March 2015

George F. Roeder of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the LaSalle Veterans Home.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21st at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor David Daniel officiating.  Burial with full military honors will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 20th at Gladfelter Funeral Home and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church.  Pallbearers will be Robert, James and Mark Roeder, Stanton Roeder, Jr., Robert Brue, and David Todd.  Honorary bearers will be David Bruchhauser, James Denker and Gary Snyder.

George was born to George B. Roeder and his wife Louise (Beck) Roeder in Dwight, August 26, 1921.  He was the sixth child in a family of seven children living on their farm near Dwight, Illinois.  He attended Dwight schools, graduating from Dwight High School in 1939.  He was since birth an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church near Dwight in Goodfarm Township.

George worked for the Government Ordinance Depot from 1940 to 1942 in Savanna, Illinois. He was inducted into the U.S. Army Ordinance in 1942. He attended college in Maryville, TN., and the Air Force Academy at Maxwell Field, Alabama. He became a commissioned officer and navigator on a B24 Librator 4 engine bomber in 1943. He also spent 20 years working in agriculture for Farm Service.

George studied guitar with Evelyn at the Ottawa Guitar School and was an active member with guitar and vocals in Evelyn’s Islanders concert band for 10 years before his marriage to Evelyn Brue Michelsen in 1969. He then became active as a teacher and sales at Evelyn Brue Guitar School. As a team they produced many musical Revue’s presented at the Ottawa High School auditorium featuring 100’s of students, all in beautiful costumes. Also yearly took large groups of students into competitions, state and national. They won a national top reputation for excellence. In 2014 George and Evelyn celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Recently, both George and Evelyn were honored by NAMM coming from California to interview them for their history (National Association of Music Merchants) for their national reputation to be in the history of fine instruments, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, and many more. They also performed as a guitar duo for churches and clubs.

George is survived by his wife, and a brother, Stanton Roeder of Wilmington; many loving nieces and nephews; a step daughter, Mrs. Ludwig (Tobe) Saskor of North Carolina; also 3 grandchildren, Giselle, Kristina, and Michael; plus 2 great grandchildren, Colin and Amber.He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Clarence and Frank, and his sisters, Ruth Snyder, Mary Denker, and Bernice Spainhower.

Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church, Bethel Lutheran Church both in Ottawa, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Dwight, Illinois

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

Dale Franklin Reynolds, 80, of Marble Hill, Mo., passed away on March 14, 2015, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Micah Bristow officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Dale was born on October 22, 1934, in Ottawa, IL to Charles O. and Edna (Beguim) Reynolds. He married Shirley M. Elliott on Jan. 8, 1955, in Streator, Ill. She survives. After 42 years he retired from working at Owens Illinois Brockway Glass Mfg. He was a member of Solid Rock Church in Marble Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, a son, Dale L. (Susan) Reynolds of Dupo, IL, a daughter, Bonnie (Bernie) Chapman of Marseilles, IL, a granddaughter, Trisha (Curtis) Rodreigez of Ottawa, IL, 5 brothers: Roy (Ann), Vernon (Judy), Don, and Raymond (Sharon) Reynolds, all of Ottawa, and Terry (Rhonda) Reynolds of Cambridge, IL, and 2 sisters Birdie (Jerry) Goodchild and Donna Simmons, both of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by 2 sons, Russell and John Reynolds, 5 brothers and 4 sisters preceded him in death.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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

Dorothy Love, 101, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, March 9, 2015 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral Ceremony will be held at 11:00 am March 16, 2015 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Gene Owsley officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at First Baptist Church in Ottawa. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Dorothy was born May 19, 1913 in Brooklyn, Illinois to Charles and Blanche (Hite) Morris. She married D. Gilbert Love June 3, 1934 at 1st Christian Church in Macomb, Illinois; he passed away January 11, 1992. In her younger years Dorothy taught at various schools in west-central Illinois. She taught first grade for 20 years at Waltham Elementary Grade School. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Ottawa, AAUW, OTHS Booster Club, Western Illinois University Alumni Association, Delta Theta Tau Sorority, and several bridge groups. Dorothy was in the Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame. She volunteered for several organizations including the Red Cross Blood Bank, Easter Seals, and the hospital auxiliary. She was gifted at knitting and was a helpful advisor to officials at thousands of basketball games. Dorothy was very devoted to all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her four children, Charles (Judy) Love, John (Jody) Love, Joan (Hank) Guenther, and Jane Love; ten grandchildren, Murry J. Love, Mark A. Love, Matt G. Love, Sarah J. Love, Kristen (Bob) Manning, Karen (Pete) Swisher, John (Amie) Love Jr., Gretchen (Billy) Granville, Chad Guenther, Eric (Natasha) Guenther; and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Gil; one grandchild, Amy Love; one brother, Spencer Morris; and one sister, Katherine Nell.

Pallbearers will be Murry Love, Peter Swisher, Eric Guenther, John Love, Willy Steinmiller, Mark Love and Chad Guenther.

Memorials may be directed to Waltham Elementary School or OTHS Gil Love Scholarship Fund.

Dorothy is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Lawrence Russell Bottom, age 63, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday night, March 9, 2015, at Rivershores Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Marseilles.

Memorial visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2015, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.

He was born March 19, 1951, in Ottawa, to Russell Howard and Helen (Carroll) Bottom. He attended St. Columba School and Ottawa Township High School. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, undergoing basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal and served in Okinawa and the Philippines.

Following his service to his country, Larry worked at Caterpillar in Aurora, was employed for many years as a laborer through Marseilles Labor Hall #393, and worked in the warehouse at Pet Smart in Ottawa.

He married Sandra Jo Congleton in 1987. She was the love of his life. Sandy passed away on March 14, 2002, in Peoria.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Jamie Samantha (David Avalos) Bottom of Ottawa; a granddaughter, Alexis Avalos; two half-sisters, Candace (Ross) Ferguson of Ashland, Wis., and Callie M. Ross of Ottawa; a sister-in-law, Pam (McDonald) Bottom of Ottawa; four nephews, Michael Bottom of Yorkville, Todd Bottom of Chicago, Adam Bottom of Peru, and Casey McDonald, formerly of Ottawa; an aunt, Mollie (Carroll) Perrot of Ottawa; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Jo (Congleton) Bottom; his parents; two brothers, Jack and Thomas Bottom; his uncle, Jack Carroll; his aunts, Ruth Schuster and Betty Hart; and his maternal grandparents, Wayne and Hallie (Hockenberry) Carroll.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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

Richard David “Rich” Higgins Jr., 74, of Tonica, passed away late Monday afternoon at his home surrounded by his family after a brave battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday in the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7:00 PM Thursday in the funeral home and Friday from 10:00 AM until time of services.

Rich was born in Ryburn-King Hospital(torn down in 1974) in Ottawa on April 7, 1940, the oldest of four sons of the late Richard David and Leota Alice (Guyaux) Higgins Sr.  He attended Ottawa and Troy Grove grade schools, Mendota High School and Illinois State University.

Rich was a proud father and shared his son’s passion for music, local bands, musicians and unforgettable characters.  He enjoy mornings with his breakfast club in Peru, his collection of tractors, guns, antique toys, old country music and blue grass and had a passion for dancing with his wife, fondness of spaghetti westerns and classic movies.  He cherished the endless memories of Troy Grove, both, childhood and later on his farm.  He fondly reminisced about good friends, good drinks and good times at the local pubs and taverns.

Rich was a long time member and supporter on the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department.  Many years serving as Mendota and Tonica School board President and Village of Tonica Board Trustee.  Rich (the Squirrel Whisperer) communicated with the local squirrels, fed them corn and peanuts and tracked their comings and goings.  Tremendous heartfell thanks go out to his compassionate and exceptional home health and hospice nurses, Angie and Amber, who provided much more than just comfort and care for Rich, but also provided a sense of humor, peace and reassurance during his transition from this life into the next.

He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many friends, neighbors and close acquaintances.

Rich is survived by his wife Kimberly London Higgins of Tonica (native of New York); children Richard Michael “Mike” (Heather) Higgins of Jonesville and Timothy (Cathy) Higgins of Tonica; grandchildren Andrea (Steve) Higgins Craig of Ottawa, Jess Higgins and Hannah Higgins of Jonesville; great-grandchildren Lilly Craig and Lucas Craig of Ottawa; several nieces and nephews; three brothers Bob (Carolyn) Higgins of Oswego, Brian (Cathy) Higgins of Canon Beach, OR, and Doug (Julie) of Paxton; sister-in-laws Sharon (Dave) Nagel of Tonica, Kitten (Gary) Morris of Hamburg, NY, Jacqlyn (Michael) Pelnero of Lake View, NY; mother-in-law Betty Jean London of Hamburg, NY; best friends Linda and Jim Lock.

Pallbearers will be Jim Lock, Joe Ott, Brian Lock, Steve Craig, Randy and Jess Higgins.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family to establish a memorial in Rich’s name.

Rich is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Gloria Anne Varland-Robinson, 84, of Marseilles passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa lovingly surrounded by family.

Her visitation will be 9am -10am Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Oakwood Memorial Park immediately followed by her funeral service at 10am at Oakwood Memorial Park. Osborne-Nelson Funeral Home has been entrusted with her arrangements.

Gloria was born September 12, 1930 in Marseilles, IL to Dominic and Josephine Viviani. She was married to Lowell Varland and enjoyed many years raising her children and being a farmer’s wife. As a widow, she married Walter Robinson November 9, 1990. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Seneca.

She is survived by her children, Nancy (Charles) Swanson of Magnolia, TX, Judy (Mark) Limsky of Forney, TX, Henry (Cindy) Varland of Princeton, and Jerry (Donna) Varland of Mt. Sinai, NY; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four step-children, Kim Keesee, Don Robinson, Brent Robinson, and Michael Robinson; and many step-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Lowell Varland and Walter Robinson; and her infant son, Wayne Allen Varland.

Gloria is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer. 

Thomas P. Landers, 94, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Park Pointe Healthcare, in Morris

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am March 11, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Church with Father Tony Fevlo officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm March 10, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home, prayers will be at 3:45 pm on Tuesday with Knight of Columbus. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Services.

Thomas was born April 2, 1920 in La Salle County-Wallace Township to Patrick and Margaret (Sexton) Landers. He married Mikalee McGill on July 22, 1961 in St. Patrick’s Church Ottawa, she passed away August 21, 2009.

Thomas served in the US Army during WWII 1942-1946. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, St. Patrick’s Church and Knight of Columbus. He had worked for LOF, Chicago Bridge and Iron, and he drove a truck for many companies until he retired in 2004.

He is survived by one son, Tom (Kim) Landers of Morris; a daughter Rhonda (Ken) Bell of Ottawa; four grandchildren, Brandon and Michael Bell, Bridget and John Landers; and one sister, Marge Smith of Las Vegas.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one daughter, Rebecca Landers; two sisters, Mary Hagen and Catherine Nagel; and one brother, Edward Landers.

Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick’s Church Immaculate Conception School-Technology Fund or Marquette Academy.

Thomas is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

OTTAWA – Payton Elizabeth Engel, infant daughter of Andrew Engel and Desirae Gedye, passed away at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Gladfelter Funeral Home, with Reverend Duane Kaufman officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., one hour prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Tim Platt, Jake Stillwell, Rory Waldrop, and Rose Cummings II.

Payton was born March 4, 2015 in Ottawa.  She is survived by her parents, Andrew Engel and Desirae Gedye, both of Ottawa; a sister, Nevaeh Gedye at home; her maternal grandparents, Dawn Gedye and the late Kenny Wilson; her paternal grandparents, Tricia (Kevin) Mattingly and Wayne Platt, all of Ottawa; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.  To share a memory or sign the guestbook, please visit www.gladfelterfuneralhome.com.

Payton is laid to rest in Babyland.

Glennie M. Anderson, 78,of Ottawa, died Sunday evening, March 1, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at First Baptist Church in Ottawa with the Rev. Eugene Owsley, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park .Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Glennie was born on January 29, 1937, in Ottawa to Marcel and Fern (Maltas) Thiry.
She married Dennis C. Anderson, on September 17, 1977, at the First Baptist Church in Ottawa. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

She is survived by 2 sons, William Mason, of Marseilles and Melvin (Dawn) Mason, of Evansville, Ind., 3 daughters, Valerie (William) Nagy, of Ottawa, Denetta (Angelo Flamingo) Reddick, of Ottawa and Tracy (Robert) Ross, of LaSalle, 19 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, 2 brothers, Robert Thiry of LaSalle, and James (Judy) Thiry, of Texas and a sister, Shirley Cullmann, of Ottawa.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Dennis on November 5, 2011, her first husband, Melvin Mason, a son Richard Lee Mason, and 9 brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Glennie is laid to rest in the garden of Prayer.