Monthly Archives

February 2018

Mark W. Traub, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Mark W. Traub, 67, of LaSalle, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, after an extended illness. Memorial services will be held at 5:00 PM, Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Mueller-Pagani Funeral Home in LaSalle.  Private interment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.  Visitation will be 3-5:00 PM Sunday, February 18 at the funeral home.

Mr. Traub was born March 25, 1950 in Trenton, NJ to Kenneth and Alice (Satterthwaite) Traub.  He received his bachelor’s degree in business from Loyola University in Chicago.  He married Dorothy “Dotsy” Gray on June 16, 1973 in Morrisville, PA. Mr. Traub was the manager at the Red Door Restaurant in Peru, co-owner and chef at MichaelAngelo’s in LaSalle, manager at Deer Park Country Club and retired as a driver for M & M News Agency.  He enjoyed golfing and fishing and was a sports fan.  His greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Dotsy; his son, Michael (Nicole) Traub of Peru; two granddaughters, Autumn and Caitlin; two sisters, Peggy (Ron) Dew of Arizona and Gretchen (Tom) Phillips of Pennsylvania; one brother, Douglas (Vicki) Traub of Pennsylvania and several nieces and nephews.

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

Memorial contributions may be directed to Family House in Peoria.

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

Laverne “Mike” J. Rublaitus, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Laverne “Mike” J. Rublaitus, 92, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, February 12, 2018 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 Saturday at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Driscoll officiating. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:00, prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Services.

Mike was born May 15, 1925 in Seatonville, Illinois to John and Anna Rublaitus. He married Nancy Jelm on Sept 19, 1953 at St. Patrick’s Church in Ottawa.

Mike served in the US Marines during WWII. He was a corporal and squad leader in Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. He was in action on Cape Gloucester, New Britain, at Peleliu, Palau, and on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. He received the Purple Heart on Peleliu and the Bronze Star on Okinawa.

Mike worked forty years at LOF/Pilkington and retired in 1986. He was a member of St. Patrick Church and the Royal Bayreuth Club. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and playing cards.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons, Jeff (Susan) Rublaitus and Jay (Karen) Rublaitus; two grandchildren, Justin (Tiffany) Rublaitus and Megan (Wes) Page; and three great-grandchildren, Bailey, Alexa, and Elias.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Rosella, and seven brothers, Benjamin, William, Carl, John, Tony, Raymond, and his twin brother Leo (Ike).

Pallbearers will be Keith Carlson, Chuck Heerhold, Ken Thompson, Wes Page, Neil Neurohr, and Dan and Justin Rublaitus.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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

Theresa Dummett, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Theresa Dummett, 86, of Ottawa died on Friday, February 9, 2018 at Pleasant View. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, with Rev. Jeff Windy, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Theresa was born on February 16, 1931 in Ottawa to Nicholas M. and Theresa M. (Keller) Tabor. She married William Dummett in 1965 in Ottawa. Theresa was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church and it’s Altar and Rosary Society. She also worked at The Sue-Ann Shoppe for many years.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband William, 2 brothers Nicholas M. Tabor, Jr. and Robert Tabor, 3 sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” Hill, Lena Tabor, and Anna Kiest and 3 half-sisters, Frances Moore, Mary Mortenson, and Eva Williams.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Nick Tabor, Nicholas Tabor IV, Mike, Matt, and Joe Foltz, and Marc Tabor. 

Memorials may be directed to the improvement fund at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Theresa has been laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Lillian F. Roether, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Lillian F. Roether, 101, a long-time resident of Ottawa passed away Friday, February 2, 2018.

Funeral service will be 1:30 pm Friday, February 9, 2018 at Oakwood Memorial Park. Her visitation will be 1:00 – 1:30, prior to services, at Oakwood Memorial Park.  Ottawa Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lillian was born November 23, 1916 to Peter and Marie Carrier of Ottawa. Lillian married Lester C. Burrows of Ottawa June 29, 1934; he preceded her in death. They had a son, Lester E. Burrows, who resides in Rock Falls, Illinois.

She later married James W. Roether, of Hennepin, Illinois on July 12, 1947; he also preceded her in death. They spent their entire married life in Dayton Township, Ottawa. Lillian and James also had a son, David, who preceded her in death in July 2017.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, Peter and Mariel; her brothers, Harold, Bill, and Richard; and her sisters, Elma and Loretta.

She was a life long member of First Baptist Church in Ottawa.

She is survived by her son, Lester E. Burrows of Rock Falls; her brother, George Carrier of Mountain Home, AR; several grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; as well as several nephews and nieces.

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

Lawrence E. Ogden, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Lawrence E. Ogden, 91, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, February 5, 2018 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 AM Friday, February 9, 2018 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Bladen officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory. He will be entombed at Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Services in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum.

Larry was born May 22, 1926 in Cornell, Illinois to Earl and Nellie (Lawrence) Ogden. He married Diane Lotz on February 22, 1953 in Grand Ridge IL. She died Feb. 14, 2016. He served in the Army from 1950-1952 in the Korean War as an operator and mechanic. Larry retired from LaSalle County Highway Department. In his early years he was a truck driver for many local companies. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW. He was an avid fisherman and loved being with his grandsons.

He is survived by his son, Charlie (Fran) Ogden of Marseilles; two grandsons, Jason (Ali) Ogden, and Doug (Jeann’e) Ogden; and five great-grandchildren, Camryn, Jadyn, Ainsley, Britta and Anistyn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Diane; and one son, Roger.

Pallbearers will be Jason and Doug Ogden, Paul Hogue, Dan Mason, Gary Myers, and Jerry Roesler. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Gingrich and Paul Hageline.

Memorials may be directed to LaSalle County Nursing Home or to Pet Project in Marseilles.

Larry has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Love.

Elwood “Woody” E. Wicks, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Elwood “Woody” E. Wicks, 85, of New Lenox, IL died Saturday, February 3, at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

Private graveside services were held at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with his services.

Woody was born February 1, 1933, in Sisseton, South Dakota to Ephraim and Ella (Seal) Wicks. He married Carol (Barwick) on September 12, 1953, in Ottawa, Illinois

Woody worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, Illinois until 1987, when he retired after 35 years of service.

He is survived by a daughter, Cynthia (Greg) Kramer of Mokena, IL; two sons, Bradley (Carrie) of Ballwin, MO and Barton of New Lenox; two grandchildren, Kyle (Ashlie) of Waukee, IA and Kendra (Andy) Hines of St Peters, MO; and two great grandsons, Alton Hines and Grayson Wicks.

Woody was proceeded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers; and a sister.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter of Tinley Park, IL.

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

Betty “Betsy” L. Johnson Sine, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Betty “Betsy” L. Johnson Sine, 93, of Lampe, Missouri, formerly of Utica passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018 at her home with family at her side.

Funeral Ceremony will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday February 6, 2018 at Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

She was born in Los Angeles, California to Scott and Ruth Johnson. She was a wonderful and beautiful person. She always had a smile or a good joke when she greeted people. She loved remodeling, gardening, and was a very big John Wayne fan. Her love of Native Americans started with her husband, Hayna helping in anyway she could, but never exploited the culture. She married Gerhard (Hayna) J Sine in July of 1964 in Chicago where they met. She graduated from Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois in 1945 with a bachelors degree in English Literature. She started working at Fuller, Smith & Ross Company as an art buyer in Chicago from 1950 to 1960. She was also a crossing guard for Utica Public Schools in the 1980’s.

 She is survived by her husband of 53 years Gerhard J Sine “Hayna”; her daughter, Jebette L. Sine of Blue Eye, Missouri; her son, J.Thorpe “Nes” Sine of Glenpool,Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Nicole (Neal) Ponkilla of Oklahoma, Kyle Sine of Oklahoma, Sampson Sine of Missouri; two great grandchildren, Ember Sky Primeaux and Nyah Ponkilla of Oklahoma; she has five nieces on the Johnson side of the family and one nephew; and on her husband’s side of the family she has three nephews and one niece.

She was preceded in death of both parents; one sister; a stepbrother; her uncles and aunts; and her in-laws, Sampson and Ruth Sine.

 Memorials may be directed to the family.
Betsy has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Ruth Kozlowsky, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Ruth Kozlowsky, 93, of Dwight, formerly of Ottawa, died on Wednesday, January 31, at Morris Hospital.  Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 5, in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.   Burial will follow.  Visitation will be from 10:30 to11 a.m.   Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Ruth was born on August 19, 1924, in Wallace Twp. to Swen and Marie (Newgaard) Boe.  She was a bookkeeper for 25 years.  She attended Ottawa Township High School and graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls, Minn. She married Edmund S. Kozlowsky on May 3, 1952, in Santa Monica, California.  She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran Church in Ottawa.

She is survived by two daughters, Lynn  Ettinger, of Chicago, and  Karen (Martin) Malone, of Kempton, Illinois, a son, David Kozlowsky, of Knoxville, Tenn.,  and 3 grandchildren: Sam, Matt, and Katie Malone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund, on June 30, 2009, a sister,  Midge Muller, and two brothers, Alvin and Stanley Boe.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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

Elaine Christine Berkland, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Elaine Christine Berkland, 69, of Marseilles, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2018 at her home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday February 3, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marseilles with Rev. Anthony Ego officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Elaine was born April 28, 1948 in Ottawa, to Joseph and Eleanor (Ricci) Svoboda. On August 22 1969, she married Andrew Berkland of Seneca, who survives.

“Big Mama”, as she was affectionately known, lived life to the fullest. She loved to travel with her family and friends and would always include details in her Christmas card letters that she was known for writing. She was a die hard “Parrothead” and always insisted on listening to Jimmy Buffett songs during her “short bus” trips so everyone please wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt if you join us on Friday or Saturday. She enjoyed helping with her son’s haunted house every year and decorated her house to the fullest for every holiday. She was known for her outrageous holiday outfits and accessories she would wear to school during the 47 years she taught 4th grade at Marseilles Elementary School before retiring in 2016.

Elaine was a member of the Marseilles Lions Club for many years where she was a past president. She helped with Bingo every Thursday night and was always lending a hand at other club activities and fundraisers. Most of all though, Elaine was the proudest grandparent in the world. She never missed a sporting event or activity and never missed an opportunity to brag about how special they were.

Elaine is survived by her husband, Andy “Big Daddy”; a daughter, Kristi (Wes) Schmidt of Marseilles; a son, Duane (Jessica) Berkland of Marseilles; four grandchildren, Brayden and Conner Schmidt, and Killian and Marina Berkland; one brother, Joe (Judy) Svoboda of Marseilles.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Pallbearers will be Wes Schmidt, Rick Berkland, Gary Erickson, Matt DeMoss, Steve Combs and Frank Formas.

Elaine has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Love.

Susan Scidmore, Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa IL

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Susan Scidmore, 99, of Ottawa died on Sunday, January 28, of the Ottawa Pavilion.  Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 1, in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.  Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the services.

Susan was born on Feb. 15, 1918 in Ottawa the daughter of Blanche Scidmore.   She was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School and Peacock Business School and was employed in the office at Larson Insurance until her retirement.  She was a life-long member of Epworth United Methodist Church and a member of her card club for 70 years.

She is survived by nieces and nephews, David and Debbie Henneke, of Ottawa, and Mary and Don Miller, of Orland Park, great nieces, Sarah (Chris Clemens) Henneke, Jessica (Brett) Howe, and Amanda (Adam Logan) Miller, and great-great nieces and nephews, Miles, Brooks, and Karleigh Howe.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Henneke, and one great-nephew, Jason Henneke.

Memorials may be directed to Epworth United Methodist Church.

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