WELCOME
TO THE
LEE COUNTY
ILLINOIS
OBITUARIES
KELLY KAPPLER
, 68, of Lake Villa, formerly of Dixon, died Tuesday, June 5, 2001 at his home. He was employed by Chicago Transit Authority as an attorney until retiring. Mr. Kappler was born March 3, 1933 in Woodstock the son of Leo M. and Eleanor (Lyons) Kappler. He married Sandra Kavadas in 1970 in Dixon. He served in the Navy during the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Heather Kappler of Chicago; a son, Kevin Kappler of Chicago; three sisters, Charlee (Henry) Ruhe of Charlottesville, Va., Kandys (Harold) Queisser of Coronado, Calif., and Krystal (Robert) Pennington of Sandwich; three brothers, Kraig (Wanda) Hudson of Pocahantas, Kirk (Roxanne) Hudson and Keane (Sally) Hudson, both of Dixon; and a grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Jones Funeral Home, Dixon, with Rev. Kenneth Anderson, pastor of St. Anne's Catholic Church, Dixon, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois June 7, 2001 - Thursday, pg A5
MICHELLE M. (DEES) KELLEN , age 27, of Bristol, IL, died at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora on Tuesday, October 24, 2000. She was born in San Bernardino, CA on September 15, 1973, the daughter of Timothy and Connie (Rouland) Dees. She was united in marriage to Louis Kellen in Earlville, IL on August 8, 1992. She was active in R.S.D. Support Groups. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents and her maternal grandfather. She is survived by her husband of Bristol; her parents of Grand Detour; one brother, Jeff (Carol) Dees of Mt. Morris; two nieces, Savannah Dees of Rock Falls and Halie Hughes of Mt. Morris; maternal grandmother, Noreen Rouland of Virden; mother-in-law, Jane Tuttle of Bristol; brother-in-law, James Kellen of Bristol. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy with the Rev. Alan Meyer, Pastor of the Chana United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Repose Cemetery in Amboy.
SUSAN KENT
- Funeral rites for Mrs. Susan Kent, were held at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Trouth Funeral Home and at 9 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, the Rev. Frank Bonnike, officiating. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon. Pallbearers were Edward O'Donnell, Leo Drew, Omer Drew, James Scanlan, Ray Brisco and Raymond Drew. Mrs. Marie Humphrey was in charge of the floral tributes.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois 18 Jun 1955 Sat. Pg. 2
ELIAS DURFEE KETCHUM
, the son of Jesse Beverly and Sarah Ann (Crane) Ketchum was born in Illinois. He was united in marriage to Mary Louella Sayer on June 21, 1868 and to this union ten children were born; Ida L., Estella M., Jesse J., William, Oscar, Daisy B., George E., Harry A., Benjamin F. and Fenella F. Ketchum. Elias was united in marriage for a second time to Mary unknown on September 16, 1903.
Elias enlisted in the Civil War as a Private on January 4, 1864. He enlisted with Company H, 17th Regiment Illinois Cavalry on January 22, 1864. Elias mustered out on December 15, 1864 at Leavenworth, KS.
Burial: South Paw Paw Cemetery, Paw Paw, Lee County, Illinois. Birth: Feb. 14, 1834 Illinois Death: Mar. 3, 1922 Illinois
Contributed by Karen Holt
BRIAN RICHARD KING , 21, of Greer, and a student at the College of Charleston, entered into eternal rest November 10. He was a son of Dick W. and Kathy Hann-King and was a 2000 graduate of Riverside High School, Greer. Brian was also a member of Young Life. He is survived by his mother, Kathy Hann-King of Mt. Pleasant, SC; his father and step-mother, Dick W. King and Leslie Keller-King of Greer, SC; brothers, John and Chuck King; grandparents, Arley and Vi King of Dixon, IL, Helen and Richard Hann of Dixon, IL, and Dale and Judy Keller of Simpsonville, SC; three aunts; three uncles; seven cousins; and many dear friends.
ELLA (MILLER) KIRBY
, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Miller at Fertile Valley, on Saturday, June 2. The remains were intered in the Steward Cemetery Monday afternoon.
Contributed by Karen Holt Rochelle Leader and News June 1894
Her name was Ella Miller and her parents were Daniel C. Miller and Margaret Schultz. She married James Kirby in February of 1894 and died in June.
Burial: Steward Cemetery, Steward, Lee County, Illinois
GWENDOLYN FLORA (ROSE) KITCHUM
, 77, of Paw Paw, died Saturday, June 5 at Mendota Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday June 9 at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church, Rev. Ken Foster officiating. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Torman Funeral Home, Paw Paw.
Mrs. Ketchum was born June 12, 1926 in Sublette to Earl and Florence (Zinke) Smith. She married James Ketchum Sr. on March 25, 1945 in Paw Paw. She was a member of the Paw Paw United Methodist Church and the Paw Paw Merrigolds.
Survived by one son, Jerald Ketchum of Paw Paw; one daughter, Nancy (Mark) Hansen of Aurora; two brothers, Earl Smith Jr. of Paw Paw, and Robert Smith of Earlville; three sisters, Rogene Einhaus of Earlville, Darlene Volkert of DeKalb, and LaVerne Edwards of Joliet; five grandchildren, Mark Janson Jr., Michelle Hanson, Stephen Ketchum, Jymme Joyce Giles, and Robert Hormann; three great-grandchildren, Stephanie and Stephen Ketchum, and Takodah Giles.
Preceded in death by her husband; one son, James Ketchum Jr.; and one brother, Raymond Smith.
Contributed by Karen Holt -
JAMES W. KLINE
, 85, formerly of Dixon, died July 21, 1999 in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was a retired carpenter and contractor. He had also worked at The Telegraph in Dixon before moving to Colorado on July 1, 1949.
Mr. Kline was born Feb. 7, 1914 in Elkhart, Ind. He married Eleanor M. Liston on July 12, 1941.
He was a 1932 Dixon High School graduate and served in the Army During World War II as a staff sergeant.
Survivors include his wife three sons, Larry James, David Mark and Karl Newton; one brother, Robert H.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held at All Souls Unitarian Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. Visitation was at Swan Law Funeral Directors in Colorado Springs.
A memorial has been established to Silver Key Senior Services, 2250 Bott Ave., Colorado Spring, Colo. 80904.
Dixon Telegraph - Thursday, August 12, 1999
RODNEY K. KNOLL
, 71, of Dixon, died, Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at his home. He was employed by Swifts and Company, farmed in rural Lee County, and was a retired rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in the Amboy area.
Rodney was born July 11, 1937, in Harmon, IL, the son of Francis and Geraldine (Perkins) Knoll. He married Mary Ann Cardot on May 21, 1960, in Dixon. Rodney served in the United States Army during the Korean War, was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church, Dixon, Knights of Columbus #609, and the Rural Letter Carrier's Associations.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Knoll of Dixon; one son, Rodney (Kelly) Knoll of Byron; two daughters, Janice (LeRoy) Rustad of Harmon, Mary (Paul) Delgado of Sterling; one sister, Jacqueline Sue Knoll of Palm Bay, FL; four grandchildren, Stephanie Rustad, Kayla Knoll, Brooke Jones, and Josh Rustad.
Rodney was preceded in death by his parents; and one daughter, Michelle Knoll.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 25, 2008, at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Dixon, with the Rev. Michael Morrissey, pastor, officiating. Burial with full military graveside services provided by the combined veterans' organizations will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon. Visitation will be from 2 - 8:00 p.m., Sunday, at the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with family present from 2 - 4:00 p.m. and 6 - 8:00 p.m.
CHARLES DONALD KOESLER
, 62, 831 N. Dement Ave., Dixon, died Sunday morning (14 Aug 1983) at KSB Hospital in Dixon, following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning at the Immanuel Lutheran Chruch with the Rev. Lee Lubke, officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday in the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home with the family being present from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Immanual Lutheran Church. Charles Koesler was born on Feb. 1, 1921 in Amboy the son of Charles and Lila Miller Koesler. On Dec. 24, 1942 he married Helen Wasmund in Dixon. He was a Veteran of WWII serving in the European Theatre. He was a carpenter working for Lindquist Construction Company for the past 30 years. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Local 790 Carpenters Union, member and past president of the Dixon Evening Lions Club, member of the Friendship Lodge 7 AF& AM, member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley, Freeport, active in the Dixon Club and Boy Scout troops and the Al Morrison Baseball league. Surviving are his wife, Helen; two sons, Donald, Mt. Morris and Ronald, Sterling; and five grandchildren.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois August 15, 1983 - Monday, pg A4
MABEL BEATRICE (ERICKSON) KRAFT , 93, of Dixon, died Monday, January 23, 2005, at the Lee County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dixon. Mabel was born June 10, 1912, in Bowdon, ND, the daughter of Julius and Sena Bertina (Blom) Erickson. She married Warren George Kraft on April 12, 1931, in Mapleton, IA. He preceded her in death on August 2, 1985. Mabel was a member and Sunday school teacher at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dixon. Survivors include one son, Everett (Elsie) Kraft, Dixon; two sisters, Bernice Wilson, Josephine White, both of Marshalltown, IA; seven grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Sheryl Russell; one grandson; one great grandson; an infant sister; and two brothers, Ednar and Oliver Erickson. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 27, 2006, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dixon, with the Rev. Ronald B. Ferrell, pastor, and the Rev. Robert White, chaplain at the Minneapolis, MN, airport, co-officiating. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon.
Michael S. KREISCH
- 80, formerly of 723 Broadway, Dixon, died Tuesday afternoon (11 May 1971) at Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Allen-Buckley Funeral Home with the Rev. R. G. Magel, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Dixon officiating with burial in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
Mr. Kreisch recently went to Robinson to stay with his daughter, Mrs. Katherine Kerr, 701 S. Lincoln. He was born Sept. 27, 1891 in Germany. He was united in marriage to the former Minnie K. Klingbiel who preceded him on March 13, 1970. He was retired from the Chicago North Western Railroad.
Surviving are one son, Michael Jr., Birmingham, Ala.; one daughter, Mrs. Katherine Kerr, Robinson; 10 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded by his wife, Minnie; one son Donald and one daughter Margaret McCardle.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
May 12, 1971 - Wednesday, pg 2
MINNIE (KLINGBIEL) KREISCH
- Funeral arrangements are complete at the Allen-Buckley Funeral home for Mrs. Michael (Minnie K.) Kreisch of 723 Broadway, Dixon who died Friday afternoon in Dixon Public Hospital after a short illness at the age of 76. Mrs. Kreisch was born May 5, 1894 in Dixon the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Klingbiel. She was united in marriage to Michael Kreisch, Feb. 22, 1915 in Dixon where they lived their entire married life, celebrating 55 years together.
Mrs. Freisch is survivied by her husband; one son Michael Jr. of Birmingham, Ala.; one daughter, Mrs. Katherine Kerr of Robinson, Ill.; three brothers, Chris, August and William Klingbiel, all of Ashton; 10 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Preceded by her parents; one son, Donald T. (Bub) and one daughter, Mrs. Margaret L. McCardle; several brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be at the Allen-Buckley Funeral home 3:00 Monday with burial in
Oakwod Cemetery. Rev. R. G. Magle, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Dixon will officiate. Friends may call on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois
March 14, 1970 - Saturday, pg 2
HARM J. KRULL
, 71, of 214 E. 8th Street, Dixon, died January 19, 1992 at St. Anthony’s Medical Center, Rockford, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Jones Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. John Stringini, pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Thursday with an Elk memorial service at 7 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Illinois Elks Crippled Children Fund and the Dixon Elks Nursing Scholarship Fund.
Mr. Krull was born October 24, 1921 at Adeline, the son of John and Jennie (Veer) Krull. He married Patricia Grant of Polo. She died in 1945. He then married Leola Conkrite July 6, 1946 in Dixon. She died June 22, 1966. He later married Mary Jo Elliott August 11, 1973 in Rockford. He was an industrial relations representative for Commonwealth Edison for four years prior to retiring in 1983. He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II. He was a member and past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge #779, past district representative of the Grand Lodge, member of the Dixon American Legion Post 12, the VFW Post 540, and the Mayor’s Citizen Advisory Board.
He is survived by his wife; one son, James of Plymouth, New Hampshire; four daughters, Mrs. Ron (Victoria) Nowandkowski of Hoffman Estates, Barbara Gustafson of Rockford, Amy and Jaclyn, both at home; seven grandchildren one great-granddaughter; one brother, Raymond (Eileen) Krull of Freeport; and two sisters, Mrs. Gene (Marian) Smith of Milledgeville, and Mrs. William (Gertrude) Kramer of Rock Falls.
Contributed by Alice Horner - A Newspaper Clipping From A Public Member Tree on Ancestry.com (ingeniously) titled “Our Family Tree”
PATRICIA (GRANT) KRULL
- Private funeral services will be held here Friday afternoon at 2:30 in the Strickler funeral home, for Mrs. Harm Krull, 20, of 1114 West Fourth Street, Dixon, who died Wednesday afternoon, August 29, 1945 in a Freeport hospital as the result of infantile paralysis. (polio) She had been a patient for only 24 hours. Rev. Ralph Geiser, pastor of the local Methodist church, of which she was a member, will officiate at the services, and burial will be made in Fairmount Cemetery.
Patricia Krull, a nurse, was born September 25, 1924 and was married in October of 1943. She is survived by her husband, and a 10-months-old son of Dixon; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Grant, and a sister, Jean, all of Polo. Her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Stoner of Shannon, and her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Minnie Grant of Polo, also survives.
Contributed by Alice Horner Freeport Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois August 30, 1945
CORENE K. (WHITES) KURTIS
, 64, of Dixon, died Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at KSB Hospital. She began working at Mr. Kurtis Beauty Salon as a beautician in October 1961, and became the owner in 1964. Corene was born Feb. 19, 1942, in Dixon, the daughter of Bruce and Helen (Eller) Whites. She married Robert Redfern on Dec. 19, 1987. He died July 15, 2003. Corene was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Elk Lodge BPOE 779 and Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 727, all in Dixon, Lost Nation Ladies Golf League and the Red Hat Society. Survivors include her mother, a sister, Jane M. Balayti, and dear and special friend, Robert O'Bryant, all of Dixon; two nephews, Craig O. Whites of Amboy and Scott Reed of Phoenix; five nieces, Lisa (Jeffrey) Lovett of Oregon, Diana Reed of Casa Grande, Ariz., Christa (John) Mitchell of Rock Falls, Carolyn (Tom) Ramsey of Sykesville, Md., and Cathy (Anthony) Costanza of Cherry Valley; two stepnephews, Anthony Balayti of Amboy and Richard Balayti of Mount Morris; two stepnieces, Kathy (Charlie) Briggs of Moscow Mills, Mo., and Gina Balayti of Union; several grandnieces and grandnephews; and several great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. She also was preceded in death by her father; and a brother, Jim Whites. The funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. LaVerne Davenport, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Dixon, officiating. Burial of cremains is at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon.
