Obituaries

Oct 22, 2020

Steven J. Rapp, 75, lifelong Byron resident, died Thursday, October 22, 2020 in his home. Born December 17, 1944 in Rockford the son of Russell and Carol (Nelson) Rapp. Married to Sue Wemple January 25, 1964 in Rockford. Steve attended Byron schools. He was employed as a operating engineer with Local 150 nearly 40 years, retiring in 2006. Steve...

Oct 10, 2020

Jean E. Eads, 84, of Mt. Morris died Saturday, October 10, 2020 in Pinecrest Manor, Mt. Morris. Born November 27, 1935 in San Diego, CA, the daughter of Orville and Flavia Lueker. Jean graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa, CA and then joined the US Navy where she served in the secretarial pool. She moved to Mt....

Oct 6, 2020

Dixon – Joan M. Proper, age 83, died Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at Franklin Grove Living Rehab Center.  She was born August 12, 1937 in Rochelle, Illinois the daughter of John and Mabel (Stonebraker) Bennett.  Joan graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1956.  She married James Proper on Nov. 15, 1958 at the Chana United Methodist Church.  She...

Oct 3, 2020

Stillman Valley, IL – Norma Jean Castelli, age 92, died Saturday, October 3, 2020 at her home in Stillman Valley surrounded by her loving family.  She was born August 20, 1928 in Stillman Valley the daughter of Willis and Blanche (Wills) Friday.  Norma graduated from Stillman Valley High School in 1947.  She married Pete A. Castelli on June 26,...

Sep 30, 2020

Larry Dale Coombes, 69, of Byron, Illinois (formerly of Villa Grove, IL) passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Mercy Health, in Rockford, Illinois.  Mr. Coombes was born on July 2, 1951 in Clinton, Indiana to Paul and Mary (Brewer) Coombes.  He had one brother, Raymond (Paula) Coombes, two sisters, Margaret (Kim) Snyder and Kay Donaldson all of Paris,...

Sep 27, 2020

Patricia A. “Patty” Hayenga, 68, longtime area resident, died Sunday, September 27, 2020 in Swedish-American Hospital, Rockford. Born August 19, 1952 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the daughter of L.P. and Mildred (Stevens) Wallace. Married to Donald Hayenga April 19, 1988 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Patty graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1970 and then from business college...

Sep 23, 2020

Rockford – Michael E. Baxter, age 69, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 at the Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon, IL.  He was born December 23, 1950 in Rockford the son of Kenneth and Julia (Schafman) Baxter.  He graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in 1969.  Michael served his country in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam War. He was...

Sep 12, 2020

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...

Sep 7, 2020

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,...

Sep 1, 2020

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...

Aug 25, 2020

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...

Aug 20, 2020

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...

Aug 11, 2020

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...

Aug 8, 2020

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...

Aug 8, 2020

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...

Aug 6, 2020

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...

Aug 4, 2020

Byron – William R. “Bill” Brown, age 83, died Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at the Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon surrounded by his loving family.  He was born July 15, 1937 in Menominee, Michigan the son of Ralph and Beatrice (Johnson) Brown. He married Patricia Gambrel on June 5, 1965 in Byron, IL.    Bill served his country...

Aug 1, 2020

Bonnie R. Hinkle, 84, passed away on August 1, 2020 at Serenity Home, Oregon. She was born September 9, 1935 in Elmhurst, the daughter of Frank and Ruth (Obrecht) Bolwahnn.

After living most of her childhood in Glen Ellyn, IL, Bonnie’s family moved to Oregon, IL, where she graduated high school. She then attended Northern Illinois University...

Jul 30, 2020

Chana – Gilbert G. DeWitt, age 97, died Thursday, July 30, 2020 at his home near Chana.  He was born November 9, 1922 near Mill Creek, IL the son of James and Murray (Miller) DeWitt.  He graduated from Tamms Community High School in 1940.  He married Hazel M. Mowery on Nov. 12, 1944 in Blytheville, Arkansas.  Hazel preceded him...

Jul 28, 2020

Rodger W. Oesterheld, 83, longtime Byron resident, died Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Serenity Hospice Home, Oregon. Born October 13, 1936 in Rochelle, the son of William A. and Hortense (Rodgers) Oesterheld. Married to Virgie Burns May 31, 1958 in Elkhorn, WI. Rodger was a 1954 graduate of Rochelle High School and was employed in maintenance by the Stillman...