Obituaries

Feb 15, 2021

Oregon – William B. Wagner, age 84, died Monday, February 15, 2021 in Dixon.  He was born December 2, 1936 in Dixon, IL the son of Charles and Irma (Cronk) Wagner.  Bill attended Mt. Morris High School and shortly afterwards enlisted and served in the United State Army.  In 1957 he was a member of the 505th Infantry, the...

Feb 14, 2021

Stillman Valley – Karen L. Plumb, age 77, loving mother, grandmother, and sister, died Sunday, February 14, 2021 following a sudden illness.  She was born July 24, 1943 in Rockford the daughter of Martin and Marie (Hosfeldt) Brett.  She graduated from West High School in 1961.  Karen married Dean S. Plumb on June 22, 1963 in Rockford.  He preceded...

Feb 12, 2021

Dennis “Denny” Kelly, 78 of Oregon, Illinois passed away peacefully on February 12, 2021 after a short illness. He was born June 2, 1942 in Chicago, IL the son of Edward and Grace (Miller) Kelly.  Denny spent his early years in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood where he lifeguarded on Lake Michigan and followed his beloved Chicago Cubs during the summers. ...

Jan 31, 2021

Forreston – Gerald I. Moats, age 85, formerly of Oregon, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 31, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.  He was born March 17, 1935 in Oregon, IL the son of John and Dorothy (Woodrick) Moats.  He grew up in Byron, IL and attended Byron schools.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 –...

Jan 31, 2021

Helen B. Schell, 79, longtime Oregon resident, died Sunday, January 31, 2021 in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford. Born June 3, 1941 in Anderson, MO, the daughter of Carroll and Helen Chaplin. Married to Charles Schell January 18, 1958 in Belvidere. Helen enjoyed sewing, yard work and gardening. Survived by her husband Charles Schell of Oregon; daughters, Debbie...

Jan 29, 2021

Oregon – Donald R. “Don” Cates, age 56, died Friday, January 29, 2021 at his home near Oregon.  He was born May 25, 1964 at the Martin Army Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia the son to William R. “Bill” and Jayne L. (Hay) Cates.  He graduated from St. Charles (East) High School in 1982, De Pauw University in Greencastle,...

Jan 29, 2021

Clyde E. Anderson, age 75 of Byron passed away at PA Peterson at the Citadel in Rockford on January 29, 2021. He was born in Chana, IL on July 13, 1943 the son of Gilbert and Lorraine (Waters) Anderson. He married Renee who preceded him in death. Clyde enjoyed being outdoors riding motorcycles, stock car racing, and fishing. He also...

Jan 22, 2021

Oregon – Patricia K. “Pat” Oltmanns, age 79, died Friday, January 22, 2021 at the Oregon Living and Rehabilitation Center.  She was born November 12, 1941 in Dixon, Illinois the daughter of William “Albert” and LaVonne “Babe” (Frey) Schmidt.   She graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1959 and then attended Beautician School in Sterling, IL.  She married Richard...

Jan 22, 2021

Betty Adams, 92, of Oregon, Passed away on January 22, 2021 in Oregon, Illinois.

Born Betty Jean Petefish on November 20, 1928 in Jacksonville, Illinois to Ethel and Ivan Petefish. She was raised on a farm and attended a one room school house until high school. She attended Illinois Normal University Teachers College where she met her...

Jan 21, 2021

Darlene B. Jones, 92, lifelong Oregon area resident, died Thursday, January 21, 2021 in Oregon Living & Rehabilitation Center. Born August 5, 1928 in rural Sterling, the daughter of Clifford and Myrtle (Shoffner) Young. Married to Robert E. “Pete” Jones August 16, 1946 in Mt. Morris; he died July 25, 2002. She was employed as a cook at White...

Jan 21, 2021

Oregon – James N. “Jim” Heckendorn, age 86, died Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Oregon Living and Rehab Center.  He was born March 10, 1934 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the son of Doyle Heckendorn     and   Flora  (Fetterman)  Heckendorn. He graduated from Punxsatawney High School.  He served his country for 22 years in the U.S. navy including the Korean War,...

Jan 19, 2021

Lillian “Eileen” Carlson, age 89, passed away on January 19, 2021 at Pinecrest Manor in Mt. Morris. She was born on August 3, 1931 in Cotton, MN the daughter of Jacob and Esther (Peterson) High. She married Ted Carlson in 1952. Eileen worked at the Ben Franklin Store in Byron and then went on to work for Cacciatore Byron...

Jan 17, 2021

Gretel Anne Heuerman Jones, age 83, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 at her home in Oregon after a lengthy battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Anne was born on September 19, 1937, the second child of six, to Ailt and Lila (Hendrickson) Heuerman. Anne graduated from Oregon High School in 1955 and was married on December 18th,...

Jan 14, 2021

Oregon – Jeffrey Lynn Thorp, age 74, died Thursday, January 14, 2021 at KSB Hospital in Dixon, Illinois surrounded by his loving family.  He was born July 8, 1946 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin the son to Benjemin and Jane (Foltz) Thorp.  He worked for many years at Kysor Westran in Byron, IL.  He married Kathy Gates on Feb....

Jan 12, 2021

Harry J. Beauchem, 83, longtime Byron resident, died Tuesday, January 12, 2021 in Generations at Neighbors, Byron. Born December 26, 1937 in Biggsville, IL, the son of Eugene and Margaret (Stubb) Beauchem. Married to Marilyn Noble April 20, 1963 in Loves Park. Harry was a 1956 graduate of Oregon High School and owned and operated Beauchem Alarm & Electrical...

Jan 10, 2021

Rodney R. Rapp Sr., age 74, lifelong Byron resident, passed away on Sunday January 10th, 2021. Born February 2, 1946, the son of Russell and Carol (Nelson) Rapp. Survived by sons; Rod Rap Jr., Bob Rapp, and Tom Rapp; daughter, Jessica Rapp; sisters, Nancy Hillman and Mary Ann Swanson; and great grandchildren Draven Collazo and Fallon Marcoux. He is...

Jan 9, 2021

Brenda J. “BJ” Messenger, 66, of Chana and formerly of Oregon, died Saturday, January 9, 2021 in KSB Hospital, Dixon. Born November 29, 1954 in Oregon, the daughter of Kenneth and Shirley (Good) Marth. Married to Lawrence L. “Tim” Messenger December 7, 1974 in Oregon; he died October 15, 2008. Brenda was a lifelong Oregon area resident, a 1973...

Jan 6, 2021

Dawson C. Rowland, 83, of Amboy and formerly of Oregon, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2021 in his home; his family lost a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Born November 16, 1937 in Haldane, the son of Floyd and Geraldine (Martz) Rowland. Married to Marie Sanford July 25, 1964 in Oregon. Dawson enjoyed family time, camping at...

Jan 6, 2021

Rockford, IL – Maureen L. Rekemeyer, age 73, died Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, IL.  She was born August 30, 1947 in Rockford the daughter of David and Lelah (Knott) Wetherell.  She graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1965.  Maureen married Joe Rekemeyer on May 24, 1991 in Rockford. She worked...

Jan 5, 2021

Marina L. Spitzer, age 56, passed away at home on January 5, 2021. She was born on July 29, 1964 in Rockford the daughter of Wayne and Dianna Kretsinger. She married Douglas Spitzer on June 21, 1986. Marina was devout in her faith to God. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, and gigi. Family was always of...