. After retirement from the medical field in 2002, she worked full-time for William J. Hooker Agency in Dwight. She also completed the CISR and CIC designations in the insurance field.

Barbara was a member of Dwight United Methodist Church. She was active with United Methodist Church of Chatsworth, acting as a youth group leader and with the admin council. She was active with the Dwight Chamber of Commerce.

Barbara loved to travel and most recently visited Paris, France, in 2010, with her niece, Leanne Moore of Tampa, Fla.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending their sporting events. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, as well as her backyard pond. She liked visiting flea markets and festivals and really enjoyed her pets.

Please share condolences or memories online at www.hagermemorialhome.com.

Obit of Larry V. Stemke

CHATSWORTH — Larry V. Stemke, 68, Chatsworth, died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2011) at the Good Samaritan Home of Pontiac.

His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth, with the Rev. Jerry Gentes of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatsworth officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home in Chatsworth. Burial will be at Wenger Cemetery, Gilman. Memorials in Larry’s name may be left to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Larry was born March 2, 1943, in Kankakee, a son of Vincent W. and Evelyn Goller Stemke. He married Joan Chase on June 30, 1963, in Gilman.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Stemke, Chatsworth; one brother, Gerald (Janet) Stemke, Alberta, Canada; and two sisters, Linda (John) Whitlow, Normal, and Beverly (Rodger) Gillenwater, Normal.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Todd Stemke in 1991; and one brother, Billy Stemke.

Mr. Stemke graduated from Gilman-Danforth High School. He had worked as a custodian for the Chatsworth schools. He later worked for Hicksgas and Trimble Oil in Chatsworth, delivering fuel to farmers. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatsworth, the Chatsworth Masonic Lodge and the Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left atwww.martin-funeralhomes.com.

Obit of David L. Zeller

ONTIAC — David L. Zeller, 61, of Pontiac passed away Saturday morning (Dec. 10, 2011) at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Pontiac.

A memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Chatsworth, with the Rev. B.K. Tran and the Rev. Richard Brunskill officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday prior to the Mass at the church, where in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his family. Cremation rites have been accorded and a private inurnment will be at a later date. Martin Funeral Home, Chatsworth, is in charge of arrangements.

David was born Feb. 14, 1950, in Fairbury, a son of Leo Zeller and Mary Lou Dohman Teel.

He is survived by three daughters, JoAnn (Michael) Riedel and Brandy (Jason) Pekarovich, both of Forrest, and Janna (Damon Lynch) Zeller of Fisher; eight grandsons; his mother, Mary Lou Teel of Chatsworth; five sisters, Diane (Ulf) Olsen of El Paso, Texas, Linda (Bob) Arquette of Streamwood, Beth Ann May and Mary Jo (Mark) See, both of Joliet, and Marcella Ratliff of Florida; three brothers, Larry Zeller of Pontiac, Joe Zeller of Florida and Ricky (Ellie) Zeller of New Jersey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, David E. Zeller, on November 27; a brother, Russell Zeller; and his father.

David was a paint contractor for 3M National for many years.

This obituary may be viewed, and private condolences sent to the family online at www.martin-funeralhomes.com.

Obit of Sharon Lawless Neville

FAIRBURY — Sharon Lawless Neville, 70, of Palatine passed away Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2011) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

She was born in Fairbury to the late Thomas and Ruth Lawless and lived for more than 40 years in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights, Island Lake and most recently Palatine. Sharon, who had a long career of 30 years at Miami Corp., had quite interesting stories of commuting to the Wrigley Building on a daily basis. She was known as an adventuresome traveler with friends or family, which included frequent trips to visit children and grandchildren. A most passionate Chicago sports fan, Sharon was often the loudest cheerleader in the room following the Bulls and Bears and a devoted listener to Ron Santo and Pat Hughes.

She was the beloved wife of the late Patrick Kenneth Neville and the loving mother of four children, Tricia (Rich) Bingham of Edmond, Okla.; Michael Neville and Christine (Jack) Busby, both of Arlington Heights; and Matt (Kelly) Neville of Dallas. She was the proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren, Adrienne, Ken, Connor and Luke Bingham; Rachelle, Brad, Corinne and Will Busby; and Sarah and Danny Neville — all have fond memories of a grandmother who provided unconditional love and support.

She loved attending many school and sports activities related to all her grandchildren and was most proud of their accomplishments. She was also a dear sister to Joyce Lawless of Bloomington, Kay (John) Ryan of Peoria, and Judy Lawless of Bloomington; and had strong connections to her in-laws, extended family and too many to name but all dearly loved.

A memorial gathering will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Metropolis Ballroom, 6 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. A visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, with a service at 2 p.m. at Hager Memorial Home, Dwight. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Chatsworth. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Chicago Botanic Garden atwww.chicagobotanic.org.