Obituaries

Apr 20, 2023

Shirley Ann Birkman, 80, of Springfield, IL passed away on April 20, 2023. Shirley was born in Houston, Texas and was the daughter of Vincent E. SR. and Bertha F. Birkman.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her sister, June Lumpkin (John); sister, Nancy Matheis (Jim); brother, Vincent Birkman...

Apr 20, 2023

Cynthia Kaye Wheeler "Cindy", 73, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away April 20, 2023 at home surrounded by family.

Cindy was born March 15, 1950 to Billie M. Ruhl and Kenneth R. Wheeler. She attended Enos Elementary, Grant Middle School and Springfield High School. After being a homemaker with her 4 oldest children she graduated from...

Apr 15, 2023

Dorothy J. "Dotty" Welch, 88, of Rochester, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Carriage Crossing Senior Living in Rochester.

Dotty was born on October 8, 1934, in Nortonville, KS, the daughter of Joe and Lois (Fulton) Sloop. She married Robert L. "Bob" Welch on November 27, 1954 in Oskaloosa, KS and he survives. Dotty worked...

Apr 14, 2023

Vernon "Sonny" Morris, 73, of Sherman passed away April 14, 2023. He is survived by his son Chad, daughter Teresa, sister Patricia (Marion) Upton, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Sonny was an iron worker who specialized in ornamental railing and steel fabricating.

He loved working in his yard especially gardening. He is preceded in death by his parents...

Apr 13, 2023

Kathryn Louise (Noonan) Gerald passed away at her daughter's home in Macon, Illinois surrounded by her loved ones on April 13, 2023 at the age of 83.  Kay is preceded in death by her parents, John and C. Christine Noonan, sister Barbara (Walter) Walker, brother Bill Noonan, and sister Carol Jean Noonan.

She is survived by her...

Apr 11, 2023

Robin Cheryl Taft, 72, of Rochester, passed away on April 11, 2023 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Robin was born in Clayton, MO., the daughter of Troy Carl and Jean (Armstorng) Roberts. She married Steve Taft on July 14, 1979 and he survives.

Robin lived in Rochester for 50 years and worked for Rochester...

Apr 11, 2023

LeRoy "Lee" Watkins, 72, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.  LeRoy was born on September 4, 1950, in Springfield, the son of Elmer and Venetta (Wake) Watkins.

He was a member of the Carpenters Local 270, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 218.  He was a member of the NHPA and the ILSHPA for over...

Apr 10, 2023

Robert Lee Smarjesse, 87, of Springfield, passed away April 10, 2023, at Stonebridge Memory Care, Jacksonville, IL. He was born November 15, 1935 in Springfield to John and Catherine Rose Smarjesse. He married Myrtle Gough October 21, 1961 in Malibu, CA. She preceded him in death June 6, 2017. He is also preceded in death by his parents and...

Apr 6, 2023

Springfield, IL – Mark A. "Ike" Iocca, 63, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on April 6, 2023. Mark was born on July 25, 1959 in Springfield, IL. Mark was the son of Frederick Iocca (d: 2009) and Jude Iocca (d: 2018). He married Michelle M. Guthrie on January 3, 2004, and she survives.

Mark went to...

Apr 3, 2023

Shawn M Trader, 59, of Springfield, IL passed away on Monday April 3, 2023 at Memorial Medical Center.

Shawn was born in Springfield on February 26, 1964 and was the daughter of Ronald and Carol (Massaro) Trader.

She is survived by her children, Kristin Trader and Nicholas Trader Sr.; mother, Carol Lazar; spouse Chuck Clemons;...

Apr 2, 2023

Richard L. Powell, 75, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at his residence. Rick was born in Springfield, IL on March 14, 1948, the son of Teddy Connor and Martina Goacher. He married Judy Fry on February 11, 1979 and she survives. Rick worked for CWLP as a waterworks Class A Engineer. He served in the...

Apr 1, 2023

Pleasant Plains – Bryan W. Manning

Bryan Wade Manning, 64, of Pleasant Plaines, died on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Saint John's Hospital.  He was born on October 28, 1958, in Springfield, the son of Albert G. and Bernice (Kavirt) Manning.  Bryan was a self-employed general contractor best known for his creative problem-solving skills.  He was preceded...

Apr 1, 2023

Mary Beth (Adams) Jensen passed away at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL on April 1, 2023. Mary was born in Springfield, IL on June 30, 1945 to parents Thelma (McMurray) and James Adams. She is survived by her husband Norman, son Craig, and daughter Tracey and numerous nieces and nephews. Her brothers James, Kenneth, and William preceded her...

Mar 31, 2023

Philip W. Weber, age 78, of Dawson, Illinois, formerly of Collinsville and Springfield, passed away on March 31, 2023, with family at his side.  Philip was the loving husband of wife Marcia, devoted stepfather to Adam and Graham Nicholson; loving brother of Don W. Weber (wife Catherine), and cherished friend and mentor for many during his life and years...

Mar 30, 2023

Terry Ray Manahan, 59, of Springfield passed away at Memorial Medical Center on Thursday March 30, 2023.

Terry was born in Alton, IL on April 1, 1963 and was the son of Charles and Virginia Manahan.

He is survived by his children, Paige Motley (Brad), Jeffrey Manahan (Alisha), and Terri Morris; grandchildren, Rebekah, Emma, Connor,...

Mar 27, 2023

Gladys J. Miner, age 88, of Rochester, passed away on Monday, March 27, 2023 at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin Miner, and her first husband LeRoy Swindell, her parents, James Wesley and Mildred Helen (Stearns) Penrod, sisters Irma E. (Harrison) Reiman, Wilma J. (David Yen) Chang, and brothers-in-law Alvin Smith...

Mar 26, 2023

Lynn Ann Leach, 52, of Rochester, Illinois, passed away on March 26, 2023 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, surrounded by her devoted family. Lynn was born on November 15, 1970 to Jerome and Joan Feeney in Omaha, Nebraska and lived in Council Bluffs until she graduated from Lewis Central Senior High School in 1989. She went on to study Education at...

Mar 25, 2023

Larry L. Young, 70, of Dawson, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL. Larry was born on March 4, 1953, in Springfield, the son of Kenneth R. and Juanita L. (Taylor) Young. He married Mary Beth Klor on November 20, 1971 and she survives. Larry worked for Prairie Wholesale up until his...

Mar 18, 2023

Billy C. Brooks 78, of Mechanicsburg, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at his residence. Billy was born on October 23, 1944, in Springfield, the son of Carl and Carlton (Guernsey) Brooks. He married Carol Sue Briggs in Mechanicsburg on February 28, 1975 and she survives. Billy was a lifelong farmer and retired pharmacy technician.

Billy...

Mar 16, 2023

Bernice Hazel Dennis, 89, of Springfield, IL, passed on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at St. John's Hospital with her loving daughter by her side. She was born October 9, 1933, in Pontiac, MI the only daughter of John and Hazel Lilleyman. She married her lifelong love, Bernard "Al" Dennis on February 12, 1955. She was an only child but...