WELCOME
TO THE
LEE COUNTY
ILLINOIS
OBITUARIES
PAUL VINCENT ODENTHAL
, aged 25 years, died Saturday Evening at his home on Dixon Avenue from an illness of hemorrhages of the heart of several weeks. Besides his wife and little daughter, he leaves his father and mother, four sisters and six brothers. They are Mrs. Chris Parker, Cramer, Neb.; Mrs. W. J. Walters, Theo Odenthal, Miss Christina Odenthal, Columbus, Neb.; Mrs. Elmer Lower, Rochelle; and Joseph, John, Philip, Will and Fred of Dixon. Mr. Odenthal was an employee of the shoe factory.
Funeral services will be had on Tuesday morning at 10:00 o'clock and interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Dixon Evening Telegraph 13 March 1911
JULIAN OELLIG
, 38, a former resident of Dixon passed away Tuesday at the Rockford Municipal Sanitarium. Surviving him are his mother, Mrs. Dora Oellig of Dixon, two sisters, Mrs. Peter Phalen of Dixon, Mrs. Effie Walters of DeKalb; two brothers, Lloyd of Dixon and Russell of Rockford; his wife and two children.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Jones Funeral home in Dixon Thursday, the Rev. Merrill S. Tope officiating and burial in Ashton Cemetery.
Dixon Evening Telegraph 30 July 1947
MRS. LUCY (DRUMMOND) OELLIG
of this city (Rochelle) passed away yesterday afternoon at 2:15 in the Rochelle Hospital where she had been admitted yesterday morning. She had been in failing health for a number of years and had been seriously ill for the past week. She was born in Ashton, Lee County and is survived by her husband Ray, a son Donald of Rochelle, a daughter Mrs. John A Baker, Rochelle, a grandson, a brother Charles Drummond of Ashton and two sisters Mrs. Nora Shippee, Ashton and Mrs. Byrdella Wetzel, Rochelle. Arrangements are being made at the Unger Funeral home.
Dixon Evening Telegraph 24 October 1948
SADIE (CRIDER) OELLIG
- The community was saddened Sunday morning to learn of the death of Mrs. William C. Oellig which occurred at an early hour. While Mrs. Oellig had not had the best of health her sudden demise came as a shock to her many relatives and friends. The funeral services were conducted on Tuesday at the home and at two o'clock at the Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. Loyal V. Sitler officiating. Interment was made in the Ashton Cemetery.
Mrs. Sadie Elizabeth Oellig, in maidenhood known as Sadie Elizabeth Crider was born in Frnaklin Co. PA. October 7, 1852. On Dec. 14, 1871 she was united in marriage to William C. Oellig and for over fifty years has proven herself a helpmate and companion to her husband and a faithful and loving mother.
Eight children were born into the home to add their cheer to the hearth; Francis A. who died June 1, 1893, Howard H. of Dixon; Sannie B. and Nill both residents of Wilmette; Earl of Chicago, Almo who died June, 1891, Ray who lives in Ashton and Mrs. Edward Schafer who recently moved to Franklin Grove. During the early years of their married life they made several changes in residence after leaving Pennsylvania coming to Ashton, from Kansas and .... She was a sweet Christian character and knew the joy of a Christian's faith and trust in God. She united with the Methodist church of Ashton during the pastorate Rev. Honeywell, perhaps in the year 1902 and has remained a faithful worker.
Contributed by Pat France
EVERETT DEAN OGBURN , 80, of Dixon, died, Saturday, October 28, 2006, at the Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital. He worked as a maintenance mechanic for Borg Warner, Dixon, for 15 years prior to his retirement. Mr. Ogburn was born December 28, 1925, in Wyoming, IL, the son of Everett D. and Mary Ann (Walker) Ogburn. Everett married Shirley Vale on December 27, 1947, in Davenport, IA. Everett was a member of the Harvest Time Bible Church, Rock Falls, and served in the United States Navy during WWII. Survivors include his wife, of Dixon; four sons, Clarence Allen (Diana L.) Ogburn, Nachusa, Everett Duane Ogburn, Del Rio, TX, Randall W. Ogburn, Rockford, IL, Richard Steven (Dora) Ogburn, Morrison; one daughter, Karen Jean Ogburn, Dixon; his step-mother, Norma Ogburn, Moline, IL; one son-in-law, Gary Dimmig, Amboy; four brothers, David (Sharon) Ogburn, East Moline, IL, William (Grace) Ogburn, Rock Island, IL, Gary (Maureen) Ogburn, Spencer, IA, Calvin (Sharon) Ogburn, Collinsville, MS; four sisters, Marcella Hilbert, DeWitt, IA, Rosemary Ferris, Moline, IL, Peggy Wolley, Maquoketa, IA, Phyllis McKlasky, Calona, IL; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren. Everett was preceded in death by 1 daughter, Sharon Lynn Dimmig. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2006, at the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. Dalmus Meeks, pastor of the Harvest Time Bible Church, Rock Falls, officiating. Burial of cremains with full military graveside services provided by the combined veteran’s organizations will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon, at a later date. Visitation will be from 2 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home, with family present from 2 - 4:00 p.m. and 6 - 8:00 p.m.
GEORGE F. ONKEN
- Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Wheelock Mortuary in Rock Falls for George F. Onken who passed away at his home Sunday morning November 26th (1944) at Nelson, Ill. Rev. Albert H. Keck Jr., pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church Sterling officiated. Mrs. H.W. Wiles of Sterling was soloist. Casket attendendants were: Earle D. Stitzel, G.W. Barthlomeow, Chas. Bahlkan, Edward Ortgiesen, Harry Blaisdell, and Paul Young of Nelson. Honorary pallbearers who represented the Chicago & Northwestern RR were Harvey F. Butler, Frank Chestock, R.D. Timmons, Edward Miller and Joseph Mayae of South Pekin Ill. Mrs. Bessie Miller and Mrs. E.D. Stitzel, Mrs. Edward Ortgiesen, Mrs. John Schoaf, Mrs. Walter Thompson, and Mrs. L. Coppotelli were in charge of the flowers. Burial was in the Nelson Cemetery.
George F. Onken was born in Germany on October 31, 1882. He came to this country as a small boy and has made his home in Nelson for the past fifty-two years. He was united in marriage to Edith E. Veith in Nelson and to this union one daughter, Mrs. Winifred Cossman was born. He is survived by his wife, his daughter and one grandson, George W. Cossman who reside at the family home in Nelson, and one sister Mrs. Mary Cornelius of Windom MN. For the past 46 years Mr. Onken has been employed by the Chicago & Northwestern RR and for 35 years was engineer on the southern district of the Galena division. He was a most valued and faithful employee until his illness in March which necessitated his retirement. He was a patient sufferer and sympathy of the entire community is extended to his bereaved family.
Dixon Evening Herald 1 December 1944
IDA (MEYER) GERDES ONNEN
- Funeral rites for Mrs. Ida Gerdes Onnen, 78, widow of George Onnen, who passed away Sunday [07/04/1943] night in the Linton nursing home, will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p. m. in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Claus Onmen, 212 Sixth avenue, and at 2 p. m. in St. Paul Lutheran church. The Rev. G. H. Doermann will officiate and committal will be in Oakwood cemetery, Dixon. The body was removed to the Onmen home from the Trouth funeral home at 10 a. m. today.
Ida Margaret Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Meyer, was born Jan. 6, 1865, in Germany. She came to the United States at the age of 18, settling at Minonk, Ill. There she was married to Berhard Gerdes and they lived on a farm near Minonk for 17 years, before moving to Walton, Ill., where Mr. Gerdes died in 1921. In 1924, she married George Onnen, whose death occurred in 1931. Since that time Mrs. Onnen had resided with a daughter, Mrs. Harry Landheer of Morrison.
Five sons and six daughters survive their mother: Edward and Charles Gerdes, both of Walton; Jacob Gerdes, Steator; Ben Gerdes, Varna, Ill.; George Gerdes, Sterling; Mrs. Harry Landheer, Morrison; Mrs. Clarence Seagren, Mrs. Avery Levan and Mrs. Walter Levan, Dixon; and Mrs. Alvin Schertz, Canton. There are 29 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds - The Sterling Daily Gazette, July 6, 1943, page 2, column 2
ABRAHAM ORVIS
- Dr. Abraham Orvis died at his residence in North Dixon yesterday morning of cancer, after a painful illness of many months. It was supposed that the terrible disease was brought on by an injury to a rib received about 12 years ago, by a fall; though the cancer did not makes its appearance until about a year ago.
Dr. Orvis was born in Ferrisburg, VT 19 July 1808. For several years the deceased had not been in active business, though during most of his life followed with success his chosen profession at Rochester, NY he returned here six weeks ago, prepared to die. The doctor during his brief stay in Dixon, had gained many warm friends and admirers.
The funeral services will take place at his residents in North Dixon at four o’clock this afternoon.
Contributed by Julia Joaquin / Dixon Telegraph Friday July 28, 1874
FRANKLIN KEESE ORVIS
- When the sad announcement came out from Chicago this morning by wire that Mr. F. K. Orvis died at six o’clock we may well presume that of his many warm friends here not one was shocked with grief, for alas, sorrow had completed its full work in a heartfelt sympathy for our fellow-citizen in the suffering he had endured during the week of his last fatal illness; and, furthermore the inevitable doom had been well understood since the surgeon’s effort had blasted our last hope, and we were all ready to become resigned the fact that “Death is the port where all may refuge find.”
More than a score of years with us as one of the leaders in Dixon’s business enterprises; a lover of his country, as the years spent at the front in defense of the Union bear witness: a gentleman of unusual mental power and activity, made useful by ripe scholarship and much knowledge gathered from the best of books, as a companion: a citizen and business man, few could have taken from us who will be so greatly missed.
The remains were brought from Chicago on the 3:56 passenger this afternoon, and taken to the Nachusa House.
The date of the funeral has not yet been announced.
Contributed by Julia Joaquin / Dixon Evening Telegraph Friday November 23, 1894
ELIZABETH (CONSIDINE) OSTRANDER
, 95, Harmon died Friday at Long Beach Hospital, Long Beach, Calif., after a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Jones Funeral home, Dixon and at 10 a.m. at St. Flannen's Church, Harmon with the Rev. James Lafferty, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Harmon. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Monday and the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Ostrander was born July 23, 1880 in Harmon, the daughter of Dennis and Mary McDonnell Considine. She was married to Harry Ostrander in Harmon on May 7, 1906. She was a member of St. Flannen's Church, Harmon. Survivors include one son, Cloyd Ostrander of Harmon; one daughter, Mrs. Wayne (Darlene) Stonesifer of Carson, Calif.; eight grandchilren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded by her husband, one son, five brothers, one sister and one granddaughter.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illiinois January 19, 1976 - Monday, pg 6
MATTIE (HUNT) OWENS
, wife of Dr. Alfred E. Owens and daughter of Dea. I. E. (Isaac E.) and Anna E. (Ann Eliza McBride) Hunt, was born on the farm south of town on the 21st day of Dec. 1859 and died in her home at Princeton on the 29th day of Oct. 1895 aged almost 36 years. In the year of 1879 she was converted and united with the Baptist church here in Paw Paw, and was baptized by Rev. H. R. Hicks, then pastor of the church. She has always lived an earnest devoted Christian life, taking an active part in all church work till compelled, by sickness, to lay down the work. On the 28th of March 1883, she was united in marriage to Dr. A. E. Owens. She was ever a loving daughter, devoted wife and kind neighbor. Her home cares not being very great gave her much time to devote to the work of her Master, and hence we find her earnest in her work in the church, and all religious and reform work. In the cause of temperance her whole soul was at work, having held important offices in the work of the W. C. T. U. and was always ready to lend a hand in all good work. Her sickness, though severe, only seemed to develop more and more her sweet character and so she bore the pain without a murmur, and died in triumphant faith in her Master.
Funeral services were held in the Baptist church on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock conducted by her pastor, Rev. D. G. McLane of Princeton, assisted by Rev. R. S. Sargent, and the remains were laid to rest in the family lot at South Side cemetery. R. S. S.
The relatives who were here from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Dr. F. R. Hunt of Austin, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Ed Owens of Dixon, Mrs. Chamberlain of Lee Center, and Mrs. Belle Clark of Sheffield, Iowa.
Contributed by Marilyn Widler
