Iroquois County Obits-L

Source: Social Security Administration

Obit: Florence Lease Watseka

--- Visitation for Florence Anna Lease , 78 of Watseka, will be from 2-6 P.M. today at Baier Funeral Home , where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Dean Botjen will officiate. Burial will be in the GAR Cemetery, Watseka. Memorial may be made to Iroquois Memorial Hospice or to the donors choice. Mrs. Lease died Thursday (June 24, 1999) at Watseka Health Care Center. She was born Jan. 30, 1921 in Plato, the daughter of Harm and Anna Medendorp Boomgarden. Her first Husband was Vernon Flessner. Her second husband, James Lease, who she married Oct. 24, 1947, in Chicago, died March 15, 1976. Mrs. Lease had worked in a factory . She was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Watseka. Surviving are one son, Daniel James Lease of Tennessee; four daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia Waller of Virginia, Sandra Jean and Ronny Price, Brenda and Frank Jr. Perry, and Dorothy and Richard Page all of Watseka; Two sisters, Grace Boomgarden and Rena Alcorn, both of Watseka ; 12, Grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Three brothers; one daughter; one sister; one step brother; one grandson; and three granddaughters; are deceased. She belonged to the VFW in Watseka and enjoyed quilting and reading.

graciously submitted by Lucy D. Briscoe/Green I do research on Huckleby, Dean, Morgan, Justice, Black, Briscoe, Harness, Reeves, Curtis, Strode and several others from Iroquois County.

The Kankakee Daily Journal
February 5, 1955

Anna Lambert, 77, Dies;
Rites Set For Saturday

Mrs. Anna Reuse Lambert, 329 S. Chicago Ave., died at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday in St. Mary's Hospital where she had been admitted at 8:45 a.m.

A native of Clifton, Mrs. Lambert was born Nov. 1, 1877, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gaspard Reuse.

June 26, 1900, in St. Rose Church she was married to Philip Lambert, who died March28, 1954. A son, Reuse, also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Lambert had been a resident of Kankakee 60 years and was a member of St. Rose Church, of St. Anne's Sodality of the church, of St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary and of the Spanish-American War Veterans Auxiliary.

Surviving her are sons, Julian of San Francisco, Clement of Chicago; daughters, Mrs. Helen DuMoulin of Los Angeles and Mrs. Phyllis Stefan of Highland Park; brothers Louis and Emory Reuse of Clifton; and five grandchildren.

The body is at the Clancy Funeral Home where friends may call this evening and until time of services and where the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Friday.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Rose Church and burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

The Kankakee Daily Journal
March 31, 1954

Philip Lambert Dies;
Rites Wednesday

Philip T. Lambert, 78, one of the few Spanish-American War veterans still living in this community, died at 10 a.m. Sunday in Kankakee after a lingering illness. His residence was 392 S. Chicago Ave.

Funeral services are to be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday from St. Rose Church with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The body is at the Clancy Funeral Home where friends may call from 7 p.m. today until the hour of the services. The rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Mr. Lambert was born Aug. 30, 1875 in Beaverville and had been a resident of Kankakee for the past 57 years. He was a retired hardwareman, having been a partner in the hardware firm of Marcotte and Lambert in Kankakee for many years. He spent 33 years in the hardware business in Kankakee before his retirement.

Active in civic, fraternal and business affairs in Kankakee, Mr. Lambert was a director of the Kankakee County chapter of the Red Cross from World War I until a few years ago; was a director of the Kankakee Federal Savings and Loan Association for 35 years; was a past president of the Kankakee Kiwanis Club; a past grand knight of St. Viator's Council of the Knights of Columbus; and held memberships in the Elks Lodge, the Holy Name Society, the catholic Order of Foresters, the Spanish-American War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Lambert attended St. Viator's Acadamy at Bourbonnais and then took a special course in business administration at St. Viator's College. He was a member of the Illinois National Guard before entering the Spanish-American War.

Mr. Lambert was married June 26, 1900 to Anna Reuse at St. Rose Church. She survives along with sons Julian of California and Clement of Kankakee; daughters Mrs. Helen DeMoulin of California and Mrs. Phyllis Stefan of Highland Park; brothers Zephyr of Beaverville and Arthur of Kankakee, and sisters Mrs. Leah Lambert and Mrs. Josephine Barron of Kankakee and Mrs. Alma Jeannott of Muskegon, Mich. He was preceded in death in 1937 by a son Reuse.

The Clifton Advocate, Illinois
18 May 1939

JOSEPH E. LANOUE

Joseph Edward Lanoue, son of the late Edward and Juliane Lanoue was born September 27, 1865, in Kankakee and died in Watseka, Ill., May 13, aged 73 years, 7 months and 16 days.

Mr. Lanoue had suffered for two years with a lingering illness. On March 17th he was taken to the Iroquois hospital, was operated on, and for a while showed signs of improvement. But other complications set in, and in spite of all that medical science could do he passed peacefully away into eternal life Saturday May 13th at 1 o'clock p.m.

Much of his early life was spent on farms in the neighborhood of L'Erable. In the late eighties his father moved to Clifton to engage in the mercantile business, and his family with him. Joe, however, worked as a farm hand for a while, later at the Clifton Tile factory, and when that shut down, went to Kankakee where he worked for about thirty years with a structural steel concern.

He lived for the last eight years with his sister, Mrs. Emma Mombleau in Clifton. He was a quiet homeloving, hospitable man. He was a man whom to know was to appreciate, a man whom his neighbors respected and expressed their appreciation for his many kindly acts.

He never married. He leaves to mourn his departure one brother Rev. Albert Lanoue, Yates City, Ill., two sisters, Mrs. Emma Mombleau, of Clifton, and Mrs. Mae Contois, of Bourbonnais, Ill. Several nephews, nieces, and cousins also survive.

Services in his memory held Tuesday May 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the Croxen Funeral Home, Clifton, Ill., Rev. W.I. Jones, pastor of the Congregational Church officiating. He was borne to his final resting place in the Clifton cemetery by Clarence Monroe, Henry Bernard, Charles Hargreaves, William Yonke, Arthur Dion, and Euclide Magnan.

The Sheldon sisters, Irene, Dora Jane and Eloise, accompanied by their mother, Mrs. Winnie Sheldon, provided the music.

Relatives and friends from out of town who attended the services were, from Kankakee: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Duval, Celestin Raboin, Medore Lanoue, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Baron, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Hobson, Mildred Duval, and Eloise Tetrault; from Watseka John LeSage and Mrs. Hattie Townsend; from Thawville, Mr. and Mr. Belias Thrasher, and Belias Thrasher, Jr.

The writer would like to add a little tribute to the memory of one with whom he spent many happy hours when both were in their twenties. Both belonged to the town band, and sat next to each other at rehearsals for years, one playing tuba, the other baritone. In all those years there was never a moment of unpleasantness between the two friends, and this congeniality continued for years afterward.

The Clifton Advocate,
Thursday, November 7, 1940

DIED OF INJURIES RECEIVED IN FALL

Ben Laurent, while engaged last Thursday in making some repairs to the chimney on the Mary Morel house, a mile and a half east of town, lost his footing and fell to the ground, a distance of about 12 feet. As a result, all the ribs on the left side of his body were fractured, his collarbone was broken, and bad contusions on his skull were suffered.

He was taken to the Cook County Hospital by his daughter Eva (Mrs. Tom Hayes) where he died late Tuesday afternoon as a result of his injuries together with heart complications.

Benjamin Laurent, son of Julian and Deziria (Ducat) Laurent, was born on a farm northeast of Clifton July 18, 1871, and died in the Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Nov. 5, 1940, aged 69 years, 3 months and 17 days.

At an early age he came with his parents to Clifton when they left the farm and attended the village school. For several years he got jobs as chore boy or farm hand until his late teens when he was employed by Remi Baron as an apprentice carpenter. He continued to work with Mr. Baron until the latter left Clifton, after which he continued the carpentering business usually having associated with him one or more of his brothers. Later he was employed by Lambert in Kankakee as furnace man and tin-smith, and continued in this employment for 6 or 7 years.

On Christmas day 1895 he was united in marriage to Rose West. To them were born three children - Raymond, Eva, and Mardelle, the latter dying at the age of 7, in 1920. The mother followed her youngest to the grave two years later, in 1922. Of late years Mr. Laurent had lived alone, his son and daughter having married and set up homes of their own.

Besides the son Raymond, of Chebanse, and daughter Eva, Mrs. Tom Hayes, of Chicago, surviving relatives are two granddaughters - Mardelle Laurent, and Rose Mary Hayes, - four brothers - Philip, Emile, Dezerie, and Frank - and one sister - Mrs. Isaac Collette - all of Clifton. Another brother, Joseph, died in 1929, and a sister who died in infancy.

Funeral services will be conducted from St. Peter's Catholic church at 10 o'clock tomorrow, Friday, forenoon and burial will be in the Clifton cemetery.

Friends may call at the Croxen Funeral home after 11 o'clock this, Thursday, forenoon where the body lies in state.

The Clifton Advocate, Illinois
Thursday, March 13, 1941

JERRY LAURENT

Jerry Joseph Laurent, 55, 436 West Hickory Street, died early Friday in Passavant hospital, Chicago, after several months illness of brain tumor.

Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock Monday morning from St. Rose church and burial was in the Kankakee cemetery.

Born April 12, 1885 in L'Erable, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Toussaint Laurent he was married Feb. 6, 1915 to Nettie Ponton in Beaverville. She survives with his mother Mrs. Adeline Laurent of Kankakee, brothers Leon of Clifton, Alfred of St. Anne, Louis of Bradley, Ferdinand of Kankakee, sister, Mrs. Horace Regnier of Clifton and Mrs. Nellie Brueggert of Kankakee.

The deceased was a member of the local carpenters' union.

For a while he engaged in farming in the Clifton neighborhood, but gave this up in a few years to work at carpentering - at first in Clifton and vicinity, later in Kankakee where he built houses for himself and rented them.

The Clifton Advocate, Illinois
January 20, 1938

TOUSSAINT LAURENT

Toussaint Laurent, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Laurent, was born in Jose, Belgium, Nov. 1st, 1847, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fred Brueggert, in Kankakee, Friday morning, January 14th, 1938, aged 90 years, 2 months and 13 days.

In 1856, before he was 9 years old, he came to the U.S. with his parents, settling on a farm in the vicinity of Clifton. His family was one of the pioneer families of Chebanse township, living here before there were any roads other than wagon trails across the prairie.

In 1884 he was united in marriage to Adeline Mathy, the ceremony being performed in the Catholic church at Chebanse. To them were born seven children, five sons Jerry, of Kankakee, Alfred, of St. Anne, Leon, of Clifton, Louis and Ferdinand, of Bradley - and two daughters, Mrs. Horace Regnier, of Clifton, and Mrs. Fred Brueggert, of Kankakee, all of whom, besides the widow, survive.

In 1921, being then pretty well advanced in years, he quit the farm and moved to Kankakee where he and his wife made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Fred Brueggert. He continued to enjoy good health up until a couple of weeks before his death, when the infirmities of old age combined to hurry him towards his final rest. Besides the widow and children mentioned, he leaves 13 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted from St. Peter's Catholic church, Clifton, Monday forenoon, Rev. Fr. E. A. Sweeney officiating. He was for many years a parishioner of this church and a faithful attendant as long as he lived in this neighborhood.

He was borne to his final resting place in the Clifton cemetery by Harry, Harvey, and Elmer Laurent, Oral Regnier, Earl Warmbir, and Kenneth Corbin.

(graciously submitted by Jan Wagoner at EPAJan@aol.com)

Mrs. Belle Lewis, 77 year old Burr Oak resident, died at her home in the west edge of town Friday morning, after being critically ill for about 10 days. Her two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Parsons of Louisville, KY and Mrs. Fred Myers of Palm Beach, Florida came last week to be with her. Other children, Charles Lewis and Mrs. Homer Grubbs, local residents, and Mrs. Earl Morris of Hardy, Nebraska had also been with her.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Church with Rev. C.R. Vasey in charge. Burial was made in the Burr Oak cemetery.

The early career of Mrs. Hannah Belle Lewis came to a close Friday morning, November 18, 1938, at her home in Burr Oak, Kansas, after an illness of less than two weeks. She was 77 years, 3 months and 21 days old. Hannah Belle, daughter of George and Mary Hunt, was born in Onarga, Illinois, August 28, 1861, and when about two years old, with her parents, came by ox-wagon and settled near Yates Center, Kansas, where she grew to womanhood, and was married to George W. Fry, October 31, 1880. Two little girls, Bessie and Edith, were born to this union. Bessie died when she was seven years old. After Mr. Fry died in 1884, Mrs. Lewis resided in Yates Center. When visiting her brother at New Market, Iowa, she met and married Mr. Calvin Lewis, April 24, 1886. They moved to Burr Oak soon after their marriage and she has resided her continuously since. To them were born six children, on Walter died in infancy. Another, Dan died in 1912. Since the death of Mr. Lewis in September 1926, Mrs. Lewis has maintained her home, spending much time with her children, and they with her. Last year, at just this time, she, with her daughter Mattie Grubbs, and grandson, Homer Lewis, were en route to the south to spend the winter.

Since a very early age, Mrs. Lewis was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she was a member of the Cheerful Workers church school class, which she enjoyed attending.

Mrs. Lewis knew much of the life of the pioneer wife and mother who endured bravely every obstacle which beset all early settlers---when the forces of nature combined to make their lives difficult and rigorous, and sickness and death added to the strain, still with undaunted faith and courage, she was true to her sense of duty and responsibility, bowing and smiling to everyone she met.

She was deeply interested in the problems of her family, and faithful to her family in every way; giving of her time, energy, and council at all time. She was friendly and loved friendly groups. She served the W.R.C. as chaplain.

Mrs. Lewis was the last of her generation. She is survived by her son, Charles of the home; daughters Mrs. Edith Morris of Hardy, Neb., Mrs. Grace Myers of Palm Beach, Florida, Mrs. Hazel Parsons of Louisville, Kentucky, and Mrs. Mattie Grubbs of Burr Oak; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Minnie Aldrick of Topeka, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Elleen, Lynn, and Mary Ann Lewis, Jeanne and Lindell Parsons, Lyle, Wendell, and Max Morris and Homer Lewis Grubbs; one great-grandchild; three nieces, Mrs. Bernice Cramer and Mrs. Ed Harrison of Clarinda, Iowa, and Mrs. Glen Miller of Omaha, Nebraska.

The life of Mrs. Lewis was filled with kindly thoughts and helpful deed for those she loved. She truly lived an unselfish life, a good life, well defined by her loving, Christian, pleasing personality, and she will be sorely missed by her friends and relatives.

The funeral was from the home at 2 p. m. Sunday, November 21, with a service at the Methodist Church. A quartet, Mrs. L. A. Pixler, Mrs. A. W. Mann, Alfred Craighead and W. L. McCormick, sang three hymns, "Face to Face, " "Abide with Me," and "Crossing the Bar." Adolph Unruh sang "The End of a Perfect Day." Rev. C. R. Vasey gave the sermon. The pallbearers were Ed Wilsman, E.E. Lewis, Willard Harris, R. R. Richardson, Roy Coyner, and P. H. O'Brian. Interment was in the Burr Oak Cemetery.

Another old soldier was taken from this community when Calvin Lewis passed away Sunday. Mr. Lewis was affected with paralysis and had been in poor health for some time.

Mr. Lewis had lived in this community for fifty-six years and had seen Burr Oak grow from a small frontier town to its present size. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Calvin E. Lewis, son of James and Lydia Lewis, was born near Dayton, Indiana, February 25, 1840 and departed this life September 12, 1926, at the age of 86 years, 7 months, 19 days. In the early sixties he with his two brothers, Thomas and Will, enlisted in Company M, 9th Illinois Calvary, serving his country 3 years and 3 months. He came to Kansas in 1870 and homesteaded the land that is now the west side of Burr Oak.

In 1866 he was married to Miss Tillie Denning. To this union was born two children, Hattie and Charles. Both with their mother passed away at an early age.

In 1878 he married Sue Biggs and to them were born two boys, Earl Lewis, now of Wheatland, Wyo., and James, who died two years ago. Their mother died in 1883.

In 1886 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Belle Fry. Six children came to bless their home, Charley A., of Burr Oak, Walther H., who died at the age of 3 years, Dan C., who passed away in 1912, Mrs. Grace Myers, Palm Beach, Florida. Mrs. Hazel Parsons, Randall, Kansas, and Mrs. Mattie Grubbs, of Burr Oak.

Besides the wife and 5 children, he leaves to mourn his departure a step-daughter, Mrs. Edith Morris of Hardy, Nebraska, and older brother Thomas Lewis, Wheatland, Wyo., one sister, Mrs. M. J. Aldrich, Topeka, Kansas, 14 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, a number of nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

During the Oliver meeting Mr. Lewis was converted to the faith and although he was not a church member, he was a believer in the church and its teachings.

Charles Albert Lewis, son of Calvin E. and Belle H. Lewis, was born February 1, 1887, on his parent's homestead one half mile west of Burr Oak, Kansas. He passed away at the Beloit Community Hospital, Friday, September 8, 1967.

On March 26, 1915, he was united in marriage to Florence Appleby. They were married in the home they established southwest of Burr Oak.

To this marriage were born three children: Mrs. Eileen Tegley of Burr Oak; and Mrs. Mary Anne Yeager of Newman, Georgia.

After his graduation from Burr Oak High School in 1907, he and his brother Dan traveled by covered wagon to Colorado where they homesteaded near Fort Morgan. Later they returned to Burr Oak where he was engaged in farming for many years.

Early in 1947 he established the Lewis Hardware in Burr Oak and continued that business until his death. During the Oliver Meetings in 1908, he was converted and became a member of the Burr Oak Methodist church. He was a 50 year member of the Burr Oak Lodge No. 178 A.F. and A.M.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife in 1933, his parents, and seven brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his three children: one daughter in law; two sons in law; nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Fred Myers of West Palm Beach, Florida, Mrs. Ralph Parsons of Louisville, Kentucky, and Mrs. Homer Grubbs of Burr Oak; two brothers in law; two nieces; two nephews, and his sister in law, Mrs. Lottie Myers, with whom he made his home in recent years.

Funeral services were held in 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 10, at the First Methodist Church in Burr Oak with Rev. Olin Bell and Rev. G.R. Alsobrooks officiating.

Casket bearers were George Cosand, Jr., Derald Decker, Dallas Caldwell, Clell Hancock, Stanley Johnson and Nelson Harris. Members of the Masonic Lodge served as honorary escorts. Interment was in the Burr Oak Cemetery.

Dan Lewis died Friday afternoon, July 26, at the home of his parents, just west of town. He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Lewis. He had been ill for less than three weeks, and underwent an operation for appendicitis only a week before, but complications set in, to which he succumbed.

Funeral services were held at the M.E. church, Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. C.E. Wood, assisted by Rev. J.C. Walker, after which interment was made in the Burr Oak cemetery.

Daniel Clayton Lewis was born August 12, 1890 on the same place at which he died. All his life had been spent at Burr Oak with the exception of two years in Colorado and one year in Iowa, from which latter place he returned only this spring. He was an almost constant companion of his older brother, Charles, from whom he had never been separated as long as two weeks at a time.

Dan was a robust appearing young man and his death was a shock, coming as it did, after so brief an illness. He is survived by his parents, one brother, three sisters, two half brothers, a half sister, and numerous other relatives. The entire community joins with the bereaved ones in their grief at this fine young man in the bloom of his youth.

Thomas Lewis was born in Indiana, December 29, 1837 and died at the home of a nephew, Earl Lewis, of Wheatland, Wyoming, May 24, 1934 at the age of 96 years, four months, and 29 days. He grew to manhood in Indiana and then moved with his parents to Illinois.

When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the 9th Illinois cavalry and served almost continually during the entire war. He was taken prisoner and placed in the Libby prison for a time and then taken to the Anderson prison. He was kept in the two prisons for 9 months, but was liberated and received an honorable discharge from the army at the close of the war.

In the year 1870 he came to Jewel County, Kansas and took up a homestead a few miles west of Burr Oak. He endured all the hardships of an early settler of the plains. He raised some sod corn and hauled it to Waterville, the nearest grist mill, to be ground into meal for corn bread. He helped to build roads and bridges, break the sod, and build the houses in this part of the county.

He was married to Miss Lydia M. Hockett in 1876. The marriage took place in a sod church called New Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis never had any children of their own, but reared two, the younger sister of Mrs. Lewis and a nephew of Mr. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis died in the year 1911 and was laid to rest in Burr Oak cemetery.

From weakness caused by old age and a lingering sickness at the home of his nephew, he passed away strong in the faith that God would take care of him. He possessed the three great qualities that will make a neighborhood or nation great: a willingness to work hard, willing to sacrifice for others and a great faith in God.

The body was brought to Burr Oak for burial and was taken to the Merritt Funeral home where it rested until Saturday morning when it was taken to the Burr Oak cemetery where a short service was held at the grave conducted by Rev. Stelson. A mixed quartet sang two songs. The pall bearers were American Legion men dressed in soldier uniforms. Draped in the American flag the body was lowered to rest beside that of his wife who preceded him to the better land.

We wish to thank those who gave us their welcome assistance on the occasion of the death of Thomas Lewis, and particularly the American Legion boys for their help-The Relatives.

Mrs. Mary Lytle was Long a Resident of Iroquois County. Funeral Sunday. The demise of Mrs. Mary Lytle took place at the residence of her son, John Lytle, five miles northwest of Watseka on Friday evening, Nov. 13, after a brief illness. Mary Henry was born in Butler county, Pa., Jan. 1, 1832, and at the time of her death, aged 76 years, 10 months and 13 days. She became the wife of Hiram Lytle in Washingtom county, Penn., Septenber 5, 1861. Four children were born to them: Nancy
Elizabeth Cupp, Ida May Spring, Wm John and Harry Lytle, all now residing in the vicinity of Watseka. Remove To Illinois In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Lytle came to Indiana and settled in Cass county, where they resided for three years. In 1866 they removed to Illinois and located at old Middleport. For more than forty years the family has been in the county and almost continuously as farm residents. Mr. Lytle died two years ago and since that time Mrs. Lytle has made her home among her children, spending many months with her son, John, acting as a mother to her three motherless granchildren. To her many friends and neighbors the death of Mrs. Lytle is a regreted one and among her children and grandchilren her passing
away is a loss which will be most keenly felt. Mrs. Lytle was a woman with many virtues worthy of emulation, a firm believer in the bible and its precepts. She loved her home and her greatest concern was for the happiness of those near and dear to her. Burial at Woodland Funeral services were held at the residence of her son, Harry Lytle, on Sunday morning, conducted by Rev. O. E. Wieringa. Interment was had at the Body cemetery.

Obituaries L