Obituaries

Robert "Rob" Oesterle

Robert "Rob" Oesterle

Oct 20, 2026

Robert "Rob" Maurice Oesterle

Age 57, of Morris, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as the result of an automobile accident.

Born on July 8, 1969, in Morris, Rob was the son of Laurie and Carol (Coles) Oesterle. He was raised and educated in Morris, graduating from Morris High School with the Class of 1987. Following graduation, he attended...

Phyllis Saben

Phyllis Saben

Oct 20, 2026

Phyllis Saben

Age 95 of Coal City, Illinois, died Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at the ARC of Dwight.

Born March 13, 1931 in Wilmington, Illinois, Phyllis Louise was a daughter of Charles Everett Nowman and Ruby Grace (Tyler) Allen. She was raised in Wilmington Township and attended Moulton Grade School and Reed-Custer High School. Phyllis was a hard worker to support her...

Robert "Bob" Kalafut

Robert "Bob" Kalafut

Oct 18, 2026

Robert "Bob" Kalafut

Age 77 of Bloomington, Illinois, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, died unexpectedly on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Normal, Illinois.

Born August 16, 1949 in Chicago, Bob was a son of John and Tillie (Kowalski) Kalafut. He was raised and educated in Chicago where he graduated from High School. Bob went on to serve in the United States Army from...

Brian "Buck" K. Hank

Brian "Buck" K. Hank

Oct 17, 2026

Brian “Buck” Keith Hank

Age 72, of Dwight, Illinois, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Morris Hospital in Morris, Illinois.

Born on July 3, 1954, at Delnor Hospital in St. Charles, Illinois, Brian Keith was a son of Robert and Marjorie (Kingsbury) Hank. He was raised and educated in St. Charles, where he received his high...

Shirley Gibbs

Shirley Gibbs

Oct 17, 2026

Shirley Gibbs

Age 71 of Wilmington, Illinois and formerly of Monee, Illinois, died unexpectedly on Saturday morning, October 17, 2026 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois.

Born February 1, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Shirley Violet was a daughter of Fidel and Violet Catherine (Cotton) Garcia. She was raised in Chicago and went on to graduate from Tinley Park High School with...

Sherman Palmer, Sr.

Sherman Palmer, Sr.

Oct 14, 2026

Sherman Palmer, Sr.

Age 82, of Wilmington, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois.

Born April 29, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Sherman Ray was a son of Phillip Sherman and Ruby Vada (Jackson) Palmer. At a young age, he moved with his family to Wilmington, where he was raised and educated before entering the...

Fred Dickison

Fred Dickison

Oct 14, 2026

Fred Dickison

Age 91, of Wilmington, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois.

Born September 22, 1935, in Grahn, Kentucky, Frederick Martin was a son of John Paul and Gertie (Roar) Dickison. He was raised and educated in Kentucky, and on June 19, 1956, Fred married Mabel Elkins. Together, they built a life centered on...

Alan David Sundal

Alan David Sundal

Oct 13, 2026

Alan Sundal

Age 86, of Morris, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, surrounded by the love and presence of family and friends.

Born June 28, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Alan was the son of Goldie (Larson) Sundal, originally of Gardner, Illinois, and Ivan David Smith of Pontiac, Illinois. He spent his formative years in Iowa and Odell, Illinois, and it...

Lois D. Martin

Lois D. Martin

Oct 13, 2026

Lois Dorothy Martin (LeRoy)

Age 87, of Wilmington, Illinois, formerly of Roselle, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on August 9, 1939, in Ritchie, Illinois, Lois Dorothy was the daughter of Alfred and Minnie (Cunning) LeRoy. She was raised and educated in Wilmington, graduating from Wilmington High School with the...

Bonnie Sassenger

Bonnie Sassenger

Oct 13, 2026

Bonnie Lou (O'Brien) Sassenger

Age 83, of Morris, Illinois, died Tuesday, October 13, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at her home.

Born on June 18, 1943, in Morris, Bonnie Lou was the daughter of Walter and Francis (Hexdall) O’Brien. She was raised and educated in Morris through the eighth grade before attending school in Seneca, where she graduated from Seneca High School...

Beverly J. Bradley

Beverly J. Bradley

Oct 10, 2026

Beverly J. Bradley

Age 87 and a lifelong resident of Morris, Illinois, died Saturday morning, October 10, 2026 at Serenity Estates of Morris.

Born July 28, 1939, in Morris, Beverly Jean was a daughter of Magnus and Mabel (Mikkelson) Mickelson. She was raised in her hometown and graduated from Morris Community High School with the Class of 1957.

Following graduation, Beverly began her...

Larry J. Grachan, Sr.

Larry J. Grachan, Sr.

Oct 7, 2026

Larry J. Grachan, Sr.

Age 85, of Wilmington, Illinois, formerly of Joliet, Illinois, Morris, Illinois, Lockport, Illinois and Camdenton at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois.

Born on August 16, 1941, in Joliet, Larry James Grachan was the son of George and Rose (Wojtak) Grachan. He was raised...

James Joseph Pavelek

James Joseph Pavelek

Oct 5, 2026

James Joseph “Pav” Pavelek

Age 60, of Coal City, Illinois, and formerly of Marseilles and Willow Springs, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on October 5, 2026.

Born on December 2, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, James was the beloved son of Ellen "Micky" (née Lornaitis) Pavelek of Willow Springs and the late James M. Pavelek. He was raised in Willow Springs alongside his siblings...

Angie Sloas

Angie Sloas

Oct 4, 2026

Jaima Angelique Sloas

"Angie"

Age 48 of Morris, Illinois, died Sunday, October 4, 2026 at Morris Hospital.

Born May 7, 1978, Angie was the daughter of Walter and Debra (Whiting) Sloas. She worked with Illinois Valley Industries since 1999, serving in many capacities. Angie was a big sports fan and enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bears, as well as the Dallas...

Jack DeWalt

Jack DeWalt

Oct 4, 2026

Jack DeWalt

Age 92 Of Palm Bay, Florida and formerly of Wilmington, Diamond and Goose Lake – Morris, Illinois died Sunday morning October 4, 2026 at his home.

Born July 6, 1934, in Henry, Illinois, Jackie Wayne was a son of Anthony and Gladys (Wertz) DeWalt. He was raised and educated in Henry before relocating to Wilmington. As a young man, Jack...

Myra Jo Parrish

Myra Jo Parrish

Oct 4, 2026

Myra Jo Parrish

Age 67 of Braidwood, Illinois and formerly of Joliet, Illinois died Sunday morning, October 4, 2026 at The Parc Joliet.

Born June 6, 1959, in Joliet, Myra Jo was a daughter of William Elbert “Ebb” and Virginia “Ruth” (Forren) Wickline. She was raised and educated in Joliet and graduated from Joliet Central High School with the Class of 1977.

Following...

Robert E. Elam

Robert E. Elam

Oct 2, 2026

Robert E. Elam

Age 96 of Morris, Illinois, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026, at his home in Morris with his loving daughter by his side.

Born on June 2, 1930, in Morris, Robert was a son of J. Elbert and Alverne (Colwell) Elam. He was raised and educated in the local Mazon schools. Following his education in Mazon, Robert married...

William "Bill" Patrick White

William "Bill" Patrick White

Sep 30, 2026

William "Bill" Patrick White

Age 71, of Verona, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at Morris Hospital in Morris, Illinois.

Born on October 4, 1954, in Morris, William Patrick was the son of Joseph and Vernadine (Curran) White. He was raised in Kinsman, attended Kinsman Grade School, and graduated from MVK High School with the Class of 1972. Following high...

Paulette Evans

Paulette Evans

Sep 29, 2026

Paulette Evans

Age 62 of Wilmington, Illinois, formerly of Joliet, Illinois, died Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at her home.

Born December 6, 1963, Paulette was the daughter of Ronald and Sharon (Marino) Evans. She was raised in Joliet and attended Joliet East High School. Paulette worked for the Laraway Elementary School in Joliet as a lunch lady and worked in the restaurant...

Betty Cassem

Betty Cassem

Sep 28, 2026

Betty Cassem

Age 99, of Morris, Illinois, died Monday, September 28, 2026 at The Gardens Assisted Living in Morris.

Born February 15, 1927, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, Betty was a daughter of John and Hurby (Twait) Johnson. She was raised and educated in Buffalo Center before moving to Elmore, Minnesota where she graduated from Elmore High School. Betty met Russell Cassem at...