Obituaries

Feb 25, 2026

Robert Lee “Bob” Bastian, 91, of Freeport, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Bob was born in Freeport, Illinois, the son of Oliver and Ruth Bastian, and spent his childhood on a family farm near Florence Station before his family later moved to German Valley and eventually planted roots in Freeport, IL.

In his early...

Mar 16, 2026

Kim Gregory Grimes, 73, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 16, 2026 at Saint Joseph’s Skilled Nursing Facility with his family at his side.

Visitation will be held Friday March 20, 2026 from 9:00am-11:00am at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. A brief service will follow the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to support the FHN Hospice group through the...

Mar 14, 2026

Ludwig Schaefer, age 66, of Freeport, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on March 14, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and daughter. He was born on May 2, 1959, in Bitburg, Germany, to Friedrich and Agnes (Lux) Schaefer.

Ludwig married Brenda (Knutti) Schaefer on November 4, 1989, in Freeport, Illinois. Together they built a loving life and were blessed with...

Mar 12, 2026

Violet (Diehl) Frederick-Hiteman, 95, of Freeport, IL, passed away on March 12, 2026, at Oakley Courts, surrounded by her family. She was born May 23, 1930, in Freeport, IL. She was the daughter of Merle and Edith (DeWall) Diehl. Violet married Harold Hiteman on November 6, 1948, in Ogle County. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Cheri and Melodie....

Mar 9, 2026

Mar 9, 2026

Sondra (Shippert) Gentry, age 54, of Freeport, Il, passed away on March 9th, 2026. Born on January 27, 1972, to parents, David (Estelle) Shippert and Karen (Jeff Asher) Ogburn.

Sondra was a compassionate spirit whose fevour was caring for others. She spent her days helping others breath as a Respiratory Therapist as well as taking side jobs for those in need....

Mar 8, 2026

Fredric Hildebrandt, 75, of Freeport, IL, passed away Sunday, March 8, 2026.  He is survived by his beloved wife Jane; step-son Mark Nicholas Bailey; and two sisters, Patricia (Justin) Kronewetter and Jean Margaret "Peggy" Phillips.

Cremation rites have been accorded.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Mar 8, 2026

Dona Rae (Meyer) Dornink, 93, of Freeport IL, passed away on March 8th at Oakley Courts Assisted Living. She was born home in Scioto Mills, IL on November 2, 1932, to Raymond and Iva (Willis) Meyer. Dona was married to Ronald on August 28, 1954 and shared 71 years of marriage.

Dona graduated from Freeport High School in 1950. Following their...

Mar 7, 2026

Ruth Smith, 93, of Freeport, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, surrounded by her loving family as well as her WinnPrairie family.

Ruth was born on September 26, 1932, in Macomb, Illinois, to her immigrant parents, Rose and Robert Neuneker. She met her sweetheart and future husband, Duane, at Western Illinois University, where she was studying to become a Home...

Mar 7, 2026

Clyde R. Hull, 65 of Forreston, IL passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 7th, 2026 at his home. He was born July 27, 1960 in Freeport, IL the son of James and Violet (Ferguson) Hull. Clyde graduated from Freeport High School in 1978. He married Barbara Ginger on June 20, 1981 at the United Methodist church in Forreston, IL. They...

Mar 7, 2026

Vera L. Pruitt-Allyson, 91, of Freeport, Illinois passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Liberty Village in Freeport, IL. She was born June 30, 1934 in Prescott, Arkansas, the daughter of T. Hayes and Hattie Walker.

She attended school in Prescott, Arkansas.

Then located to Bruce, Mississippi, to live with her sisters, she then met and married Thomas Pruitt in 1953.

They then...

Mar 5, 2026

Bonnie Kay Horton, 79, of Freeport, IL, passed away March 5, 2026, at Serenity Estates of Lena, IL. She was born on August 6, 1946, in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Delbert and Virginia (Airhart) Haring. A 1964 graduate of Elizabeth High School, she then attended Freeport Community College and graduated in 1967. After meeting at Freeport Community College, Bonnie...

Mar 5, 2026

Donald H. Snyder, 89, passed away at Serenity House in Oregon, IL, after a brief illness. He was born October 27, 1936, in Dekalb, IL to Don and Helen Snyder. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army, which he served for two years. After serving he was actively working alongside his uncle Clint on the...

Mar 5, 2026

William “Bill” Albert Paxton, 74, of Freeport, IL, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 27, 1951, in Freeport, IL, the son of Howard and Alice “Ruth” (Whitsell) Paxton. Bill married Linda Schulz on November 25, 1970, in Freeport, IL. He was employed as a computer programmer and after...

Mar 5, 2026

Paul C. Hambley, 90, of Freeport passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026 at his home/farm surrounded by his family.

He was born October 15, 1935, in Polo, IL, son of Albert and Verna Irene (Smyth) Hambley. On September 18, 1965, Paul and Mary Lou (Gartman) Hambley were married in Freeport.

He was a graduate of Dakota High School in 1954.

He was...

Mar 4, 2026

Delores E. Wichman passed away with grace and peace on March 4, 2026, with her granddaughter by her side. She lived her life with gratitude towards everything; her family and friends, her home and land, her ability to learn and work, her travels and hobbies.

Delores was born in Forreston, IL on July 25, 1927 (Christmas in July as she would...

Mar 4, 2026

Cheryl Jean Robinson (77) of Freeport, IL passed away peacefully on March 4th, 2026 in Byron, IL. She was born on December 29, 1948 in Urbana, IL, the daughter of Clinton and Lola Spesard (Lookingbill). She married Lee Robinson on April 10, 1976 in Freeport, IL.

Cheryl was a graduate of Champaign Senior High School in 1967 and later went on...

Mar 4, 2026

Susan Ann Swank-Eckert (Awe), 81, of Freeport, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Winn Prairie, with her family by her side.

She was born May 25, 1944, in Sycamore, Illinois, and was raised in the close-knit town of Kirkland, Illinois. Susan was the daughter of Melvin and Vivian (Smith) Awe. She graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1962 and...

Mar 1, 2026

Arnold “Arnie” Darrel Schmoll, 90, of Shannon, IL, passed away Sunday March 1, 2026, at FHN Memorial Hospital. He was born on October 9, 1935, in Avon, South Dakota, the son of Phillip and Alma (Gentile) Schmoll. On October 7, 1955, he married Darlene Schlamp. Darlene passed away April 25, 2014. Arnie held many jobs that included working at the...

Feb 24, 2026

James “Jim” W. Witt, 83, of Cedarville, IL, passed away with his family by his side on February 24, 2026, at Mercyhealth Hospital in Janesville, WI. He was born September 9, 1942, at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, IL, the son of Roy Jr. and Frances (Clark) Witt. Following his graduation from Freeport High School in 1960, Jim was a...