RICHARD D. WALLINGFORD - Funeral rites were conducted at 3 p.m. Friday in the Melvin Funeral Home by the Rev. Harry W. Lutz, pastor of the Asembly of God Church in Rock Falls. Mrs. J. H. Kinn was organist. The burial was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rock Falls. Pallbearers were Jack Pew, Marion Franks, Al Melville, Sgt. William H Strueber II, Staff Sgt. Glynn E Adcok and Sgt Gerald Back. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Palmer, Robert Newman, Robert Snitchler, Ron Spencer, Steve Allen and Perry Cushing. Lundstrom Florists had charge of flowers. Military rites were held at graveside with Jeff Wire bugler.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois April 25, 1970 - Saturday, pg 2

ELIZABETH WALPOLE - The funeral services of the late Mrs. J. D. Walpole were held at her late residence, on Third street, this afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. T. W. Grafton, pastor of the Christian church of this city, conducting the services. The announcement as made in the EVENING GAZETTE yesterday was as the friends had decided, but the condition of the remains afterwards became such that it was deemed best to hold the services this afternoon. A number of the friends followed the remains to their last resting place.
Contributed by G. Baker - Sterling newspaper May 13, 1884, page 3, column 4.

JOHN D. WALPOLE died yesterday afternoon after a long, lingering sickness with inflamatory rheumatism and a complication of diseases. He was born in Limerick, Ireland, and came to his country in 1835. In 1861 he came to Sterling from Cayuga county, N.Y., and for many years was engaged in the grocery business. His age was upwards of 80 years. He leaves an invalid wife and one son, Mr. Russell Walpole, who is employed at the Novelty Manufacturing Co.'s works. Funeral at the residence Wednesday morning, at 10 o'clock."
Contributed by G. Baker - Sterling Gazette July 25, 1882 page 4, column 2

RUSSELL E. WALPOLE died at his home in Chicago at 5 o'clock last evening. He was only sick a few days, being taken last Saturday morning with gastric congestion which was the cause of his death. Mr. Walpole was fifty years of age last August. He lived in Sterling nearly all his life until about two years ago he moved his family to Chicago where they have lived since. He was employed for nearly twenty years at the Novelty Iron Works and was always liked by his fellow workmen and friends. In Chicago he worked in the Fair store. He was a member of the Christian church in this city for several years. Besides his wife he leaves two children a son and a daughter Jesse and Bessie, both of whom live at home. The remains will be brought here for burial. They will probably arrive Saturday evening and be taken to the home of Taylor Rock. The funeral; as far as is now known, will be held in the Christian church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Silas Jones will officiate."
FURTHER NOTICE: The remains of Russel E. Walpole arrived from Chicago on the 4:10 train this afternoon, and were taken to the residence of his brother-in-law, Taylor Rock. The funeral will occur at the Christian church at 2 p. m. tomorrow, Rev. Silas Jones officiating. The pall bearers will be employees of the Novelty Works."
FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral of Russell E. Walpole was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Christian church and Rev. Silas Jones conducted the service. Hymns were sung by the church choir. A large number of sorrowing friends gathered to pay their last tribute and there were several pretty floral designs sent as tokens of love and esteem. The pall bearers were the following employes of the Novelty Iron Works; Fred Sunberg, W. J. Burleigh, Al Berlin, C. L. Regester, John Early and Fred Spencer."
Contributed by G. Baker - Sterling Evening Gazette on Nov. 26, 1897, page 1, column 3

EARL S. WALTER , 85, of Albany, IL, died Friday April 26, 2002 at Knoxville Community Hospital, Knoxville, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Wright Chapel of Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services, Geneseo. Burial will be in North Cemetery, Geneseo with military rites by Geneseo American Legion. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at WrightChapel. Memorials may be madeto Mooseheart. Earl Walter was born Jun 29, 1916 in rural Geneseo, son of Clarence E. and Emma K. Giebel Walter. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Mr. Walter worked as an assembler at John Deere Harvester, East Moline, for 31 years. He was a 50-year member of the Geneseo Moose Lodge 990, and a member of theShearer Post 350, American Legion Geneseo. He is survived by his brother, Clyde Walter, Geneseo. His parents; brother, Leland and half brother, Mortie preceded him in death
Contributed by Katherine Minder

JEANETTE WALTERS , 75, of 222 Emmons Avenue, Rock Falls, died this morning (Novemer 18, 1985) at the Sterling Care Center following an extended illness. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Grennan Funeral Home in Sterling with Rev. Dalmus Meeks, pastor of Harvest Time Bible Church officiating. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery in Rock Falls. Visitation will be Tuesday from 12 noon until the time of service. Survivors include her husband, Ralph; one son, Jack of San Diego, Calif.; one sister, Mrs. Glenn (Geraldine) Martin of Rock Falls and one brother, Eugene Dobson of Fontana, Calif.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois November 18 1985 - Monday, pg A4

MARK DOUGLAS WALTERS , 38, of Exceptional Care and Training Center in Sterling, IL, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at the center. Mark was born June 16, 1969, in Morrison, IL. He was educated with Bi-County Special Education. He enjoyed his time at school, family trips out to eat and shopping at the mall. He especially enjoyed feeding the ducks at Lawrence Park in Sterling. Survivors include his mother and step-father, Marie and Rex Winget, of Fulton, IL; his father, Harlan Walters, of Texas; two brothers, Terry Walters of Texas and David (Alexandra) Walters of Great Falls, MT; one step-sister, Joy (Dan) Doughrty of Salem, OR; two step brothers, John (Pam) Winget of Washington, IA and Ray Winget of Kingman, AZ; maternal grandparents, Gerald and Evelyn Sharer of Fulton, IL; paternal grandmother, Ruth Walters of Morrison, IL; step grandmother, Katherine Winget of Sedona, AZ. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Harold Walters; step-grandfather, James Winget.

LOUISE VIOLA (NORTH) WEAKS formerly of Lanark, passed away Sunday (15 Dec 1968) in the Soldiers-Sailor's Veterans Home at Quincy, after an extended illness. Born Oct. 25, 1900 in Savanna, Ill., she was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Lursh North. Her husband, William LeRoy Weaks, preceded July 27, 1957. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Leon (Mae) Woodin of Rock Falls and Mrs. Glen (Tillie) Mulnix of Muscatine, Iowa; two sons, William Frank Weaks of Morrison and Henry LeRoy Weaks of Rock Falls, and 15 grandchildren. The body was moved to the Melvin Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Melvin Funral Home, the Rev. Dee T. Speer, pastor of the Maranatha Baptist Church of Rock Falls, officiated, and burial took place in the Leon Cemetery, south of Prophetstown.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette December 18, 1968 - Wednesday, pg 6

PENNY LYNN WEAKS , 11, RR 2, Fulton, died Tuesday evening (18 Mar 1975) as the result of a car-pedestrian accident in front of her home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Bosma Funeral Home in Fulton with the Rev. Blanche Abney, pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Savanna, officiating. Burial will be in Leon Cemetery in Prophetstown. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Penny Weaks was born Dec. 24, 1963 in Morrison, the daughter of Frank and Louise Stewart Weaks. The family lived north of Morrison in the old Robertson school before moving to Fulton about eight months ago. Penny was a fourth grade student at Garden Plain School. Survivors include her parents, two sisters, Cindy and Robin, both at home; one brother, Ronald at home; and her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Lenor Stewart of Fulton. She was preceded by her paternal grandparents and her maternal grandfather.
Cotnributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois March 20, 1975 - Thursday, pg 6

WILLIAM FRANK WEAKS , age 75, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died on Sunday, July 26, 2009, at the Crestridge Care Center in Maquoketa, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at the Mt. Carroll Church of God. Burial will be in the Leon Cemetery, rural Prophetstown, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the Frank – Law – Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll. A memorial fund has been established in Frank’s memory. Frank was born on February 20, 1934, in Thomson, Illinois, the son of William Leroy and Louise (North) Weaks. He married Louise P. Stewart on December 24, 1956, at the family farm in Hanover, Illinois. Frank worked as a diesel mechanic for 25 years at Farm Service in Albany, Illinois, and for Herman – Nelson in Morrison, Illinois. Frank enjoyed overhauling tractors and built three homes and two cabins, doing all of the electrical and plumbing work himself. He was a family man first who enjoyed traveling, especially to Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Canada. Frank was a member of the Mt. Carroll Church of God. Frank is survived by his wife Louise Weaks of Mt. Carroll, Illinois; two daughters, Cynthia (Robert) Houzenga of Camanche, Iowa, and Robin Weaks of Mt. Carroll; one son, Ronald (Sharon) Weaks of Fulton, Illinois; one brother, Henry Leroy Weaks of Lyndon, Illinois; five grandchildren, Jeremy, Andrew, Amanda, Tiffany and Damien; two great – grandchildren, Brianna and Joaquin; and several nieces and nephews. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Penny Lynn Weaks; and two sisters, Tillie Louise Mulnix and Viola Mae Woodin.
Contributed by Lori Gilbert

JOHN WECKESSER , died on Friday night at 11:30 o'clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Nathan Weaver, south of town. Mr. Weckesser had been in poor health for several years but his last illness was of short duration. He complained of not feeling well at about nine o'clock Friday evening and rapidly grew worse until his death which occurred two hours later. The deceased was born in Hatzback, Germany, may 29, 1834. He came to America in 1856 and first settled in Ohio. After his marriage he resided on a farm for many years. His wife passed away about thirteen years ago and since that time the deceased has resided with his children. He leaves to mourn his death three daughters namely, Mrs. Nathan Weaver, Mrs. Greber of Ohio and Mrs. Charles Garwick of Coleta. The fuenral services were conducted from the Mennonite church in Sterling on Monday. He had been a faithful member of that church for many years.
Contributed by Karen Fyock - Undated Scrapbook Clipping

VIRGINIA E. (BAILEY) WEEKLEY was born July 27, 1906, in Morrison, IL, the daughter of Thomas J. and Sarah E.(Shear)Bailey. She was a 1924 graduate of Morrison High School. She married Verne B. Weekley on June 22, 1927, in Morrison. He died December 3, 1955. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Morrison, and a 50-year member of Order of Eastern Star. She was employed by Conoco Travel Bureau, Denver, as an office supervisor and then by Dow Chemical Rocky Flats Plant, Colorado, as a clerk. She passed away at Resthave Nursing Home, Morrison, on April 26, 2001 at the age of 94. Survivors include three nephews, Milton Kennedy of Brown Mills, NJ, Glenn (Gaye) Bailey of Normal and David (Kathleen) Bailey of Moline. She was preceded in death by a sister, Bernice Kennedy; a brother, Rutherford Bailey; and two nephews. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 28, 2001, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. James A. Camp, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Morrison, officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown. Memorials were established to First Presbyterian Church and Resthave Nursing Home, both of Morrison.

STEPHEN H. WEIDEL , age 93, RR2, Sterling, one of the Sterling area's oldest residents, died Friday morning (20 March 1970) in Community General Hospital after a short illness. Funeral services will be held Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Allen Funeral Home, with the Rev. Richard Hanson, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Freinds may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mr. Weidel was born in Landis Valley, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry and Sally Hiestand Weidel. He came to Illinois on Jan. 1, 1901, where he has lived since, with the exception of three and one half years in Pennsylvania. He was united in marriage to Ida Susan Landis July 17, 1907, in Dixon and they have farmed together in the Sterling and Milledgeville area all these years. Mr. Weidel was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Sterling and Jordan Grange. He is survived by his wife Ida; three sons, Howard, Frank and Edward, all of Sterling; four daughters, Mrs. Viola Hansen of Prophetstown, Mrs. Raymond (Mary) Hanabarger and Mrs. Curtis (Alice) Poppenhouse, both of Sterling, and Mrs. Richard (Bernice) Larson of Las Vegas, Nev.; 21 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one brother and one great grandchild. A memorial has been established in his memory.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois March 20, 1970 - Friday, pg 2

TIMOTHY RALPH WEIDEL - Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Allen Funeral home in Sterling for Timothy Ralph Weidel of RFD 2, Sterling. Rev. Howard Schaar, pastor of the First Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Rev. Cralles Borden, pastor of the General Baptist Church of Sterling , officiated at the services with burial in Oak Knoll Memorial Park . Mrs. Roscoe Eaders was at the organ during the services with Lyle dirks singing Jesus Loves Me. Pallbearers were Richard Hacker, Don Weidel, Ronald Fulton and William Van Horne. Flowers were cared for by Mrs. Don Weidel, Mrs. Richard Hacker, Mrs. Larry Wolf and Swartleys.
Contributed by Margaret Mangers - Apr 29, 1966 Sterling Gazette

LOUISE WENK - Funeral services for Mrs. Louise Wenk will be conducted Monday afternoon. The body will be taken from the Behrens Mortuary at 12:30 p.m. Monday to lie in state in the Messiah Lutheran Church, where servies will be held at 2 p.m. with the pastor, the Rev. Eldor Mueller, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Saturday.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette July 18, 1959 - Saturday, pg 2

HAROLD F. WENNERSTROM , 83, Clinton Retirement Center, Clinton, died Wednesday at the retirement center. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma Funeral Home with the Rev. Leon E. Willhite, pastor of the Community Congregational Church, Clinton, Iowa, officiating. Burial will be in the Fulton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home with Masonic Services at 7 p.m. A memorial has been established in his memory. Harold Wennerstrom was born in Rock Island on Jan 3, 1900, the son of Henry Wennerstrom and Louise Hawkinston and was educated in Rock Island schools. On June 30, 1927 he married Inez Opheim in Moline. He was a member of the Fulton City Lodge 189, AF & AM member of the lodge, First Congregational Church, Eau Claire, Wis. A long time resident of Eau Claire, Wis., where he was self-employed, he moved to Clinton in 1977 and has resided at the Clinton Retirement Center since March of 1983. Prior to that he resided at Cambridge Place, Clinton, Iowa. Surviving are his wife, Inez and one grandson.
Contributed by Barbara Nugent - Sterling Daily Gazette Date: Jul 21, 1983

INEZ (OPHEIM) WENNERSTROM , 82, of Clinton Retirement Village, Clinton, Ia., died Wednesday in the Clinton Retirement Village. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, in the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma Funeral Home, followed by a private cremation with the cremains interred in the Fulton Cemetary. The Rev. Mel Strain, pastor of the Fulton Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Friday, in the Fulton Chapel, Bosma Funeral Home. Mrs. Wennerstrom was born on April 19, 1903, in Lee County, the daughter of Olav and Sigrid Seljestad Opheim. She married Harold F. Wennerstrom in Moline, on June 30, 1927. He preceded her in death on July 20, 1983. Mrs. Wennerstrom attended Fulton grade school and graduated from Fulton High School in 1921. She attended the DeKalb Teachers College, and taught in the rural Whiteside County schools, and also the fourth grade in the Fulton grade school. The deceased was a member of the First Congregational Church of Eau Claire, Wis., where she served as director of Christian education for many years. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was active in Girl Scouts leadership for several years. Mrs. Wennerstrom is survived by one grandson, David Cross, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; three nephews, and two nieces.
Contributed by Barbara Nugent - Sterling Daily Gazette Date: 23 Jan 1986

ALBERT T. WERLAND - of 507 Tenth Ave., Rock Falls, died Wednesday morning (10 July 1968) in Community General Hospital at the age of 85. He was born on April 9, 1883, in Norway, the son of Thomas and Martha Jacobson Werland. He came to the United States when he was 18 years old and lived in Shabbona for a few months and then came to Rock Falls. He was a member of the Rock Falls Immanuel Lutheran Church. He had over 40 years of service with the International Haravester Co., when he retired. Mr. Werland was united in marriage to Martha Egeland on Nov. 20, 1904, at Sycamore, Ill. She preceded him in death in 1961. He is survived by two daughters, Miss Marie Weland of Rock Falls with whom he made his home and Mrs. Fred (Jessie) Bowers of Rock Falls; four sons, Arthur, Clarence and Donald all of Canton, Ill., and Stanley of Genoa, Ill.; two sisters, Ragna Lillebo and Elissa Osaland both of Norway; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Martha, one daughter, Mrs. Mabel Larson and one son Clarence. Funeral services at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home. Burial in the I00F Cemetery.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette July 10, 1968 - Wednesday, pg 2

MARIA (HEIBEL) WERLE , one of Sterling's old and highly respected residents, passed away this morning at 7:15 o'clock, following a sudden heart attack which she suffered about midnight. Preceding her sudden illness she was apparently in her usual health. Her daughter, Mrs. Louise McAlpine, who had been with her for some time past, telephoned her brother, Harry F. Werle of Chicago, as soon as the seriousness of Mrs. Werle's illness became apparent, and Mr. and Mrs. Werle left their home in Chicago soon after midnight, reaching here nearly two hours before his mother passed away. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the family home, 202 Ninth Avenue, in charge of Dr. E. C. Harris, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the family lot in Riverside Cemetery. The Rebekahs will have charge of the services at the cemetery. Mrs. Werle's maiden name was Maria Heibel. She was born in Warren, Pa., March 20, 1856, and on Nov. 15, 1883, she was married in that city to Henry Werle, a pioneer resident of Sterling, who had lived for two years in Warren before coming west to this city in 1868. During the nearly half a century which she lived in this community, Mrs. Werle was active in church and lodge circles and won the esteem of a large circle of friends. She was a member and faithful worker in St. John's Lutheran Church and one of the first members and a past noble grand of Holtslander Lodge No. 70, Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Werle preceded her in death Oct. 29, 1922. She is survived by two stepchildren, Mrs. Louise McAlpine, wife of Dr. Keneth McAlphine of Warren, Pa., and Harry F. Werle of Chicago; also by two sisters, Mrs. H. K. Witherup of Buffalo, N.Y., and Mrs. Walter Link of Washington, D.C. Mrs. Werle was the oldest child of her parents. Three brothers and one sister preceded her in death. The sudden passing of this well known and highly esteemed resident comes as shock to her many friends and the members of the family have the sympathy of the community.
COntributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois September 8, 1928 - Saturday, pg 12