Obituaries

Nov 25, 2023

Ruth K. Palmer, 89, of Rockford, IL, formerly of Freeport, IL passed away Saturday November 25, 2023 at home. She was born May 30, 1934 in Decatur, IL to William C. and Jenny R. (Garrison) Wisdom. Ruth was employed at Micro Switch in Freeport for 30 years as a wheelabrutor. Ruth was a member of Mt. Carmel...

Nov 24, 2023

Kathleen “Kathy” Rose Cruz, 73, passed away Friday, November 24, 2023 after a brief illness in Freeport, Illinois. She was born October 11th 1950 in San Antonio, Texas to Arthur L. and Rose (Williams) Fosler. Kathy was a Dallas Cowboys and NASCAR fan, she loved to bake, to make crafts and loved spending time with her family....

Nov 19, 2023

Beth Ann Winter passed away on November 19, 2023 after bravely battling a brief but very severe illness. She was born on May 5th, 1953 to Arthur and Sarah Joan (nee Palmer) Armagost. Beth attended Freeport High School and Illinois State University. In 1974, she married her Jr. High/High School sweetheart and love of her life, Mark...

Nov 18, 2023

Duane Smith, 92, of Freeport passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at Winn Prairie.

Duane was born on November 12, 1931 in Rock Island, IL. to Louis W. Smith and Lena E. (Welch) Smith. Duane received a B.S. degree in Art Education from Western Illinois University...

Nov 18, 2023

Gary Reuben Amendt, 78, of Eleroy IL, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2023, in Freeport, IL. He was born on January 10, 1945, in Freeport, IL, to Reuben and Ruby (Stumbaugh) Amendt. He was a graduate of Lena-Winslow High School in 1963. After high school, Gary proudly served in the United States Navy on the James...

Nov 17, 2023

Francis B. Fralke, 80, of Freeport, IL passed away Friday November 17, 2023 at Walnut Acres in Freeport. Cremation rites have been accorded and there will be no services.

Nov 10, 2023

Norman Roger Kilker, 66, of Freeport, IL passed away Friday November 10, 2023 in his home. He was born April 28, 1957 in Freeport, IL to Roger and Audrey (Foat) Kilker. Norman graduated in 1975 from Forreston High School. In high school Norman participated in cross country, basketball and baseball. After graduating high school, Norman attended MacMurray...

Nov 9, 2023

Brenda L. Niesman, 65, of Freeport, IL passed away Thursday November 9, 2023 in her home. She was born July 10, 1958 in Salamanca, New York to Roger “Pete” W. and Helen C. (Case) Jensen. On October 25, 1996 she married the love of her life, Frederick “Fred” Niesman in Freeport. Fred passed away July 8, 2003....

Nov 4, 2023

Celestine Allen, 53, of Freeport, IL passed away Saturday November 4, 2023 in her home. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday November 18, 2023 at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. A visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be at Freeport City Cemetery.

Nov 3, 2023

Robert Lee Pope, 82, of Polo, passed away Friday November 3, 2023 at Serenity Hospice Home in Oregon, IL. He was born August 18, 1941 in Dixon, IL, the son of Kenneth and Alice (Zier) Pope. Robert married Susan Lynn Farberg March 1, 1988, she passed away June 3, 2021. Robert farmed in the Polo area his entire life....

Nov 2, 2023

January 9, 1931-November 2, 2023

Freeport: Wayne “WC” Kempthorne, 92, was called home peacefully on November 2, 2023 after a brief illness.

He was born in Hanover, Illinois on January 9, 1931. The son of John “Jack” and Fleta Kempthorne (St. John)

He worked as a switchman and yardmaster...

Oct 30, 2023

The Legacy of a good man, loved by many.

Ernest Michael Stacy was born June 19, 1953 in Racine, Wisconsin to Lydia E. Stacy and Lysanders Fason. In 1970 Michael relocated to Freeport, IL. In November 1991 he met the love of his life Cecelia L. Williams. In October 9, 1993 they were...

Oct 26, 2023

Steven Lee Greenfield, 73, of Forreston, IL, died suddenly at his home on October, 26, 2023. Steven was born May 27, 1950 in Freeport, IL, to Kenneth O. Greenfield and Wilma J. (Duncan) Greenfield. He graduated from Forreston High School in 1968. After graduation he worked at Harper Elevator, then started his career in farming. He married...

Oct 26, 2023

Wayne R. Walker, 78, of Freeport, IL passed away peacefully Thursday October 26, 2023 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born August 10, 1945 in Chicago, IL to Donald H. and Marjorie (Marienthal) Walker. On October 23, 1964 he married Kay Marie Pohl in Lena, IL. Wayne was employed at Honeywell Micro Switch for...

Oct 20, 2023

Patricia A. (Brooks) Brumfield was born on January 13, 1953, in Freeport, IL., to the late Robert (R.T.) Brooks Sr. and Charlena (Shipp) Thomas. She attended Taylor Park Elementary School in Freeport from 1962-1969. She moved to Boston MA. where she attended Girls High School and graduated in 1974. She was employed by Massachusetts Association for the Blind. Patricia...

Oct 20, 2023

Gary Lee Runte, 73, of Forreston, IL, passed away Friday October 20, 2023 in his home. He was born January 21, 1950 in Freeport, IL, the son of Dale and Bernita (Diehl) Runte.

Gary was a pressman at Quebec-Kable News in Mt. Morris for 40 years. He was a member of the Stephenson and Ogle...

Oct 17, 2023

Jerry Leroy Palmer, 83, of Forreston, Illinois, died Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at his home with his loving family surrounding him. Jerry was born on May 16, 1940 in Beardstown, Illinois. Son of Sherman and Beulah Palmer of Astoria, IL. The seventh of eight children.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served...

Oct 15, 2023

Freeport – Clifford W. (Buck) Stout Jr of Freeport died on 10/15/23. He was born on 06/25/30 in Freeport to Clifford (Sonny) Stout Sr. and Margaret (Knodle) Stout. He married Jean A. Schweitzer on Christmas Eve in 1951 while on leave from the Army. Jean passed away on 09/09/11 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Except...

Oct 13, 2023

Lucia Lynn Griffith, 94, of Indianola, passed away Friday, October 13, 2023.

Lucia was born on June 10, 1929 in Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois. She graduated from Drake University, Des Moines, IA. She was a lifetime member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She retired from civil service from the Internal Revenue Service, Phoenix...

Oct 12, 2023

Faye Sanders Hughes, Christian, wife, mother, artist, and educator, of Freeport, passed from this life, Thursday October 12, 2023 at Parkview Home, Freeport.

Faye was born on August 16,1932 in Gadsden Alabama to Elmer A. and Janie (Hill) Head. She was a 1950 Graduate of Gadsden High School, Gadsden, Alabama. She started her...