All Obituaries

Oregon – Mary Anne Becker died peacefully September 21, 2022 in Serenity Hospice Home. She was born April 9, 1932 in Oregon, Illinois to John and Mary (Hoover) Robertson. She was the youngest of 5 children; Bruce (Claudia) Robertson, Harriet Thibault (Robert), Margaret Neuliep (Bill), and Dorothy Martin (Bernard). She attended and graduated from Oregon schools. Mary Anne married Bill Becker on September 15, 1950. They were married for 71 years until Bill died on August 6, 2020....

Oregon – Donald Bruce McMillan, age 76, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, September 19, 2022.  He was born January 17, 1946, in Detroit, MI, the son of Donald and Joyce (Brown) McMillan.  Bruce obtained his B.A. degree from SIU in Edwardsville, IL.  Bruce was an Original Equipment Manufacturer Sales Rep for Detroit Diesel, Ford, Kabota Engine Div. (Gen. Mgr.), and Caterpillar.  He married Janet Streit Croegaert on May 5, 2002, at St....

PLEASE NOTE NEW SERVICE INFORMATION   Christopher T. Plum, age 63, passed away at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center on September 17, 2022. He was born on February 4, 1959 in Oregon, IL the son of David and Lois (Holloway) Plum. Christopher attended Mt. Morris High School where he was a popular kid who everyone loved to be around. He excelled in sports; especially track and football. He graduated in 1978. Chris was very active in the Boy Scouts and The Order of the Arrow well into his...

Ida Mae (Friemuth) Turner, 102, died peacefully on September 16, 2022, in Byron, Illinois. She was surrounded by her loving family.  Ida was born March 20, 1920 in Rockford township of Winnebago County, the daughter of John and Pearl (Capes) Friemuth.  She grew up on the farm and learned work values at an early age.  She graduated from elementary school at Mt. Morris and completed a high school course through the American Correspondence School in Chicago achieving her dream of...

Martha R. Travis, 91, of Oregon Illinois went to her heavenly home on September 16, 2022.  Martha was born on February 10, 1931 in Rochelle, Illinois, the daughter of Fredrick and Maxine (Hauser) Schabacker.  She was married to Harry Travis on February 12, 1950 in Rochelle Illinois.  Martha attended Rochelle High School and was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Paynes Point Illinois.  She was a member of the Women of the Moose and T.O.P.S. Club of...

 Oregon, IL - Patricia Louise Snyder, 81, died on September 11, 2022 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, Illinois. Pat was born on February 27, 1941 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to James L. Gessaman and Adah-belle Gessaman. After high school, Pat attended Manchester University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education. She taught school for a few years before attending Indiana University in Bloomington and receiving a Master degree and a Doctorate degree in...

On Monday, September 5th Charles Armour Williams (A.K.A. Chuck or Bub) was called home after a long and fulfilling life. Chuck was born on July 25th, 1930 to Charles H. and Margaret Williams of Stillman Valley, the eldest of what would become six siblings (3 brothers and 3 sisters). Throughout the trials of the Great Depression he attended a small, one-room school (grades K-9) on the corner of Armour Road and Route 72. As World War II raged, he transferred to the new Stillman Valley High...

After a long battle with chronic illness complicated by cancer, Catherine “Cathy” Holland passed away at her home surrounded by love on Sunday morning August 28, 2022. Born August 27, 1952 in Rockford, Illinois to Paul and Elizabeth Holland. Cathy, the third child of the original seven, grew up in Oregon, Illinois and graduated from Oregon High School in 1970. She attended Sauk Valley College earning her associate degree. After graduation, Cathy began her career in Human Services...

Richard  “Arnie”  Messer, 88, of Byron died Thursday August 25, 2022 in Swedish-American Hospital, Rockford. He was born October 1, 1933 the son of Kenneth and Mildred (Pettinger) Messer. He married Betty Houpt in Mt. Morris, IL on June 1, 1962. Arnie worked in the printing industry for Kable Printing, Rockford Morning Star Newspaper, and CCS in Oregon. He enjoyed camping and playing cards and attended many high school sporting events. Arnie is survived by his wife...

Alice F. (Gibbs) Schaefer, age 100, passed away on August 20, 2022 at Fair Haven Retirement Center in Rockford. Born January 10, 1922 in rural Byron, Illinois. Daughter of Oscar F. and Grace (Berends) Snyder. She gradated from Byron High School in 1939. She married Robert “Bub” Gibbs in Stillman Valley in 1947. He died in 1978. She lived in Stillman Valley for 35 years. Alice was employed for 23 years by the Meridian School District and 5 years by Carlson Transport in Byron. She...