Obituaries

Richard G. Baker

Richard G. Baker

Sep 9, 2018

Richard G. Baker, 83, of Pecatonica died September 9, 2018 at his home after a long illness. He was born April 29, 1935 the son of Alvin and Iva (Kuntzelman) Baker. United in marriage to Madeline (Staas) Becker. Richard attended Aquin High School. During the Korean Conflict, Richard served in the U.S. Army. Richard was formerly employed at the...

David L. Giffrow

David L. Giffrow

Sep 8, 2018

David Lee Giffrow 1930 - 2018. David Lee Giffrow, Freeport, passed away at Stephenson Nursing Center on Saturday, September 8, 2018, surrounded by his family. David was born November 4, 1930, to Allan and Frances (Eatinger) Giffrow in Sterling. He attended Sterling schools and at the age of 17, he joined the US Army Air Force, and was discharged...

Eric J. Challenger

Eric J. Challenger

Sep 6, 2018

Eric J. Challenger, 45, of Freeport, died Thursday September 6, 2018. He was born October 18, 1972 in Freeport, IL, the son of Edward and Theresa (Lampo) Challenger. Eric was a Freeport High School Graduate. He worked for Rolling Hills Progress Center in Lanark, IL. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. He won gold medals...

Barbara Ann Kielsmeier

Barbara Ann Kielsmeier

Aug 31, 2018

Barbara Ann Kielsmeier, 80, of Freeport, died Friday August 31, 2018 at Manor Court of Liberty Village. Barbara was born April 27, 1938 in Freeport, the daughter of Howard and Ruby J. (Woods) Deethardt. She married Duane R. Kielsmeier May 28, 1960 in Freeport. Mr. Kielsmeier died September 20, 2002. Barb, a gentle soul, was known for her beautiful...

Burdette C."Burt" Briggs

Burdette C."Burt" Briggs

Aug 30, 2018

Burdette C. "Burt" Briggs, 97 of Freeport died Thursday, August 30 at Manor Court of Freeport. He was born March 7, 1921 in Rockford, Illinois the son of Burt and Marietta (Finch) Briggs. Burt married Verla J. Miller on May 10, 1947 in Freeport. She died March 11, 2017. Mr. Briggs was a WW II Army veteran, serving in...

Sandra O. Nugent

Sandra O. Nugent

Aug 30, 2018

Sandra O. Nugent, 79, of Freeport, died Thursday, August 30, 2018 in Presence St. Joseph Center. Sandra was born November 2, 1938 in Geneseo, Illinois, the daughter of Leslie and Dorothy (Paxton) Reed. She worked in sales for many years for K-Mart. Sandra was a huge Chicago Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks fan. She enjoyed working on word searches and...

Keith R. Ludewig

Keith R. Ludewig

Aug 29, 2018

Keith R. Ludewig, 62, of Forreston died Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Monroe Clinic Hospital. He was born January 5, 1956 in Freeport to Marvin J. and Gladys (DeVries) Ludewig. On April 9, 1983 he married Marlys L. Buisker in Woosung, IL. Marlys passed away March 28, 2011. Keith farmed and was an industrial technician at Etnyre Manufacturing upon...

Clinton Lenior

Clinton Lenior

Aug 28, 2018

Clinton Lenoir, 90, of Auroa, CO died August 28, 2018 after an extended illness. He was born September 17, 1927 to Romania and Eli Lenoir. Clinton was a 1947 graduate from Freeport Senior High School. He served his country for 24 years in the United States Air Force. He worked at Kelly Springfield Tire Company for 10 years. Clinton...

Donald P. Vanbuskirk

Donald P. Vanbuskirk

Aug 24, 2018

Donald P. VanBuskirk, 88, of Freeport, died Friday August 24, 2018 at Medina Nursing Center in Durand, IL. He was born October 3, 1929 in Freeport, IL, the son of Daniel and Katherine (Pax) VanBuskirk, Sr. Donald worked for Lee's Meat Market for twenty years. He enjoyed following the Chicago Cubs and horse racing. Donald is survived by his...

Lewis "Brum" R. Degraff

Lewis "Brum" R. Degraff

Aug 17, 2018

Lewis "Brum" R. DeGraff, 87, died Friday August 17, 2018 at Manor Court of Freeport. He was born May 23, 1931 in Freeport the son of Lewis W. and Flora (Russell) DeGraff. On June 16, 1957 he married Betty Young in Forreston. Lewis was a 1949 graduate of Forreston High School and in 1953 earned his Bachelor of Science...

Inez E. Spooner

Inez E. Spooner

Aug 11, 2018

Inez Esther Spooner 1928 -2018 ROCKFORD, IL - Inez Esther Spooner, 90, passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at Bickford House in Rockford. She was born Inez Bauer in Reese, Michigan on May 6, 1928, the second of two daughters born to Esther and Herman Bauer. Her older sister, Leona Van Antwerp of Portage, MI, survives. Inez graduated...

Margie Ann Ross

Margie Ann Ross

Aug 10, 2018

It is with great sadness that the family of Margie Ann Ross announces her passing on Friday, August 10, 2018, at the age of 81 years. She was in her home surrounded by her many family members. Margie was born September 7, 1936 in German Valley, the daughter of Thomas and Anna (Fuls) Willemssen. She married Jack L. Ross...

Frank Mcgee

Frank Mcgee

Aug 6, 2018

Frank McGee was born October 9, 1929 in Quitman, Mississippi to the late Emerson and Susie (Layman) McGee. He was the youngest son of 10 children. Frank married Arnetta Estell Campbell on November 10, 1951 in Freeport Illinois. From this union, Karen McGee Portis and LaFrancine McGee Baker were born. He attended Shirley Owens High School in Quitman, MS....

Richard E. Mcworthy

Richard E. Mcworthy

Aug 5, 2018

Richard E. McWorthy, 78, of Freeport, died Sunday, August 5, 2018 at Pearl Pavilion. Richard was born January 1, 1940 in Savanna, Illinois, the son of David P. and Martha L. (Elliott) McWorthy. He married Judith Ann Hockman in 1960 in Nora. Judith died September 18, 1970. Richard then married Sally Hoskins in September of 1983. Sally passed away...

Paul Gordon Crank

Paul Gordon Crank

Aug 2, 2018

Paul Gordon Crank, 81, of Freeport died Thursday August 2, 2018 in his home. He was born May 24, 1937 the son of Paul and Charlotte (Thomson) Crank. On October 28, 1960 Paul married Carolyn Rose Lloyd in Forest Park, IL. Paul is a U.S. Army veteran having served in the Army reserves. He was employed at Commonwealth Edison...

Esther Marie Cox

Esther Marie Cox

Aug 2, 2018

Esther Marie (Gilbert) Cox was a woman known for her love of God and family. She was always generous with her heart and her talent. She loved well, somehow making everyone she loved feel like her favorite person. This kind of love was a natural outpouring of the Love of God she had experienced so deeply herself. As the...

Mary V. Robbins

Mary V. Robbins

Jul 30, 2018

Mary V. Robbins, 89, of Freeport, passed away from Alzheimers disease on July 30, 2018 at Nazareth House Nursing Home in Stoughton, WI. Mary was born on May 30, 1929 in Stockton, Illinois. She is the daughter of E. Copeland and Odessa (Flickinger) Troxell. Mary was a graduate of Pearl City High School. She attended Deaconess Hospital School of...

Cheryl Ann Vogt

Cheryl Ann Vogt

Jul 28, 2018

Cheryl Ann Vogt, 66, of Freeport, died Saturday, July 28, 2018, with her loving family surrounding her. Cheryl was born January 10, 1952 in Cumberland, Maryland, the daughter of James F. and Audrey M. (Conner) Twigg Sr. She married William J. Vogt on April 19, 1992. Cheryl worked alongside her dad for many years at J. F. Twigg Accounting...

Leroy N. Thorn

Leroy N. Thorn

Jul 20, 2018

LeRoy N. Thorn, 96, of Freeport, died Friday July 20, 2018 at Stephenson Nursing Center. He was born January 9, 1922 in Freeport to Oscar and Laura (Canfield) Thorn. On January 18, 1947 he married Helen M. Longamore in Durand, IL. For many years Helen and LeRoy worked on numerous farms in the area. LeRoy served in the Army...

Shirley M. Moore

Shirley M. Moore

Jul 11, 2018

Shirley M. Moore, 87, of Freeport, died Wednesday July 11, 2018 at FHN Memorial Hospital. Shirley was born February 25, 1931, in Freeport, the daughter of Frank and Clara (Blumenstiel) Campbell. She married Grant Moore in Freeport on August 19, 1949. He died February 14, 1991. She was a member of First United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday...