February 2016

Leslie “Les” Johnson, 64, of Ottawa passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Rivershores Care Center.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Corey Krengiel officiating.  Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 Monday, February 8, 2016 at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 3:45.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Les was born November 27, 1951 in Ottawa, Illinois to Milford and Virginia (Stoudt) Johnson. He worked for Libby Owens Ford and was a laborer/pipefitter.

He is survived by his mother, Virginia; four siblings, Larry (Gayla) Johnson, Leo (Sheryl) Johnson, Mary Lynn Deyo, and Stan (Theresa Melgoza) Johnson, all of Ottawa; along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Milford; two brothers, Keith and Kenneth Johnson; and his brother-in-law, Steve Deyo.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy, Justin, Andrew, Leo, Neil and Brett Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Guerrero, Bob Jackson, John Zilm, Steve Fraine and Terry Waldron.

Memorials may be directed to the family for a charity to be designated at a later date.

Les is laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

Angelina M. Galvan, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2016 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 at St. Columba Catholic Church with Father Corey Krengiel officiating.  Entombment will follow in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held after 4:00 p.m. Friday evening at Gladfelter Funeral Home with prayer service at 3:45 p.m.  Pallbearers will be Jerry Curl, Pat Curry, Darrell and Devin Fleming, and Adam Wampler.

Angelina was born in Laredo, TX, the daughter of James and Petra Galvan.  She is survived by her sister, Aurora (John) Jenkins of Ottawa.  She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Angelina was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church.  She worked in the business office at the Community Hospital of Ottawa, retiring after 40 years of service.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Angelina is laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Memory.

John “Jack” Stortz, 81, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 at St. Mary’s Church in Naplate with Father Tony Fevlo officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday, with prayers at 3:45 and from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. half hour prior to the services on Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory.

Jack was born November 20, 1934 in Ottawa, to George and Mary (Laffins) Stortz.  He married Joanne Walsh on August 20, 1960 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa.

Jack ran Taylor Street Market with his parents for many years. He graduated from Ottawa Township High School and then Bradley University. Jack proudly served in the United States Army. He was a Green Bay Packers fan and a fan of the Chicago White Sox. He loved bowling, gardening, crossword puzzles, and spending his winters in Florida. Jack was a member of the Eagle Scouts, St. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s Men’s Club, the Moose, and the Ottawa Men’s Bowling Association.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne Stortz; two children, Jodi (Brian) Porter and Jay Stortz (Kris Tuuk), both of Ottawa; three grand children, Jake Stortz, Trent Porter, and Maddie Porter; and two brothers, Gary Stortz and Barry Stortz (Jeanie Caskey).

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister-in-law, Barb Stortz; and his grandson baby Porter.

Pallbearers will be Trent Porter, Jake, Ben, Bryan, Brett, Roger, and David Stortz, and Nathan Holland.

Memorials may be directed to the LaSalle County Nursing Home.

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

Freda M. Schomas, 90, of Ottawa, died on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Private burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home.

Freda was born on August 11, 1925, in Ottawa, to Louis and Freda (Feurer) Schomas. Freda was a graduate of the Ottawa Township High School. After graduation she became a bookkeeper. Her career lasted 44 years. She worked at Corbus Drug Store from 1943 to 1965 and Ottawa Township High School from 1965 to 1987 at which time she retired.

Freda enjoyed her privacy and was very meticulous in both her personal and professional life. She was very helpful and interested in the life of her extensive family. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her brother, Mervin Schomas, of Marseilles, nieces, Colleen Maggi, of FL, Lora Burgwald, of Ottawa, Linda Shamburg, of Ottawa, and Susan Denton, of Rapp, TX, and multiple generations of great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Louis and Merle Schomas, and a sister, Shirley Schomas.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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

William LeRoy Barber, 94, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 at Pleasant View Luther Home.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor David E. Daniel officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., two hours prior to the services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park, with full military rites.

William was born September 7, 1921 in Tuttle, North Dakota to James M. and Geraldine (Alder) Barber.  The Barber family moved to Watseka, IL when Bill was young.  He graduated from Watseka High School, where he lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track.  He attended Western Illinois University and following his military service, he attended Coyne Electric School in Chicago.

Bill enlisted in the Marine Corp in WWII, serving in campaigns in Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu.  While in the Pacific Islands, he was assigned to communications.  His second tour of duty in the Pacific was in the Marine Air Force as a radio operator.

In 1945, he married the former Leona Amacher of Watseka and they moved to Ottawa.  Leona died in 1985.  Bill worked at LOF, and retired after 34 years of service.  He married Lorraine (Barron) Riordan in 1986, and they moved to Keowee Key in South Carolina, where they lived for 21 years before moving back to Ottawa in 2013.

He is survived by his daughter Joyce Hoskins of Eagen, MN; son Michael L. Barber of Coralville, IA; five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by five stepchildren: Karen (Murat) Ozbek of Sparks, NV; Kalah (John) Considine of Naperville, IL; Patrick (Lydia) Riordan of Austin, TX; Mary Beth Riordan (Hilton Davis) of Springfield, VA and Anne Riordan (Don Wisniewski) of South Bend, IN; eleven step-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leona, brothers Charles W. Barber and James Barber, sister Lucille Marcier, and wife Lorraine.

A proud member of the American Legion, Post 33 in Ottawa, Bill was an avid fisherman and golfer, still playing golf into his 90’s.

Pallbearers will be Marc Hoskins, Thomas Nixon, Pat Riordan, Don Wisniewski, Eric Fruland, and John Considine. Paul Baker will be an honorary pallbearer.

Memorials may be directed to donor’s choice.

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

LaVerne R. Jameson, 90, of Earlville, Illinois, passed away Friday, January 22, 2016 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at the Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor Cynthia Zolk, of Serena United Methodist Church, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

LaVerne was born February 23, 1925 in Ottawa, Illinois to LeRoy and Mayme (Thompson) Jameson.  He married Alice Newtson on October 4, 1947 in Ottawa.

LaVerne was a farmer for all of his life and had sold seed at Monsanto Seed Company for fifty years. He was a member of the LaSalle County Farm Bureau, the Ottawa Moose Lodge, and Serena United Methodist Church. He was also on the board of directors for the First National Bank of Triumph and Triumph Elevator.

He is survived by his wife, Alice; three children, Roger Jameson, Dolores (Rich) Dannenberg, and Karen (Alan) Dorick; four grandchilren, Marc (Kelly), Brent (Sandra), Jeremy (Kristin), and Brad (Kate); eleven great-grandchildren, Courtney, Zane, Robbie, Haliee, Calyn, McKena, Gavin, Grayden, Hadley, Joseph Robert, and Margaret; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Brad and Jeremy Dorick, Mike Dunn, John McDonnell, Stuart Warren, Rich Dannenberg, and Alan Dorick.

Memorials may be directed to the Serena United Methodist Church or the Serena Fire Department and Ambulance Service.

LaVerne is laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.

Jaxon Jerry Rasmussen infant son of Alison Stencel and Andrew Rasmussen, both of Ottawa passed away Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be private. He will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park.

He is survived by his parents; his grandparents, Richard Stencel, Dawn LeBeau, Julie Rasmussen, and Larry Rasmussen; and his great-grandparents, Karen Sorenson, and Robert and Janet Stencel.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather Jerry Sorenson.

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

OTTAWA – Virgil “Ed” Revelle, age 86, of Ottawa, passed away early Friday morning, January 22, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 25, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Naplate with Father Tony Fevlo officiating.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. Monday morning at the church.  Private entombment with military rites will follow the mass in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Ed was born February 3, 1929 in Ottawa, the son of Virgil Clayton and Nora (Cain) Revelle.  He was raised by his grandmother, Alma Bischoff.  He married Theresa Batistini May 2, 1951 at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Naplate.  Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Theresa, of Ottawa; his daughters, Patty (Bob) Strickland of Ottertail, MN and Nancy (Dan) McDonnell of Ottawa; his grandchildren, Mary, Bill (Lisa), and Marcia McDonnell; two great grandchildren, Brandon and Brady McDonnell; and one sister, Norma Jean (Dale) Myer of Ottawa.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandmother.

Ed was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Naplate.  Ed proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.  He was the Past Exalted Ruler of the Ottawa Elks and Past President of Deer Park Country Club.  He was also a member of Knights of Columbus as well as the Ottawa Moose Lodge.  In his leisure times, Ed enjoyed boating, playing golf, and playing cards.  He especially enjoyed meeting with his morning coffee group daily at the Sunfield Restaurant.  Ed was devoted to his family and cherished time spent with them.  He was a friend to all.

Memorial contributions may be directed to charity of the donor’s choice.

Ed is laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Hope.

Violet Olsen, 93, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, January 18, 2016 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Graveside services will be Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 1:15 p.m. in the chapel at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Violet was born October 1, 1922 in Bendigo, Australia, to Henry and Mabel (White) Middling. She married Lawrence Cokley on August 14, 1943, while he was serving in the United States Marine Corp in the South Pacific; he died November 11, 1961. She then married Glen Rodewald in 1964; he died March 10, 1971. Violet then married Carl “Swede” Olsen on June 17, 1972; he died July 6, 1999.

Violet was a homemaker. She was president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary several times.

She is survived by two daughters, Annette Cokley and Sandra Hiles; one son, Robert (Linda) Cokley; one step-son, Randy Olsen; fourteen grandchildren, Bernie, Natalie, Larry, Melissa, Debbie, Brian, Sommer, Lance, Andrew, Amber, Jamie, Jason, PJ, and Jennifer; eighteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, one daughter, Janice Cokley; one grandchild, Kevin Budnik; and fourteen siblings.

Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

Violet is laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.