Obituaries

Jun 3, 2018

Bessie L. Thomas

Age 77 of Wilmington, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 3, 2018 at her home in Wilmington, Illinois.

Born October 18, 1940 in Saline County, Illinois, Bessie was a daughter of Willie B. “Bill” and Grace Valentine (Stewart) Harris. She was raised and educated in Galatia, Illinois and on April 6, 1957,...

Jun 2, 2018

Mrs. Henry Jessen, Rennae, Born May 12, 1945 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Richard and Charlotte Smith, passed away peacefully on the 2nd day of June 2018 in her home with her husband of 41 years, Henry (Hank) Jessen and family members by her side.

Rennae showed unending concern for those around her as she persevered after being...

May 30, 2018

Felisha Rae Heelan

Age 26 of Braidwood and formerly of Braceville, passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Born November 15, 1991 in Libertyville, Illinois, Felisha Rae is a daughter of Deborah (Welz) Heelan of Gardner and David Heelan of Coal City. She was raised and educated in...

May 30, 2018

Robert Glenn Lavarier

Age 60 of Morris, passed away Wednesday May 30, 2018 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Born November 21, 1957 in Morris, Robert Glenn was a son of William and Arolette (Anderson) Lavarier. He was raised in Morris and attended Morris High School. On November 11, 1977 Robert married Louanne Luck...

May 30, 2018

Arlen D. Scott

Age 79 of Wilmington, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, May 30, 2018 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born December 26, 1938 in Effingham, Illinois, Arlen Dean was a son of Walter and Esta (Webb) Scott. He graduated from Wilmington High School, and went on to honorably serve in the United...

May 24, 2018

Helen M. Kessler

Age 90 of Coal City, passed away Thursday morning, May 24, 2018 at her home.

Born November 15, 1927 in Morris, Illinois, Helen Marjorie was a daughter of George Ernest and Helen Mae (Broderick) Durkee. She was raised in Morris, and graduated from St. Angela Academy in 1945. On June 12, 1948,...

May 20, 2018

Harold Quiram, Jr.

Age 61 of Gardner passed away unexpectedly on Sunday May 20, 2018 at Morris Hospital.

Born December 30, 1956 in Chicago, Harold George was a son of Harold, Sr. and Marilyn Quiram. He was raised and educated in Wheeling, and graduated from Wheeling High School.

Harold worked for the Caterpillar Tractor...

May 19, 2018

Ron Piencak

Age 76 of Wilmington, passed away Saturday morning, May 19, 2018 at Elmhurst Hospital.

Born June 25, 1941 in Chicago, Ronald was a son of Joseph and Anna (Wenerski) Piencak. He was raised in Chicago; graduated from St. Casimir School in 1955, and was a member of Saint Philip Basilica High School class of...

May 19, 2018

Emma Villarreal

(nee Thatcher)

Age 76 of Morris, formerly Verona and Cuevitas, Texas, passed away Saturday May 19, 2018 at Morris Hospital.

Born November 21, 1941 in Cuevitas, Emma was a daughter of George and Francisca (nee Farias) Thatcher. She was raised in Cuevitas, and on December 18, 1959 she married Inez Villarreal,...

May 15, 2018

Gregory Allen Huffines

Age 53 of Park Forest, passed away Tuesday evening, May 15, 2018 at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.

Born May 18, 1964, Gregory Allen is the son of Jean Huffines (nee Bever) of Park Forest and the late Vester Huffines. He was raised and educated in the Park Forest community and...

May 14, 2018

Ruth L. Smith

Age 82 of Gardner, passed away peacefully on Monday evening, May 14, 2018 at her home.

Born July 19, 1935 in Alton, Illinois, Ruth Leora was a daughter of James and Leora (Watts) Moody. She worked for Casey’s General Store in Gardner, as a cook for 15 years until her retirement. In...

May 12, 2018

Gayle Kimmel

Age 34 of Braceville, formerly Wilmington, passed away Saturday May 12, 2018 at her home surrounded by family.

Born May 20, 1983 in Joliet, Gayle Marie is a daughter of Angela K. Sartore of Manteno and Ronald Kimmel of Braidwood. She was raised and educated in Wilmington and attended Wilmington schools. Gayle was employed...

May 12, 2018

Mary Melvin

Age 69 of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, May 12, 2018 at home surrounded by family.

Born August 15, 1948 in Joliet, Illinois, Mary Ruth was a daughter of Melvin Louis and Helen Marie (Johnson) Jackson. She was raised and educated in Wilmington, and graduated from Wilmington High School with the...

May 10, 2018

Ron Hetzel

Age 64 of Wilmington, formerly of Westmont and Downers Grove, passed away Thursday May 10, 2018 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born January 13, 1954 in Oak Park, Ronald Jay was a son of John, Jr. and Helen (nee Evers) Hetzel. He was raised and graduated high school in Westmont, and...

May 8, 2018

Vernon M. Vaughn

Age 88 of Diamond and formerly of Shelby, Alabama and Berwyn, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, May 08, 2018 at the home of his daughter in Diamond.

Born May 28, 1929 in Bessermer, Alabama, Vernon Melvin was a son of Melvin Thomas and Ellen (Reynolds) Vaughn. He was raised in Alabama, and upon...

May 7, 2018

St. Anne, Illinois - Rebecca L. (Becky) McComb, 65, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, died on May 7, 2018 at her home, after a six-month battle with fast-progressing ALS.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:30 pm Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road, Wilmington, Illinois.  Her family...

May 6, 2018

Homer Boling

"Peanut"

Age 36 of Bowling Green, Kentucky, formerly Joliet, passed away Sunday May 6, 2018 at his residence.

Born July 15, 1981 in Maryville, Tennessee, Homer Glenn, Jr. is a son of Cheryl Cuff Moore and the late Homer G. Boling, Sr. He was raised and educated in Joliet, and attended...

May 1, 2018

Gerald Ruder

“Jerry”

Age 94 of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at his home.

Born October 23, 1923 in Herscher, Illinois, Gerald Raymond was a son of Edwin and Alice (Fritz) Ruder. From an early age, Jerry excelled in academics and after skipping a couple grades, graduated with the...

Apr 29, 2018

Mary Szlak

Age 91 of Surprise, Arizona and formerly of Wilmington, passed away Sunday morning, April 29, 2018 at Peoria Care Center in Peoria, Arizona.

Born March 6, 1927 in Webster, South Dakota, Mary Ellen was the youngest of ten and a daughter of Edward and Mary (Breske) Tracy. She was raised and educated in...

Apr 29, 2018

Robert E. McConnell, Jr.

"Bob"

Age 74 of Goose Lake passed away Sunday April 29, 2018 in his home after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born April 6, 1944 in LaSalle, Robert was a son of Robert and Jane (Bildhauer) McConnell. He married Jean Panneck on June 1, 1968 at Saint Mary's...