December 2017

Dale W. Smith, 69, of Marseilles passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

A celebration of life will be held from 11:00 – 2:00 Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Ottawa VFW with military honors. Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with his cremation. Burial will be at a later date in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Dale was born November 17, 1948 in Streator, Illinois. He was a truck driver and retired as a correctional officer. He proudly served in the United States Army during Vietnam and he received the Purple Heart. He was a member of the Ottawa VFW.

He is survived by his mother, Jean M. Johnston; three children, Harmony Smith, Chad Mitchell, and Tamara (Eneas) Cyr; six grandchildren, Michael and Emma Thompson, Kenzy Mitchell, Brady Mitchell all of Ottawa, Keara Aan Eneas Cyr, and Ezrah Axton Eneas Desmarias both of Wapato, Washington; one great grandson, Weston Whitney.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur and Mildred Crosiar; his brother, Duane Smith; and his grandson, Tyler Thompson.

Memorials may be directed to his family.

Dale has been laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

Ann L. (Gage) Duback, 74, of Ottawa passed away Friday, December 16, 2016 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with her cremation. Burial will be at a later at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Ann was born August 21, 1942 in Ottawa, Illinois to Glen and Dorothy (Gash) Gage. Ann was a Bailiff for 18 years at the LaSalle County Court House.

She is survived by two sons, Mark Sila and Don (Aletha) Sila; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her little buddy, Dalton Ryan, who she loved dearly; five siblings, Glenda Bain, Tim (Jocelyn) Gage, Jim (Linda) Gage, Mike (Donna) Gage, Gary Gage; many nieces and nephews; and her furry friend, Lulu.

She is preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Kelly Gage; and one nephew, Daniel “Iddy” Bain.

Memorials may be directed to her family.

Ann has been laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Robert J. Miner, 65, of Earlville passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at his home.

Cremation rites have been accorded. He was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 with full military honors.

Ottawa Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.

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

Elizabeth A Thumm, 93, of Ottawa passed away Friday, December 15, 2017 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at St. Columba Church with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be 10:00 – 11:00, one hour prior to services, on Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Betty was born in Ottawa, Illinois to James and Mary (Patruski) DeBernardi. She married William Thumm on Feb. 18, 1943 in Ottawa; he passed away May 18, 2001. Betty was a member of St. Columba Church and she volunteered at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital Reruns Store.

She is survived by one daughter, Sally (Tom) Baker, of Ottawa, four sons, William Jr. (Kathee) of Rockford, Joseph (Cindy), Jeffrey (Julie) and James Thumm all Ottawa; nineteen grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and her siblings, Joyce Piercy and James (Leona) DeBernardi.

She is preceded in death by parents, her husband; one son John Thumm; one daughter-in-law, Debbie Thumm; and her brother, Jack DeBernardi.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to St. Columba Church.

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

Helen J. Olson, 92, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday morning December 5, 2017, at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday December 9, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with Rev. Nathan Feig, Pastor, and Rev. David Ufkes,officiating.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 8, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Helen was born June 19, 1925 in Morris, IL. She was the daughter of Jasper and Lettie (Clauson) Jelm. She graduated from Seneca Township High School. Helen was employed as a secretary for A.M. Brown Insurance Agency, Seneca Shipyards, E.I. Dupont, and Ottawa Elementary Schools.  On November 4, 1950, she married Frederick L. Olson at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Seneca, IL.  Helen was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also a member of the Rebecca Rorem Circle and the Ottawa Woman’s Club. She was both a Camp Fire Girls Den Mother and a Cub Scouts Den Mother.

Helen is survived by her; one daughter, Pam (John) Hohertz of LaMoille; two sons, Keith (Judy) Olson of Bolingbrook, and Mark Olson of Ottawa; six grandchildren, Kristen (Steve) Schnackel, Brian Olson, Kevin Olson, Scott Olson, Lindsay Hohertz, and Jonathon Hohertz, one great-grandson, David Schnackel, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Helen was preceded in death by her father and mother, Jasper and Lettie Jelm, her husband, Frederick L. Olson who passed away on January 14, 2013, one brother, Lloyd J. Jelm, her sister, Lois J. Steep, and a sister in infancy Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church of Ottawa, IL.

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

Thomas Joseph Meglan, 70, of Ottawa passed away Monday, June 5, 2017 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 7 pm, Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Corey Krengiel officiating. Visitation will be 4 – 7 pm, prior to services, Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.

Tom was born March 9, 1947 in Peru, to Robert and Theresa (Proehl) Meglan. He owned and operated Fox River Marina for many years. Tom was a fan of the Chicago Bears. He was a kind and loving man who loved to dance and have fun. He was a loving father and grandfather.

He is survived by two children, Jayna Meglan of Ottawa, and Joe (Tara) Meglan of Rincon, GA; five grandchildren, Jonathan Headrick, and Drew, Gracie, Brady, and Gavin Meglan; three brothers, Jim (Robin) Meglan, Ray (Cindy) Meglan, and Terry Meglan; one sister, Debi (Kenneth) Fessler; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bobby.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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