Obituaries

Mar 14, 2021

Dixon, IL, Kenneth Earl Vanbuskirk, age 75, passed away on March 14, 2021 at home of Cancer surrounded by his family.  Ken was born on April 17, 1945 in Whiteside County, IL the son of Henry & Margaret (Miller) Vanbuskirk.  Ken married Deloris Mailand on May 24, 1980 in Rock Falls, IL, and they just celebrated their 40 year...

Feb 28, 2021

Mt. Morris, IL, Velva Rosalie Unger, age 97, formerly of Polo, IL passed away on Sunday February 28, 2021 in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris, IL.  Velva was born on May 10, 1923 in Polo, IL the daughter of John & Neva (Coffman) Gatz.  She graduated from Polo, High School class of 1942 and she attended Palmer Chiropractic...

Feb 20, 2021

Leaf River, IL, Theresa L. Zipse, age 69, passed away on Saturday February 20, 2021 in her home with her family by her side.  Theresa was born on June 14, 1951 in Sugarland, TX the daughter of Wilton & Lucille (Lamb) Trahan. Theresa married Kenneth Zipse on July 4, 1968 in St. Theresa Catholic Church in Sugarland, TX.  She...

Feb 10, 2021

Mt. Morris, IL, Marquita Butterbaugh, age 93, passed away at Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris, IL on Wednesday February 10, 2021.

Marquita was born on December 16, 1927 in Tolona, IL, the daughter of Ransom & Violet (Kirby) Munson.  She married her Husband of 73, years, Dwight Butterbaugh, on October 1, 1947 in Dixon, IL; and...

Feb 3, 2021

Leaf River, IL, Barbara Ann Russell, age 71, passed away on Wednesday February 3, 2021 in Javon Bea Hospital, Rockford, IL.  Barbara was born on March 25, 1949 in Walnut Ridge, AR the daughter of Jewel & Euthel (Ratliff) Dixon.  She graduated from Leaf River High School class of 1968.  Barbara married Wes Russell on February 21, 1970 in...

Jan 28, 2021

Mt. Morris, IL, Richard A. Lenz Sr., age 92, passed away on Thursday January 28, 2021 in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris, IL.  Richard was born on October 17, 1928 in Oak Park, IL the son of Charles & Bessie (Zajicek) Lenz. He graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School and he attended Michigan State University.  Richard...

Jan 21, 2021

Jane Elizabeth Miller

August 30, 1960 to January 21, 2021

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jane Miller. Jane was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived in Connecticut before settling in Mt. Morris 28 years ago. She was the daughter of Robert and Edna Miller and loving sister to her...

Jan 13, 2021

Oregon, IL, Mark J. Gruszeczka, age 59, a longtime resident of Oregon, passed away on Wednesday January 13, 2021 in his home.  Born February 23, 1961 in Peoria, IL the only son of John & Phyllis Jean (Middleton) Gruszeczka.

Mark attended school in Kewanee and Walnut, IL before moving to Oregon where he graduated from Oregon High...

Jan 13, 2021

Mt. Morris, IL, Ronald Keith Haefner, age 58, passed away on Wednesday January 13, 2021 in the VA Hospital in Madison, WI.  Ron was born on June 21, 1962 in Freeport, IL the son of Paul Frederick & Anne Sharon (Schindler) Haefner.  He graduated from Mt. Carroll High School and he served in the United States Navy.  Ronald married...

Jan 5, 2021

Mt. Morris, IL, Richard C. “Dick” Peterson, age 93, passed away on January 5, 2021 in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris, IL.  Dick was born on July 1, 1927 in Evanston, IL the son of Carl & Ann (Verboten) Peterson.  Dick married Mary Jo Addis on July 14, 1955 in Evanston, IL and she preceded him in death...

Dec 27, 2020

Samantha Rae Gilmour, 27, passed away on Sunday December 27, 2020 at home with her parents by her side.  She was born on June 21, 1993 and her parents were so excited to welcome her into this world.  After enduring over 15 years of gastrointestinal problems she was ultimately diagnosed with Chronic Global Neuromyopathic Gastrointestinal Dysmotility, a rare digestive...

Dec 27, 2020

Robert A. (“Mutt”) Ross

Robert (93) passed away peacefully at home, after courageously battling multiple illnesses on Sunday December 27, 2020. Robert was affectionately known as “Mutt” by many. Born April 20, 1927 as the 6th and youngest child of Clarence and Ada (Swanson) Ross in Sycamore, IL. At the age of 3 Robert became the foster...

Dec 21, 2020

Mt. Morris, IL, Carole M. Counsil, age 76, lost her multi-year battle with Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy on Monday December 21, 2020 in her home in Mt. Morris, IL.  Carole was born on July 28, 1944 in Baltimore, MD the daughter of Charles & Thelma (Lent) Gummel. Carole married Earl Counsil on October 27, 1962 in Nahunta, GA and...

Dec 14, 2020

Polo, IL, Marvin Lyle Binkley, age 78, passed away on Monday December 14, 2020 in Swedish American Hospital, Rockford, IL.  Marv was born on June 18, 1942 in Freeport, IL the son of Tommy & Florence (Fry) Binkley.  He is a graduate of Polo High School class of 1960.  Marv married Beverly Meier on Friday the 13th, December 1963...

Dec 7, 2020

Leaf River, IL, James J. Cowan, age 71, passed away on Monday December 7, 2020 in Swedish American Hospital, Rockford, IL.  Jim was born on February 18, 1949 in Rockford, IL, the son of Richard & Marge (Barker) Cowan.  Jim graduated from Leaf River High School class of 1967, where he participated in football and basketball.  Jim married Gwen...

Dec 5, 2020

Byron, IL   Tracey LeMae Gobin, age 57, passed away suddenly in her home on December 5, 2020.  Tracey was born on November 21, 1963 in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Melvin & Shelva Ann (Bankes) Gobin.  When she was 3 years old, her parents moved to the country with a Leaf River address but Byron Schools, and she graduated...

Nov 30, 2020

Leaf River – Harold Dietrich, 97, passed away at home on 11/30/20 after a 22 year battle from being injured in his livestock trailer.   Harold was born December 12, 1922, in Green Castle, PA., the son of Russell and Cora (Drury) Dietrich. When he was 5 years old, he moved with his family to Leaf River. He graduated from...

Nov 25, 2020

Melissa Deanne Lamesch, 27, lifelong Mt. Morris resident, died unexpectedly in her home Wednesday, November 25, 2020 with her unborn son. Born May 10, 1993 in Rockford, the daughter of Gustave Lamesch III and Deanna (Shedd) Lamesch. Melissa was a 2011 graduate of Oregon High School, attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Rock Valley College and Elgin...

Nov 25, 2020

Ryan Andrew Wayne Kekelis was born April 4, 1989 in Painesville, Ohio but lived most his life in Illinois; most recently Oregon, Illinois.

Ryan loved politics, football, and trying new foods.  He also loved to travel; to see new places and meet friends along the way.  He leaves behind many of these friends he met throughout his...

Nov 24, 2020

Mt. Morris, IL, Dolores Stevens, age 95, passed away on Tuesday November 24, 2020 in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home.  Dolores was born on September 16, 1925 in Potosi, WI the daughter of Fred & Kathryn (Ackerman) Thole.  Dolores married Wilbur Buschbom on April 15, 1942 in Cassville, WI and he preceded her in death in 1976.  Dolores married Wallace...