Obituaries

James Nicholas Dale Roy

James Nicholas Dale Roy

May 29, 2023

Age 34 of Madison, Wisconsin and formerly of Coal City, Illinois, passed away on Memorial Day after a long battle with addiction.

James, known to most as Nick, was born and raised in Coal City, and relocated to Madison, Wisconsin in 2015 to live a life of sobriety. He had the ability to learn any trade he tackled. From house...

Jim Wilson

Jim Wilson

May 29, 2023

Age 68 of Braceville, Illinois and formerly Frankfort, Illinois died at his home on May 29, 2023.

Born January 31, 1955 in Joliet, Illinois, James Warren is a son of Marlene (Mankowski) Smith of Frankfort and the late James Warren Wilson, Sr. He was raised in the Frankfort area and graduated from Lincolnway High School with the Class of 1973.

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Karen Sue Nelson

Karen Sue Nelson

May 27, 2023

Karen Sue Nelson, a beloved daughter, sister and friend, passed away on May 27th, 2023, at her home in Spring Hill, TN, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, compassion, and joy. She was born on January 9th, 1960, in Morris, IL, where she would grow into the remarkable woman we all knew and loved. Karen was preceded in death by...

Vonda L. Stefancic

Vonda L. Stefancic

May 26, 2023

Vonda L. Stefancic

Age 83 of Wilmington, Illinois, died Friday, May 26, 2023 at Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Illinois.

Born August 24, 1939 in Morris, Illinois, Vonda Lea was a daughter of Emmett and Grace (Moats) Davis. She was raised and educated in Marseilles, Illinois, and on November 26, 1970 she married Anthony Stefancic, and together they...

Norman E. Hopkins

Norman E. Hopkins

May 25, 2023

Norman E. Hopkins, 83, formerly of Morris passed away peacefully on May 25, 2023, in his Arizona home surrounded by his family. Born May 24, 1940 in Odell, IL as the youngest child of Florence and William Hopkins. As a young man, Norm made 74 jumps to skydive out of a “perfectly good plane”. He was an avid follower of...

Andrew Nicoletti

Andrew Nicoletti

May 24, 2023

Age 55 of Bayonne, New Jersey and previously of New York and Texas, died unexpectedly on May 24, 2023.

Born December 23, 1967 in Chicago, Andrew was a son of James Landon and Lynne Kathleen (Koerner) Nicoletti He was raised in Coal City, Illinois and graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1986. Andrew went on to...

Robert Marshall

Robert Marshall

May 21, 2023

Robert Marshall, 77, of rural Morris, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Arcadia Care of Morris. Born February 21, 1946 in Morris, he was the son of Allen and Mary (Carr) Oswood. He graduated from Morris Community High School with the class of 1964. He married Marilyn (Hougas) West on December 2, 1982 and they lived all of their...

Clifford Melvin Cragg

Clifford Melvin Cragg

May 19, 2023

Age 85 of Festus, Missouri and a former resident of Wilmington, Illinois died May 19, 2023 at his home surrounded by family.

Born October 29, 1937 in Coffeen, Illinois, Clifford Melvin was a son of Martha (Chumley) and Warden Cragg. He moved to Wilmington as a young child when his parents went to work for the Joliet Ammunition Plant. As a child,...

Janet Anderson

Janet Anderson

May 18, 2023

Age 84 of Joliet, Illinois died Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Salem Village Nursing Home in Joliet.

Born November 29, 1939 in Joliet, Janet Marie was a daughter of John and Bernadette (Lambert) Sullivan. She was raised in Joliet and graduated from Joliet Township High School with the Class of 1957.

Janet was an exceptionally independent person and a hard...

Beverly Annette Tackett

Beverly Annette Tackett

May 17, 2023

Age 64 of Morris, Illinois, died Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Morris Hospital following a brief illness. Born May 12, 1959, in Terre Haute, Indiana, Annette was a daughter of Paul Norton and Beverly (Whitkanack) Norton Hacker. She was raised in Mazon, Illinois, graduated from MVK High School, and attended Judson University in Elgin, Illinois.   Annette began working at...

Duane L. Heren

Duane L. Heren

May 17, 2023

Duane L. Heren of Morris passed away Wednesday, May 17th, 2023. He was born June 16, 1931 in Pekin, Illinois to Christopher and Bertha (Hild) Heren. He was raised on a farm south of Pekin. He graduated from Green Valley High School with the class of 1949. Duane played basketball at Green Valley High School, Eureka College and with the...

Francis "Frank" Kulas

Francis "Frank" Kulas

May 11, 2023

Age 94 of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, and formerly of Wilmington and Chicago, Illinois, died Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Born March 6, 1929 in Chicago, Francis Chris was a son of Francis Chris, Sr. and Bridgett (Maloney) Kulas. He was raised in the Bridgeport neighborhood; graduated from De LaSalle High School and went on to attend American School of Banking....

Michael Joseph Walker

Michael Joseph Walker

May 11, 2023

At the age of 79, Michael Joseph Walker, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, peacefully passed away on May 11, 2023, with his loving wife and daughter by his side, following a four-year battle with cancer and dementia. Michael is survived by his wife, Dora (Householder) Walker, who stood by his side throughout their incredible journey together. He leaves...

Delphine Kozlowski

Delphine Kozlowski

May 10, 2023

Age 92 of Elwood, Illinois died peacefully on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at the Ascension Living Villa Franciscan Place in Joliet, Illinois.

Born May 23, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, Delphine Frances was a daughter of Peter and Jane (nee Nowicki) Skiba. She was raised and educated in the Southshore neighborhood of Chicago, and on May 1, 1954, she married Aloysius...

Neal E. Tjelle

Neal E. Tjelle

May 9, 2023

Age 66 of South Wilmington, Illinois, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Illinois.

Born December 4, 1956 in Morris, Illinois, Neal Edwin was a son of Harry and Nina (Horrie) Tjelle. He was raised in Gardner and graduated from Gardner South Wilmington High School with the Class of 1975.

Neal worked...

Richard "Dick" Zelinko

Richard "Dick" Zelinko

May 8, 2023

Age 83 and a lifelong resident of Coal City, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Born February 29, 1940 in Coal City, Richard John was a son of Andy and Dorothy (Ward) Zelinko. He was raised in Coal City and graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1958....

Lawrence L. Kenney

Lawrence L. Kenney

May 5, 2023

Lawrence L. Kenney, 83, of Morris, passed away Friday, May 5, 2023 at Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with his family by his side. Born November 17, 1939 in Morris, he was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Stahl) Kenney. He attended Morris Community High School. Larry married Phyllis Petersen on April 5, 1959 in Morris and they...

Wendy Smith

Wendy Smith

May 4, 2023

Age 70 of Coal City, Illinois, died Thursday, May 4, 2023 at the Lightways Hospice Home in Joliet, Illinois.

Born February 6, 1953 in Joliet, Wendy was a daughter of Howard and Waunetta (Longanecker) Smith. She was raised in Coal City and graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1971. Wendy was a beautician; worked at Hornsby's...

Cheryl Ryan

Cheryl Ryan

May 1, 2023

Age 68 of Romeoville, Illinois and formerly of Wilmington and Coal City, Illinois went home to be with the Lord on Monday evening, May 1, 2023.

Born July 25, 1954 in Coal City, Cheryl Lynn was a daughter of Francis E. Sr. and Elsie (Barton) Ryan. She was raised in Coal City; graduated from Coal City High School with the...

Joel B. Franklin

Joel B. Franklin

Apr 30, 2023

Age 66 of Morris, Illinois, died Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Born July 20, 1956 in Coffeyville, Kansas, Joel Brian was a son of Gene and Hermione (Stevenson) Franklin. He was raised in Mazon, Illinois, graduated from MVK High School in 1974, and completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business at Illinois State University...