April 2015

George Hayes, 62, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, April 20, 2015 at his home.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:30 pm Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Bladen officiating. Visitation will be from Noon to 2:30 pm prior to services Saturday at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. In honor of George please come in your sports attire.

George was born July 24, 1952 in Ottawa, Illinois to Klayton and Opal (Tindall) Hayes. George was a 1971 Graduate of Ottawa Township High School. He was a member of The Sons of The American Legion Post 33, in Ottawa. He was an enthusiastic fan of college basketball; especially The Chicago Bulls, The Dallas Cowboys, Duke and NASCAR.

George is survived by his son, Aaron (Rachel) Hayes of Ottawa; two grand-daughters, Samantha and Mia; brothers, Klayton (Connie) Hayes of Pittston, ME and Paul (Sherry Tipton) Hayes of Ottawa; William (Mary) McAlpine, Kevin (Brenda Aussem) McAlpine, both of Ottawa, Jeff (Connie) McAlpine, of Streator, Michael O’Brien of Sterling and David O’Brien, of North Caroline; and numerous nieces, nephews.

George is preceded in death by his father, Klayton Hayes; step-mother, Harriet (O’Brian) Hayes; his mother, Opal Faye McAlpine; step-father, William McAlpine; one brother, Jerry Wayne Hayes; and one nephew Ricky.

Memorials may be directed to his family.

George is laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Joseph M. Scerini, 75, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, April 12, 2015 at OSF Elizabeth Medical Center.

Funeral Ceremony will be held at 12:00 noon Monday, April 20, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Bladen officiating. Visitation will be 10:00 to 12:00, two hours prior to his funeral, Monday at Ottawa Funeral Home. He will be buried in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Joseph was born October 25, 1939 in Ottawa, Illinois to Wilbur and Virginia (Beard) Scerini. He married Roxie Anderson-Learned in 1977; she passed away March 31, 2005. He owned and operated Scerini TV sales and service which started on Freemont Street, when the business outgrew the location he moved to a larger building on Columbus Street and finally ended up in the Little City Building. Following owning his own business he worked for several nuclear power facilities as an Instrument Specialist which required him to travel the United States and Canada. Upon retirement from the nuclear industry he formed and ran J and R Distributing delivering starters and alternators thru out central Illinois. His was a member of the Moose. Joseph loved attending auctions, enjoyed collecting antique radios and electronics, and was an avid coin collector.

He is survived by six children, Dan Scerini, Bill (Angela) Scerini, Paul (Tisha) Scerini, Daniel (Christine) Learned, Ralph (Toreen) Learned, and Christle (Ray) Anderson; thirteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister, Donna Connors; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his brother Billy; his father and mother; his wife Roxie; his 1st wife Patricia(Vezain)Scerini and numerous other family members.

Pallbearers will be his sons, Dan, Bill and Paul and his grandsons.

Memorials may be directed to his family.

Joe is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Wayne Robert Aicher, 79, of Ottawa, IL passed away peacefully on April 10, at Ottawa Pavilion surrounded by his wife and family.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Pastor David Davies officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 pm Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

He was born May 4, 1935 in Normal, Illinois to Frank and Dorothy Aicher. Raised in Ottawa, he attended Ottawa Township High School and excelled in music and sports.

Following high school graduation, he served in the Navy and married Joanne Marie Harris on December 31, 1955. Settling in Ottawa, they began raising a family while Wayne worked for Northern Illinois Gas Co. After several years with Northern Illinois Gas Co., Wayne pursued an opportunity to better provide for his growing family. The result was a 32 year career with State Farm Insurance (Wayne Aicher – The Best for Less). Wayne was deeply grateful to his community for his professional success, and in appreciation served on various civic boards.

Following the death of his wife, Joanne, and son, James, Wayne married Joan Marten in 1968. Together they raised 6 children (Kevin, Julie, John, Cindy, Jeff, and Jay). Their marriage lasted 33 years, ending with Joan’s untimely death from cancer in 2001.

Wayne married Pat Russell on June 22, 2002 and were married nearly 13 years. Between them, they had 13 children, 23 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Dorothy: his wife, Joanne and son, James; his wife Joan: his brother, Gene Aicher; step-daughter, Sarah Livesay; grandson, Timothy Aicher, and granddaughter Joanne Misener.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; a brother, Kenneth (Tampa Bay); a sister, Sheila (Conway, SC); six children, Kevin (Liz) Aicher (New Mexico), Julie Shields (Las Vegas), John Aicher (Ottawa), Cindy (Tod) Misener (Oglesby), Jeff Aicher (Ottawa), and Jay (Amy) Aicher (Ottawa); five step-children, Carol (T.C.) Konrath (Ottawa), Denny Russell (Ottawa), Donny (Ann) Russell (Ottawa), Kathy Hite (North Carolina), and Julie (Joe) Terando (Marseilles).

Wayne had a number of interests: playing the trombone, golfing, building model ships, painting, and remodeling homes. Although the time spent on such interests varied throughout his life, his love and support for his family remained constant.

Memorials may be addressed to the family.

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

Patricia A Murphy is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Doris E. (Thompson) Piercy, 91, of Normal, formerly of Ottawa, died on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the McLean County Nursing Home, in Normal.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Nancy Rethford, Pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Doris was born on August 21, 1923 in Guthrie Center, IA, to Forrest and Pearl (Ross) Thompson. She attended Ottawa Township High School. She was a homemaker and worked at Snap-On Tools for 20 years. Doris married Eugene H. Piercy on June 30, 1942 in Cahoka, IA. She was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, collected Hummels and loved flowers.

She is survived by a son, Garth Piercy, of Normal, a granddaughter Kendra Piercy, a grandson Nicholas Piercy, both of Normal, and a sister, Betty Burns.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Eugene on October 20, 2010.

Pallbearers will be Nicholas Piercy, Rob Dunagan Sr., George Hendricks, Max Albritton, and Dennis Bowman.

Memorials may be directed to Epworth United Methodist Church.

Doris is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

GRAND RIDGE – George “Tom” Hickey Jr, 73, of Grand Ridge, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015 at home.  George was born in Ottawa on February 21, 1942 to George T. Hickey Sr. and Kathleen (Halterman) Hickey.  On July 22, 1989, George married Janice L. Mattes.

He graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1961.  He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1967.  He served aboard MSO USS Prime 466 Minesweeper as Electricians Mate 3.  When he returned home from the service, George was a volunteer fireman in Grand Ridge for 10 years and he served as a Union Electrician for IBEW Local 176 and had just received his 50 year pin.

George was a very creative man; he enjoyed woodworking, painting, and drawing.  He also enjoyed the outdoors by camping with his wife, Janice, and their little dog, Myrrah, at White Oak Campground in Utica.

For six months, George battled liver cancer.  He is survived by his wife, Janice; four children, Michele (Charlie) Frandin of Ottawa, Jon (Terra) Briel of Oceanside, CA, Kim (Donald) Schmitt of Ottawa, and George Hickey III of Oglesby; seven grandchildren; and one great grandson.  He is also survived by brothers, Fred (Kathy) Hickey of Serena and James Hickey of Ottawa; and a sister, Mary Ferguson of Ottawa.  He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ruth.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Gladfelter Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park with full military rites accorded by the Ottawa Veterans Group.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be his grandson, Matthew Whitney, Gary and Kyle Boyd, Randy Smith, Jim Odell and Jim Kummer.  Honorary pallbearers will be Rachael Tipton, his granddaughter, and Mike Degand, a friend.

Memorial contributions may be directed to his wife.

George is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Lynette J. Drake Lowery, 45, of Ottawa, formerly of Marseilles, passed away Thursday April 2, 2015, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Funeral services will be 12 noon Tuesday, April 7, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home with Reverend Duane Kaufman officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a. m. to 12:00 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

She was born November 12, 1969, in Morris to Jack and Barbara (Tuntland) Drake.

Lynette was a Hall Monitor at Ottawa Township High School. She enjoyed her friends, her family and her backyard.

She is survived by one son, Tad Lowery of Ottawa; two brothers, Kevin Drake and Vernon Drake, both of Marseilles; and her former husband, Jeff Lowery of Marseilles.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Matthew; one sister, Jackie Sternall; and her fiancé, Mike Noon.

Lynette is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Esther L. (Erickson) Johnson, 95, of Ottawa, died on Thursday morning, April 2, 2015 at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Peter Ward, Chaplain of Pleasant View, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, at the funeral home.

Esther was born on April 6, 1919 in Brookfield Township, Rural Marseilles to Oscar and Ella (Thompson) Erickson. She married Floyd G. Johnson on July 9, 1938 in Clinton, IA. Esther was the co-owner of Johnson Machine Works, for 71 years. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, in Ottawa, Faith Lutheran Women of Faith, and Ottawa Women’s Club. Esther was also a nurse’s aide at the Ryburn King Hospital in Ottawa, from 1965 to 1975.

She is survived by 2 children, Diane (Stan) Dale, of Marseilles and Keith (Julie) Johnson, of Ottawa, 2 grandchildren, Mark (Juli) Dale and Angie (Tony) McEvoy, 6 great grandchildren, Josh, Luke, Joe, and Gracie Dale and Sam and Allison McEvoy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd, on January 5, 1999, 4 brothers, Carmie, Marvin, Lester, and Ray Erickson and a sister, Evelyn Penoyer.

Pallbearers will be Mark Dale, Tony McEvoy, Mick Stevens, Tim Tershowski, Barney Erickson, Gary Erickson, and Karl Lengfelder.

Honorary pallbearers will be her great grandchildren.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

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