May 2019

Velma Maxine Meier, 92, of Morris, passed away Thursday May 23, 2019 at Park Pointe Healthcare in Morris. Born in Mc Cune, Kansas on May 31, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Phillip and Nellie Elizabeth (Kennedy) Harrington.
Velma married Herbert Clarion Lloyd in 1942, and he preceded her in death. She married Glenn Meier in 1969, who also has preceded her in death. She was employed with the Morris Paper Mill and the State of Illinois.
Velma is survived by her children Wayne (Jane) Lloyd of Morris Illinois, Herbert C. (Myra) Lloyd of Bremen, AL, Bruce (Violi) Lloyd of Vallejo, CA, Ardythe (Allen) Flesher of Serena, IL and Robert (Mary) Lloyd of Chongqing, China; 12 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and 8 great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husbands, Herbert Lloyd and Glenn Meier.
Memorials may be made in Velma’s name to the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.
A visitation for Velma will be held on Saturday May 25, 2019 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home in Morris. A Celebration of Velma’s life will follow at 12:00 pm, officiated by Pastor Kevin Yandall of the New Community Christian Church. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.
Arrangements have been entrusted with U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home, 301 W. Washington Street, Morris, IL. For further information visit the website at www.ucdaviscallahan.com or contact the funeral home at 815-942-0084. Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting the website.

Velma was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayer.

Lois J. Prince, 86, of Brainerd, MN, entered her heavenly home on December 31st, 2018 from Essentia-Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Funeral Services for Lois will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019 at 2:00PM at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN with Pastor Rick Hans officiating. Visitation for Lois will be held one hour prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be held in Illinois.

Lois was born June 8th, 1932 to Ethel (Leach) and Elmer Frederick. She married William H. Prince on January 16th, 1990 and moved with him to Brainerd from Peoria, IL. Lois loved all animals, especially feeding and watching birds. She could even get a chipmunk to eat out of her hands. Lois spoke often and fondly of the beloved dog she shared with her husband, Bill, and kept a picture close by to show visitors. She also enjoyed going fishing on the end of the dock and Sunday lunch dates after church with her friends. Lois had a feisty spirit and enjoyed banter with her family and looked forward to anytime they’d take her out to eat.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and siblings: Robert (Rosemary) Frederick, Dorothy (Benjamin) Erford, and Norma (Lester) Schmidt. She was survived by the Prince family she inherited by marriage including three step-children Marette (Elliott) Plumer, Bill (Georgia Stigall) Prince, Mark (Rosie) Prince; four step-grandchildren Tony (Shelly) Plumer, Alison (David) Eeten, Darrin (Carrie Ryan) Prince, and Brady (Amanda) Prince; and 9 step-great grandchildren. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.

Lois was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in The Garden of inspiration.

Anne M. Harding, 93, of Ottawa passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Pleasant View Luther Home.

Funeral Services will be at 12 pm, Monday, May 13 at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Rev. Bruno Byomuhangi officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to noon, prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Anne was born June 29, 1925, in Ottawa to John and Katherine (Ecimovich) Damyen. She married Elbert W. Harding on June 8, 1946 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa; he passed away January 13, 2001. Anne attended beauty school in Peoria. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She loved quilting and canning, and she enjoyed working in the yard and taking long walks. She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

She is survived by two sons, Richard Allen (Julie Kelly) Harding of Earlville and Ronald Lee (Cindy) of California; five grandchildren, Matthew (Tracy) Harding, Jenna (Pete) Pfau, Justina Whalen, David Harding, and Ashley (Matt) Breitmaier; one great-grandson, Oliver James; and one sister, Frances (late William) Fuller.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Jack and Edward Damyen; and three sisters, Katherine Nichols, Marie Capitani, and a sister in infancy.

Pallbearers will be Matt Harding, Justina Whalen, Kevin VanZuiden, Randy Capitani, John Damyen, and Tim Fuller.

Anne was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayer.

Kenneth Eike, 79, of Ottawa passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Funeral Service will be at 3:00 pm Monday, May 13, 2019, at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Pastor Phil Peterson officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm prior to the funeral at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Kenneth was born January 5, 1940, in Ottawa, Illinois to Emmett Eike and Arilla Arntzen. He married Marilyn Johnson on January 20, 1962 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa; she passed away September 25, 1974. He later married Charlene Just-Wisniewski on August 10, 1976, at St. Columba Church in Ottawa.

Ken was raised in Stavanger, Illinois and graduated from Seneca High School and the University of Illinois. He taught at Ottawa High School for over 30 years as an agriculture teacher, FFA advisor, and basketball coach. After his retirement, Ken – also known to friends and family as ‘Grumpy’ – enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, planting and maintaining his many flower pots in the summer and mums in the fall, and, most of all, decorating his house with an extraordinary number of lights every Christmas. Grumpy was a master at outdoor grilling which highlighted many family meals. Knowing his grandchildren enjoyed it so much, he would mail them packages of seasoned, frozen meat when they were away at college. His family will always be reminded of Grumpy when eating a pork chop sandwich.

He is survived by his wife Charlene ‘Boots’ Eike; his four children: David (Cynthia) Eike of Alpharetta, Georgia, Lynnette (Keith) Lambert of Ottawa, David (Kimberly) Wisniewski of Tigard, Oregon, and Donald (Anne Riordan) Wisniewski of South Bend, Indiana; his grandchildren: Corbin Eike, Carlin (Ryan) Warren, Zachary Lambert, Jacob Lambert, Matthew Lambert, Lucas Lambert, Kyla Wisniewski, James Wisniewski, Kevin Wisniewski, Rosemary Wisniewski, and Andrew Wisniewski; and one brother, Gary (Edie) Eike.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Marilyn Johnson; his daughter-in-law, Cydney Eike; his sisters-in-law: Kay and Libby Eike; and one nephew, Jeff Eike.

Pallbearers will be his Grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the family to benefit the Ottawa High School FFA Program and OTHS Educational Foundation.

Ken was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayer.

Naomi Arlene (Bounds) Kuk, 91, of Ottawa passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral Services will be at 1 pm, Friday, May 10 at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Visitation will be from 11 to 1 pm, prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Naomi was born September 3, 1927, in Wedron, IL, to Frank and Rose (Clouse) Bounds. She married Louis Kuk in Ottawa; he passed away August 23, 2016. Naomi was a member of the Moose Lodge, the American Legion, Dayton Ridge Golf Course, and Sweet Adalines. She loved golfing, music, and was especially fond of her grandchildren.

Naomi was the beloved mother of James (Colleen) Poulaki, Jean Riccolo, and Judy Denbo. She is also survived by her ten beloved grandchildren, Jodi Baldauf, Jason Livingston, Tiffany and Tenile Denbo, Josh, Jamie, Julian, and Jordan Poulaki, Dean Kuk, and Traci Putnam; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mary Schmitt.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis; two grandchildren, Jill and Justin Poulaki; a sister, Veda Gould; and a brother, Frank Bounds.

Pallbearers will be Jason Livingston, Dean Kuk, Joshua Poulaki, Julian Poulaki, Jordan Poulaki, and Brodi Denbo. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dewey Gould and Ron Calaway.

Memorials may be directed to her family.

Naomi was laid to rest in The Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Richard A. Schmidt, 84, of Ottawa passed away Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Joliet Area Community Hospice.

Private services will be held at a later date. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation rites.

Richard was born May 13, 1934, in Ottawa to Paul and Lucie (Loomis) Schmidt. He was a lifelong Dayton Township farmer and a diehard Cardinals fan. Richard would do anything for anyone and was an extremely dedicated uncle to his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his two sisters, Katherine Newton of Ottawa and Rachel (Cliff) Yell of Tucson, Arizona; six nieces and nephews, Nancy (Bill) Hawk, Paul Newton, Greg (Theresa) Newton, Robert (Stacey) Yell, Susan (John) Burns, and David Yell; and many great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In liue of flowers, memorials may be directed to Joliet Area Community Hospice; 250 Waterstone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431.

Richard was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in The Garden of Inspiration.

Carol J. Green-Bookout, 75, of Marseilles passed away Monday, May 1, 2019 at her home.

Funeral Services will be at 10 am, Tuesday, May 7 at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Pastor Cheri Stewart officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm, Monday, May 6 at the funeral home. She will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Carol was born July 30, 1943 in Ottawa to Floyd and Elva (Huckins) Johnson. She married Bert Green on July 14, 1962; he passed away June 28, 1994. She married Carl Bookout on June 16, 2012; he survives.

Carol attended Ottawa High School. She worked at McDonalds in Ottawa for 19 years and then worked at Ottawa Hospital for 10 years, retiring in 2012. She was a member Loyal Order of the Moose for 50 years. Carol loved country-western music and a devout fan of the TV series Days of Our Lives. Carol was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she loved to attend the weekly women’s bible studies. She was sure to read her bible every morning. Carol loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Carl; three children, Richard (Cathy) Green, Robert (Rene) Green, and Rhonda (Eric) Dillon; ten grandchildren, Jessica, Jennifer, Nick, Jacob, Brandon, Alicia, Simon, Nikki, Ryan, and Aaron; two great-grandchildren, Peyton and Rebecca; three sisters, Dorothy Peek, Janice Johnson, and Donna (Joe) Mullin; and one sister-in-law, Patti Hughes.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Elva; her first husband, Bert; her parents-in-law, Lester and Lucille Green; and her sister, Nancy Farmer.

Memorials may be directed to her family.

Carol was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayer.

Ethel Zsizsik, 98, of Ottawa, died on Monday night, April 8, at Aperion Care in Marseilles.Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. Bruno Byomuhangi, of St. Francis of Assisi Church, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Ethel was born on Feb. 17, 1921, in Ottawa to John and Rose (Fekete) Zsizsik. She was a 1939 Graduate of Ottawa Township High School. She was employed at Luminous Processes, later attended Beauty School and owned and operated “My Fair Lady” for more than 50 years. She was a member of various beautician organizations, and bowled in Ottawa leagues for many years. Ethel is survived by 12 nieces and nephews: Sandra Houtz, of Ottawa, Roseanne Hubbard, of Plano, Janet Williams, of Winfield, Dorothy Wilkins, of Plymouth, MN., Wade Kilgore, of Sheridan, Ernest Peters, of Seneca, Pearl Patarozzi, of Morris, Jerry Peters, of Sencea, Jean Stubblefield, of Marseilles, Richard Raber, of Wheaton, Clark Raber, of Ottawa, and Sandra Austin, of Mechanicsville, VA. 31 great nieces and nephews, and 45 great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Rose Kilgore, Annie Peters, and Elizabeth Ann Raber, three brothers, John, Stephen, and Ernest Zsizsik, one niece, Sharon Richer, and one nephew, John Peters. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.

Ethel was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in The Garden of the Last Supper.

William Modesitt, 89, of Ottawa, died on Friday night, April 26, at Aperion Care in Marseilles. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1 in the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. Corey Krengiel, of the Ottawa Catholic Parishes, officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa where full military rights will be conducted by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the services.

Bill was born on May 14, 1929 in Ottawa to Lee A. and Leona (Bayer) Modesitt. He served in the U. S. Navy from 1946 to 1948. He married Jeanne Dooley on September 23, 1950 at the First United Methodist church in Ottawa. He was employed by L.O.F. for 42 years, building the L.O.F. Plant in Sherman Texas where he was the Plant Superintendent. He was a member of American Legion Post 33, a charter member of the Illinois Valley Idlers, a member of the Confederate Air Force travelling to air shows featuring all the WWII planes, and a member of the NRA. He was involved in Race the Dragster from 1958- 1965, he also raced boats from 1968-1972, setting a world record. Bill also completed 89 sky-diving jumps. He and his wife loved to travel and went on 29 cruises together.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, a son, Gary (Sheila) of Ottawa, 4 grandchildren, William Modesitt, of Florida, Nina Alvizo, of California, Michael Modesitt, of Virginia, and Erin Byrd, of Marseilles, 3 step-grandchildren, Mindy Sheely, Tiffany Apfel, and Travis Redford, all of Ottawa, 14 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Lorraine “Toots” Lieske, of Ottawa, and Virginia Mohkovic, of Ottawa. He was preceded in death by one son, William, and 2 brothers, Tom and Russell Modesitt.

Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.

William was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayer.

Florence Shreve, (nee: Burkiewicz) of O’Fallon, Missouri, passed away Monday, April 8, 2019, at the age of 91. Beloved wife of the late James R. Shreve; cherished daughter of the late John and Mary Burkiewicz; devoted mother of Nancy Kain; loving grandmother of Douglas (Diana) Kain, Tracy Kain, and Michelle (Alan) Beeson; treasured great-grandmother of Zebidiah Guillow, Zachary Guillow, Allison Kain, and Lindsey Kain; dear aunt to many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Florence is also preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas Burkiewicz and Rudolph Burkiewicz; and her sister, Angeline Ajister.

Florence was a much beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was member of the Moose Lodge in Ottawa, Illinois, and in her free time she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, bowling, and bingo. In her younger years, she also loved roller skating, and dancing the Polka. Florence especially cherished her time spent with her family and attending her great-grandchildren’s activities. Florence was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her friends and family, as well as her treasured dog, “Happy”.

Memorial contributions may be made in Florence’s honor to BackStoppers.

Florence was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration at Oakwood Memorial Park.