February 2014

Beverly J. Goldman, 77, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 22nd at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Pastor 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.

Beverly was born September 20, 1936 in Grand Haven, Michigan a daughter of John and Jessena (Ver Duin) Casemier.  She married Byford N. “Byf” Goldman, Jr. May 6, 1960 at Grand Haven, Michigan.  He preceded her in death November 17, 2013.

Beverly is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Richard E. Fisher, 72, of Ottawa, was escorted into eternal glory by his Savior on Monday, February 17, 2014 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, while surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with the Rev. Rodney Juell, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date. Visitation will be from 11 to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Church. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home.

Richard was born on May 4, 1941, in Dixon, to Harold and Mary Ellen (Needham) Fisher. He was in the US Army reserves. Richard married Donna Hill on May 27, 1960 at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Ottawa. He retired from Libbey Owens Ford in 2003, after 30 years of employment. He was a member of the Glassworkers Local 19 and Faith Lutheran Church.

Richard is laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Seasons.

Mr. Harold “Rabs” Rafalski, 84, of Ottawa, IL and Sarasota, FL, died Saturday morning, February 15, at Pleasant View Health Care facility in Ottawa, while surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 21, at St. Columba Church in Ottawa, with The Reverend David Kipfer, Pastor, officiating. Interment, immediately following the Funeral Mass, will be at Oakwood Memorial Park’s Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Ottawa, where full military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 20, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Liturgical Prayers commencing at 3:40 PM.

Mr. Rafalski was born on July 14, 1929, in Ottawa, to Adam and Helen (Wylepski) Rachwalski. He graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1947, and was an Army Veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Rafalski retired from Libbey-Owens-Ford Company with over 30 years of service as an electrician and Glassworkers Union representative. He was a member of Glassworkers Local 19 and of St. Columba Parish.

Rabs is laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in the Sanctuary of Devotion.

OTTAWA – Dorothy Lucille Albin, 91, of Ottawa, was called home by her dear Lord, February 17, 2014.  She put up a good battle but is now at rest.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 21, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Pastor Sherry Stevenson officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be Greg and Kim Hartshorn, Jeff and Tom Sampson, Paul Vandom and Carla Clapp.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Gunderson, Bob Fancher, Zach Hartshorn, Josh Marco, and Michelle Vandom.

Dorothy was born February 23, 1922, the daughter of John and Marie Anweiler, the fourth child of ten children.  She was born and lived her whole life in Ottawa.  She married Stanford “Stan” Albin July 8, 1945 at the Presbyterian Church in Ottawa.

Dorothy is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

– Emmalynn Ann Smith Anderson, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2014 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Graveside services will be held 10:15 a.m. Thursday, February 20th at Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Gladfelter Funeral Home.

Emmalynn was born February 15, 2014 in Ottawa, the daughter of Ashley Smith and Travis Anderson.  She is survived by her parents; grandparents, Pam and Larry Morey of Ottawa and Tim Anderson of Geneseo; great-grandparents, Evelyn and Basil Oxford of Des Moines, Iowa, Sharon Morey of Ottawa and Jim and Doris Anderson of Geneseo.  She also leaves aunts, Wendy and Rachel Morey of Ottawa, Lesley Morey of Streator and Kim Brown of Utica; and an uncle, Jeff Kofoid of Utica.  She was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Lori Waters, paternal great-grandfather Clint Morey; maternal great-grandparents Howard and Helen Sibert; maternal great-great-grandmother Esther Harris and an aunt, Candy Sibert.

Emmalynn is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

William A. “Bill” Gerding, 89, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Pleasant View in Ottawa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2104 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa with Rev. David Kipfer, pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa with full military rites. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Mr. Gerding was born on April 11, 1924 in Ottawa to Arthur E. and Dorothy E. (Bonnefoy) Gerding. He married Patricia M. Callahan on July 23, 1949 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa. Bill served in Army Air Corps during WWII. He worked for Illinois Bell retiring in 1982. He was a member of St. Columba Church in Ottawa.

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

William Henry Rohe, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, February 10, 2014 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, February 14, 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa with Rev. David E. Daniel, pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7p.m. Thursday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa and one hour prior to services Friday at the church

Mr. Rohe was born on December 1, 1923 in Jackson, MN to Henry and Mary (Hess) Rohe. He married Martha Ann Rippey on October 5, 1944 in the First Methodist Church in Ottawa parsonage.

William is laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Robert G. “Bob” Collins, 81, of Dunlap, passed away on February 6, 2014 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 10 at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church with Rev. Timothy Johnson, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park where full military rites will be accorded. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday, at the church. Funeral arrangements are through Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Bob was born on January 7, 1933 in Peoria, to J. Wade and Eldora (Kesler) Collins. He graduated from Eureka High School and attended Eureka College in Eureka, IL. He served in the US Air Force and spent a year in Korea. Bob married Mildred “Mickey” Myre on December 26, 1954 at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Ottawa. Bob worked in retail management for Montgomery Ward, Browns Sporting Goods and MC Sporting Goods. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, American Legion, VFW and a Charter member of Sons of Norway.

Robert is laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Carolyn Ann Daugherty, 69, of Hoffman Estates, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2014 at her home.

Funeral services were private at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home with Rev. James Brown of the First Congregational Church UCC officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.

Carolyn was born October 21, 1944 in Ottawa to Bertis and Dorothy (Bowman) Daugherty. She was a buyer for Building Supplies until her retirement. She loved to travel to Ireland.

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

Anita Martha Stefenel, 95, of Blanchardville, WI, formerly of Ottawa, awoke in Heaven on January 27, 2014.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, January 31, 2014 at Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa, IL. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Anita was born in Ottawa, IL, on October 10, 1918, to Albert and Alma (Albertus) Koeppe. Anita graduated from Ottawa Township High School and continued on to complete training as a beautician at the E. Burnham School of Beauty Culture in Chicago, IL.
Anita married Eli Stefenel on March 25, 1939; they were married 51 years.

Anita is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.