November 2013

Jerry W. Comer, 65, of Marseilles, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral service for Jerry will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 2, 2013, at Ottawa Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Jerry was born October 6, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Louis and Lela (Davis) Comer. He married Shirley Arwood June 14, 1969, at the South Side Baptist Church in Ottawa. He worked at Libby Owens Ford for thirty-one years. He also worked at Trinity Broadcasting Network (WWTO TV-35), a Christian Television Station, for nine years.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; one son, Jerry (Lisa) Comer of Ottawa; two daughters, Tammy (Rob Lucas) of Marseilles and Jeanne (Brian) Richards of Streator; three brothers, Jim, Roland, and Donald (Debbie) Comer; one sister, Judy (Clay) Griffin; his mother-in-law, Jeannie Arwood; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Jerry is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Ottawa – Michael P. Pozar, 58, of Ottawa, formerly of Peoria, died at 10:00 AM on Wednesday June 26, 2013 at OSF St Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born March 25, 1955 in Ottawa to Harry and Edith (Parker) Pozar. He was preceded in death by his parents. He married Mary Everhart Casterline. She survives and resides in Metamora. He is survived by one son, Corbin Pozar, also of Metamora. Mike also had several canine companions that held a special place in his heart. Mike was a talented self-educated artist, writer and cook. He wrote a pizza cookbook, a fantasy novel and the play “Survivor” along with several short stories. He enjoyed working with leather, painting and drawing. He had been active in theater in Peoria & Ottawa for many years as an actor, techie and playwright. He was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and participated in the Old English Faire each summer. He worked as an art educator for PARC and also with the clients at Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association and Ottawa’s Friendship House. He was also well-known for his pizza making skills at Ottawa’s Bianchi’s. Cremation rites have been accorded. There will be no service. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is handling arrangements.

Michael is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

OTTAWA – Byford N. “Byf” Goldman, Jr., age 75, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 23^rd at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Rev. David Davies officiating.  Interment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be Larry, Jim, Patrick and Brad Goldman.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dale Madden and Bob Iverson.

Mr. Goldman was born December 3, 1937 at Ottawa, Illinois, a son of Byford Noel and Irene (Misner) Goldman.  He married Beverly Casemeir May 6, 1960 at Grand Haven, Michigan.  Surviving are his wife, Beverly of Ottawa; a son, Dr. Bryant “Pete” (Bernadine) Goldman of Tucson, Arizona; and grandchildren, Marissa A. and Patrick J. Goldman of Tucson.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William L. “Bill” Goldman.

Byf is laid to rest in the Garden of  Psalms.

Donald R. Davis, Sr., 78, of Ottawa, formerly of Robinson, died Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Wilbur Zeal, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park where full military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Donald was born on September 5, 1935 in Matthew, Missouri, to Edgar and Nellie (McKinney) Davis. He married June Audrey Hammond on September 18, 1954 in Ottawa. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was employed as a Correctional Officer at the Sheridan Correctional Center, and then for two years at Robinson, Illinois
until his retirement.

Donald is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Dorothy Davis, 77, of Spring Valley, Illinois, passed away Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Spring Valley Nursing Center.

Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Duane Kaufman officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, at Ottawa Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born September 5, 1936, in Marseilles, to Floyd and Evelyn (Johnson) Gumm. She married Marion (Woody) Davis.

Dorothy is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Raymond S. Ball, 85, of Ottawa, IL, died Friday, November 15, 2013, at his home.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park, with Military Services. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home.

Ray was born July 9, 1928, in Dayton, Illinois, to Harold and Edna (Newtson) Ball. He married Catherine Abernathy on July 28, 1990 in Ottawa. She died July 8, 2005. He retired from L.O.F. He served in the US Army in Korea in 1951.

Ray is laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

OTTAWA – Hazel Bernice (Arwood) Syverson, age 81, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, November 11, 2013 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services honoring her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 16th at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Rev. Peter Brick officiating.  Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be David Syverson II, Chad Johnson, John Arwood, Dennis McConnaughhay, Bill Entwistle and John Herr.  Honorary pallbearer will be Hank Arwood.

Hazel was born May 6, 1932 at Pontiac, Illinois, a daughter of Henry Robert and Sina (Garland) Arwood.  She married Ralph Adrian Syverson on February 14, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Ottawa.

Hazel is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Theresa Alaimo Majcina, 90, passed away Monday, November 11, 2013, at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with prayers starting at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, at the Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, November 15, at St. Columba Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Theresa was born August 21, 1923, in Ottawa, to Charles and Theresa (Verona) Alaimo. She graduated from Ottawa High School, class of 1941. On February 23, 1946, Theresa married the love of her life, Arthur Majcina of Ottawa, and they spent over 65 years together. They had two children, Art Majcina and Dorothy (Majcina) DeBolt.

Theresa is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

William Wallace, 75, of Boise Idaho, formally of Ottawa and Peru passed away October 22, 2013 in Boise.  William was born January 15, 1938 in Bonne Terre, MO to Richard and Stella Wallace.

Cremation rites were accorded and burial was private.

William is laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Alfred Riebe, Jr. 85, of rural Ottawa, died on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with Rev. David Daniel, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Alfred was born on December 1, 1927 in Ottawa, to Alfred and Delphine (Hill) Riebe. He farmed in Fall River Township. He married Leah June Duffield on November 16, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and the LaSalle County Farm Bureau.

Alfred is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.