Obituaries

Aug 21, 2017

Francis Lyal Aumiller, 88, of Litchfield, IL, died on Monday, August 21, 2017 at Heritage Health Hospice in Springfield IL.

Francis was born to Lyal and Irene Aumiller on February 13, 1929 in Connersville IN. The family later moved to Iuka, IL and eventually to Champaign, IL.

Francis graduated from high school in Champaign and...

Aug 20, 2017

Eugene Melvin Gabriel, 66, of Rochester, passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center.

Gene was born on October 15, 1950 in Springfield, the son of Bernard and Artie Hudspeth Gabriel.

Gene served in the Air Force and was a school bus driver for Rochester for several years and drove a semi...

Aug 19, 2017

Wayne Fredrick Heitzman, 87, of Springfield, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at his residence.

Wayne was born on October 15, 1929 in Hedrick, IA the son of Frederick and Margaret Miller Heitzman.  He married Gloria McLerren on April 28, 1956; she preceded him in death April 28, 2002.

He was a veteran of...

Aug 18, 2017

Virginia Mary Nelson, 79, of Rochester, passed away on Friday, August 18, 2017 at Eastland Retirement Community in Auburn, IL.

Virginia was born February 6, 1938 in Litchfield, the daughter of Frank and Mary Valites Wesley. She married Ian "Sandy" Nelson and they have been married for 60 years.

Virginia was a homemaker and a...

Aug 18, 2017

Dawn Renè Taielua, 53, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, August 18, 2017.

Dawn was born on December 28, 1963, in Springfield the daughter of Clarence and Adeline Crammond Spencer.

She worked independently for Lincoln Cab for 10 years.  She was often referred to as "Mama Dawn". She loved her children and her grandchildren.

Aug 17, 2017

Orville "John" Owens, 76, of Springfield, passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at St. John's Hospital.

John was born on June 23, 1941 in Virden the son of Bernard H. and Elizabeth Somerjai Owens.  He married Jean Rudin on January 19, 1963 at St. Joseph's Church.

John was the agency manager at Wonder Bread...

Aug 13, 2017

Katharina Gristy, 86, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2017 at her daughter's residence.

She was born on November 8, 1930 in Frauenaurach, Germany, the daughter of Johan and Babette Vogel Wagner.  She married Claude R. Gristy on June 12, 1954 in Germany; he preceded her in death December 1989.

She was a...

Aug 12, 2017

MSG Preston C. Reitzel Jr., USA, Ret., 84, of Pleasant Plains, passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center.

Preston was born on June 21, 1933 in Newmansville, IL the son of Preston and Nadine Reeves Reitzel Sr.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army retiring after...

Aug 7, 2017

Tamara Lynn Hartman, 47, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2017 at St. John's Hospital.

Tamara was born on May 5, 1970 in Springfield the daughter of Earl Glen and Judy Taylor Moreland.  She married David Alan Hartman on February 18, 1992; he preceded her in death on March 4, 1998.

She had worked for...

Jul 31, 2017

Mark Zeidler, 57, of Springfield, passed away on Monday, July 31, 2017 at St. John's Hospital.

Mark was born on February 14, 1960 in Springfield, the son of Paul and Viola Vick Zeidler Sr.  He married Connie Friedman on July 28, 1982 in Springfield.

He had various jobs doing maintenance.  He loved spending time with...

Jul 30, 2017

Mayre Kaye Hyde, 96, of Rochester, passed away, Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Lewis Memorial Christian Village.

Kaye was born on May 12, 1921 in Lima, OH the daughter of Paul and Lettie Patterson Hamilton.

Kaye was a social worker for the Department of Public Aid; retiring after many years.  She was a member of...

Jul 22, 2017

Robert N. "Bob" Newman Jr., 72, of Springfield, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at Heritage Hospice of Springfield.

Bob was born on April 26, 1945 in Springfield the son of Robert Newman Sr. and Linnie Belle Emerson.  He married Cynthia A. Pinn on July 12, 1965.

Bob was a carpenter for the Springfield...

Jul 17, 2017

Donald F. Fitzgerald, 76, of Springfield, passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017 at his residence.

Don was born on December 12, 1940 in Flora, the son of Harry and Eva Justice Fitzgerald.  He married Audrey E. Gillett on May 1, 1965; she preceded him in death on December 1, 2010.

Don was a veteran...

Jul 14, 2017

Norma Nadine Locker, 88, of Springfield, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2017 at her residence.

Norma was born on April 24, 1929 in Springfield the daughter of Julius Lee and Anna Seward Adkinson.  She married Elmer F. "Pete" Locker on November 11, 1949; he preceded her in death on August 5, 2004.

She worked...

Jul 10, 2017

Ryan Andrew "Mogy" Mogensen, 28, of Pinellas Park, FL, formerly of Springfield, IL passed away on Monday, July 10, 2017.

Ryan entered this world on May 12, 1989 in Springfield to proud parents, Rich and Brenda Mogensen.

He was preceded in death by two grandfathers; and one grandmother.

Ryan is survived by his...

Jul 9, 2017

Pamala ("Penny") Peterson, age 73, passed away on July 9, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer and is now at peace with her beloved husband Tom.

Penny was born and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota where she graduated from Jamestown High School in 1962.  After graduation she worked for Farmers Credit Union and in later years...

Jul 9, 2017

Norman Truax, 73, of Edinburg, passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield IL.

Norman was born July 9, 1943 on the family farm in Edinburg, IL the son of Gordan and Elta Cook Truax.

He worked as a farmer in Edinburg for the majority of his life. He also...

Jul 8, 2017

Donna Garst, 84, of Auburn, passed away on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Sunrise Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Donna was born on April 23, 1933 in Sangamon County the daughter of Loren and Gladys Rouland Eldridge.  She married Russell Harris; they later divorced; she then married Jack Baggerly; they later divorced; she married Henry Garst; they later...

Jul 7, 2017

Mary Alice "Molly" Benjamin 85 of Springfield, IL died at Memorial Medical Center July 7, 2017.

Molly was born August 7, 1931 to Paul Bollman and Gladys Johnson.

Molly retried from St. Johns Hospital as an Orthopedic Technician and later a server at Northfield Inn. She loved gardening, her cats and was an excellent baker....

Jul 7, 2017

Roberta M. Hobbs, 85, of Taylorville, passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017 at her residence.

Roberta was born on April 24, 1932 in Springfield the daughter of Harvey Alva and Edith Roberta Pourchot Womack.

Roberta began working in the cafeteria for the schools in Edinburg before going on to work at the Taylorville Correction...