January 2015

Edward M. Beard, 78, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at his home. Private funeral services were held Wednesday, January 7, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with the Rev. David Ufkes, of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ottawa, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Ed was born on February 18, 1936, in Marseilles, to John and Theresa (Morello) Beard. He married Rosemarie Damyen, on November 24, 1955, in the Rectory at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie, and children, Michael (Gail) Beard, Mark Beard, Martin Beard, Thomas Beard, Brenda (Rick) Herrera, David Beard, and Brian Beard, 18 grandchildren, 15 Great-grandchildren, and one sister, Sally (Bob) Hamill, of Marseilles.

Ed was a 1954 graduate of OTHS. He was employed at Meckum Engineering, then plant manager at Peltier Glass Company. He loved spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Steven, and grandson, Johnny, 1 brother James Beard, and two sisters, Dorothy Rich and Joan Anderson.

Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

Ed is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

William “Bill” Kellogg, age 86, of Newark, passed away Monday morning, January 5, 2015 at Morris Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, January 9, 2015 at Gladfelter Funeral Home in Ottawa with Pastor Charles Sampson officiating.  Private family interment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. till service time on Friday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be Michael, Ryan, and Jon Kellogg, Jake and Ben Spraggon and Adam Richards.

Bill was born June 16, 1928 in Ottawa, the son of John Howard and Nettie M. (Malaise) Kellogg.  He married Dorothy F. Brown July 24, 1948 at the Norway Methodist Church.  She preceded him in death September 12, 2012.  Surviving are his children, Nancy Lindholm of Newark, Rick (Sue) Johnson of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Steve (Dorette) Kellogg of Serena, and Dave (Penny) Kellogg of Newark; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; and one brother, J. Howard Kellogg of Ottawa.  He was preceded in death by one brother, Kenneth and one sister, Lila Hughes.

Bill was a member of the Newark Lutheran Church.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge of Ottawa.  He served in the Serena and Newark Fire Departments for over 30 years.  In 1976 Bill became the first Emergency Medical Services director in Newark.  He was a retired employee of Caterpillar in Aurora.  His other interests included fishing and motorcycles.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the Serena or Newark Fire Departments.

William is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Carl M. Bute, 72, of Ottawa, died on Monday morning, December 29, 2014 at the Ottawa Pavilion. Private graveside services will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Carl was born on May 29, 1942, in Ottawa, to Carl and Lenora (Woodyer) Bute. Carl worked 16 years as a barber, several years as a real estate agent, and as a car salesman. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Spring Valley. Carl was an avid Cubs fan, an accomplished bowler of 50 years, loved playing cards, and loved spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Julie Bute and Debbie (Bryan) Guenther, both of Ottawa, 3 grandchildren, Aaron, Matthew and Kayla Guenther, all of Ottawa and a brother, Dennis (Ilse) Bute, of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

Carl is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Jerry Sorenson, 69, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, January 4, 2015 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Funeral Ceremony will be 10:00 am Friday, January 9, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Grace Oh officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home. He will be buried in Oakwood Memorial Park with military honors.

Jerry was born July 8, 1945 in Ottawa, Illinois to Melvin and Leona (Sibert). He married Karen Pfalzgraf on May 5, 1973. He graduated from Ottawa Township High School. He joined the Army and was stationed in Vietnam. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Ottawa River Rescue Squad. He attended auto diesel school in Nashville, Tennessee. He worked as a mechanic at Whitmore Chevrolet, Norm Buick, and Thortons. He also worked at BWD in Ottawa.

Jerry enjoyed life. He was a family man. He loved to attend Sox games, helped with his sons Little League games and summer ball. Jerry enjoyed playing softball with his buddies. His greatest love was bowling he was on a mixed league with his wife. He enjoyed bowling with his sons at Carrettos. He traveled around the US to bowl in the ABC’s and he bowled with his friends in the Odd Fellow Tournaments. He took his family fishing after he got off work as often as he could.

He is survived by his loving wife, Karen; one daughter, Julie Rasmussen; two sons, Jerred and Kurt Sorenson; seven grandchildren, Cody, Caitlyn, Andrew, Nicholas, Jacob, and Matthew Rasmussen, and Genna Sorenson; one sister; and five brothers.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and one sister.

Pallbearers will be Jerred Sorenson, Kurt Sorenson, Mark Mansfield, Jim Hall, Scott Schillings, and Jeremy Schillings.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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

Ronald “Ron” Griglione, 82, of Largo, Florida, previously of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at BayCare Alliant Hospital in Dunedin Fl.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2014 at St. Columba Church with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be 11:30 – 12:30 prior to services on Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Ron was born March 22, 1932 in Marseilles, Illinois to Batista “Bab” and Katherine (Schank) Griglione. He retired from LOF. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Largo Florida.

He is survived by his companion, Cheryl Walters, of Largo Fl; a son, Tony(Janet) Griglione; three daughters, Patricia Griglione, Sherri (Ray) Judy, and Julie (Ron) Paquette; three sisters, Marilyn Warren, and Karen Leiteritz; eleven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren

He is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gary Griglione; a granddaughter, Brittany Judy; one brother, Richard “Dick” Griglione; and one sister, Helen Mucci.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Ron is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Joan M. Armstrong Donahue, 64 of Ottawa and formerly of Grand Ridge passed away Friday evening (Dec. 26th) at Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
A visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 – 7 PM at the Grand Ridge Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 AM at the funeral home.  Entombment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa.  Serving as pallbearers will be son Ryan, sister Kim, Richard Preuss and Bill Bernardoni.
Joan was born on October 7, 1950 in Streator to Samuel J. and Norma (Crank) Armstrong.
Surviving is son Ryan Scott (Stephanie) Terry of Corte Madera, CA, grandsons, Rhys and Declan Terry, mother Norma Armstrong of Grand Ridge and sister Kim Armstrong Smith of Ottawa.
Joan is preceded in death by her father and a son Aaron Terry.
She graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1968 and LaSalle School of Beauty and was employed as a Claim Adjuster for Delta Dental in Morris Plains, NJ and currently with Ed Condon DDS in Ottawa.
Joan was  a former board member of the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation.
Memorials may be made in Joans’  name to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation.

Joan is laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Prayer.

Harriet A. (Ward) Meyers, 100, of Ottawa, died on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with the Rev. David Daniel, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa and one hour prior to the services on Tuesday, at the church.

Harriet was born on May 13, 1914 in Verona, IL to Samuel and Della (Rowley) Ward. She married John A. Meyers November 29, 1933, in Princeton. Harriet was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

She is survived by 4 daughters, Evelyn Aska, of Sycamore, Shirley Yednock, of Sarasota, Florida, Sharon Nicholson, of Ottawa, Sandra (Wesley) Stone, of Ottawa, two sons, Donald (Carol) Meyers, of Utica, Robert (JoAnn) Meyers, of Apache Junction, Arizona, 23 grandchildren, and many, many, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John, on January 13, 1997, a still-born son, one daughter, Betty Hickey, one sister, Helen Meyers, one grandson, Michael Aska, and four great-grandchildren..

Pallbearers will be Grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to Zion Ev. Lutheran Church.

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