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Stephenson County

OBITUARIES

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ISABEL (YARGER) OCHSNER , 92, born Aug. 22, 1913, formerly of Freeport, died Nov. 7, at Community Hospital of Ottawa. Memorial services will be on Thursday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m. at Bethel United Methodist Church of Afolkey, Ill. The Rev. James Ketzel will officiate. A private family burial will precede the service at Oakland Cemetery in Freeport. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Daughenbaugh Funeral Home in Dakota, Ill. Local arrangements were handled through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Isabel Ochsner was born in Dakota, Ill., to John and Geneva (Cahoon) Yarger. She married Frank F. Ochsner on April 21, 1943, at Afolkey E.U.B. Church in Afolkey. He died Oct. 21, 1995. Isabel graduated from Orangeville High School. She worked in the lab at Kraft Cheese Company for six years after graduation. Her talents and interests in music were shared through teaching 150 piano and organ students and in serving as pipe organist for 37 years at Trinity United Methodist Church in Freeport. She was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church. For many years, she was an active member of the Freeport Hammond Organ Club. She is survived by her sister, Irma (Art) Bolliger; daughters Vicki (Jim) Crone of Ottawa and Peggy (Jurgen Thym) Dettwiler of Mansfield, Pa.; and two grandchildren, Philip and Jamie Crone. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Geneva Yarger; her husband, Frank Ochsner; and her sister, Ruth (Glen) Shippy. Memorials may be directed to Bethel United Methodist Church of Afolkey or Trinity United Methodist Church, Freeport.
Contributed by Judy Morgan - "The Daily Times", Ottawa, Illinois 11/10/2005

REYNOLD OFFENHISER , 86, retired Pearl City farmer, died Thursday afternoon, January 25, 1996 at Lena Continental Manor Nursing Home. Son of Charles and Bertha (Ortmeier) Offenhiser, he was born August 24, 1909 at Kent and graduated from Stockton High School in 1927. He and Vivian Barklow were married March 14, 1934 in the Methodist parsonage in Pearl City. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran church in Kent and was a 50-year member of Pearl Masonic Lodge. In 1967 he was chosen Stephenson County Conservation Farmer of the Year. He was a past director of Kent Bank; in 1972, he was appointed to the Stephenson County Zoning Board; he was Red Cross drive chairman for rural Stephenson County in 1973; he was a former director of Loran Township Mutual Insurance Company, and was a former directory of Pearl City Co-op. Surviving family members include his wife; one daughter, Darlene (Henry) Janssen of Freeport; one son, Wayne Offenhiser of Pearl City; three grandchildren, Kim (Keith) Franklin of Freeport, Gina (David) Timm of Baileyville and Jeffrey (Stephanie Manzar) Janssen of University Park; two great-grandchildren, Gentry and Derrick Timm, and one sister, Norma Raders of Pearl City. Preceding him in death were two brothers, Donald and Wallace Offenhiser, and one sister, Nelda Schultz. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday at Offenheiser-Schwarz Funeral Home in Pearl City with the Rev. Barbara Rapp of St. Paul Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Freeport. There will be no visitation. A memorial fund has been established for the St. Paul Lutheran Church and Pearl Masonic Lodge. Transcriber's Note: Reynold C. Offenhiser apparently changed the spelling of his surname
Contributed by Alice Horner

HENRY OHLENDORF , 85, a well known resident of Freeport passed away about 9:30 Friday night (27 December 1940) at the home of his daughter Mr. J.B. O'Rourke 25 1/2 East Main St. following a brief illness from a fall Tuesday. Henry Ohlendorf was born at Matteson IL April 4, 1855 the son of Henry & Engle Ohlendorf and when he was 2 years old came with his parents to Stephenson County, he spent the remainder of his life in or near Freeport. In 1879 he was married to Elizabeth Daughenbaugh. Six children were born to them, all of whom survive. Mrs. Emma Latz, Miss Nora, George, Oscar and Mrs. J.B. O'Rourke all of Freeport and Mrs. Shiller Sorenson of Butte MT. Mr. Ohlendorf operated a farm in Lancaster twp. for many years and later moved to Freeport where he engaged in the implement and livery business operating the Bus Barn Livery for many years. He also dealt in automobiles.

JAMES J. O'CONNOR , 55, president of the Woodmanse Manufacturing Company of Freeport, and head of the J. J. O’Connor & Company investment firm, Chicago, died yesterday at his home, 5510 Sheridan Road, Chicago. For many years he had been a director of the Sunstrand Machine Tool Company, Rockford, and the American Broach and Machine company, Ann Arbor, Mich. He had attended many meetings of Woodmanse executives in Freeport and was well known here.

He began his career as a clerk with the Chicago National Bank in 1905. He was vice president of Doyle, O’Connor & company, when he severed his connections with that company in 1945 to organize his own firm. Surviving are his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Harry W. Pierson, and a son, Lt. William R. O’Connor. A sister and two brothers also survive. Miss Catherine O’Connor, Dr. Thomas P. and Dr. Philip D. O’Connor. Funeral services will be held at St. Ita’s church, Chicago, at 10 o’clock Thursday morning.
Contributed by Alice Horner exclusively for Genealogy Trails

HIRAM OLTHOFF - Born in Holtland, Germany. As a young man he came to America locating first near Ridott, Ill. Later he came to Pearl City. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Louise Brinkmeier. To this union 11 children were born of which all are living. Their names are as follows: Mrs. Anna Biehl of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague, Warren Ill.; Mrs. Elma Beardsley, Albert Olthoff, Grant Olthoff, all of Freeport; Mrs. Linnie Yeager and James Olthoff of Stockton; George Olthoff, Irvin Olthoff, Mrs. Mabel Yeager, Alta Olthoff, all of Pearl City. Since 1916 he has lived in Pearl City. Here to spend the remainder of his retired life. He had only lived here two years, however, when he was attacked with a paralytic stroke leaving him an invalid. In this condition he remained until about a month before his death, when his condition became very serious. During this time he endured great suffering, but was submissive to his master's desire to depart and to be with Jesus. This wish was finally fulfilled when the Lord called him on June 17, 1921. Soon after he came to America he united with the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a faithful member unto his end.

One brother preceded him in death about 14 years ago; also one sister, Mrs. G. Miller died several years ago. Beside his grief-stricken wife and eleven children and twelve grand-children he leaves to mourn his death, 1 brother William, of Pearl City, and 1 sister, Mrs. Walter Johnson also of Pearl City, besides many relatives and friends. May the Lord comfort the bereaved ones."

HAROLD PAUL OUSLEY , 90, of 124 N. Whistler Ave. , died Monday at Freeport Manor Nursing Home. (The Social Security Death Index gives this date as March 1981.) He was employed by W. T. Rawleigh Company for almost 43 ½ years, retiring as company president in 1967. He was the second president of the company, succeeding the founder, W. T. Rawleigh, who died in 1951. A graduate of the University of Illinois , he began his career with the W. T. Rawleigh Co. shortly after graduation. Except for 11 years when he was general manager of Rawleigh factories in the southern sales organization in Memphis , Tenn. , he was an Illinois resident. Mr. Ousley was active in church and community service. He served on the King’s Daughters, YMCA and Freeport Memorial Hospital boards, and was a director of First National Bank. He was a member and trustee of Embury United Methodist Church , Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Freeport Consistory and active in Boy Scouting, as well as other organizations. A veteran of World War I, he was a lifetime member of the American Legion. Although he lost his vision more than 11 years ago, he continued to serve the community. An open house was held in honor of his 90th birthday at the YWCA March 29, 1980. Born March 29, 1890 in Redmon, near Paris , Illinois , he was the son of Charles and Rebecca (Meyers) Ousley. He married Mary Katherine O’Haver September 7, 1919. She died June 15, 1976. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Katherine (David) Dupee of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. Louise (William) Mann of Littleton, Colo., and Mrs. Cynthia (William) Kaldis of Athens, Ohio; three sons, Paul of Portland, Ore., Joseph L. of Marshfield , Wis. , and Stephen of Freeport; 22 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He was also survived by two brothers, Fred of Englewood, Fla., and Glen of Jamesburg, N. J.; and one sister, Mrs. Helen (Melvin) Swanson, of Sun City , Ariz. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Embury Methodist Church with the Rev. William H. Blomberg officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery . A memorial fund has been established.
Contributed by Alice Horner

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