RALPH DETRA
, 89, of 16380 Norton Rd., Morrison, died Monday at the Morrison Community Hospital. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Morrison Chapel of the Boama-Renkes Funeral Home, Rev. Lynn Longenbaugh, pastor of the Morrison United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial and committal service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Mt.Hope Cemetery in Brooklyn, Wis.
Mr. Detra wa born July 10, 1900 in Malvern Ill., the son of Charles and Mary Taylor Detra. He married Leona Longancker Oct. 16, 1920 in Malvern. She died July 7, 1972 (Monroe Wisc). He farmed in the Morrison area until 1950 when he moved to Brooklyn, where he farmed until 1973. He then made his home with his children, moving back to Morrison in June 1989.
He is survived by four daughters, Doris Hartman, Morrison; Elizabeth Chapman, Chinook Mont.; Mary McCrae, Mesa Arix.; Mrs. John (Edith) O'Donnoll, Belle Vista Ark.; three sons, Howard Eugene, Dodgeville, Wis.; Charles, Loves Park; Gerald, Chicago, 26 grandchildren, and one brother Warren, Clingon.
He was preceded by two brothers, one sister and numerous grandchildren.
Contributed by Jean Portner
EFFIE (SIVITS) DETWEILER
, 90, died in Community General Hospital Friday after a short illness. She was a resident of the Rock Falls Manor, Rock Falls. The body was moved to the Melvin Funeral Home were (sic) friends may call from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in the Melvin Funeral Home with the Rev. LeRoy J. Hershiser Pastor of the First Christian Church of Sterling officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery
Mrs. Detweiler was born July 24, 1883 in Jordan Township, the daughter of William E. and Ruth A. Burger Sivits. She attended Jordan Schools and was united in marriage to Harvey J. Detweiler Nov 18, 1903 in Jordan Township. Mrs. Detweiler preceded in death in May 1941. Mrs. Detweiler was a member of the First Christian Church of Sterling and a member of the WCTU.
Survivors include one son, Glenn W. Detweiler of Rock Falls; one daughter, Mrs. Bill (Ema) Schultz of Pontiac; two sisters, Mrs. Bert (Amy) Shannon of Sterling and Mrs. Ann Wyrauch of Milwaukee Wis., ten grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, one brother and three sisters. A memorial has been established to the First Christian Church of Sterling.
Contributed by Charlotte Schick - [Source: Sterling, Illinois, Daily Gazette, Saturday, 1 December 1973; 2; 1 & 2].
GLENN W. DETWEILER
, 83, of 508 W. Fourth St., died early this morning at CGH Medical Center. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home, Rock Falls, with Rev Thomas Howard, pastor of the Rock Falls United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F Cemetery, Rock Falls. Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with an I.O.O.F. service at 7:30 p.m. A memorial has been established.
Mr. Detweiler was born on June 15, 1906, in Emerson, the son of Harvey and Effie Sivits Detweiler. He married Mildred F. Meling on June 7, 1931, in Rock Falls. She survives. He was the owner and operator of Detweiler Cash Grocery in Rock Falls for 25 years and then employed at Twin City Produce for 15 years prior to his retirement in 1974. He was a member of the Rock Falls United Methodist Church and the Independent Order of Oddfellows and a past member of the Rock Falls Rotary Club and founder and a charter member of the Whiteside County Rabbit Club.
He is survived by one son, Larry, Moline; three daughters, Doris, at home; Mrs. David (Janeen) Allen, Rock Falls; and Mrs. Delvin (Donna) Hull, Colona, Ill.; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by two sisters.
Contributed by Charlotte Schick - [Source: Sterling, Illinois, Daily Gazette, Thursday, 5 April 1990; A2; 5].
HARVEY J. DETWEILER
, 73, a lifelong resident of this community passed away at his home, 1010 Seventh avenue, at 9 a.m. Thursday. Mr. Detweiler had been in failing health for two years. In April of 1940 he suffered a light stroke since which he had gradually failed, and had been bedfast since last Tuesday. Mr. Detweiler was born July 10, 1867, east of Penrose, where he resided until his marriage to Effie Sivits when they moved to Sterling. Later they took up their residence at Emerson. For a period he was engaged in farming in Lee county. He returned to Jordan township and later to Sterling. For a number of years he had been employed in a factory and for a time in a grocery store, being with his son in his grocery store in Rock Falls for four years. Mr. Detweiler had been a member of the Christian church for 59 years, uniting with the church in Nebraska at the age of 14, and for the last 38 years had been a member of the Sterling church.
Besides the widow and one son Glenn W. of Rock Falls, a daughter, Mrs. Leroy Schultz, who with her husband, resided in the Detweiler home in Sterling. He also is survived by three grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Detweiler was the youngest of a family of nine children, six boys and three girls, and he is the last of the family to die. Funeral services will be held from the Melvin funeral home at 2:30 pm. Saturday, Rev. Claude Cummings of the Sterling Christian church officiating. Interment will be in Riverside cemetery. Friends may view the body at the Melvin funeral home up to the hour of the funeral rites.
Contributed by Charlotte Schick - [Source: Sterling, Illinois, Daily Gazette, Thursday, 22 May 1941; 5; 5].
JANICE KAY (SWIMLINE) DETWEILER
, 67, of Rock Falls, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, at her daughter's home in Rock Falls. Janice was employed by WSDR Radio Station, Sterling, when she was diagnosed with cancer in July 2007. Janice was born Feb. 10, 1941, in Tampico, the daughter of Russell and Edna (Larson) Swemline. She was a 1959 graduate of Sterling Township High School and sang in the Sterling Robed Choir and Girls Quartet. Janice was married to Kent Detweiler on March 3, 1962, in Sterling, by the Rev. H.C. Hatton. She was the first successful woman write-in candidate elected to the Whiteside County Board, serving on the board for more than 16 years. She and her husband, Kent, co-owned and operated Detweiler Auto Trim, Rock Falls, since the early 70s. Janice sold real estate for many years through various Realtors in Whiteside County. Later they owned and operated Detweiler Hobbies, Toys and Trains in Rock Falls and Sterling. Janice was a member of the Vintage Chevrolet Car Club of America for more than 35 years. She was a licensed EMT in the mid 70s; and a member of Harvest Time Bible Church, Rock Falls, and Sterling Ladies of the Moose. She was the best friend a daughter could ever have. Survivors include her husband, Kent of Rock Falls; one daughter, Marlene (Phil) Detweiler-Flynn of Rock Falls; one son, Scott (Kelly) Detweiler of Sussex, Wis.; three grandchildren, Adam Flynn of Rock Falls, and Alexandra and Sophia Detweiler of Sussex, Wis.; an uncle, Donald Swemline of Chippewa Lake, Mich.; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; and three half brothers, Dale, Clyde and William Wiemken. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Thursday at Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling, with the Rev. Dalmus Meeks of Harvest Time Bible Church, Rock Falls, officiating. Burial is at Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials have been established to the family, Julie's Preschool and Day Care, and Happy Tails Animal Shelter, both in Sterling.
GEORGE WASHINGTON DIR
, was born in Chambersburg, PA, Aug 4,1836, and died at his home in Hahnaman Twp May 4,1909, of complications of diseases.
In his early years he came west with his parents and settled in Bureau, 111., where he grew to manhood. He was married to LYDIA A. JOHNSON on Dec 12,1865, and has resided in Hahnaman Twp from that time. They moved to their present home in 1868 which has been the birthplace of all but two of the family. The union was blessed with 13 children all of whom have grown to manhood and womanhood, and all of whom with their mother survive him.
Brought up under the strict discipline of his father, the Rev. George Dir, he inherited the traits of Puritan character better described by the greatest of poets, Robert Burns, when he wrote, "An honest man's the noblest work of God."
The children in the order of their ages are: Mrs. Minnie Gettle, Sterling; William of Nebraska; Mrs. Nelson Thome, Van Patten; Edson M. of Deer Grove; Mrs. Isabel Hubbard of Iowa; Mrs. Lenora Pfulb of Rock Falls; Mrs. Daisy G. Montgomery of Normandy; Mrs. Ellen E. Pfulb of Iowa; Arthur L. of Nebraska; Mrs. Amelia Bell of Van Patten; Mrs. Hattie Smith of Minnesota; Mrs. Cassie Woods of Minnesota; and Miss Rose M. of Chicago, all of whom but one attended the last rites. Besides these he leaves two sisters, Mrs. Cornelius of Montana and Mrs. E. Halsted of Rock Falls, and seven brothers, Samuel, John, Matson, Joseph, William, Isaac and Luther.
For several years he has been an active and devoted member of the Christian Church of Tampico, with implicit trust in him who stilled the waves of Galilee.
Sterling Gazette - 4 May 1909, submitted by Suanne Nesland
LYDIA ANN (JOHNSON) DIR
, daughter of Win. and Loretta Johnson, was born in Rutland, Vermont, May 15,1846, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Thome, on the Rock Falls-Dixon road on Feb. 15th, 1923, of cancer of the stomach at the age of 75 years and 9 months.
At the age of nine, she came with her parents to Illinois and settled in Hahnaman Twp, Whiteside County, which has been her home ever since, with the exception of brief intervals spent with her children in the western states in the later years of her life.
On Dec. 12th, 1865, she was married to Geo. W. Dir, of Tampico, 111, and settled on a farm near Deer Grove, where the entire family of 13 children were born and raised , two of whom with the father, have passed on before. The children, in order of their birth are: Mrs. Minnie Gettle of Manly, IA; Geo W. deceased; Mrs. Henry Thome of Rock Falls; Mrs. Belle Hubbard, deceased; Edson M. of Deer Grove; Mrs. Lenora Brown of Rock Falls; Mrs. Daisy Montgomery of Walnut; Mrs. Ellen Pfulb of Osceola, IA; Arthur L. of Glenrock, Wyoming; Mrs. Amelia Bell of Spirit Lake, IA; Mrs. Hattic Smith of Dawson, MN; Mrs. Cassie Wood of Dawson, MN; and Rose M. of Chicago.
She leaves behind, besides the 11 children, 46 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren; a sister Mrs. A. A. Thome and brother, Thomas of Rock Falls; and another brother James, of Geneva, Nebraska.
Sister Dir placed her membership with the Rock Falls Christian Church March 7,1912. She was a faithful member and was much interested in the work of the church and was always ready to do anything she could for her church, (rest cut off)
Sterling Gazette - 15 Feb 1923 - submitted by Suanne Nesland
Mrs. Lydia A. Dir passed away on Wednesday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Thome, one mile southeast of Rock Falls, after an illness extending over a period of more than a year from cancer of the stomach. Mrs. Frank Brown of east of Rock Falls is a daughter and Mrs. Tony Thome of Rock Falls is a sister of the decedent. Funeral services will be held from the Thome home at 1 o'clock Friday afternoon and burial will be made in the Tampico Cemetery
Sterling Gazette - Feb 1923 - contributed by Suanne Nesland
ROSE MAE DIR
- The funeral of Rose Mae Dir, formerly of Deer Grove, was conducted by the Rev. Harry E. Shiffer of the Rock Falls Christian church at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Wheelock funeral h ome. Attending the casket were Lester and Roy Thome, A.A. Sisson and Dale Burkey. Burial took place in the Tampico Memorial Cemetery. Those coming from out of town were Mrs. John Saathall and 3 daughters, Fern & Rita and Mrs. Rose Moore of Rockford; Mrs. Daisy Montgomery and Mr. and Mrs. Dale Burkey of Walnut, and Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Dir and Mrs. Mattie Dir of Deer Grove.
Rose Mae Dir, daughter of George W. and Lydia Ann (Johnson) Dir, was born May 20, 1889 at Deer Grove and passed away Monday, Dec. 20, 1943 at 5:35 in the Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home in Fall River, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of a family of 13 children, of which four sisters and one brother survive. They are Mrs. Nellie Thome, Rock Falls; Mrs. Daisy Montgomery, Walnut; Arthur L. Dir, Kansas City MO; Mrs. Ellen Wood and Mrs. Hattie Smith of Dawsom, Minnesota. Preceding her in death were her parents, five sisters and two brothers; Eunice Minnie Gettle, George William Dir, Edson Monroe Dir, Lydia Isabella Hubbard, Leonora Viola Pfulb/Brown, Sarah Amelia Bell and Catherine Ann Wood.
Contributed by Suanne Nesland
WILLIAM C. DOES
, 74-year-old Prophetstown resident, died Monday afternoon in Community General Hospital following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 9, 1882, in Eden Township in LaSalle County, the son of Lawrence and Theresa Matern Does. A long-time member of the Congregational Church, Does came to Prophetstown in 1952 after he had operated a feed mill for several years in Lo--ant Ill. He was united in marriage to Stella Wright, of Streator, in Ottawa, Sept. 25, 1907.
Does is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Evelyn Sturtevant, Prophetstown; and Mrs. A. G. Danforth, St. Louis, Mo.; one sister, Mrs. Adolph (Lulu) Vollenweider, Tomea. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and three sisters.
Friends may call at the Gardner Chapel in Prophetstown where funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. Rev. William Dupree of the Congregational Church will officiate and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at Prophetstown.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois April 16, 1957 - Tuesday, pg 2
CHARLES E. DOTY
- Funeral services were held Monday at 1 p.m. at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home for Charles E. Doty, 45, of 801 Thomas Court, Rock Falls. The Rev. Sampson Harris, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Rock Falls officiated and burial was in IOOF Cemetery in Rock Falls. He was born Sept. 30, 1931 in St. Elmo, Ill., the son of Charles R. and Ruby E. Lucas Doty. He married Betty Linder August 11, 1966 in Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was employed at Northwestern Steel & Wire Co. as a crane operator at the time of his death.
Survivors include his widow, Betty; one daughter, Mrs. James (Karen) Mandrell of Clarksville, Tenn.; two granddaughters; four sisters, Mrs. Helen Tucker of Rock Falls, Mrs. Irene Tabor of Sterling, Mrs. Clara Chandler and Mrs. Dorothy Beard both of Salem. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois June 17, 1977 - Monday, pg 4
Funeral services were conducted by the Wheelock Allen Funeral Home in Rock Falls for Charles E. Doty, 45, 8081 Thorne Court, Rock Falls, whose body was recovered from the Mississippi River Saturday morning after a boating accident on Wednesday evening. Services were held on Monday at 1 p.m. at the Wheelock Allen Funeral Home with the Rev. Sampson Harris, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church officiating. Burial was in the IOOF Cemetery in Rock Falls. Full military rites were conducted at the grave by the Rock Falls American Legion Post 902 and the Sterling VFW Post 326. Mrs. Wayne E Larson played the organ for the service, while Mr. Don Johnson sang "The Old Rugged Cross." Pallbearers were: Jim Mandrell, Bud Tabor, Charles Tabor, Kenneth Tabor, Delmar Tucker and Dennis Tucker. Flowers were cared for by Lundstrom's.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, IllinoisJune 28, 1977 - Tuesday, pg 4
RICHARD E. DOTY
, 63, Portland, Ore., former farmer of the Prophetstown area died at Portland on Sunday. The body will be brought to the Gardner Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the chapel, the Rev. William Dupree, pastor of the Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery.
Mr. Doty was born June 4, 1893 at Beecher City. He was married to Lillian Anderson at Morrison on Aug. 31, 1920. He lived in this area until 1948 when he went to Portland to make his home.
Survivors are two sons, Merle Doty, Portland, Ore.; Robert Doty, Dixon; one daughter, Mrs. Clarence Toppert, Lyndon; several grandchildren; and one-half sister, Mrs. Tim Compton, Kirbysville, Texas. His wife precded him in death.
EDNA LUCILLE (GREGORY) DUTY
, 75, 307 Linconway West, Morrison, died this morning (11 August 1983) at Morrison Community Hospital. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Renkes-Reynolds Funeral Home, Morrison. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown. Visitation if from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A memorial has been established.
Edna Lucille Gregory was born Jun 8, 1906 in Moulton, Iowa, the daughter of Ross and Minnie (Burdick) Gregory.She was reared and educated in Moulton, Iowa. She married Frank S. Duty on Feb. 3, 1927 in Albie, Iowa. Following marriage they moved to Detroit. Then they moved to Morrison in 1929, where she worked for Green River Ordinance during World War II, the for the ICA Company and General Electric in Morrison for many years. She also operated a beauty shop from her home for eight years, retiring in 1970.
She was a member of the Morrison United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Wa-Tan-We Club.
Survivors include her husband, Frank; one daughter, Mrs. Chet (Darlene) Nelson, Tomnball, Texas; two sons, Robert of Normal, and Richard of Sherrard, nine granchildren, seven great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Norval (Emma) Gilman, Sterling; and Mrs. Irvin (Genevieve) Ridge, Naperville; and one brother, Donald Gregory, Rock Island.
She was preceded in death by one sister.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois August 11, 1983 - Thursday, pg A4
