Wallace C. "Wally" Etcheson, 83, El Paso, died Wednesday (June 21, 2006) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvert & Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso, with the Rev. Andrew Lucas officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, with military rites conducted by El Paso American Legion Post 142. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the memorial home.
Memorials may be made to El Paso Rescue Squad or the Jenny Lu Etcheson Nursing Scholarship Fund, Illinois State University, Campus Box 8000, Normal, IL 61790
He was born Aug. 30, 1922, in Putnam County, Ind., the son of Claude and Laurel Morris Etcheson. He married Marian Lewman on May 8, 1945, in Cambridge City, Ind. She survives.
Also surviving are four children, Jon (Kathy) Etcheson, Normal; Jane (Tom) Heineke, Bartlett, Tenn; Jerry Etcheson, Gridley; and Jay Etcheson, El Paso; two sisters, Jean (WIll) Scobee, Greencastle, Ind., and Raquel (Bill) Hueber, Pittsboro, Ind.; and seven grandchildren, Amy (Andy) Hadenk, Matthew Etcheson, Bethany Etcheson, Becky Heineke, John Heineke, Alex Etcheson and Tanner Etcheson. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Jenny Lu Etcheson.
Wally graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., in 1946 and received a master's degree from Indiana University in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He taught high school and coached sports in Indiana for five years. He retired in 1986 after a 32-year career managing propane distribution plants in Indiana and Illinois.
Wally was very involved in his community. He served on the El Paso School Board for nine years and four years as president. He was a Boy Scout leader, president of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce and was on the ad hoc committee for South Pointe Park. He was instrucmental in the develpment of the El Paso recreation program in the late 1950s. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion Post 142, and the V.F.W. Post 6026 in El Paso. He was affiliated with Grace Fellowship Church. Wally enjoyed driving his red convertible in the El Paso Corn Festival parade. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed.
Died of erysipelas, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. C. H. Ruvenacht, 3 miles northeast of Panola, at two o'clock p.m. March 14, 1888, at the advnaced age of 86 years, 9 months and 22 days. He was born in Lorraine, France, May 22, 1801. Came to the U.S. in 1829. After remaining in Pennsylvaniaa for about 6 months he came to Butler Co., Ohio, and from there, accompained by a friend, he walked to Fort Clark, Illinois, (now the city of Peoria) in 1831. Here they found a fort and three log cabins. He soon settled on a claim near where Metamora now stands, where his parents lived with him.
In 1839, he was united in mariage to Miss Barbara Detweiler, a sister of Captain Henry Detwiler of Peoria. Unto them was born 8 children - 2 sons and 6 daughters, all of which survive him excepting one daughter. His wife was called to her reward June 10, 1874.
The deceased was a devoted member of the mennonite church for 70 years. He was a pioneer, and often hauled grain by team to Chicago, where he exchanged his load of wheat for an armfull of dry goods, etc. The family, consisted of Mr. Engel and four sisters, are noted for longevity. The youngest sister Mrs. Joseph Verkler of Forrest, died aged 72 years; Mrs. Joseph Belsley, of Spring Bay, died aged 78 years; Mrs. John Schweitzer, of Cooper Station, died aged 80 years; and the oldest sister, who alone survives, is 82 years old.
Mr. Engel was in possession of the old family Bible, which has iron borders and has been in possession of the family over 800 years. He was a man of unblemished character, loved and respected by all who knew him. In his death the children have lost a kind father, the community a good neighbor, and Woodford county a noble citizen.
He looked without emotion to the sunset of his life, as the dusk of evening began to gather o'er his watery eyes. His history is written, and like the stars, he quietly fulfilled his mission. Peace folds her snowy pinions o'er his grave, and soft winds sigh the requiem of his soul as he sweetly sleeps. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Hartman of Washington. Text, Rev. XIV, Chapter 13. The remains were interred in the Baughman cemetery, in the presence of a very large number of firends and relatives.
contributed by Amy Robbins-TjadenFather of Mrs Armstrong Dies
Galt I. Eden, 68, died at his home at 407 W. Fourth, Minonk, at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 2.
His funeral was at 2 p.m. Friday at St Petri Lutheran Church at Windtown. The Rev. Marvin Drueger officiated and burial was in the church cemetery. He was born May 31, 1894, in Minonk Township, a son of Ede B. and Anna Wilhelms Eden. He farmed until he retired and moved to Minonk in 1953. He was married to Gretke Rients at Windtown March 1, 1923. Surviving are his wife; a son, Vernon, Minonk; a daughter, Mrs LaVerne Armstrong, Metamora; a brother, Wessel B. Eden, Jr., Flanagan; and two grandchildren. A brother and two sisters preceded him in death. He was a member of St Petri Lutheran Church and a Maple Grove School director for many years. He was a veteran of World War I.
Minonk - Christian B. Eden, 85, died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at his home in Minonk. The body was taken to the Tallyn-Folkers memorial home, where visitation began at 2 p.m. Thursday. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St Petri's Lutheran church at Windtown, with the Rev E. V. Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in Windtown cemetery. He was born in Germany June 20, 1870, a son of Wessel and Etta Bockoven Eden. He married Tena Antons Jan. 29, 1900 at St Petri's Lutheran church at Windtown. Surviving are his wife, three daughters, Mrs Etta Janssen and Mrs Gertrude Fricke, both of Minonk, and Mrs Luella Renken of Flanagan; four sons, Wessel and Edwin, both of Flanagan, and Orville and Jake, both of Minonk; 19 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A brother and two sisters preceded him in death. He was a member of St Petri's Lutheran church. He came to this country when he was four and lived his entire life in the Minonk and Flanagan area.
El Paso - Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Engel will be held at 2:20 p.m. Friday at Fickens memorial home. Dr. George Thorpe, of Decatur will conduct the services. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
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