All Obituaries

On September 12, Gary Bauer, loving husband, father, brother, and son, passed away at the age of 74 in his home.   Gary was born February 17, 1946 in Mendota to Gilbert and Virginia (Bell) Bauer, the oldest of four children. He grew up and farmed in West Brooklyn, and he attended school in Shaw Station, Compton, and Mendota where he was a member of FFA. He enlisted in the Air Force and served in Vietnam at the Tuy Hoa Air Base as a jet...

Betty L. Barnes, age 90, and long time Byron resident, died on Monday September 7, 2020 at The Atrium in Rockford. She was born on June 15, 1930 in Grand Detour, IL the daughter of Francis and Mary (Aurand) Newhausen.  She married Winfred H. “Brother” Barnes on June 17, 1949 in Oregon, IL. He passed away on April 4, 2017. Betty worked for many years as a machine operator at Tool Masters in Stillman Valley. She was an avid bowler and a member of the Mt. Morris Moose Club. She...

Billy Edward Holder, 92, of Stillman Valley Illinois passed away on September 3rd, 2020. He was born in Hoxie, Arkansas, the son of Will Henry and Leona (Spargo) Holder. He is survived by his long time companion Madeline Simmons, sister Shirley Stults (Jim), sisters-in-law in-law Margaret Holder (Bobby) and Beverly Holder (Lonnie), children Terry Holder (Nancy), Cindy Holder-Boumgarden (Bruno Marlier), Rickey Holder (Amy), Sherry Gonzalez (Dario), daughter-in-law Linda Holder (Larry),...

 Carole A. Ritter, 87, longtime Oregon resident, died Tuesday, September 1, 2020 in Pinecrest Manor. Mt. Morris. Born August 10, 1933 in LaSalle, IL, the daughter of Carl and Helen (Holahan) Selmer. Married to S. Wayne Ritter July 30, 1955 in Utica, IL; he died February 7, 2010. Carole was a 1951 graduate of LaSalle-Peru High School and attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. She was employed over 20 years as a secretary for the Ogle County Educational Co-op. Carole was a...

 Harlan L. Holm, 65, lifelong Oregon resident , died suddenly Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born May 17, 1955 in Chicago, the son of John F. and Mariel (Gieselmann) Holm. Married to Patricia Bott March 3, 1984 in Clinton, Iowa. Harlan graduated from Oregon High School in 1973 and then from Kishwaukee College in May 1975 with a degree in Agriculture Mechanics. He then farmed with his parents and worked at Polo Motors for 6 years before returning to the family farm full...

Kenneth P. Bontjes, age 96, of Byron passed away peacefully on Thursday August 20, 2020 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford. He was born in Stillman Valley, IL on July 13, 1924 the son of George and Mary (Caton) Bontjes. He married Lois Harper on July 18, 1982 in Byron. Kenneth was a sprinkler fitter with Union 669 for 50 years alongside his life-long friend Jerry Dodd. He was a very handy man and used that talent and his friendliness to help others whenever he could. His friends...

 Richard T. Warren, 84, longtime Oregon/Mt. Morris, resident, died suddenly Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born September 29, 1935 in Superior, WI , the son of Jeffrey and Laura (Gorsuch ) Warren. Married Carolyn Lackey January 7, 1959 in Carey, IL; she died July 7, 2004. Richard was a veteran of the US Army and Navy serving in the Korean War. He owned and operated H&R Block in Oregon for many years. Richard enjoyed frequenting casinos and the gambling boats while...

Harold E. Newhausen, 88, of Sullivan, MO formally of Byron; passed away at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan on Saturday August 8, 2020. Harold was born in Amboy, Illinois on December 28, 1931 to the late Francis and Mary (Aurand) Newhausen. Harold Graduated from Stillman High School. He later married the love of his life Anna Mae Hoting on August 17, 1951 in Byron. To this union three children were born: Larry, Barbara, and Richard. Harold was employed at Ingersoll Milling Machine Co....

Franklin Grove – Nathan L. Pretzsch, age 30, died Saturday, August 8, 2020 at his home in Franklin Grove.  He was born June 14, 1990 in Rockford the son of David and Vonda (Gilbert) Pretzsch.  Nathan graduated from Oregon High School in 2008.  He married Samantha Dewey on Aug. 24, 2018.  Nathan loved to go fishing, was a wonderful singer, and enjoyed making his own music.  He was predeceased by his paternal grandmother.  He is survived by his wife Samantha...

 Bill B. Becker, 90, longtime Oregon resident, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2020 in Rock River Hospice Home, Sterling. Born August 11, 1929 in Marseilles, IL, the son of Howard and Valdean (Marks) Becker. Married to Mary Anne  Robertson September 15, 1950. Bill graduated from Oregon High School with the class of 1948 and served in the Army National Guard in Dixon. He worked many years at Kable Printing in Mt. Morris where he served his apprenticeship in Phot Engraving and for 34...