Carroll Co Illinois Obituaries
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JOHN BINGNER , 73, of Lanark died on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at Rockford Memorial Hospital. He was born on July 9, 1938, in Freeport, the son of Frederick and Viola (Reeder) Bingner. He was previously employed by the Illinois Central Railroad and Barker Lumber Company in Shannon. He then did odd jobs. Jack was a collector of railroad memorabilia and antiques and enjoyed working outdoors. Surviving is one daughter, Jackie (Paul) Albertson, and one son, Mike Bingner, both of Lanark; four grandchildren, Katie and Josh Albertson of Lanark, and Schyler and Kalina Bingner of Freeport; his mother, Viola Pfund of Mount Carroll; one sister, Norma (Paul) Meier of Shannon; and his dog, Wizard. He was preceded in death by his father. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 25, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport, with Rev. Ellis Boughton officiating. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Arrangements are being handled by the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark.
Contributed by Alice Horner -

GRACE BOLTON - Following a brief illness, Mrs. Donald (Grace) Bolton of Savanna died Monday afternoon in Savanna City Hospital. Mrs. Bolton was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Savanna. Born July 11, 1906, in Iowa, she was the daughter of Harry and Ella (Wright) Bottorff. She was married to Donald Bolton July 4, 1925, in Savanna. Surviving are her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Lewis of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Mrs. James (Sally) Flickinger of Savanna; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Ina Wiker of La Jolla, Calif., Mrs. Nort Davis of Fremont, Iowa, and Mrs. Elizabeth McCully of Baldwin Park, Calif.; and a brother, Lewis of Ottumwa, Iowa. Mrs. Kenneth Compton of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, will be reader for the funeral service to be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in. Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Burial will be in the Savanna Township Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 this evening.
Contributed by Pam Pickens - Freeport Journal-Standard Date: 9-24-1974

LAURA (HOLMAN) BUCKLEY - The news of the death of Laura, wife of John Buckley, was a distinct shock to the many friends of the family in this city. Very few realized that the lady was critically sick, hence they were unprepared for the distressing news that she had passed away. On Tuesday evening, Mrs. Buckley gave birth to a child which, however, did not live. Her condition was serious previous to the birth of the little on which left her in a weakened and precarious condition from which she did not rally and her death occurred at nine o’clock this (Thursday) morning. Laura Holman, daughter of James and Ruth (Rhodes) Holman, was born in Thomson, this county, December 2, 1870 and spent her early life in that vicinity. Twelve years ago she came to Savanna with her mother and brothers which has since been her home. Nine years ago she was united in marriage to John Buckley of this city who with two sons, Melvin and Jack and one daughter, Ruth, also her mother and two brothers, Melvin and Ralph Holman are left to mourn her death. Death, no matter when it comes, always brings sorrow and sadness to many hearts. When it is the aged voyager who is ready and waiting for the summons there is consolation in the thought that they are resting at the end of a long and well spent life. But when the Messenger of death visits the home and takes the young mother from the family circle the sorrow presses hard upon the heart. Though there will be near and dear ones who in a measure will take the mother’s place and can care for and rear the little ones, the latter can never realize the blessed influence and tender care which only the loving heart of the mother can give. Laura Buckley truly had all these attributes of a devoted mother. Her children, husband, and home were to her sacred and well did she fulfill the mission as wife and mother, and for one of these little ones she went to death’s door and entered the portals of the Eternal City where the Angels of the Lord bade her welcome. As she was a devoted wife and mother she was a dear and kind daughter and sister. In her friendship she was loyal and true and a neighbor who was loved and esteemed on account of her pleasant though quiet ways. She never intruded upon the rights of others, but was willing and anxious to do justice to one and all. While this parting is hard for the near and dear ones they know that with her all is hell, for she has passed from the spasms of suffering, the trials and tribulations which are on all sides in our walk though life, and know that the peace which God giveth is with her. The Journal expends sympathy to the deeply bereaved members of the family trusting that the same comforting influence which has come to them in past trials will sustain and comfort them at this time.
Contributed by Alice Horner -
Alice Horner's note: As of March 6, 2011 Findagrave.com shows her tombstone (and tombstone photo) is at Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna, Carroll County, Illinois.

HAZEL BUCKNER - 94, of Freeport, formerly of Lanark, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 20000 at St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford. Arrangements pending at Russell-Frank Funeral Home, Lanark.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois January 8, 2000 - pg A5

ABRAHAM BUCKWALTER - The following from the Lancaster, Pa. New Era relates the story of the life struggles and death of a former Sterling citizen, who owned a dry goods store on east Third street where Amos Abrens house now stands, corner of Eighth avenue. Mr. John Buckwalter, of Bartville, has received a letter from Grand Springs, Sumner county, Kansas, stating that his brother Abraham Buckwalter, died at that place, from heart trouble, on October 8, 1899. The deceased had a remarkable experience. In 1852 he married Miss Good, of West Earl township, and went to Sterling, Ill. About that time a new railroad was built through the town and a big boom sprung up. Mr. Buckwalter entered the mercantile business, and, for a time, all went well, until the boom exploded, and he lost heavily in different ways. Then he went to Keokuk, Iowa, started a boarding house, but failed to make it pay. Mr. Buckwalter afterwards disappeared, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. Throughout the Civil war he was in the South, but escaped being pressed into the army. About seven years after his disappearance he made known his whereabouts to his brother, in Bartville. He was then in Little Rock, Arkansas, but in the letter he said he couldn’t tell why he disappeared, but that he suffered beyond human endurance. He then worked his way back to Sterling, Illinois. He was poor and downcast. His Lancaster county brother, above mentioned, sent him a draft for $300, the earnings of his harvest. The deceased then moved to Cowley county, Kansas, took up 160 acres of Government land, put up a hut and stocked the place. For a time crop failures, caused by drought, made his life a bitter struggle, but eventually his nerve and backbone resulted in success. In a letter to his brother, dated April 9, 1875, the Kansas farmer says his county (after a crop failure) has not received much aid, except what had been sent by personal friends. He was minus grain for his horses and meat for his family. Some of the counties were receiving aid from the Government from an appropriation of $150, 000. Flour sold for three dollars per cwt.; corn $1.25 to $1.50 per bushel; ham, 16 cents, and beef from 8 to 12 cents. The impoverished farmer had had no meat since New Year. He had lost his hogs from starvation. Newcomers in the vicinity, who bought land 20 per cent lower than the previous year, became discouraged and sold out. Several years after this Mr. Buckwalter moved to the place of his last abode, where he became successful in his ventures.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Evening Gazette, November 20, 1899, page 4, column 1

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUCKWALTER - Funeral services for Benjamin Franklin Buckwalter 86, who died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday (December 10, 1939) at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ed Eisenbise were held Tuesday afternoon at the Frank Bros. Funeral Chapel in Mt. Carroll, Rev. J.H. Fetterolf officiating and burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Buckwalter was born March 30, 1853 in PA son of Samuel and Elizabeth Buckwalter. He is survived by his daughter, three sons, Ray & Charles of Savanna and George of Lanark; a sister Mrs. Adam Ritenour of Chicago and three brothers Clayton, Elijah and Jacob all of Mt. Carroll.
Thomson Review 14 December 1939

CECELIA (GRIFFIN) BUCKWALTER - 78, died Friday (17 Jan 1992) at her home. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mount Carroll. Burial will be in Oakhill Cemetery, Mount Carroll. She retired in 1970 as an office clerk after 22 years at Savanna Proving Grounds. Cecelia Griffin married Leslie Buckwalter in 1966 in Savanna. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Virginia (Mrs. Gene) Miller, Raleigh, N.C.; three grand-children; and two great-grandchildren.
Contributed by Lori Gilbert

CLYDE BUCKWALTER , 74, of Kennewick , Washington , formerly of Mount Carroll , died Sunday, October 24, 1993. He served in World War II. Mr. Buckwalter was born November 25, 1918 in rural Mount Carroll to Alva and Mary Ellen ( Douglas ) Buckwalter. He married Jackie Magnesen October 11, 1940 in Rockford . Survivors include his wife; one daughter, one son; and two sisters, Mrs. Leroy ( Doris ) Dusing of Coleta and Mrs. Randall (Clarice) Bloyer of Mount Carroll. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother. The body was donated to science.
Contributed by Alice Horner

FLORENCE (KNEALE) BUCKWALTER , 95, of Loran died Saturday, Nov. 20, 1993 in Morgan Memorial Nursing Home in Stockton. A homemaker, she was also employed by Freeman Shoe Company in Beloit, Wis. Daughter of Charles Kneale, she was born Sept. 1, 1898. She married Alonzo Buckwalter in 1917 at Mount Carroll. He died Feb. 16, 1987 in Mount Carroll. Surviving are one son, Leslie Buckwalter of Loran; a granddaughter, Kaye (Robin) Taylor of Wrangell, Alaska; one grandson, David Buckwalter of Waltham, Mass.; and three great-grandchildren. A sister and one brother also preceded her in death. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll, with the Rev. Robert Schubert of First Brethren Church officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Wednesday until time of service in Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home.
Contributed by Alice Horner

FRANK H. BUCKWALTER , 79, of Lanark died Wednesday morning at Freeport Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. (The Social Security Death Index gives the date as April 1979.) He farmed for many years, then moved to Lanark and was employed at Green Giant Co. for 15 years. Born June 11, 1899 in Carroll County, he was the son of Jacob and Emma (Ritenour) Buckwalter. He married Sadie Kimpel Aug 2, 1930 in Lanark. Surviving are his widow; two sons, Robert of Lanark and Ronald of Mount Carroll; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Tom (Betty) Valenta of Benton, KY; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald and Henry, both of Mount Carroll; and two sisters, Elzora Buckwalter of Mount Carroll and Mrs. Wilma Bradford (s/b Bedford) of Edwards, MO. He was preceded in death by one sister. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Frank Funeral Home in Lanark with the Rev. Paul Buettner, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Lanark Cemetery.
Contributed by Alice Horner

GEARY KENNETH BUCKWALTER , age 55, Lincoln, Nebraska, died January 19, 2006, at Tabitha Hospice in Lincoln following a series of debilitating strokes. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 28, at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll at 2:00 p.m. A memorial service was held in Lincoln January 22 at the Roper and Sons Funeral Services Chapel. A private inurnment will take place at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll. Mr. Buckwalter was born July 13, 1950, in Freeport, the son of Kenneth and Cora Buckwalter. He graduated from Mt. Carroll High School in 1968 and attended Highland Community College in Freeport. He worked at Freeport Memorial Hospital, then was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. for a year prior to moving to Lincoln where he was the founder and co-owner of "Desserts 222" in downtown Lincoln. In 1987 he accepted a position with American Tool Company (formerly the Peterson Manufacturing Co., maker of Vice Grips as executive assistant to the president. He later served as director of human resources. Following the sale of the company to Newell-Rubbermaid, he left his position and opened the contemporary housewares and accessories store "Details, Details" in the Haymarket District of Lincoln that he operated until his death. Buckwalter was a world traveler, visiting India, South America and many European countries including Paris, France, where he lived briefly. Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Kenneth (Corky) Buckwalter, Mt. Carroll, and three sisters, Nancy (Jonathan) Whitney, Thomson, Connie (Wayne) Michael, Freeport, and Debbie (Thomas) Kamper, Thomson; three nephews; four nieces and four grand-nephews and six grand-nieces. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth, grandparents Gustav and Johannah Seydel, Okabena, Minnesota, and Alva and Mary Buckwalter, Mt. Carroll. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Carroll Fire Department.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds -




JOHN W. BUCKWALTER , 76, of Bothell, Wash., died Monday Oct. 29 (2001). He served in the U.S. Navy and Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was born Oct. 14, 1925 in Woodland Twp. to Bert Gordon Buckwalter and Hazel Mae Yenney. He married Joyce Ann Marx Aug. 18, 1951 in Savanna. Survivors include his wife; two sons, John (Constance) Buckwalter of Tukwila Wash., and Brad (Sonya) Buckwalter of Everett, Wash.; one daughter Lori Gilbert of Seattle, Wash.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one sister Wilma (Wilbur)Corbett of Savanna, and two brothers; Logan (Edna) of El Dorado Ark., and Dale (Carol) of Macomb. He was preceded in death by parents and two sisters, Orpha Buckwalter and Clara Reibel. Private services were held Wednesday, Oct. 31 at Bothell Funeral Home. The body was cremated. A memorial service will be held next spring in the Washington State Cascades. Memorials may be made to a veterans organization or veterans charity.
Contributed by Lori Gilbert

LESLIE C. BUCKWALTER , 76, of Loran died Thursday Feb. 16, 1995 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison. He was born to Alonzo and Florence (Kneale) Buckwalter on Feb. 22, 1918 in Beloit, Wis., and married Cecelia Griffin on June 19, 1966 in Savanna. He was a World War II Army veteran. He was a lifetime member of the Savanna Veterans of Foreign Wars. He operated the Farmers Inn in Loran for many years. Surviving are one daughter, Kaye M. (Robin L.) Taylor of Wrangell, Alaska; one stepdaughter, Virginia (Eugene) Miller of Raleigh, N.C.; three grandchildren, Sarah, David B., and Susan Buckwalter, all of Marlborough, Mass.; three step grandchildren, Todd and Brett Miller and Michelle Gabel; and one step-great-granddaughter, Kristin Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and one son, David C. Buckwalter. Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll. A graveside service will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Mount Carroll
Contributed by Alice Horner

M. ELZORA) BUCKWALTER , 94, of Mount Carroll, died Friday, July 28, 1995 at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Savanna where she was a resident. She worked as a practical nurse in Mount Carroll. During World War II, she worked at the Savanna Army Depot and later worked at the Caroline Mark Home in Mount Carroll. She was a member of the Carroll County Republican Women and enjoyed traveling on bus trips with senior citizens. She also enjoyed reading, bird watching, and visiting with family. Miss Buckwalter was born December 7, 1900 in Woodland Township, rural Mount Carroll, to Jacob and Emma (Ritenour) Buckwalter. Survivors include 19 nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law, Viola Hada of Rockford and Helen Weber of Mount Carroll; and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters. Funeral services were held Sunday at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll with Rev. Eddie Hammond of the Mount Carroll Church of God officiating. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll.
Contributed by Alice Horner

M. MAXINE (HOCKMAN) BUCKWALTER , 72, of Apache Junction, Arizona , formerly of Morrison, died Friday, August 9, 1996 at Genesis East Medical Center in Davenport , Iowa . She was a graduate of Mount Carroll High School and was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Morrison. Following her marriage, she and her husband resided in Mount Carroll until 1948 when they moved to Morrison. They lived there until moving to Apache Junction, Arizona in 1991. She loved and enjoyed her family and extended family. Mrs. Buckwalter was born November 21, 1923 in Mount Carroll to Roy and Emma (Wahl) Hockman. She married Theodore “Ted” Buckwalter January 9, 1943 in Mount Carroll . He died August 9, 1987. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Stephen (Beth) Miller of Santa Monica, California; one son, Stanley (Mary) Buckwalter of Morrison; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Roger (Carol) Kallenbach of Morrison; and two brothers, Robert (Alice) Hockman and Wayne (Marilyn) Hockman, both of Mount Carroll. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son and two brothers. Funeral services were held Monday at the Morrison Chapel of Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Bewley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Morrison, officiating. Burial was in Grove Hill Cemetery , Morrison. A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Contributed by Alice Horner

RUTH ANN (BUCHER) BUCKWALTER , 92, died at 4 a.m Feb 16 at her home in Mt. Carroll. Funeral rites were conducted Saturday afternoon in the Christian funeral home in that city, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. She was born Aug. 13, 1846 in Wrightville, Pa. Surviving are her husband and one daughter, Mrs Mamie Pfeiffer of Mt. Carroll. [-NOTE: Wrightsville is in both York and Warren Counties in PA.]
Contributed by Lori Gilbert - Thomson Review (Thomson, Illinois) February 23, 1939

SADIE (KIMPEL) BUCKWALTER , 88, of Lanark died Sunday, Oct. 23, 1994, at Freeport Memorial Hospital. A daughter of August and Anna (Maeckle) Kimpel. She was born Feb. 7, 1906, near Mount Carroll. She and Frank Buckwalter were married Aug. 2, 1930. He died in 1979. She was a former employee of the HiWay Cafe in Lanark and a member of Savanna Moose Lodge. Surviving are two sons, Robert Buckwalter and Ronald H. (Patricia) Buckwalter, both of Mount Carroll; six grandchildred, Beth Lanious of Chandler, Ariz., Kathy Begani of Wheaton, Brenda Smith of Rock Falls, Dean Buckwalter of Freeport, Ronald F. Buckwalter of Scott Air Force Base and Chad Buckwalter of Mount Carroll. three stepgranddaughters, Linda Witmer and Connie Shaulis, both of Lanark, and Carole Michael of Freeport; 11 great-grandchildren and one sister-in-law, Ruth Kimpel of Lanark. Also preceding her in death were one daughter, Betty (Tom) Valenta; one brother, Richard Kimpel; and one sister, Verna (Arba) Tubbs. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Russell-Frank funeral home in Lanark with the Rev. Robert Downs of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Carroll. Burial will be in Lanark Cemetery.
Contributed by Donna Rife

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