August 2019

Alice Jameson (nee Newtson), 91, of Earlville, Illinois passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at home.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 Saturday, August 24, 2019 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Pastor Rich Fassig officiating.  Her visitation will be 10:00 – 11:00 Saturday, one hour prior to services, at Ottawa Funeral Home. She will be buried in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Alice was born on March 25, 1928 in Ottawa, Illinois to Richard and Isabel (Handover) Newtson.  She married La Verne Jameson on October 4, 1947 in Ottawa. Alice attended Serena United Methodist Church.  She was a member of the Ottawa Moose Lodge and also served as a leader of the 4-H club.  Later in life, she volunteered at Ottawa Hospital.

She is survived by her three children, Roger (Doreen) Jameson, Dolores (Rich) Dannenberg, and Karen Dorick; two grandchildren, Jeremy (Kristin) and Brad (Kate); two step-grandchildren, Marc (Kelly) and Brent (Sandra); five great grandchildren, Grayden, Hadley, Joseph, Margaret and June; six step-great grandchildren, Courtney, Zane, Robbie, Haliee, CaLyn (Rafa), McKena, and Gavin; two great great step-grandchildren Adalyn and Ralph; her brother, Kenneth (Vicki) Newtson; her brother-in-law, John (Rose) McDonnell; and many caregivers over the last several years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, La Verne; her sisters, Mildred and Sharon; and her son-in-law, Alan.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy and Brad Dorick, Tom McDonnell, Mike Dunn, Bob Dunn, and Kim Emmett.

Memorials may be directed to Serena Volunteer Fire Department, Serena Methodist Church, or Compassus Hospice.

Alice has been laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.

Bonnie Jean Price, age 77, passed away Saturday, August 17, 2019, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. till service time on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Bonnie was born July 16, 1942 in Ottawa, the daughter of Howard and Helen (Moore) Sibert. She married Carroll G. Price July 26, 1958 at the Salvation Army in Ottawa. Surviving are her husband of 61 years, Carroll; four daughters, Donna (Pat) Jackson, Carol Elias, Karen (Herb) Hines, and Victoria Manning; 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and her siblings, Luella McGeorge, Howard (Pam) Sibert, James Sibert, Betty Hardy, Raymond (Kathy) Sibert, Pam (Larry) Morey, and Tim (Donna) Sibert. Bonnie was preceded in death by a brother, Billy Sibert, and three sisters, Sandy Sibert, Elaine Duchula, and Connie Sibert.

Bonnie was a lifelong member of the Salvation Army. She worked part-time at Burger King for 27 years. Her hobbies included bowling, camping, and baking. Her life was her family and she cherished her time spent with them, especially her grandchildren and siblings.

Bonnie was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Helen Gerding (Harvey) Franz of Ottawa, Illinois passed away on July 13, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida at the age of 95. She was born September 28, 1923 to Helen and Arnold Gerding in Ottawa, Illinois. Helen was an active lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ottawa serving on committees, in the church choir and as organist. She was co-owner along with her sister-in-law, Lucille Hipes, of Young World, a children’s clothing store in Ottawa, Illinois. Helen attained her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree from Illinois Valley Community College at age 55 and served others for several years at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa. Helen loved the Lord and courageously displayed her faith throughout her life.

Helen was married to Richard Harvey in 1944 until his death in 1972. She married Joseph Franz in 1983 until his death in 2009.

Helen is survived by her sisters Beverly Haller of Houston Texas, Phyllis Pulse of Stronghurst Illinois, Marilyn Kuk of Joliet Illinois and brother Don Gerding of Portland Oregon; her children, Roger Harvey and his wife Roberta of Clearwater Florida, Craig Harvey and his wife Peggy of Huntley, Illinois and Brian Harvey and his wife Bekki of Allen Texas, Judith Franz Vezain and her husband Gary Vezain of Oswego, Illinois, Donley Franz and his wife Nancy of Plano, Illinois and a total of 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents Helen and Arnold Gerding and her sister Dorothy Juell.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Ottawa at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug 21, 2019, Pastor John Walker officiating.

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

Lyle W. Strobel, 92, of Ottawa passed away Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Illinois Veteran’s Home in LaSalle.

Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 5 pm, Sunday, August 18 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park Shrine of Rest Mausoleum on Monday, with military honors.

Lyle was born March 7, 1927, in Ransom to Ivan and Aurilla (Van Namee) Strobel. He married Laura Passini on July 2, 1949 at St. Mary’s Church in Naplate; she passed away May 16, 2003. Lyle was a member of the United States Army, serving from 1946-1947. He worked for the carpenter’s union and retired from Libby Owens Ford. He loved watching professional bull riding, gardening, traveling, and going for car rides.

He is survived by his significant other, Duanne Nelson; his son, Rick Strobel; two granddaughters, Sydney and Savannah Strobel; his granddaughter-in-law, Molly (Dan) Lowrey; and great-grandkids, Sophia and Stone Strobel. Lyle was preceded in death by his wife; his grandson, Chris Strobel; and his siblings, Edward Strobel and Vanette Strobel Anderson.

Lyle was laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest in the Sanctuary of Peace.

Margaret “Maggie” J. Plique, 88, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, August 11, 2019 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 am, Saturday, August 17 at Ottawa Funeral Home, with Retired Deacon Steve Bruns-Revell officiating. Visitation will be Friday, August 16 from 4 to 6 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

Maggie was born December 25, 1930, in Ottawa to Leon and Mabel J. (Goodman) Plique. She retired from Libby Owens Glass Company. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, coloring, and watching TV.

She is survived by her siblings, Kenneth Plique, Ronnie (Joyce) Plique, Billie Ann McCarthy, and Sharon Maloney; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Mildred, Sandra, Dorothy, Lois, Eva, John, Leon, and Jack.

Pallbearers will be Jeff, Keith, and Brian Plique.

Margaret was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of the Prayer.

Gerald C. Smith, 98, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday morning, August 10, 2019 at his home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa, with Rev. Nathan Feig, Pastor, and Rev. David Ufkes, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Gerald was born on June 4, 1921 in Perry, MI to Charles and Gladys (Pryer) Smith. He was in the Armed Forces for 5 years…three in the US Army and two in the US Air Force, and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during WWII. He met his wife, Esther (Rorem) Smith, while stationed in Seattle, WA. They were married in 1944, and soon moved Ottawa to begin their future together. Gerald had many jobs back then. He loved mechanics but eventually began working at Libbey-Owens Ford. He was also the owner of Ottawa Soft Water. Gerald was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post #33, the VFW, the Ottawa Moose Lodge, Shoreline Boat Club, and the Hardee’s Coffee Group.

His wife Esther passed away in 1972 and he was then introduced and fell in love with his current wife Dorothy (Phillips) Smith. They were married for 47 years.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, a daughter, Susan (Scott) Sawyer, of Vancouver, WA, daughter-in-law, Susan Smith, of Omaha, NE, his grandchildren Timothy (Dana) Sawyer, of Grant’s Pass, OR, Kristin (Todd) Juhnke, of Vancouver, WA, Erik Sawyer, of Grant’s Pass, OR, 6 great grandchildren, Corbin, Hudson, Addison, Dawson, Katelyn, and Hannah, in Oregon and Washington, and many loved nieces and nephews in Ottawa, Michigan, and Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Esther (Rorem) Smith, a son Gerald Wayne Smith, his parents, a brother Lynn Smith, and two sisters, Ruth Hungerford and Eleanor Tosselo.

Pallbearers will be Tim Sawyer, Erik Sawyer, Todd Juhnke, Leo Nickels, Don Galesk, and Gary File.

Gerald was laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.

Norma J. Mathes, 94, of Marseilles, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 10 at St. Columba Catholic Church with Father David M. Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., prior to services Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial park in Ottawa. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Norma was born August 14, 1924, in Morris, to Carl “Otis” and Josephine (Rifflard) Phillips and she was raised by the late Everett and Mary Dudgeon. In 1945, she married Ralph Mathes of Ottawa who preceded her in death in 2009.

Norma was a member of the St. Columba Catholic Church. She was a stay at home mom taking care of her four children. She was always very active in her grand and great-grandchildren’s lives, always attending their events. She was also a volunteer at the Community Hospital of Ottawa for many years.

Norma is survived by two daughters, Marilyn (Jim) Steenhoek of Ottawa and Carol DeMoss of Marseilles; one son, Ralph Jr. (Christine) Mathes of Marseilles; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; one daughter, Kay Kozel; one grandson, Jason Jensen; two sisters, Laura Foss and Ethel Mitchell; and three brothers, Russell, Edwin and Otis Phillips.

Memorials may be given to the St. Columba building fund.

Pallbearers will be Jeff, Todd, and Chuck DeMoss, Dustin, Kyle and Kraig Mathes, Jensen Bryant, Jack Snook and Payton Jensen.

Norma was laid to rest in The Garden of Prayers.

Louise (Larson) Benson, age 97, a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away Monday, August 5, 2019 at Mountain Vista Senior Living Community in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Funeral Services will at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 12, in the Chapel at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa with the Rev. David Ufkes, officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home.

She was born March 26, 1922 in Ottawa, Illinois to Louis (1884-1950) and Johanna (Swanson) Larson (1882-1969). She was the youngest of three children, a brother Paul Emil (1907-2006) and a sister Ruth Elizabeth (1912-1993).

Louise attended Lincoln School in Ottawa through the 8th grade. She then attended Miss Peacock Secretarial School where she met her future husband, Donald Forrest Benson (1921-2008). They were married at the home of her brother Paul on June 9, 1956 in Ottawa. They immediately moved to Philadelphia, PA where Don had a job with the National Park Service as an architect designing Visitor Centers. To this marriage three children were born: Allan Peter (m. Lori Kay Lucero), Joanne Louise (m. Ronald Duane Offe), and Ruth Adele (m. James Hugo Pulju). They lived in Havertown, PA for 11 years, then 2 years in Kensington, MD before settling in Lakewood CO. Louise lived in Lakewood for 42 years and the last 6 years in Wheatridge, CO.

Louise is survived by her three children, 7 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was the quintessential homemaker and loved by all who knew her.

Louise was laid to rest in The Garden of the Last Supper.

John “Boot” Lethiot, 64, of Ottawa died on Sunday, July 28, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. An open house Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 4, at Dayton Ridge Golf Club from 2 to 5 p.m. Burial in Oakwood Memorial Park is private. Arrangements are through the Mueller Funeral Home.

John was born on Jan. 26, 1955 in Chicago to James J. and Rita (Pacini) Lethiot. He was a 1973 graduate of Ottawa Township High School. He retired from Fairmount Santrol where he was the Loading/Traffic Superintendent. He loved playing golf at Dayton Ridge, Pine Hills, and other area courses. He was a devout Bears and Cubs fan who enjoyed his wide circle of beloved friends.

He is survived by two sisters, Rochelle Lethiot, of Mission Viejo, California, and Marilyn Lethiot, of Pueblo, Colorado, and his loving nieces and nephews, Elaine Cabrera, Nora Villarreal, Maggie Alderman, Grace Pelzer, Susan Fatini-Masson, James Crabtree, Tammy Weldon, and Tommie Crabtree.

John was preceded in death by two brothers, Andrew, and his twin brother, Jim.

Memorials may be directed to the Youth Service Bureau in Ottawa.

John was laid to rest in The Garden of the Last Supper.