Obituaries

May 24, 2014

Rev. Francis M. Maher

"Father Frank"

Age 86, of Colorado Springs and formerly of Wilmington, passed away on May 24, 2014 at the Mount Saint Francis Care Center in Colorado Springs. Fr. Maher was a priest in the Roman Catholic Church for more than 60 years.

Francis Martin Maher was born on October 10, 1927...

May 18, 2014

Jim Puracchio

Age 60 of Campbellsville, Kentucky, and formerly Wilmington, passed away Sunday May 18, 2014.

Born February 11, 1954, James Thomas is a son of Dorothy Puracchio of Wilmington and the late Thomas Puracchio. Jim was an accomplished transmission mechanic, having worked on several professional teams and winning numerous awards throughout his lifetime. He was...

May 16, 2014

Rose Elizabeth Smith

"Betty"

Age 86 of Morris, passed away Friday May 16, 2014 at the home of her son in Bolingbrook.

Born November 30, 1927 in Dwight, Rose Elizabeth was a daughter of the late Hans Einer and Margaret C. Broderick-Christensen. She was a graduate of Immaculate Conception School, attended Saint Angela Academy for...

May 15, 2014

Eva Maria Kezer

Age 85 of Wilmington and formerly of Tucson, Arizona, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Born May 25, 1928 in Vienna, Austria, Eva was a daughter of the late Heinrich and Angela Taborsky-Steffel. She was a member of the Bethel Christian Reform Church of Tucson, TOPS of...

May 14, 2014

Lunden Elizabeth Chappell

Age 3 of Wilmington, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday May 14, 2014 due to an accidental drowning.

Lunden is the daughter of Crystal and Jonathan Chappell. She was born August 11, 2010 in Joliet and attended pre-school at Reed-Custer Primary School in Custer Park. Lunden was a vivacious and loving little girl, who was...

May 13, 2014

Michael J. Neitzer

Age 75 of Morris and formerly Gardner, passed away Tuesday May 13, 2014 at Heritage Health in Dwight.

Born August 22, 1938 in Chicago, Michael Joseph was a son of the late Emerick and Elaine Harvie-Neitzer. He was raised in Chicago until moving to Braceville in the seventh grade. Michael was a 1957...

May 12, 2014

Ben Galyon of Wilmington, passed away unexpectedly May 12, 2014.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ben was a son of the late Fred and Laura Strong-Galyon. He was raised in the Detroit area and went on to graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Michigan. He retired from Thermal Industries out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His...

May 11, 2014

Mel Harseim

Age 78 of Morris, passed away peacefully, Sunday May 11, 2014 at Morris Hospital.

Born January 10, 1936 in LaSalle, Mel was a son of the late Leonard and Avis Brierly-Harseim. He was a 1953 graduate of Morris High School , and on September 7, 1957, Mel married Margaret "Peggy" Anderson in Joliet ....

May 11, 2014

Bernice Alcorn (nee Van Duyne)

"Niecy"

Age 85 of Wilmington, passed away Sunday May 11, 2014 at Presence Villa Franciscan in Joliet.

Born June 18, 1928 in Manhattan, Bernice Eula was a daughter of the late Peter and Gertrude Glass-Van Duyne. She was raised in Wilmington and on June 28, 1947, Bernice married Donald Alcorn...

May 9, 2014

Richard Vilt "Hot Shot"

Age 85 of Carbon Hill, passed away Friday May 9, 2014 at his home.

Born February 5, 1929 in Coal City, Hot Shot was a son of the late James and Rose Mlejnek-Vilt. He was raised and educated in Coal City, and honorably served in the United States Marine Corps during the...

May 9, 2014

Daniel J. O'Keefe

Age 72 of Carbon Hill, passed away Friday evening May 9, 2014 at Morris Hospital.

Born April 26, 1942 in Joliet, Daniel was a son of the late Donald and Pearl Kratochvil-O'Keefe. He was raised and educated in Braidwood, and on September 30, 1961, Daniel married Bonnie Skubic in Assumption Catholic Church in...

May 7, 2014

Winona Bols

Age 91 of Minooka, passed away Wednesday May 7, 2014 at Park Pointe in Morris.

Born April 30, 1923 in Morris, Winona was a daughter of the late Clyde Isham and Emma (nee Sistek) Davies. She was raised in Mazon and graduated valedictorian of Mazon Township High School. On February 14, 1944, Winona married...

May 7, 2014

Evelyn Bozue

Age 94 and a lifelong resident of Gardner, passed away Wednesday May 7, 2014 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born March 11, 1920 on a farm in rural Gardner, Evelyn was a daughter of the late Walter and Inger Severson-Olson. On January 2, 1937, Evelyn married Arthur Bozue, Jr. and he preceded...

May 6, 2014

Emily Johnson (nee Dearth)

Age 98 of Coal City, passed away Tuesday May 6,2014 at Morris Hospital.

Born April 8, 1916 in Coal City, Emily Agnes was a daughter of the late Alfred and Mary Stewart-Dearth.  She attended Laymon School in the country and graduated from Coal City High School with...

May 4, 2014

Dolores Aileen Goulding

Age 81 of Wilmington and formerly Lockport, passed away Sunday May 4, 2014 at Walnut Grove Village in Morris.

Born April 22, 1933 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dolores was a daughter of the late Ruble Houston “Kirk” and Edna May Duncan – Kuykendall. She was raised and educated in...

May 1, 2014

Jeff McGuan Age 44 of Morris, passed away Thursday May 1, 2014 at his home. Born September 29, 1969 in Morris, Jeffrey Allen is a son of Mary Lou Bennington (nee Donnelly) of Morris and the late Joseph Bernard McGuan. He was a graduate of Morris Community High School and attended both Joliet Junior College and...

Apr 29, 2014

Mary Coleman Hammen Age 70 of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Silver Cross Hospital with her loving family at her side. Born April 20, 1944 in San Antonio, Texas Mary was a daughter of the late Philip and Myra Scriven-Cosgrove. She worked as a respiratory therapist for numerous hospitals throughout the state of Arizona...

Apr 27, 2014

James W. West

Age 73, of Custer Park passed away Sunday April 27, 2014 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Born April 7, 1941 James was a son of the late Lincoln and Bernice (nee Brennan) West. He was raised and educated in Chicago, where he graduated from Leo High School...

Apr 27, 2014

Thomas Laverne Countryman, 74, of Wilmington, passed away, Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

Thomas was born in Joliet on April 2, 1940 to Paul H. & Margaret E. (Calhoun) Countryman.  He was a member of Wilmington Moose Lodge #241, and will be remembered for...