Diane Richards
Diane M. Richards, 68, of Thawville, died at 8:05 a.m. on November 26, 2009 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in
Watseka. Funeral Services were held on Monday, November 30, 2009 at the Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga
with Frank Gagnon officiating.
Diane was born on January 23, 1941 in Worth to James and Dorothy (Buckman) Deacon. She married Thomas
A. Richards in Chicago on April 23, 1960. He survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Karen Richards of Thawville and Sharon (John) Nyland of Frankfort; four
brothers, James (Jane) Deacon of Orland Park, William (Donna) Deacon of Jacksonville, FL, Dennis (Georgine)
Deacon of Rockford and Glenn Deacon of Chicago; one sister, Patricia (Ted) Kulka of Hamlet, IN and two
grandchildren, Daniel Richards and Nicholas Nyland.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Charles.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital. Arrangements by the Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga. Please sign
the guestbook at www.knappfuneral homes.com.
Joseph Kratz
Joseph P. Kratz, 93, of Piper City, died on November 24, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in
Bloomington following a sudden illness. His funeral mass was held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at St. Peter
Catholic Church in Piper City with Rev. Michael Pennock officiating. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in
Chatsworth.
Joseph was born on July 29, 1916 in Piper City to Joseph P. Nellie B. (O’Donnell) Kratz. His childhood was spent
in Piper City and he graduated from Piper City High School. He married Loretta M. Roche on November 9, 1940
in Piper City. She died on September 28, 2003.
Survivors include three sons, Bob (Mary) Kratz of Piper City, Don (Pat) Kratz of Bloomington and Jim (Darlene)
Kratz of Rochester; one daughter, Dolores Kratz of Bloomington; seven grandchildren and nine great
grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by one daughter, Diane Merkle and one sister, Mary Helen Weller.
He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Piper City. He was a lifelong farmer, a concrete mason and an
employee for Piper City and Ford Central Schools for 20 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a
Trustee and Supervisor for Brenton Township and a Director of the Farmers Grain Company of Piper City.
He enjoyed Notre Dame Sports, the Boston Red Sox and Jigsaw Puzzles.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Piper City, the American Cancer Society, the American
Diabetes Association and the Piper city Fire Department.
Arrangements by the Reilly-Redenius Funeral Home in Piper City. Please sign the guestbook at www.
redeniusfuneralhomes.com
Larry Arends
Larry Lee Arends, 62, of Roberts, formerly of Bradley, died at 12:25 p.m., on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at
Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee following a sudden illness. His funeral was held on Saturday, November
7, 2009 at the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman with Rev. John D.E. Story officiating.
Larry was born on January 29, 1947 in Watseka, to Stanley E. and Maude Ellen (Lambert) Arends. His
childhood was spent in Kankakee. He married Lora J. Ketcherside on September 14, 1968 in Martinton. She
survives.
Other survivors include his mother, Maude Goodell of Paxton; two sons, Michael (Mary) Arends of Bourbonnais
and Larry (Kathy) Arends of Paxton; three daughters, Tina (Jim) Duffy of Roanoke, VA, Sonja (Dale) Gibson of
Kankakee and Misty (Charlie) Page of Beaverville; 12 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; two sisters,
Shirley (Stan) Smith of Canton, MI and Patricia (Dennis) Harner of Vienna and one brother, Michael (Mary)
Arends of Paxton.
He is preceded in death by his father.
Larry was a concrete finisher and worked from Kankakee and Joliet Local 11 and 161. He enjoyed hunting,
fishing and playing cards.
Memorials may be made to the families wishes.
Arrangements were made by the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman. Please sign the guestbook at www.
redeniusfuneral homes.com.
Ann Trobaugh
Ann Troubaugh, 88, of Gilman, died at 11:43 a.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at the Gilman Healthcare
Center following a five week illness. Her funeral mass was held on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the
Immaculate Conception Church in Gilman with Rev. Michael Pennock officiating. Burial was in the Gilman
Cemetery.
Ann was born on April 26, 1921 in Bradley to Josef and Stella (Gulenzynski) Zasada. Her childhood was spent in
Bradley. She attended St. Stanislaus Catholic School. She married Wayne Ardelle Trobaugh on May 25, 1946 in
Kankakee. He died on October 2, 1990.
Survivors include two sons, Eric and Michael Trobaugh, both of Gilman; one grandson, Eric Michael and one
sister, Helen Giasson of Ocala, FL.
She is preceded in death by eight siblings, Mary, Stella, Leo, Walter, Chester, John, Casimir and Zygmunt.
Ann was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Gilman. She moved from Bradley to Gilman in 1966.
Ann was a homemaker and worked for 25 years for L & S Bait of Bradley. She enjoyed flowers and cooking.
Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or Passages Hospice.
Arrangements made by the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman. Please sign the guestbook at www.
redeniusfuneralhomes.com
Dolly Koehler
Dolly L. Koehler, 89, recently of Kouts, IN, formerly of Tinley Park, Onarga and WI and KY, passed away on
October 22, 2009. Funeral services were held on Monday, October 26 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tinley Park
with Interment following at Trinity Church Cemetery.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, John Koehler; her brother Lenny Rothenberg and sister Babe
Siebrandt.
Dolly sang with her sister in the country duo “Molly and Dolly: The Ranch Girls,” and they performed with Gene
Autry. After retiring from a career in banking, she pursued her passion for art.
Memorials may be directed to Smile Train for Cleft Lip and Palette repair. For more information call Heartland
Memorial Center at (708) 444-2266.
Margaret Strough
Margaret Uebele Strough, 93, of Gilman, died at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Iroquois
Memorial Hospital in Watseka. Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Knapp Funeral
Home in Onarga with Rev. Neil Larimore officiating. Burial was in the Lyman Twp. Cemetery in Roberts.
Mrs. Strough was born on April 10, 1916 in Olney to Alfred and Grace (Mericle) Legan. She married Herman
Uebele in Roberts on November 24, 1934. He died on April 22, 1962. She later married Everett Strough on July
17, 1963. He passed away on November 9, 1987.
She is survived by one daughter, Judy (George) Harvick of Gilman; one son, Dennis (Linda) Uebele of
Mahomet; one sister, Jean Pratt of Springfield; five grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and three great great
grandchildren.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, traveling and reading. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in
Roberts and was active with Ladies Aid. She later attended the Onarga Christian Church in Onarga. She worked
at Melinds Factory and retired in 1982 after 27 ½ years.
Memorials may be made to the Onarga Christian Church. Arrangements by the Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga.
Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneralhomes.com
Anita Hendershott
Funeral services for Anita M. Hendershott, 82, of Chebanse, were held on Monday, October 26, 2009 at the
United Church of Christ in Chebanse with Rev. Connie Williams Moodie officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen
Cemetery.
Anita was born on May 29, 1927 in Chebanse, to Mabel Lane and Bernie Burling. She graduated from
Chebanse High School. She married Clifford Hendershott on September 7, 1946. He died on July 22, 1988.
Other survivors include three sons, G. Jay (Cathy) Hendershott of Los Angeles, CA, Alan “Tyke” (Debra)
Hendershott of Kankakee and Bob (Cheryl) Hendershott of Lake Lure, NC; one granddaughter, Sara, two
grandsons, Kyle and Jay and one great grandson, Sasha.
Anita was a member of the United Church where she was the financial secretary and a member of the choir. She
was employed at Central High School as Secretary, Federated Bank as Assistant Vice President and at Knapp
Funeral Home as receptionist and greeter.
She enjoyed many sports activities, animals and music. Memorials may be made to the United Church or that of
the Donors Choice.
Arrangements were by the Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton. Please sign the guestbook at www.
knappfuneralhomes.com.
Everett McNeil
Everett Lee McNeil passed away on August 12, 2009. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Onarga Methodist Church with Rev. Elizabeth Reis and Rev. Tom Jones
officiating.
Mr. McNeil was born on May 7, 1924 in rural Thawville, to Chester Lee and Ruth McNeil. Everett graduated from
Onarga High School in 1942. He served with the U.S. Army in the European Theater in the occupation of France
and Germany. He was honorably discharged on December 18, 1946. He married Avalon Haas on June 7, 1947.
They continued to farm in the Ridgeville/Onarga area for 46 years before retiring in 1993, spending winters at
their new home in Phoenix, Arizona. His wife Avalon survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Barbara McNeil of Marietta, OH and Diane (Mike) Lee of Hawesville, KY;
one son, Kenneth (Kathy) McNeil of Geneva; two grandsons, Kyle and Matthew McNeil; one brother, Wayne
McNeil of Fowler, IN; three nephews, Mark McNeil of Seattle, WA, Tim McNeil of FL and Kevin McNeil of Fowler
and one niece, Dee Ann (Ron) Storch of Peoria, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his oldest grandson, Jonathon Lee McNeil, on February 5, 2009.
Everett was a member of the Onarga Methodist Church and also a lifetime member of the American Legion. No
matter how busy Everett was with his farming and livestock, along with part time employment, he always had time
to stop and talk to friends. He always made time to attend all school functions in which his children were
involved. Everett's passions included his family, dancing with Avalon, hunting with his coon and bird dogs,
raising his prized fighting chickens and he enjoyed playing cards with his friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Onarga Methodist Church.
Arrangements by the Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga. Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneralhomes.
com.
Utopia Gagnon
Utopia Jane "Toby" Gagnon, 82, of Fair Havens Christian Home in Decatur, formerly of Gilman and Onarga,
passed away at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2009. Her funeral was held on Monday, October 19,
2009 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Gilman with Rev. Michael Pennock officiating. Burial was in St.
Marys Cemetery in Gilman.
Toby was born on October 11, 1927 in Fowler, IN to Otis and Flossie (Wintersteen) Kincade. She graduated
from Onarga Community High School in 1945 and married Kenneth George Gagnon on June 2, 1945. They
lived 54 years on a farm southwest of Onarga before moving to Gilman in 1999. Over those years she was
active in various groups associated with the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Gilman and was on the
Onarga School Board in the late 1960s. She was active in the Iroquois Home Extension and was a craft judge at
the Iroquois County Fair for many years. Her talent at crafting pinecone wreaths and various decorations was on
display at several flea markets as well as her antique/craft store in Crescent City in the 70s.
After 56 years of marriage, her spouse, Kenneth Gagnon, died in 2001. In 2004 Toby moved to Decatur.
Survivors include two children, Marie Ortiz from Batavia and Tom (Becky) Gagnon of Decatur; grandchildren,
Kenneth (Kathy) Sandy of Aurora, Keith Sandy of Gilman, Kevin Sandy of West Chicago, Paul (Janel) Gagnon
of Indianapolis, IN; Kelly Gagnon of Fukui City, Japan, Danny Ortiz of Poplar Grove, Angie (Jeromy) McGhee of
Aurora and Jose (Alicia) Ortiz of Naples, FL; siblings, John Kincade, of Gibson City, Phil Kincade of Panama
City, FL and Wilma Penny of Bethel, OH and seven great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Donald Kincade; two sisters, Anne Dixon and Jean
Stocker and two sons-in-law, David Sandy and Frank Ortiz.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements were by the Redenius Funeral
Home in Gilman. Please sign the guestbook at www.redeniusfuneralhomes.com.
Audrey Lamie
Audrey Lamie, 91, of Ashkum, died on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at Riverside Medical Center. Her funeral
services wee held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at the Ashkum Catholic Church of the Assumption with
Internment following at St. Jon’s Catholic Cemetery in L’Erable.
Audrey was born on October 5, 1918, the daughter of Eugene and Babian (Baron) Lemenager. Sher married
Kermit Lamie on June 28, 1937 at St. John’s Catholic Church in L’Erable. He survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Lynn (Beth) LaMie of Kankakee, Gary (Pat) Lamie of Chebanse and Jim
(Leslie) Lamie of Cheyenne, WY; two daughters, Jackie (Arlyn) Rabideau of L’Erable and Sharlene (Al) Zima of
Washington, GA; two brothers, Gerald (Mae) Lemenager of Clifton and Myron (Dorothy) Lemenager of
Kankakee; one sister, Velma Grills of Clifton; 16 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and two great great
grandchildren; one brother in law, Dick Lamie of Watseka; three sisters-in-law, Claudia Anderson of Watseka,
Dolly Lamie of Chebanse and Ethel Lamie of Kankakee and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers Lawrence and Eugene Lemenager and on granddaughter.
Mrs. Lamie was a homemaker who farmed for many years with her husband in the Ashkum area and worked as
a waitress at Reynolds’ Café. She won several shuffle board championships and enjoyed gardening, attending
concerts, fishing, playing cards and attending community events. She was a past-president of both the American
Legion Women’s Auxiliary and the Church of the Assumption CCW.
Memorials may be made to the family’s wishes in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements by the Knapp Funeral Home. Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneral homes.com.
Jessie Ball, Sr.
Jessie William Ball Sr., 76, of Thawville, died at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at his home.
Cremations rites will be accorded with burial at a later date in West Virginia.
Mr. Ball was born on July 3, 1933 in Lex, WV to William and Carolyn (Witt) Ball. He married Lucille Roberts in
Litwar, WV in January 1954. She died in October 1969. He later married Betty Chandler on July 22, 1972 in
Virginia. She survives.
Other survivors include one son, Jessie (Kat) Ball Jr. of Thawville; three daughters, Lola (Robert) Holmberg of
Babson Park, FL; Carol (Louie) Blackburn of Auburndale, FL and Linda Hartman of Thawville; five brothers;
three sisters; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Ball was a member of the Pentecostal Church in Panther, WV. He enjoyed woodworking, watching movies
and playing the guitar.
Arrangements by Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga. Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.
Charlotte Hutchinson
Charlotte J. Hutchinson, 58, of Gilman, died at 8:11 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the Riverside
Medical Center in Kankakee. Her funeral was on Wednesday September 30, 2009 at the Redenius Funeral
Home of Gilman, with Rev. Steven Hartman officiating.
Charlotte was born on August 2, 1951 in Jackson, TN to Joseph Harold and Helen (Sykes) Hamilton. Her
childhood was spent in Tennessee. Charlotte attended Stevenson Elementary and graduated from Bogan High
School both in Chicago. She married Harold Paul Hutchinson on June 6, 1981 in Chicago. He survives.
Other survivors include three children, Michael, Melissa and Melanie Hutchinson, all of Gilman; three
grandchildren, Aidan, Jasmyn and Payton; her mother, Helen Hamilton of Chicago; two brothers, Steve Hamilton
of MI and Timothy Hamilton of Woodridge and one sister, Sandi Szczyrk of Romeoville.
She is preceded in death by her father.
Charlotte moved from Tennessee to Chicago when she was seven years old and then moved to Gilman in 1994.
She was an accountant for 24 years with Illinois Bell in Chicago and also worked five years as a Counselor with
Indian Oaks in Manteno. She has been the president of Carrol Rosenwald Elementary School council, where
she headed up a building extension project for the school.
Memorials may be made to Diabetes Research.
Arrangements by the Redenius Funeral Home in Gilman. Please sign the guestbook at www.re
deniusfuneralhomes.com.
Dale Hanson
Dale E. Hanson, 63, of Ashkum died on Monday, September 28, 2009 at his residence in Ashkum following a
short illness. Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ashkum
with Rev. Jan Horne officiating. Burial with Military honors by the Ashkum American Legion were held at the
Ashkum Cemetery.
Mr. Hanson was born in Kankakee on October 30, 1945 to Clarence and Hazel (Tholen) Hanson. He married
Pamela Hartman in St. Anne at the St. Anne Catholic Church on August 8, 1970. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Scott (Michele) Hanson of Chebanse and Todd (Stephanie) Hanson of
Ashkum; grandchildren, Laura and Nikolaus Hanson and Kate and Abbey Hanson; one sister, Bonnie (Virgil)
Naumann of Valparaiso, IN; his mother in law, Maxine Hartman of St. Anne; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law,
Donna Trost of Kankakee, Jayne Ann and Louie LaMaire of Manteno and Pixie and Donald Burleson of
Tombstone, AZ; numerous nieces and nephews and special nephew, Mark Brault of Valparaiso, IN.
Dale was in sales at Meier Oil Co. in Ashkum for 15 years and prior to that he worked for the Ford-Widholm
Lumber Co. of Ashkum for 18 years. Mr. Hanson was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve. He belonged to Zion
Lutheran Church in Ashkum and was a former board member of his church. He was a former Ashkum Village
trustee and former Ashkum Planning Commission member. He belonged to the Ashkum American Legion. He
enjoyed woodworking, the Chicago Cubs, gardening and was an avid follower of the Chicago Bears and Clifton
Central Football.
Memorials may be made to the Family’s Wishes.
Arrangements by the Knapp Funeral Home. Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneral homes.com.
John Wilking
John Wilking, 60, of Chebanse, died at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Merkle Knipprath
Nursing Home-Clifton. Services were held on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at the Zion Lutheran Church in
Chebanse with Rev. Kane Whybrew officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Chebanse.
John was born on March 27, 1949 in Kankakee to Amos and Viginia (Keller) Wilking. He served in the U.S. Army
and then worked as a Truck Driver for 38 years at Wilking Trucking in Chebanse. He married Susie Ann Walter
in Bay City, MI on July 10, 1976. She survives.
Other survivors include one son, Jamie Wilking of Chebanse; one sister, Patricia (William) Schatz of Kankakee
and two brothers,Amos "Butch" (Patricia) Wilking of Chebanse and Raymond "Buzz" (Pamela) Wilking of
Kankakee.
He is preceded in death by his parents and twin infant sons.
Mr. Wilking was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chebanse.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley or the Zion Lutheran Church of Chebanse.
Arrangements were by the Knapp Funeral Home. Please sign the guestbook at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| OBITUARIES |
