Obituaries

Jan 8, 2023

William A. Sowers, 75, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at his residence.

Bill was born on July 25, 1947, in Springfield, the son of Wayne and Maxine "Micky" Sowers. Bill worked for the Springfield Police Department for 20 years, retiring in 1993.  Bill married Thelma D. Tribble in 1966 and then Linda Isaia...

Jan 6, 2023

Mary Frances Bice, 98, of Palmetto, FL. passed away on January 6, 2023 at her residence.

Mary was born on September 19, 1924. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 from 10:00AM until the time of the funeral service at 11:00AM at Wilson Park Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St in Rochester. Burial will follow...

Jan 1, 2023

Joshua James Hawkins, 17, of Illiopolis, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield.

Joshua was born on January 17, 2005, in Springfield, the son of James Hawkins II and Sarah (Bell) Alldredge. He graduated a year early from Sangamon Valley High School and began working at McDonald's, where he made numerous...

Dec 30, 2022

Rebecca (Becky) Jo Jimison (Grady) was born on May 28, 1952, in Springfield, Illinois, to Estle and Melba Grady. She loved school, and was a Majorette at Lanphier High School. After high school, she married Jack Rickord and had her only child, her son, Brett. After a short marriage, she and Jack divorced and she and Brett lived together,...

Dec 30, 2022

George Allen Gates, 69, of Pleasant Plains, IL passed away at his home on Friday December 30, 2022. George was born in Springfield, IL on January 27, 1953 and was the son of George C. and Dorothea L. (McKenzie) Gates.

In his youth he served in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army....

Dec 23, 2022

Jeffrey Lee Hagen, 59, of Virginia, IL passed away peacefully on December 23, 2022 at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

Jeff graduated from V.H.S. and immediately from there went to work with his father, Lee, at Lee Hagen Plumbing and Heating. This experience taught him to fix just about anything and that he did. After his father passed away,...

Dec 21, 2022

David Allen Manion, 61, of Springfield, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

David was born in Springfield, Illinois at Memorial Medical Center on January 17, 1961, the son of Raymond and Rita (Richards) Manion. He was a long time employee of Springfield Clinic as a Phlebotomist. He was an avid collector of many...

Dec 19, 2022

Bernard "Bernie" F. Rennier, 84, of Springfield passed away on Monday December 19, 2022 at St. Johns Hospital

Bernie was born in Decatur, IL on March 8, 1938 and was the son of Frank Rennier and Julia Hahn Rennier. He married Nancy A. Reeves on February 7, 1959 in Decatur.

He was preceded in death...

Dec 18, 2022

Jean Marie Peters Atchisson passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on December 18, 2022 with her family by her side. She died at Springfield Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Born November 1, 1940 to Clarence, Sr. and Rose Marie DeVos Peters. Jean was a lifetime resident of Springfield, Illinois. She graduated from Lanphier High...

Dec 14, 2022

Kenneth Raymond Sexton, age 84, of Springfield, IL passed away at home on Wednesday December 14, 2022 at 11:15pm. He was born July 17, 1938 in Athens, IL the son of James Elmer and Helen (Gudgel) Sexton.

He married Josie Appel March 29, 1984 in Springfield, IL. Ken served in the Air Force from 1957 to 1961....

Dec 14, 2022

Robert A. Raps, 96, of Rochester, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Bob was born on May 4, 1926, in Rochester, the son of Paul and Naomi (Todd) Raps. He married Janice L. Eckhoff in 1958 and she preceded him in death in 2014. Bob worked for the Village of Rochester for 30+ years, was a member of...

Dec 12, 2022

Arthur Leland Groves, 75, of Springfield, IL passed away at Lewis Memorial Christian Village on Monday December 12, 2022.

Arthur was born in Springfield on September 27, 1947 and was the son of Truman and Frances (Johnson) Groves.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Arthur is survived by his sister, Virginia McCawley of...

Dec 7, 2022

Mary "Marie" Gochanour, 81, of Dawson, IL passed away on Wednesday December 7, 2022 in the company of her family at St. Johns Hospital.

Marie was born in Springfield, IL on June 1, 1941 the daughter of Marion and Marcella (Farley) Lane.

She married her husband, Gary Allen Gochanour and he preceded her in death...

Dec 7, 2022

Larry Ray Eve, 70, of Springfield, IL passed away on Wednesday December 7, 2022 at his home in the company of his family.

Larry was born in Evansville, IN on July 16, 1952. He married Teena Seeger and the two of them started a life together. Larry is survived by his wife; children, Bobby W. Eve (Angel),...

Dec 5, 2022

A. Beulah Bilbrey, 97, of Illiopolis, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022 at Villa Health Care East in Sherman, IL.

Beulah was born on June 18, 1925, in Torrent, Kentucky, the daughter of Lowell and Maggie (Bilbrey)  Campbell. She married Arkley M. Bilbrey and he preceded her in death on April 19, 1983.

She...

Dec 3, 2022

Mona Suzanne (Bland) Dunn, 85, of Mt. Auburn, IL, passed away the morning of, Saturday, December 3, 2022, at St. John's Hospital.

She was born April 21, 1937 to Paul and Martha (Hardy) Bland in Mt. Auburn, Christian County, IL. Her parents proceeded her in death. She was the younger sister of Myrna Dianne (Bland) Whitehead.  Most...

Nov 29, 2022

Marilyn E. McCann, 85, of Auburn, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Marilyn was born on September 9, 1937, in Springfield, the daughter of John and Pauline (Hoffman) Aarup. She married Edward McCann and he preceded her in death on May 7, 1989.

Marilyn enjoyed cooking, baking, babysitting and loved...

Nov 27, 2022

Permelia Annabelle Kieszling, of Buffalo, was born into the arms of Angels on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She is preceded in death by her maternal great grandparents, Norma and David Stone; paternal great grandpa, Herman Lewis, and great great aunt Annabelle Kieszling. Permelia is survived by her parents, Nathan and Brooke (Stone) Kieszling;...

Nov 27, 2022

Edward David, 69, of Springfield, IL passed away on Sunday November 27, 2022 at his home in the company of his family. Edward was born in Butte, Montana on December 14, 1952 and was the son of Edward E. David and Helen I. Dahl.

He is survived by his wife Toni A. David of Springfield; son, Chris...

Nov 27, 2022

Mariam "Luba" Carls, 81, of Springfield, IL passed away on November 27, 2022 at Heritage Manor in Beardstown, IL.

Mariam was born in Iran on December 27, 1940 the daughter of Kasoo and Elisha Benofamil.

As a young teenager, Mariam left Iran to train as a Midwife in the United Kingdom. Upon moving to Springfield,...