Obituaries

Nov 4, 2019

Michael Charles Backhus

Age 35 of Morris, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 4, 2019.

Born December 8, 1983 in Morris, Michael Charles is a son of Mark Charles Backhus and Catherine Ann Enger.  He was raised and educated in Morris and attended Morris schools. Michael worked many years next to his father in the...

Oct 30, 2019

Charles H. Johnson

Age 87 of Diamond, passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, October 30, 2019 at his home.

Born April 9, 1932 in Joliet, Illinois, Charles Herbert was a son of Walter E. and Doris M. (French) Johnson. He was raised and educated in Joliet and graduated from Joliet Township High School. Charlie went...

Oct 28, 2019

Linda Strong

(nee Barbour)

Age 71 of Wilmington passed away Monday October 28, 2019 at her home.

Born October 22, 1948 in Joliet, Linda Sue was a daughter of Crum and Thelma (nee Hill) Barbour. She was raised and educated in Wilmington, and graduated from Wilmington High School with the Class of 1966....

Oct 24, 2019

Samantha M. Serena

Age 35 of Gardner passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Born February 21, 1984, Samantha Marie is a daughter of Leigh Opyd and Carmen Serena. She was raised and educated in Gardner, and graduated from Gardner-South Wilmington High School with the Class of 2002. Samantha received her Associate's Degree from...

Oct 21, 2019

Bonnie Ruth (nee Davis) Southall of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2019 at Rosewood Care Center in Joliet, just one day shy of her 78th birthday.

Born October 22, 1941, Bonnie was a daughter of Ernest Jess “E.J.” and Alice (Butcher) Davis. She was a lifelong resident of Wilmington where she was educated and...

Oct 20, 2019

Pamela Childress

Age 67 of Morris, formerly Griffith, Indiana, passed away Sunday October 20, 2019 at her home.

Born December 29, 1951 in Chicago, Pamela Lee was a daughter of Robert and Dorothy (nee Hahn) Ogden. She was raised and educated in Griffith, and graduated from Griffith High School. Pamela attended Joliet Junior College where...

Oct 18, 2019

June E. McLuckie

(nee Guardia)

Age 96 of Coal City, passed away Friday, October 18, 2019 at Miller Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kankakee.

Born June 4, 1923 on the Gaurdia family farm in Braceville, June Elaine was a daughter of Leno “Leo” and Edith (Menietto) Guardia. She attended the Braceville Grade School...

Oct 14, 2019

Charles J. Urban

Age 103 of Wilmington, Illinois and Safety Harbor, Florida, and formerly of Chicago, Homer Twp., Romeoville, and Marshall and Longview, Texas, died October 14, 2019.

Born November 24, 1915 in Auburn, Illinois, Charles James was a son of John Urbanski and Julia Beja Urbanski. He was raised in Auburn, and continued on...

Oct 14, 2019

Kay D. Clover

Age 82 of Gardner passed away Monday October 14, 2019 at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.

Born September 1, 1937 on her family farm in Gardner, Kay Darlene was a daughter of Erlan and Meta (nee Sorensen) Louch. She was raised and educated in Gardner, and graduated from Gardner South-Wilmington High...

Oct 14, 2019

Garland “Gene” Dransfeldt

Age 80 of Mazon, died unexpectedly at home on October 14, 2019.

Born March 26, 1939 in Morris, Illinois, Garland Gene was a son of Garland H. and Marie A. (Lawler) Dransfeldt. Gene lived his entire life in the Verona and Mazon area working on the family farm. In addition he worked...

Oct 13, 2019

Justin Michael Hannum

Age 28 of Wilmington, passed away unexpectedly on October 13, 2019.

Born May 20, 1991, Justin Michael is the son of Tracey (née Hannum) and Jack Brownlee and Louis Favero-Lowry. He was raised in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School with the Class of 2009.

Justin was employed with...

Oct 4, 2019

Donna L. Smid

“Grandma Donna”

Age 78 of Wilmington, passed away Friday, October 4, 2019 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born March 19, 1941 in Grant City, Missouri, Donna Lee was a daughter of Lester Earl and Mildred (Weddle) Thomas. She was a member of the Church of God in Wilmington...

Oct 3, 2019

Clara M. Nicholls

Age 83 of Wilmington, passed away Thursday, October 03, 2019 at Heritage Health in Dwight, Illinois.

Born October 13, 1935 in Gorham, Jackson County, Illinois, Clara Marie was a daughter of Charles Cameron and Wanda Elsie (Sumner) Mattingly. She was raised in Gorham and graduated from Gorham High School. On January 8,...

Oct 2, 2019

Joan Arndt

(Nee Jacobson)

Age 80 of Wilmington passed away Wednesday October 2, 2019 at her home.

Born February 17, 1939 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Joan Marie was a daughter of the late Cecil and Dorothy (nee Widner). She was raised and educated in Menasha, Wisconsin, and would later relocate to Wilmington where she...

Sep 29, 2019

Harold Stainbrook

Age 93 of Wilmington passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 29, 2019 at his home.

Born November 25, 1925 in Gila, Illinois, Harold Glenn was a son of Marion and Bertha L. (Kennedy) Stainbrook. He was raised in the Effingham and Casey area and went on to honorably serve in the United States...

Sep 26, 2019

Anton F. Cerny

“Tony”

Age 81 of Coal City and formerly of Cocoa, Florida, passed away Thursday evening, September 26, 2019 at Morris Hospital.

Born October 24, 1937 in South Wilmington, Illinois, Anton Francis was the son of Joseph A. and Ida Mae (Magnani) Cerny. Tony graduated from Coal City High School with...

Sep 21, 2019

Jerry Giasson

Age 76 of Wilmington, passed away September 21, 2019 at Ocala Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ocala, Florida.

Born May 26, 1943 in Kankakee, Illinois, Jerry Lee was a son of George J. and Betty (Harvey) Giasson. He worked for Bennett Industries in Peotone, and was a former member of the Wilmington...

Sep 21, 2019

Amiejean Viola Slager

Age 36 of Braidwood, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Born May 26, 1983 in Palos Park, Illinois, Amiejean is the daughter of David Slager of Braidwood and the late Kimberly (nee Marquardt) Solley. She was raised in Braidwood, and received her confirmation at Grace Lutheran Church in Wilmington. Amie...

Sep 19, 2019

Wendy J. Arthur of Coal City, passed away on her birthday, Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Morris Hospital.

Born September 19, 1955 in Blue Island, Illinois, Wendy Jeannine was the daughter of William Joseph and Marion J. (Hinish) Hilt.  She was raised and educated in Crestwood and graduated from Dwight D. Eisenhower High School with the Class of...

Sep 15, 2019

Anna Jean Crawford

Age 89 and a lifelong resident of Carbon Hill, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Born January 26, 1930 in Joliet, Illinois, Anna Jean was a daughter of Ercola “Art” and Victoria “Vic” (Vacca) Vecellio. She attended the Carbon Hill School and went on to graduate from Coal City High...