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Stephenson County
Obituaries |
Transcribed and contributed to Genealogy Trails by Alice Horner
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Stephenson County
Obituaries |
H. Reid Horner, 85, of 1551 W. American St., Freeport died Friday, April 1, 1988 at Freeport Memorial Hospital
after a long illness. For 26 years, he was employed by the Henney Motor Co. During that time, he was manager of
payroll and then director of personnel. After that he was employed by Micro Switch, a division of Honeywell, as
manager of the International Division. In March 1968 he retired.
Educated in rural schools, he was a 1920 graduate of Lanark High School. He attended Brown’s Business College.
Horner was a member of Embury United Methodist Church, and he served many years on its board of trustees and later
as chairman. For more than 40 years, he was a member of the Freeport Rotary Club, where he was a past president
and a Paul Harris Fellow. For two terms, from 1946 to 1952, he served on the Freeport School Board. He was involved
in many civic organizations, including the YMCA, Red Cross, and the Community Chest, now known as United Way. An
expert marksman, he was active in the Stephenson County Sportsmen’s Club and the Lena Rifle Club. Horner was a
lifetime member of the National Rifle Association of America, when he joined Oct. 2, 1936.
On March 14, 1903, he was born in Lanark, the son of Morris E. and Mary (Hanse) Horner. He married Florence Downing
June 15, 1929 in Mount Carroll. Surviving are his widow and a daughter, Alice Ann Horner, of Berkeley, California.
Preceding him in death was a sister, Etta Horner Bowers. Service will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Embury United
Methodist Church. The Rev. Elmer Dickson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may
call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Walker Mortuary and after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church until the time of service.
Mildred F. March, 97, of Rockford, formerly of Freeport, died Tuesday, November 20, 2001 at Wesley Willows Retirement
Home in Rockford. She was born June 26, 1904 in Oregon, Illinois to Charles H. and Florence (Palmer) March. She
graduated from Freeport High School in 1922. She was a secretary for the Henney Motor Company for 30 years. She
then worked at W. E. Kautenberg Company until her retirement. She was a resident of Freeport until October, 1986.
She then moved to Wesley Willows Retirement Home in Rockford. She was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church,
United Methodist Women, both of Rockford, 50-year member of Order of Eastern Star Chapter 303, Capernum Shrine
No. 4 and White Shrine of Jerusalem, all of Freeport, Wesley Willows Auxiliary and charter member of the Stephenson
County Historical Society.
She is survived by numerous cousins from different generations.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Walker Mortuary. Rev. Eldon Schriver will officiate. Burial will be
at Oakland Cemetery and Mausoleum in Freeport, Illinois. Friends may call at the time of the service on Saturday
at Walker Mortuary.
Freeport, Illinois -- Katherine L. Dupee, 77 of 1402 LaCresta Drive, died Saturday, February 9, 1991 at her
home, following a short illness. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Women’s Association,
member and past president of Freeport Garden Club, member and past president of Freeport Women’s Club, vice-president
of American Association of University Women, a member of the Stephenson County Historical Society, a former chairman
of Freeport Memorial Hosptial Candy Stripers organization, and a member of the YWCA. She graduated from Freeport
Senior High School, attended Rockford College for two years and graduated from the University of Illinois with
a Bachelor of Science degree in 1936. She taught elementary school in Pecatonica and Freeport schools for nine
years.
Born April 21, 1913 in Chicago, she was the daughter of Charles W. and Bertha (Flynn) France. She was married to
John A. Dupee Jr. on December 26, 1960. He died Nov. 6, 1981. Surviving are one daughter, Dianne L. Cook of Emigrant,
Montana; one son, A. Lee Owen of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Hope (Shirl)
Laughlin of Freeport, and Mrs. Alice Vance (Wagner) Collins of Bemidji, Minn.; five grandchildren; three step grandchildren;
one great-grandchild; one sister, Mrs. Bethel (James L.) Waring of Ottawa; one brother, Charles W. France of Freeport;
and one nephew, James C. Waring of Westmont. She was preceded in death by one stepson, in addition to her husband.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Richard Harmison of the
church officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Walker Mortuary was in charge
of arrangements. [Submitter's Note: "She was Henney's switchboard operator in the late 1940s"]
Freeport -- Carl D. Loescher, 75, of 52 N. Mernitz Ave., founder and previous owner of Loescher Heating and
Air Conditioning, died this morning, May 17, 1989, at Freeport Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness. In 1956,
he established Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. Previous to that he was in partnership as Hoffman and Loescher
Sheet Metal. A 32nd Degree Mason, he was a member of Excelsior Masonic Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
(AF & AM), Freeport Scottish Rite Bodies, Tebala Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, and High
Twelve International, Freeport Club of which he was past president and chairman of the program. He was the recipient
of the honorary De Molay Legion of Honor and the Scottish Rite Meritorious Service Award. Memberships also included
Second Presbyterian Church. He was a former member of the Rotary Club.
The son of Christian and Gertrude (Huff) Loescher, he was born in rural Dixon on July 5, 1913. He married Helen
Finley on August 11, 1934 in Freeport. Surviving are his widow; three sons, David of Salem, Oregon, Stephen of
Brookfield, Wis., and Dan of Rockford; a brother, Edgar of Dixon; three sisters, Pauline (Mrs. Elmer) Adee of Kirkland,
Vina (Mrs. Bill) Shick of Redding, Calif., and Clara (Mrs. Martin) Marth of Wyndotte, Mich.; twelve grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, two brothers, and a son.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Second Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Robert Webb will officiate. Burial will
be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home where a Masonic service
will be conducted at 8 p.m.
Freeport -- Harold Frederick Maves, 86, a resident of Parkview Home in Freeport, died there Wednesday, May 11,
1994. He was employed by Henney Motor Company from 1925 until he joined Union Loan and Savings in 1928 as a bookkeeper
and teller. There he was elected a director in 1936, secretary and officer manager in 1937, and president and chairman
of the board in 1956. He retired in 1973, but remained chairman of the board and consultant until 1980, when he
was elected director emeritus. He also served on various committees of the Illinois Savings and Loan League and
United States League of Savings Associations. In 1930 he became a member of Faith United Methodist Church. He was
a 50-year member and past Master of Evergreen Masonic Lodge, a 50-year member of Scottish Rite Bodies Masonic Lodge,
and was a Past Most Wise Master, Chapter Rose Croix of the Freeport Consistory.
He served two terms as director of Freeport Chamber of Commerce and served on various committees of the chamber.
He was also a director of Freeport YMCA for one term and was a member of Stephenson County Sportsmans Club where
he served as secretary and president of the club. Borchers and Maves Agency, a real estate business he operated
with Henry W. Hamilton and later with Russell M. Borchers, is now owned by Ted. A. Seeley. He served as president
and director of the Freeport Board of Realtors and was also an active member of the Freeport Board of Insurance
Agents.
Son of Henry J. and Mary (Schubert) Maves, he was born Feb. 16, 1908 in Freeport. Educated in the Freeport schools,
he graduated from Freeport High School in 1925. He married Alma L. Rahn September 20, 1932 in Freeport. Surviving
are his wife of Freeport; one son, Dr. Dennis (Sandra) Maves of Freeport; two granddaughters, Lisa (fiancé
Adam Szofran) Maves of Seattle, Wash., and Laurie (fiancé Troy Coon) Maves of Chicago. Preceding him in
death were one brother, Stanley Maves, and two sisters, Lucile and Alice Maves.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Phillip H. Burke, Jr. of Faith
United Methodist Church and the Rev. Eldon Shriver assisting. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call
from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home.
Roy M. Iler, 86, of 616 S. Park Blvd., died this morning, September 29, at Freeport Memorial hosptial after
an extended illness. (Note. This was September 29, 1987.) He was a 1919 graduate of Freeport High School. For many
years he was employed by Henney Motor Company, and then by Modern Plating Corp. Iler was a member of Excelsior
Masonic Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (AF & AM) for more than 50 years. He also was a member of the
Elks Lodge, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Freeport; Tebala Shrine of Rockford and Rockford Shrine Club.
On May 7, 1901 he was born in Ridott, the son of James and Elizabeth (Eichorn) Iler. He married Agnes Kappenman
June 18, 1927 in Rockford. Survivng are his widow; and a brother, Kenneth of Freeport.
Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. The Rev. Sharon Stier, associate pastor of
St. John United Church of Christ, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to
8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. [Submitter's Note: "His wife died in 2000, in her mid-90s"]
Freeport -- Kenneth A. Iler, 85, 1272 W. Stover St., died Friday, February 28, 1992 at Freeport Memorial Hospital
after an extended illness. He worked for 30 years for the former Henney Hearse Co. in Freeport. Later, he worked
for the Eureka Hearse Co. of Sterling, retiring in 1976. He was a member of the Elks Lodge 617, Freeport.
Born in Ridott on December 10, 1906, he was the son of James and Elizabeth (Eichorn) Iler. He was a 1926 graduate
of Freeport High School. He married Katherine B. Belknap on June 29, 1935 in Freeport. Surviving are his wife,
Katherine Iler of Freeport, and one sister-in-law, Agnes (Roy) Iler of Freeport. He was preceded in death by one
brother.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home in Freeport. The Rev. Stephen Aram, pastor
of Embury Methodist Church, will officiate. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Burke-Tubbs. Burial will
be in Oakland Cemetery.
John G. Fair, 86, of 42 N. Mernitz Ave., died this morning at Freeport Manor following an extended illness.
(Note: The Social Security Death Index shows his date of death as December 1982.)
For 33 years, he was a salesman for Henney Motor Co., and was then employed by Modern Metal Products of Rockford
until retirement at the age of 70. During World War I, he served as a lieutenant in the Army. He was a member of
First Presbyterian Church, Excelsior Lodge, a life member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Freeport, and member
of Tebala Shrine, and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Born October 11, 1896, in Freeport, he was the son of Dr. John G. and Clara (Miller) Fair. He married Adelaide
M. Miller who died April 20, 1965. On Dec. 10, 1973, he married Clara M. Chambers in Clearwater, Fla. Among the
survivors are his widow; two stepdaughters, for step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
Service will be 10:30 A.M. Friday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Douglas R. Baer, pastor of First Presbyterian
Church, officiating. Burial will be in Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford. Friends may call from 4 to 8 P. M. Thursday
at the funeral home.
Frederick Carl Thiele, 89, of 825 E. Illinois St., died this morning, Aug. 9, 1986 at the Veterans Administration
Hospital in Madison, Wis., after a long illness. Thiele, who was employed by the Henney Motor Company until retiring
in 1954, was a member of Faith United Methodist Church. A veteran of World War I, he also was a member of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Eagles Club.
Born in Lena on June 6, 1897, he was the son of Frederick C. and Amelia (Wagner) Thiele. He married Iola DeWall
on July 21, 1928 in Freeport. Surviving are his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Janice (Richard) Lehmann and Jeanette
Grimes, both of Freeport, and Mrs. Shirley (Donald) Marcum of St. Charles; two sons, Roger and Roland, both of
Freeport; two sisters, Margaret Haugh of Polo and Elsie Davis of Harrisburg, Pa., two brothers, Lester and Nelson
Stein, both of German Valley; 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter,
one sister and two brothers.
Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Walker Mortuary. The Rev. Russell Coats, pastor of Faith United Methodist
Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the
mortuary where the Eagles Club will conduct a service at 7:30 p.m.
Private graveside service was held at 10 this morning at Oakland Cemetery for John Henney Smithe Sr., 71, who died
last week in Tucson, Ariz., where he was a five-year resident. The Rev. Paul Offenhiser officiated. (Transcriber’s
note: Actual date of death was June 22, 1980.)
He was the nephew of John W. Henney Jr., who, with his father founded the Henney Motor Co. His great-grandfather
Jacob Henney started the Henney Wagon and Carriage Works in Cedarville in 1860. In 1868, his grandfather and uncle
took over the business and added buggies to the line. In 1879 the business was moved to Freeport. It was then sold
to Moline Plow Co. in 1993, retaining the Henney name. Later, Henney repurchased the business and built hearses
and custom made cars. Manufacturing ceased in 1955. A graduate of Freeport High School, he then joined his uncle’s
company, working in sales and serving as vice president. At one time he was a drummer and played in several area
bands. An avid tennis player, he worked for betterment of Freeport’s tennis facilities. He was a member of the
Germania Club, Union League Club of Chicago, Stephenson County Historical society, Cedarville Historical Society,
Freeport Tennis Club and First Presbyterian Church and was a lifelong supporter of the YMCA and YWCA.
Born May 6, 1909, he was the son of Julius B. and Mary (Henney) Smithe. He married Imogene Aiken Sept. 21, 1939
in Freeport. Surviving are his widow; one daughter, Mrs. Judith (Richard) Wolfe of Cedarville; one son, John Henney
Smithe, Jr. of Freeport; and four grandchildren. Arrangements were completed by Walker Mortuary. [Submitter's Note:
"John Henney Smithe was the nephew of the John Henney (son) who ran Henney's in the 1930s. He'd been murdered
in Tucson by an acquaintance "]
Freeport -- William P. Grau, 77, of 727 W. Pleasant St., died Tuesday, October 25, 1994 at Freeport Memorial
Hospital. He owned and operated the Culligan Water Conditioning Company in Freeport and Forreston for 35 years,
retiring in 1977. He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. He was a 33rd degree mason, was a member and
Past Master of Evergreen Masonic Lodge No. 170, was a member and Past Commander in Chief of the Scottish Rite Bodies,
Walley of Freeport, was a member of Tebala Shrine and their Shrine Club, the Freeport Commandery No. 7 Knights
Templar and the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. He was a member of the American Legion and High Twelve
Club.
Born Sept. 6, 1917 in Freeport, he was a son of Clarence and Birdie Mae (Sinkhorn) Grau. He married Edna Ardale
Bird Jan.12, 1945 in Freeport. Surviving are his wife, one brother, David (Lorraine) Grau, and one sister, Marion
(Robert) Derwent, all of Freeport. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Walker Mortuary with Dr. Gerald Robey, administer of Parkview Home,
officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday when a
Masonic service will be conducted by the Evergreen Masonic Lodge No. 170 at 7 p.m.
(Transcriber’s Note: Florence L Downing Horner notes that Charles Gram lived at East River View, Florida at the
time of his death. The Walnut Ave. address given in the obituary was in Freeport, Illinois.)
Memorial service for Charles C. Gram, 82, of 1208 S. Walnut Ave. will be held at a later date. There will be no
visitation. He died Sunday morning, January 11, 1987 at his home after an extended illness. Until retirement, he
was an executive at the Henney Motor Co., and was a Navy veteran.
Born on January 30, 1904 in Dayton, Ohio, he was the son of Charles and Katie (Diehl) Gram. He married Mae. E.
Peterson, who died in 1948. There are no immediate survivors. Arrangements were completed by Burke-Tubbs Funeral
Home.
Alfred J. Shay, 62, of 2002 W. Laurel St., died Saturday, Jan. 14. 1989 at Freeport Memorial Hospital. For three
years, he was employed by Henney Motor Co., and then for 30 years by Micro Switch as an accountant, until retiring
in 1984. He was a World War II veteran, and a member of the 25 year club at Micro Switch and the Freeport Fraternal
Order of Eagles.
On July 16, 1926, he was born in Freeport, the son of Alfred and Zoe (Clark) Shay. He married Marilyn J. Roemer
on July 7, 1973 in Las Vegas, Nev. Surviving are his widow; a son, Michael Marcum of Rock City; three daughters,
Kathy (Mrs. David) Petticrew of Rohnert Park, Calif., Beth (Mrs. Allan) Franklin of Cedarville and Ann Neuenschwander
of Paducah, Ky.; and four granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, William Vore, and
a sister.
Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Walker Mortuary. The Rev. James Crone, pastor of Trinity United Methodist
Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Clarence F. Hibst Sr., 88, 1241 S. Float Ave., lifetime resident of Freeport, died Sunday, Oct. 19, at his home.
He worked for 34 years at Henney Motor Co. and eight years at Micro Switch. Hibst was a member of St. Joseph Catholic
Church and the Knights of Columbus. A World War I veteran, he was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was born Jan. 22, 1898 in Freeport, the son of Frank and Effie (Weaver) Hibst. His marriage to Dorothy Toelle
was June 29, 1926, in Freeport. She died Dec. 2, 1984. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Geraldine (Vernon) Marsh,
and Mrs. Delores (Alfred) Gillespie, both of Freeport, and Mrs. Marilyn (Richard) Shepherd of Harvard; a son Clarence
F. of Freeport; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death
by a grandchild.
Service will be Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The
Rev. James Weber will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8
p.m. at the funeral home, where a scripture service will be held at 7 p.m.
Freeport -- Carl “Keno” W. Arndt, 77, of 2122 S. Walnut Ave., died Sunday, Nov. 11, 1990 at St. Anthony’s Medical
Center, Rockford, following an extended illness. He was employed by Henney Motor Co., and then for 33 years by
Micro Switch, retiring in 1975. An avid bowler, he was past city bowling champion. He was a member of Embury United
Methodist Church and Evergreen Lodge 97 AF & Am.
Born Feb. 4, 1913 at Freeport, he was the son of Clarence and Ethel (Wheeland) Arndt. On March 27, 1936 at Geneva,
he married Jane O. Becker. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Carl W. Jr. of Mars Hill, N.C., and Michael R. and
wife, Bonny, of Freeport; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents
and one sister.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, with the Rev. William Blomberg officiating.
Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Sacramento, Calif. -- Theodore “Ted” Schultz, 79, a former Freeport resident, died Saturday Dec. 12, 1992 in
Sacramento, California. The son of Herman and Lillie Schultz, he was born in Freeport on May 19, 1913. Over 50
years ago, he married Marion Engelhardt in Freeport. Surviving are his wife and one daughter, Marilyn Evans, both
of Sacramento; and one sister, Lillian Harris of Pecatonica. Funeral service was held in Sacramento on Dec. 18.
Freeport -- Elmer Carl Schultz, 80, of 108 Marcia Drive, died Monday, June 10, 1991 at Freeport Memorial Hospital.
For 32 years, he was employed by the former Henney Motor Co. of Freeport. He then worked at Micro Switch for 20
years before retiring. He was a member of Laurel Street Church of God and Stephenson County Antique Engine Club.
A son of Herman and Lillian Schultz, he was born in Freeport on March 29, 1911. He married Vernena V. Boomgarden
on July 2, 1966 at Forreston. Surviving are his wife; one daughter, Mrs. Kathleen (Harley) J. Hoyer of Freeport;
one sister, Lillian Harris of Pecatonica; one brother, Theodore of Sacramento, Calif.; two nieces and two nephews.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. The Rev. Eddie Hammond of the Laurel
Street church of God will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 4 to
8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Freeport -- Charles E. Webster, 78, 1222 S. State Ave., died Saturday in Freeport Memorial Hospital after a
long illness. (Transcriber’s Note: This was June 1974. He was born April 27, 1896.)
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with burial in City Cemetery.
Friends may call from after 4 p.m. Monday in Walker Mortuary, with a scripture reading at 8 p.m. There are no immediate
survivors. [Submitter's Note: "He was my father's best friend for nearly 50 years and he was a wonderful guy
with a droll sense of humor who could fix anything and make you a part for anything for which parts hadn't been
made in decades. He was an electrician at Henney's."]
Second Obit:
Charles E. Webster, 1222 S. State Ave., who was employed as a foreman by the Henney Motor Company until retiring when the plant closed, died Saturday morning in Freeport Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. (Note: This was June 1974.) He was born April 27, 1896 in rural Monroe, Wisconsin, the son of Daniel and Anna (Brennan) Webster. He was the last member of his family. He was preceded in death by a brother. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Walker Mortuary and at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The Rev. John A. Kraemer, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in City Cemetery. Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the mortuary where a Scripture service will be held at 8 p.m.
Graveside service for Engelbert Spliethoff, 84, formerly of Freeport, will be held at Oakland Cemetery on Monday,
June 17 at 11 a.m. The Rev. Eldon Schriver will officiate. He died December 23, 1984 in Boulder, Colo.
From 1929 to 1972 he and his wife lived in Freeport. Faith United Methodist Church was their church home. He was
born in Mulheim, Ruhr, Germany on May 6, 1900. Surviving are his widow; three daughters, seven grandchildren; two
sisters; and five great-grandchildren.
Freeport -- Raymond A. Laible, 78, lifelong Freeport resident, died Monday, March 6, 1995 at Freeport Memorial
Hospital after an extended illness. He retired from Micro Switch in 1972 after 18 years as a manager of various
engineering and production departments. He previously worked at Henney Motor Company in a similar capacity during
the period the company was producing parade cars, ambulances and presidential limousines. He was a past president
of Freeport Management Club.
Born March 18, 1916, he was a son of Raymond M. and Amelia (Hagemann) Laible. He was educated in Freeport schools,
graduating with the class of 1934. He married Leona Drake Sept. 20, 1941. After his retirement, he and his wife
spent their winters in southern Florida, and traveled frequently, visiting Europe, Central America, Australia and
New Zealand. He was a member of Embury United Methodist Church. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Richard (Linda)
Laible of Chicago and Jim (Jean) Laible of Freeport; one daughter, Francine (Greg) Wohlford of Bloomington; seven
grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. One brother preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Walker Mortuary with the Rev. Stephen Aram officiating. Burial will
be in North Grove Cemetery in Forreston. Friends may call from 1:30 p.m. until time of service Friday at the funeral
home. Cremation rites have been accorded.
Freeport -- Eugene A. Lattig, 85, of 600 Kiwanis Court, a local businessman, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1992 at
Freeport Manor Nursing Home.
He joined his father in Lattig realtors in 1947, and was past president of the Board of Realtors and Multiple Listing
Service. For five years, he served as Stephenson County’s first zoning administrator. He was past president of
Freeport Rotary Club, past board member of the Freeport Country Club, and a member of Freeport Elks Lodge. For
several years he served on the Police and Fire Commission. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign.
He was employed by Henney Motor Co. in Freeport and Superior Coach Co. in Evanston. He was a World War II veteran.
Born in Freeport on April 14, 1907 he was a son of LeRoy and Nellie (Arledge) Lattig. He married Lucille G. Godber
Oct. 6, 1949 in Freeport. Surviving are his wife; two sons, Robert G. (Mary) Lattig of Lakeland, Fla., and Don
A. Lattig of Nashville, Tenn. He was preceded in death by two sisters.
Cremation has been accorded. A private family memorial service will be held later. Friends may meet with the family
at a special reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Best Western Stephenson Hotel’s Brewster Room. There will
be no visitation. Arrangements are being made by Walker Mortuary.
Robert Joseph Pilaszek, 87, a resident of Parkview Home, died there this morning, Dec. 14, 1988. He was a graduate
of Northwestern University in Boston in 1926. From 19329 to 1952, he was employed by the Henney Motor co., as assistant
treasurer. Then he was employed by Micro Switch as an accountant from 1951 to 1966, until retiring on Sept. 30,
1966. He was a member of the Elks Club, Excelsior Masonic Lodge, Freeport Consistory and Tebala Shrine, Rockford.
On Sept. 16, 1901 he was born in Massachusetts, the son of Alexander and Victoria (Gieralska) Pilaszek. He married
Maryetta Gage in 1931. She died in 1946. There are no immediate survivors.
Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Walker Mortuary. Burial will be in Rock Lily Cemetery, Winslow. Friends may call
from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary, where Excelsior Lodge will conduct a Masonic service at 8 p.m.
Mrs. Adolph (Gladys) Joesten, 67, formerly of 1333 S. Oak Ave., died Monday evening at Medina Nursing Center
following an extended illness. (Transcriber’s Note: She died October 1979.) Prior to her illness, she worked at
Micro Switch. She was a member of Embury United Methodist Church and had been a member of United Methodist Women
of Embury and the Business and Professional League of the YWCA.
Born Jan. 26, 1912 in Carroll County, she was the daughter of Frank W. and Grace (Palmer) Miller. She married Adolph
Joesten April 3, 1943 in Oregon, Ill. He died in February 1966. Surviving are one son, James A. Joesten of Chicago;
one daughter, Mrs. Richard (Jeanne) Moseley of New York City, N.Y.; and two brothers, Kenneth Miller of Morrison
and Robert V. Miller of Palm Springs, Fla. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one sister
and one brother.
Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Walker Mortuary with the Rev. William Blomberg, pastor of Embury
United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday
at the mortuary.
Freeport -- Marie K. Smith, 91, of 1473 Winter Drive, died Friday morning, Jan. 19, 1990, at St. James Hospital,
Pontiac. She was retired from Henney Motor Co. and Micro Switch. A 1916 graduate of Freeport High School, she was
a member of Second Presbyterian Church.
Born on Sept. 27, 1898 in Freeport, she was the daughter of Henry and Anna (Johnson) Keller. She married J. Willard
Smith on Aug. 9, 1922 in Freeport. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Patricia (Charles) Lyman of Pontiac; three grandchildren;
eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Karl Keller of Sherman, Texas. She was predeceased by her parents, her
husband in 1975, and a son, J. Willard Jr. in 1974.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Schwarz Funeral Home. The Rev. Don Garton, pastor of Second
Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday
at the funeral home.
Freeport -- Ruth E. Raisbeck, 77, of 920 Meadows Drive, died Friday, Oct. 14, 1994 at Freeport Memorial Hospital.
She attended Brown’s Business College in Freeport and was a world traveler. She had worked for the Henney Motor
Company and at the time of her retirement was an executive secretary at Bank of Denver in Colorado.
Born Sept. 27, 1917 in New Diggings, Wis., she was the daughter of Aaron and Annie (March) Raisbeck. Surviving
are three nephews, Ronald (Duane) Cox of Cedarville, Dr. Wendell (Marsha) Cox of Freeport and Rufus Erwin of Dexter,
Mich.; and one niece, Salle Erwin of Orchard Lake, Michigan. She was preceded in death by three sisters.
There will be no funeral service. Cremation rites have been accorded. Walker Mortuary completed the arrangements.
Whitewater, Wis. -- Bethal B. Mooney of Whitewater, Wis., formerly of Freeport, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1993.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Whitewater. A 1916 graduate of Freeport High School, she was
employed as executive secretary for Henney Motor Company of Freeport and Kraft Foods Company in Chicago.
She was born in Freeport, the daughter of Edwin Perry and Lillian (Race) Brown. (Transcriber’s note: The Social
Security Death Index shows her date of birth as November 12, 1899.) She married Frank Mooney in Freeport on October
2, 1926. Surviving are two nieces, Mary Louise Larson of Rockford and Priscilla Sutton of Tucson, Ariz.; one nephew,
Robert Donahue of Marage, Calif.; and two grandnieces, Patricia Lamb of Olathe, Kan., and Judy Lindgren of Onoka,
Minn.
Cremation was accorded. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Rockford -- Leta M. Isbell, 84, of 4149 Safford Road, Rockford, formerly of Freeport, died Tuesday April 23,
1991 in Highview Retirement Home after a long illness. She lived in Rockford since 1987, coming from Freeport,
where she was employed by the Henney Motor Co., Crum & Forster Insurance Companies and the telephone company
as a secretary for many years.
Born Sept. 3, 1906 at Argo (Carroll County, Illinois), she was the daughter of Fred and Mamie Tripp. She was married
to E. Ben Isbell in 1932. He died in 1985. Also preceding her in death was a brother, Glenn Tripp. Surviving are
a cousin, Charles Graves of Clinton, Iowa; a brother-in-law, John Isbell of California; and special friends, Barbara
Nilsson and John and Beth Johnson, all of Rockford.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Ladies Union Cemetery at Stockton. The Rev. Jeffrey Baer of Calvary
United Methodist Church of Stockton will officiate. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Highview
Retirement Home. Friends may call from 4 to 5 p.m. today at Anderson-Long-Klontz Funeral Home, North Court Street
at Park Avenue, Rockford.
Freeport -- Lester H. Kasten, 90, of 803 E. Center St., a former Freeport School board member and building superintendent
for Freeport Schools, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 1992 at home, following an extended illness. He was employed by Stover
Mfg. Co. as a wood pattern maker and Arcade Mfg. Co. until they moved out of Freeport. He then worked for Henney
Motor Co. during the time when the hearses manufactured there changed from a wooden to a steel body. When the Henney
plant closed in Freeport, he was the last employee helping move its machinery to New York. He served two terms
as school board member and was superintendent of buildings and grounds for School District 145. During this time,
the district built new schools: Cedarville, Taylor Park, Blackhawk, Douglas, Empire, Carl Sandburg, and the Junior
High. He served on the Stephenson County Building Commission when the new county courthouse was erected. He also
served on the building committees for the Parkview Home addition and the new St. John United Church of Christ ediface.
He played on the Freeport Badger basketball and baseball teams. After he retired, his hobby was woodworking. He
made and sold wooden toys, yard ornaments and authentic wooden trains. He was a 44-year member of Excelsior Masonic
Lodge and a member of Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Freeport. Other memberships were St. John United Church of
Christ and Golden K Kiwanis Club.
Born in Freeport on July 14, 1902, he was the eldest son of Carol and Lizzie (Henze) Kasten. He married Anna Badura
on Oct. 20, 1926 in Freeport. Surviving are his wife; one son, Karl (Nora) of Indianapolis, Ind.; one daughter,
Elizabeth Verity of Naperville; one brother, Clarence (Mary) of Rockford; five grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Delbert, and one daughter, Jean.
Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. John United Church of Christ. The Rev. Richard Harmison will
officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call at the time of service Wednesday in the Chapel
Hearth room at the church. Walker Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
John J. “Jack” Ney, 72, of 508 Marion Ave., died Wednesday afternoon at Freeport Memorial Hospital following
an extended illness. (Transcriber’s Note: The Social Security Death Index gives his year of death as 1980.) A self-employed
Freeport decorator, he was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the VFW and Germania Club.
Born Jan. 16, 1908 in Dubuque, Iowa, he was the son of Herman and Katherine (Olinger) Ney. He married Irene Wohlford
Jan. 28, 1953 in Nashua, Iowa. Surviving are his widow; two stepsons, Willard Wohlford of Janesville, Wis., and
Walter Wohlford of Dyersville, Iowa; three brothers, Roy and Ray, both of Dubuque, and Clarence of Woodstock; one
sister, Mrs. Lucille (Joseph) McIntyre of Freeport; 10 step-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home and 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic
Church with the Rev. Albert F. Rennell officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from
4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home where the rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m.
Rockford -- Earl L. Schofield, 73, of Rockford, a Freeport native, died Sunday at Swedish American Hospital
in Rockford following a short illness. A 40-year resident of Rockford, coming from Freeport, he was owner of E.
L. Schofield, Inc., an air conditioning company for 14 years and was presently owner of Schofield Associates Engineering
Co. in Rockford. He was a member of Forest City Baptist Church, a former deacon, and was on the Missionary Committee
of the church and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Christian Businessmen’s Association.
Born March 8, 1908 in Freeport, he was the son of Sidney and Ida Schofield. He married Verna M. Gaden June 16,
1962 in Detroit, Michigan. Surviving are his widow; one daughter, Mrs. Sally (the Rev. Edward) Baker of Des Moines,
Iowa; one brother, Roy of Rockford; one sister, Mrs. Ethel Caudle of Freeport; and two grandchildren.
Memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Forest City Baptist church with the Rev. Wayne Kemp, pastor, officiating.
Private family graveside service will be held at Oakland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Arrangements were
completed by Fred C. Olson Mortuary in Rockford.
William Fahey, 87, a resident of Stephenson County Nursing Center, died there yesterday morning. He was a veteran
of World War I. Born June 19, 1892, he was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Vale) Fahey. Surviving is one sister,
Mrs. Helen (Floyd) Long of Freeport.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Schwarz Funeral Home with the Rev. John Kraemer, pastor of St. Mary
Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Point Lookout, MO. -- Paul M. Watz, 79, formerly of Freeport, died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1990, at the Point Lookout
Village Health Care Center, where he resided. He was a draftsman by trade, working for Arcade Mfg., Fairbanks-Morse,
Ardee Mfg. and Sundstrand, retiring in 1984. He was a member of Embury United Methodist Church and Boy Scouts of
America, Embury Troop 4 for 63 years, during which he served both as assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster.
Born July 17, 1911 in Bismarck, N.D., he was the son of August and Estelle (Monroe) Watz. He married Marjorie Hogan
on March 28, 1942. She died March 15, 1987. Surviving are one son, David P. of Branson, MO.; two grandchildren;
and one great-grandchild. Preceding him in death, besides his wife, were one daughter and three brothers.
Cremation took place. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Embury United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Elmer
Dickson of the church officiating. Internment will be in Oakland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Walker
Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Tucson, Ariz. -- Memorial service for Clell Gilliland, 75, a former Freeport resident who died Saturday in Tucson,
was held today in Lyons, Kan. Internment was in Lyons. In Freeport, he was employed as a printer by Furst-McNess
Co. Following retirement, he moved to Lyons.
He was born in Wisconsin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Gilliland. He married Anita Steele June 25, 1927 in Freeport.
Surviving are his widow; two brothers, Wade of Tucson, and Glenn of Chicago; two sisters, Fern Patterson of Rochester,
Minn., and Belva Fredisdah of Arlington Heights.
Myrtle M. Featherling, 95, a resident of Parkview Home, died Saturday, Sept. 13, 1986 at Freeport Memorial Hospital.
Myrtle was a graduate of Freeport High School. Since 1918, she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and
a past worthy matron. Also she was a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem since 1919, and a past presiding officer,
and member of the Commandery Auxiliary.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. The daughter of J. William and Adelaide (Walker) Meyer,
she was born in Amboy on Dec. 1, 1890. She married Clyde D. Featherling on April 3, 1918, in Freeport. He died
in 1954.
Service will be held in 1 p.m. Tuesday at Walker Mortuary. The Rev. Ernest R. Francis, pastor of Embury United
Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call tonight from 4 to 7 p.m.
tonight at the mortuary.
Nicholas Servatius, 1536 W. Stephenson St., founder and president of Modern Plating Corp., died at 8:30 this
morning in a Freeport Hospital.
Born April 16, 1888 in Bausendorf, Germany, he was the son of Nicholas and Katherine Servatius. He came to United
States in 1912 and moved Freeport in 1935, establishing Modern Plating in 1936. Mr. Servatius married Anna Haas
in 1913 in Chicago. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Germania Club, Freeport Country Club, an honorary
member of the American Electroplaters' Society, a trustee and member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, The Holy Name
Society, and the Loyal Order of Moose.
Plant Expands
Modern Plating began with seven employees in the former Holtum Mfg. Co. and moved to South Hancock Avenue in 1938.
Last August Mr. Servatius announced the purchase of the Rockwell plant in the Arcade additions, after outgrowing
the South Hancock Avenue Plant. The firm is now in the process of remodeling the Rockwell plant.
Surviving are his wife: a son, Richard, Freeport, the vice president and financial secretary of the company; one
daughter, Mrs. Eleanor Boegel, Bay Port N.Y. , two brothers, Henry and Peter both of Cologne, Germany and nine
grandchildren. Services will be at 9:30a.m. Tuesday at the Schwarz Funeral Home, and at 10a.m. in St. Thomas Aquinas
Church. Very Rev. Msgr. A.J. O'Neill, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The Rosary
will be recited at 8p.m. Monday in the funeral home where friends may call after 7p.m. Sunday.
Richard N. Servatius 44, 507 E. Jefferson ST., president and general manager of Modern Plating Corp. which
operates plants here and in Rockford, died early Thursday in his home after suffering an apparent heart attack.
The firm he headed was founded by his father , Nicholas, in 1936 in Freeport. Mr. Servatius was a member of
the
American Electroplaters Society and the National Association of Metal Finishers. He was active with the Freeport
Chamber of Commerce and also a member of St. Joseph's catholic Church, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, the
Germania Club and the Knights of Columbus. He was a graduate of Aquin Central Catholic High School and a World
War II veteran, serving with the Marines. He was born Feb. 23, 1921, in Chicago, son of Nicholas and Anna
Haas Servatius, and married Lucille Eberle Jan. 12, 1946, in Freeport. Survivors are his widow; a daughter,
Susan' three sons, Richard, Nicholas, and David all at home; his mother;' and a sister, Mrs. Eleanor Boegel,
Bayport, Long Island, N.Y. Services will be Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in Schwarz Funeral Home and at 9:00 a.m. in
St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may call after 1p.m. today in
the funeral home, where the rosary will be recited at 8 o'clock tonight.
