Iroquois County Obituaries

Luella Irene Geiken, 83, of Milford, IL
Luella Irene Geiken died Thursday, March 5, 2009, at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, March 9, at the Knapp Funeral Home in Milford, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. The Revs. Neil Larimore and Gary Milton will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Milford. Memorials may be made to Milford EMTs and Fire Department or to Milford Christian Church, where she was a member.
Mrs. Geiken was born Feb. 3, 1926, in Stockland, the daughter of Gilbert and Lydia Wheat Jessee. She was a member of the Household Science Club and volunteered at her church on many occasions, including Wednesday afternoon Kings Club. She enjoyed baking, cooking and going on shopping trips with the senior van.
Surviving are her husband, Orval Carl Geiken, whom she married Sept. 15, 1941, in Schwer; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and John Conner of Sheldon; two sons and daughters-in-law, Duane and Lynn Geiken of Raymore, Mo., Daniel and Ruth Geiken of Crestwood; six grandchildren, Todd Conner of Carmel, Ind., Tondra (Mike) Bennett of Sheldon, Shannon (John) Horn of South Carolina, Matthew (Janice) Geiken of Florida, Derek Geiken of Indiana, Greg Geiken of Tilton; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Deceased are her parents, two brothers and six sisters.
[Unknown newspaper, March 2009 - Submitted by Lennis Geiken]

Marvin L. Geiken
Marvin L. Geiken, 85, of Claytonville, IL passed away March 9, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 13, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schwer. Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and 1 hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. The Rev. Matt Steendahl will be officiating with burial in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Schwer.
Mr. Geiken was born the son of Carl and Mary Hankey Geiken on February 11, 1924 in Milford, IL. He married Juanita Mohler on April 28, 1946 at Schwer and she survives. Survivors also include 2 daughters, Donna (Stanley) Kopmann of Gifford, and Debbie (Bill) Long of Godley, TX; 3 sons, David (Karen) Geiken of Cissna Park, Deane (Cordelia) Geiken of Paxton, and Darryl (Tammy) Geiken of Crowley, TX; and one brother, Orval Geiken of Milford; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Darla.
Mr. Geiken was a life member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Schwer and a Foreman for the IL Dept. of Transportation for 22 years. He was a volunteer for the Cissna Park Fire Dept. for 20 years and loved fishing, camping and Nascar racing. He also enjoyed rebuilding cars.

Mrs. Mathy Genotte Dies
Mrs. Mathy Genotte, age 75 years, passed away early this morning at the home of her son, Cornell Mathy of 591 South Myrtle Ave.
Mrs. Genotte was born in Belgium, June 30th, 1949. She leaves to mourn her loss, one son, Cornell Mathy of Kankakee, daughters, Mrs. Julia Clark, Kempton, Ill., and two stepchildren, Mrs. Mary Valencourt and Jeanette Genotte both of Rossmore, Ill. Funeral services will be held at St. Rose church, Wednesday at 9 a.m. and burial will take place in L'Erable Catholic Cemetery.
[Unknown Newspaper, November 24, 1924]

Mrs. Mary Grandadam, daughter of Joseph and Victoria (Mauro) Hougardy, was born in Autregleise, Belgium, March 1, 1852, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emile Scheidecker April 29, 1936 at the age of 84 yrs. 1 month and 28 days.

She came to America with her parents in 1856, and lived in the vicinity of Clifton, with her parents who settled on a farm north east of Clifton known as the Howe place. At this time the countryside was a vast, treeless prairie, with prairie wolves and rattlesnakes plentiful, and children were cautioned to be on the lookout for them, as they herded cows on the prairie.

She was united in marriage on Oct. 20, 1876 to Prosper Grandadam and settled on a farm northwest of Clifton known as the Henrotin place, farmed there for several years, then moved to a farm near Cresent City until the year 1898, then moved to California and lived there one year; after which they came back to Clifton where she made her home until her death.

Seven children came to bless their union, three dying in infancy. Her husband preceded her in death sixteen years ago. She was bedfast for four months not able to move around old age being the cause of her death.

She was a kind and loving mother, devoting her time to her children and home. She always had a kind word for everyone, and was always ready to help those in need. She was cheerful until the end, even through her sickness she had a smile for all who came to see her and always tried to lighten the work of those who took care of her.

She was a lover of flowers. Her home was always surrounded by flowers when she was able to take care of them. Knowing this her friends and relatives provided many beautiful floral emblems as most befitting at her funeral.

Funeral services were conducted from St. Peter's Church, Clifton, at 9:30 Saturday morning, May 2nd; with the Rev. E.A. Sweeney officiating. Burial was in the Clifton cemetery by the side of her husband.

She leaves to mourn her death three daughters and one son. Mrs. Ameila Muhlick, of Kenosha Wisconsin, Louis Grandadam and Mrs. Mary Scheidecker of Clifton; and Mrs. Annie Collette of Ashkum. Also four grandchildren, Clarence and Lloyd Muhlick and Geraldine and Mildred Collette, and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Emile Berger, John Fortino, William Yonke, Edmond Rochelle, John Bertrand and Louie Scheidecker.

Folks from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Truitt and Misses Geraldine and Mildred Collette, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Truitt, of Independence, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Truitt, of Champaign; Mrs. Rea, Mr. and Mrs. Loiselie, Mr. and Mrs. Francoeur, of Kankakee; Mr. and Mrs. Lemenager, of Ashkum; and Mr. Spies and son, of Chebanse.

(submitted by Jan Wagoner at EPAJan@aol.com)
[The Clifton Advocate, Illinois, Thursday, April 30, 1936]

Melisa Curby was born in Beaverville June 12, 1873 and died in Rochester Minn at the May Brothers Hospital, January 25, 1936 aged 63 yrs. 7 mo. And 13 days.

Her girlhood was spent in the neighborhood of Beaverville. She was ….(can't read).

……Eugene E. Gravelle who with the husband and daughter-in-law J…… survives. She had no brothers or sisters of her own, only three uncles Jerry Curby, D…Curby and S…Curby of her family survives her. Relatives of her husband are John and Sarah Gravelle, Joseph and Eva Gravelle, Emile and Olive Laurent, Emile and Anna Fronville, Eugene and Mary Fronville, and Mrs. Delima Shane, besides numerous nephews and nieces.

For a number of years she and her husband operated farms in the vicinity of Ashkum, Clifton, and Beaverville until 1907, when they moved to Oklahoma and acquired land of their own and worked their farm until 1920, when they moved to Mu?eogee, Okla., where they continued to live until the present.

About two years ago her health failed and she submitted to an operation for the removal of gallstones. Her health was so impaired, however, that she had never been entirely well since. Last December she came north with her husband, and as soon as her strength would permit, she was taken to the Mayo Bros Hospital for treatment. On the 8th of January an operation was performed involving the liver, which had almost ceased to function. Such was her weakened condition that she failed to recover.

Funeral services were conducted in Ashkum, Rev. Fr. Kerrina officiating, and interment was in the L'Erable cemetery. Those who bore her to her last resting place were all nephews - Wilmer Fronville, Emerson Gravelle, Horace Fronville, Maurice Laurent, Raymond Fronville and Edmond Fronville.
The Clifton Advocate, Thursday Evening, January 30, 1936

Mrs. Melaine Genin died at her home in Chicago Jan. 12, at the age of 81. She was born Melaine Laurent, sister of Julien and Toussaint Laurent, and spent most of her girlhood in or near Clifton.

In 1875 she was married to Gustave Genin and moved with her husband to Chicago where she had lived ever since. To this union were born six sons - Clarence, Charles, Alfred, Albert, Leon and Elmond; and three daughters - Mrs. Chas Wertke, Mrs. Geo. Fisher, and Miss Florence Genin, all of Chicago and all living. One brother, Toussaint Laurent of Kankakee also survives. At the time of her death, due to the infirmities of old age, she was living with her daughter Florence.

Her sons were pallbearers at her funeral. Attending the funeral from Clifton were Benjamin Laurent and Mrs. Isaac Collette.

Thomas German Learns of His Brother's Death

George German of Tab, Ind., brother of Thomas German of Milford, died Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in Danville following an operation. The deceased was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., June 9, 1853. When 20 years old he moved to Benton County and later to Warren County where he was married to Frances Anne Lane, in 1876. They settled on a farm. She died June 17, 1909 A son, William Henry German, of Converse, Ind., and a sister, Mrs. C.A. Davis, of Hoopeston, survive. He also leaves two brothers, Thomas, of Milford, Ill., and William, of Hunterstown, Ind. [The Milford Herald News Vol. XL. No. 22 January 27, 1916 - transcribed by Carrol Mick]

Obituaries G

Thomas German Learns of His Brother's Death