January 2016

Ken Johnson, 56, of Ottawa, died Thursday night, Jan. 7, at Rivershores Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Marseilles. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. Corey Krengiel, of St. Columba Church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Ken was born on June 25, 1959, in Ottawa to Milford and Virginia (Stoudt) Johnson. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School Class of 1978. He was a member of Pipefitters Local 597.

His is survived by his children: David (Kim) Johnson, of Hingham, MA, Laci (Ian) McConnaughay, of Ottawa, and Neil Johnson, of Ottawa, three grandchildren, Lila, Lincoln, and Walker, his mother Virginia, of Ottawa, a sister Mary Lynn Deyo, and four brothers, Larry (Gayla) Johnson of Ottawa, Leo (Sheryl) Johnson, Les Johnson, and Stanley (Theresa) Johnson, all of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his father and his twin brother, Keith Johnson.

Pallbearers will be: Jason Phillips, Ian McConnaughay, Jeremy, Leo, Justin, Andrew, and Brett Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Michael Martin, Dennis Robinson, Kevin Lowe, Rick Navarro, Dave Brewer, and Eddie Martin.

Memorials may be directed to the Donor’s Choice.

Ken is laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion

Irene Blackley, 99, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, January 3, 2016 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral Service will be at noon on Saturday, January 9 at the Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Saturday at the funeral home. She will be buried in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Irene was born December 9, 1916 in Ottawa, Illinois to John and Catherine (Quinn) Gulbronson. She married Russell Blackley on May 24, 1938; he passed away on August 16, 1992. She was a paino teacher for many years and enjoyed playing Bridge at the Elks Club. She was a member of St. Columba Church, Piano Teachers Association, and The Elks Club.

She is survived by her daughter, Ginny (Gary) Stevenson of Ottawa; one son, Terry (Karen) Blackley of Fullerton, CA; four grandchildren, Sarah and Dan (Regina) Blackley, Stacey (Frank) Costabile, and Christina Stevenson; and four great grandchildren, Kyra, Frank, Karissa, and Michael.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Russell and one brother John Gulbronson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Columba Building Fund or Vitas Hospice.

Irene is laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

Reuben L. Brue, 92, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Sunday, January 3, 2016 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Bethel Lutheran Church with Pastor Tim Johnson officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Ottawa Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at Bethel Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Reuben was born March 21, 1923 in North Ottawa, Illinois to Peder and Emma (Olson) Brue. He married Mildred Holloway on November 28, 1942 in Cahokia, Missouri.

Reuben retired from Libby Owens Ford after 33 years. Before that, he had worked the pipeline, for Morrison Construction Company, and had been a fertilizer salesman. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church.

He is survived by two daughters, Judy (Vernon) Reynolds and Sandra Greer, both of Ottawa; six sons, Robert of Ottawa, Kenneth (Linda) of Virginia, Il; Allen (Debbie) of DeKalb, Denny (Pat) of Indialantic, Fl; Greg (Theresa) of Rogers, Ar; and Lester (Claire) of DesMoines, Ia; twenty-one grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two sons-in-law, Dewey Reynolds and Ken Greer; a daughter-in-law Carol Brue; two granddaughters Lauren and Gracie and brothers and sisters.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

Memorials may be directed to Bethel Lutheran Church.

Reuben is laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

David Ralph Hayson, age 65, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 8th at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Major William Welch officiating.  Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. till services begin Friday at the funeral home.

David was born December 14, 1950 at Ottawa, Illinois, a son of James Howard and Dorothy Lucille (Holloway) Hayson.  He is survived by brothers, James Hayson, Jr. of Ottawa and Charles (Carol) Hayson of Peru; and a sister, Donna Hayson of Ottawa; ten nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews.  David was preceded in death by his parents, one brother in infancy and two sisters, Geraldine Kurth and Virginia Hite.

David graduated from Ottawa Township High School and was a member of the Salvation Army.  He had been employed as a bus driver for the Ottawa Elementary School District for 42 years, and also ran Howard’s Hobby Shop at one time.  David was an avid gun collector and enjoyed collecting and flying model airplanes.  Memorial contributions to the Salvation Army would be most appreciated.

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

William Guy Perryman, 89, of Ottawa, Illinois, formerly of Crown Point, Indiana passed away Thursday, December 31, 2015 at Heritage Woods of Ottawa.

Funeral Services will be held at noon on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Ottawa Funeral Home with Pastor Wesley Waddle, of the First Baptist Church of LaSalle officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park., with Military Services.

William was born April 8, 1926 in Greenfield, Tennessee to William Greene and Myrtle (Davis) Perryman. He married Lita Kemp on July 3, 1948 in Medina, Tennessee; she passed away on October 24, 2015. He was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Crown Point, Indiana.

William was a member of the United States Navy. He served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre on the USS Colonial.

He is survived by one son, Kevin (Pam) Perryman of Ottawa; one daughter, Janice (Bruce) Rukes of Bargersville, IN; four grandchildren, Brent Perryman, Kelly (Jason) Cole, Jeff Rukes, and Katie Rukes; three great grandchildren, Kendal, Camryn and Landon Cole; two brothers, James (Marilyn) Perryman of Portage, IN; and Charles (Peggy) Perryman of Mason Hall, TN; and two sisters, Ruby Murphree of Tupelo, MS; and Joyce Brown of Kenton, TN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, and one sister.

Pallbearers will be Brent Perryman, Jeff Rukes, Jason Cole, Cameron Perryman, Nathan Perryman, and Mark Calder.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the LaSalle-Peru Christian School, 200 24th Street P.O. Box 1043, LaSalle, IL 61301.

William is laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Betty J. Hawk, 86, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away peacefully Monday, December 28, 2015 at her home in Ottawa.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the Ottawa Funeral Home, with Rev. Tim Underwood, pastor of Illinois Valley Evangelical Free Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 1 at the Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Betty was born January 19, 1929 in Akron, Ohio to Carl and Goldie (Zahrndt) Van Cleave. She married William D. Hawk on March 5, 1949; he passed away on January 17, 1966.

Betty graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1947. For 19 years, she worked at the OttawaMedical Center. She then retired from the Ottawa Police Force as a dispatcher in January 1993, after 20 years. Betty loved to read and cook, and she loved spending time with her grandkids and her furry friends. She enjoyed going to Bridges and eating at Cracker Barrel.

She is survived by four sons, William (Nancy) Hawk of Ottawa, Stephen (Jaine) Hawk of San Antonio, TX; Barry Hawk of Georgetown, TX; and Bradley (Candi) Hawk of Ottawa; one daughter, Carla (Randy) McBrayer of Birmingham, AL; 20 grandchildren, Jessie, Nathan, Wendy, Dustin, Billie, Chris (Sandy), Austin, Kyle, Ally, Katie, Kimmie, Travis, Kelsey (Justin), Katie, Kari (Joe), Clint (Stephanie), Cassie (Matt), Jennifer, Tina, and Josh; 15 great-­grandchildren; five great­-great-­grandchildren; one sister, Lurlene Fitzgerald of Ottawa; and two nieces, Susan Koeppe of Ottawa, and Gayle Fitzgerald of St. Louis, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William; her grandson Josh; one brother; and her daughter-­in-­law, Mechelle Hawk.

Pallbearers will be Clint, Chris, Travis, and Austin Hawk, Josh McBrayer, Matt Almeda, Joe Hilton, and Justin Easton. Honorary pallbearers will be Kyle and Nathan Hawk and Dustin Heath.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Betty is laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.