September 2016

PEORIA – Mildred “Jo” Peters, 92, of Peoria passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2016, at Unity Point Health-Proctor, surrounded by her family.
She was born Mildred J. Sutton on August 27, 1923, in Bloomington, IL. She married Max Peters on December 18, 1950. He preceded her in death on July 12, 2000. Two sons, Raymond L. and Richard M., along with two brothers and two sisters, also preceded her in death.
Surviving children are John (Sandra) Peters of Pekin, Randy (Tamara) of St. Charles, MO, Dianne (Frank) Motherway of Peoria and Lori (Tom) Miller of Ottawa, IL. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Jo (aka Ma/Mo) cherished her family and was a joyous participant in holidays, vacations and all family gatherings. Jo was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Streator, IL.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A service and celebration of life will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 3, 2016, at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Ottawa, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in her name to a charity of the donor’s choice . Notes of condolences for the family may be sent using www.peoriafuneral.com.

Mildred has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Seasons.

Blanche Jane Gagliardo, 88, of Ottawa, died on Saturday morning, August 20, 2016 at her home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the Mueller Funeral Home with the Rev. Grace Oh, pastor of Evangelical United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park. Full Military Rites will be accorded. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of services. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Blanche was born on April 14, 1928 in Dewar, Oklahoma, to Antonio and Cleo (Hendricks) Gagliardo. She served in the United States Navy and received her Master’s Degree in Archaeology from Northern Illinois University. She started Taekwondo at the age of 60 and received her brown belt. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, pottery, gem and mineral collecting.

Blanche is survived by her sister, Leona Lampe, of Australia, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 4 brothers, Antonio, Joseph, John and her twin brother Alfred, and 3 sisters, Florence, Rachel “Penny”, and Mary Frances.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.

Pallbearers will be Carl Wruck, Dale Wruck, Rick Sroka, and Henry Wykoff.

Blanche has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Louis P. Kuk, 96, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at St. Columba Church with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Tuesday prior to services at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Mr. Kuk was born in Aurora, Illinois on April 3, 1920 to John and Elizabeth (Popp) Kuk.

He served in the United States Navy during WWII repairing fighter planes on Marshall Island, Kawjalin. During the depression he worked for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). He assisted in marking the hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park and also assisted in highway surveying. He worked for 45 years at LOF and volunteered 150 hours of work on the Boy Scout Museum. He was a member of St. Columba Church, Knights of Columbus, VFW, Moose Lodge, and a charter member of The American Legion.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Naomi; children, Joyce Buck of Pembroke Pines, FL, Louis Dean Kuk of Joliet, Constance Kuk of Chippewa Falls, WI,; stepchildren, Jean Riccolo and Judy Denbo of Ottawa, Jim Poulaki of Streator; two grandchildren, Dean Kuk and Traci Putnam; eight step grandchildren, Jodi Baldauf, Jason Livingston, Jamie, Joshua, Julian, and Jordan Poulaki, Tiffany and Tenile Denbo; and his sister-in-law, Marilyn Kuk.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ann Barton, Mary Hills; brothers, Thomas, John, Steve, and George Kuk; and grandchildren, Jill and Justin Poulaki.

Pallbearers will be Jean Riccolo, Jim Poulaki, Judy Denbo, Dean Kuk, Jason Livingston, and Dave Barton.

Mr. Kuk has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Robert Noel, 67, of Princeton, died Wednesday morning, August 24, at UPH Peoria Methodist Medical Center. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. Brian Gilbert, Pastor of the Princeton United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday.

Bob was born on November 22, 1948 in Ottawa to Troy and Shirley (Capsel) Noel. He married Sheryl Cooper, on June 21, 1969, in the First United Methodist church in Ottawa.

He was a member of the Ottawa Township High School Class of 1966, and a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Bob began his career as a Pharmaceutical Representative for Merck, became a Managed Care Account Executive, and later joined the Vaccine Division until his retirement in 2006.

He was a member of the Princeton First United Methodist church, Princeton Rotary and the Turkey Buzzards.

He is survived by his wife Sheryl, 2 children, Christopher (Andrea) Noel of Washington, IL and Jennifer (Matthew) Reckamp, of Forest Park, IL, 5 grandchildren, Laine and Kaden Noel, Morgan, Lauryn, and Jack Reckamp, and one brother, Ron (Cathy) Noel, of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pallbearers will be Chris Noel, Matt Reckamp, Ron Noel, Fred Pierson, Mike Barr, and Jeff Martin.

Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, or the American Cancer Society.

Bob has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

OTTAWA – Ruth R. “Buela” Gama, age 97, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2016, at St. Columba Catholic Church with Reverend Corey Krengiel officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Friday evening at Gladfelter Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:45 p.m.  Pallbearers will be Louie, Rich, Paul, Carlos, Joe, and Chris Gama.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dustin and Drew Gama and Andrew and Carter Bacon.

Ruth was born September 24, 1918 in Sheffield, Illinois, the daughter of Apolinar and Antonia (Calvillo) Hortega.  She married Vincent Gama in August of 1941 in Palmyra, MO.  He preceded her in death in April of 1970.  Surviving are her son, Pete Gama of Ottawa; three daughters in-law, Bonnie, Kay Lynn, and Gloria Gama, all of Ottawa; her grandchildren, Paula (Robert) Grady, Louie (Jackie), Richard, Carlos, Paul “Buddy” (Mandi), Joseph (Sheila), and Christopher Gama, and Karla (Rick) Bacon, all of Ottawa; eleven great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by two sons, Louie and Paul Gama; two brothers, Joseph and John Hortega; and three sisters, Felicia Hortega, Cecilia Olvera, and Petra Godinez.

Ruth was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church.  She was retired from Community Hospital of Ottawa and worked at Ryburn King Hospital in the housekeeping department.  In her leisure, she enjoyed watching television and sitting outdoors.  Ruth was devoted to her family and cherished time spent with them, especially those times spent with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Ruth has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

William S. “Will” Jackson, 19 month old son of Noah and Alisha Jackson, of Grand Ridge, passed away Friday August 19, 2016, at home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 24 at the First Baptist Church in Marseilles with Reverend David Meyer officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles.

Will was born January 20, 2015 in Spring Valley, to Noah and Alisha (Allshouse) Jackson.

He is survived by his parents; grandparents, Veronica “Roni” and Hugh Williams of Marseilles, Scott Allshouse of Utica, Amy and Bundy McLeod of Sturgis, KY, and Dan and Jill Jackson of Marseilles; great-grandparents, Beatrice Allshouse of Utica, Charles Morrall of Marseilles, Helen Cheatham of Streator, and Kenneth and Marylee Jackson of Streator; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorials may be given to the family, for an education fund for Will’s little brother, who will be arriving in January of 2017, possibly the 20th.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home 1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341 815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com

Will has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Cheryl Beth Warren, 43, of Earlville, died Sunday, March 15, at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Memorial services will be Wednesday at Ottawa Funeral Home, with a celebration of life from 4 to 6 p.m. Cremation rites were accorded.  Inurnment will be at a later date in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa.

She was born Sept. 23, 1965, in Chicago, to Johnny and Louise (Oskroba) O’Dell. She married Robert Warren Jr. on Dec.4, 1987, in La Salle County.

She was a certified nurse’s aid at Willow Crest Nursing Center in Sandwich.

Survivors include her husband,Robert Warren Jr.; one daughter, Brandi Warren of Earlville; one son,Robert Wayne Warren III of Earlville; her mother, Louise Oskroba of Ottawa, and her father,Johnny O’Dell of Metamora; four sisters,Misty Heiston of Earlville, Carrie Crabb of Ottawa, Trisha O’Dell of Dalzell and Johniese (Errol) Samp of Metamora; a brother,Steve O’Dell of Malta; and her paternal grandmother, Helen O’Dell of West Virginia.

She was preceded in death by a nephew, Scotty Heiston, and a niece, Jasmine Justice.

Memorials may be made to the family.

Cheryl has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Seasons.

Robert Warren, Jr., 49, of Earlville, Illinois, passed away December 24, 2011 at Mendota Community Hospital.

Funeral Service for Robert will be 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Visitation will be 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Ottawa Funeral Home.  Inurnment will be at a later date in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa.

Robert was born July 16, 1962 in Aurora, Illinois to Robert and Betty (Peek ) Warren. He married Cheryl O’Dell December 3, 1987 in Ottawa, Illinois. She died March 15, 2009. He was employed by Vactor, Inc. in Streator, Illinois for 19 years.

He is survived by his parents of Seneca; one daughter, Brandi (Jimmy) Warren, of Montgomery; one son, Robert Warren III, of Ottawa; one grandson, James Colgan; two sisters, Betty Libner, of Earlville, and Kathy (Brian) Hassler, of Spring Valley; and his companion, Bobbi Worth of Earlville.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Robert has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Seasons.