All Obituaries

Mt. Morris, IL – Ruth E. Shelly, age 96, was called to glory on Sunday, May 15, 2022. She was born April 29, 1926 in Marion Township near Stillman Valley, the daughter of Jacob and Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Bulthaus) Jacobs. Ruth graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1944. She married Abraham S. Shelly on Sept.9, 1950 in Oregon, IL.  Following school she worked for several years as a secretary for National Lock in Rockford.  Ruth was an active member of the...

Terry M. Fry, age 76, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on May 14, 2022. He was born in Rochelle on September 27, 1945 the son of Charles and Norma (Smith) Fry. He married Diana Judd on December 10, 1966 in Rockford. He enlisted in the US Navy where he specialized in communications. Once he left the navy, he worked in quality assurance for NavAir until retirement. He was a very proud veteran who collected and displayed navy memorabilia and photographs of the ships he served...

Donna Jean Waddell, age 61, passed away at her home on May 11, 2022. She was born on April 4, 1961 in Chicago the daughter of Glenn and Pansy (Hutcherson) Sprissler. Donna loved being social and attending weekly bible study. She spent the last few years spending a lot of time with her sister; going to water aerobics at Nash a few times a week, going to lunch, and shopping. She loved going to Thirsty Thursdays with the girls and attending daily tea time. In her spare time; she enjoyed word...

Penny L. Rundle, age 62, passed away on May 11, 2022 at Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford. She was born on March 24, 1960 in Madison, WI the daughter of Kenneth and Isabelle (Weber) Rakow. She attended Monona Grove High School. Penny worked as a customer service representative for Roadway. She could always be found with a diet Mt. Dew in hand and most likely was out looking for a good deal at a garage sale. She adored sunflowers, lilacs, and her cats. She was a social person who loved getting...

Stillman Valley, IL – Cherry H. Lewis, age 81, died Sunday, May 8, 2022 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.  She was born August 2, 1940 in Rockford the daughter of John and Lucy (Anderson) Knight.  Cherry graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1958 and then attended Rockford Beauty School.  She married Ronald A. Lewis on December 13, 1958 at the Congregational Christian Church in Stillman Valley where she was a member since 1954.  She also taught...

Thelma M. Whipple Collins, died May 6, 2022. Born August 3rd, 1938 to Harold E. and Alberta (Allen) Whipple, in Bureau County, Near Tampico, IL. Thelma Graduated from Byron High School in 1956 and from Rockford School of Beauty Culture as well. Thelma loved to roller skate where she met the man she loved dearly and married March 2nd, 1958 in Middle Creek Presbyterian Church, north of Byron. Richard (Dick) and Thelma raised daughter Cynthia and 2 sons Michael and Patrick. Thelma held the...

Mary B. VanVelzer left this earth to be with her heavenly father and family members, at the age of 88 on April 28, 2022. Mary was born on March 17, 1934 in Livonia, Missouri the daughter of Virgil and Eva (Reeves) Branscomb. Mary loved being outdoors tending to her flowers. Quilting and reading were some of her pastimes. She loved animals and cared for them like her children. Mary married Everett VanVelzer on October 20, 1949 in Missouri and lived in that area until the mid 50’s....

Sharon Pleniewicz, passed away at Generations at Neighbors in Byron on April 26, 2022. She was born in Charleston, S.C. on September 15, 1944 the daughter of Vernon and Ravenel “Mary” (Rodgers) Godbee. She married Richard Pleniewicz on June 15, 1969. Sharon believed in the power of education attending Anderson Jr. College, Appalachian State, and then earning her Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois. She was a member of the United Church of Byron. In her spare...

Oregon – Susan Martha Nordman passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the age of 85 at Pinecrest Terrace Nursing Home in Mt. Morris, Illinois surrounded by loving family members.  She was born December 24, 1936 in Byron, Illinois the daughter of Walter and Lillian (Moats) McNames.  She attended Byron Public Schools.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Susan had numerous jobs in her young life.  She had many friends that she...