April 2020

Charles Noah Morrall, 81, of Marseilles, passed away Friday, April 24, 2020, at his home.

Funeral services will be private with Deacon Ron Wackerlin officiating. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Charles was born July 20, 1938, in Marseilles, to Charles O. and Ethel (Hudkins) Morrall. In 1957, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Pallai of Marseilles, who preceded him in death in 2009.

He served in the U.S. Army. From 1960-1961, he was stationed in Germany during the Cold War Era. He was employed by Caterpillar until his retirement. After his retirement, he worked for Clover Technologies. Charlie served on the Manlius Township Board. He was a member he Marseilles Moose Lodge and a past governor, a member of the Marseilles Lion’s Club, and the Marseilles American Legion Post 235.

During high school, he played football. His love of sports led him to play semi-pro baseball with his Uncle Toots Morrall. He umpired softball for many years after he stopped playing. Charlie was an avid bowler. Most of all, he loved his family.

Charlie is survived by his daughter, Veronica (Hugh) Williams of Marseilles; one son, Dean Morrall of Seneca; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Helen Baker of Ottawa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; a sister, Doris Thompson; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Williams; and a great-grandson, Will Jackson.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Marcus Patrick Marmion, age 24, passed away Monday, April 20, 2020.

Private services will be held at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Reverend Duane Kaufman officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Steve and Corey Marmion, Devon Sarver, Austin Stiles, Jared Jackson and Joe Addis.

Marcus was born December 11, 1995 in Ottawa, Illinois, a son of Steve and Debbie (Cunningham) Marmion. Surviving are his parents; his brother, Corey; grandmothers, Joyce Cunningham and Roberta Marmion; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Bill Cunningham and Patrick Marmion.

Marcus was a member of Pipefitters Local 597. He loved hunting, fishing and the great outdoors. Marcus had a smile that would light up a room and could always make someone laugh. He was always willing to lend a hand to help out a friend. He always had a kind and respectable manner about him. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.

Elsie Louise Ahearn, 93, of Ottawa passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Pleasant View in Ottawa.

A private service will be held at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa on Friday, April 24, with Rev. David Daniel, Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Elsie was born on November 3, 1926 in Ottawa to Carl and Anna (Jahke) Hoffman. She was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School. Elsie married Murry Ahearn on January 20, 1951 in Ottawa. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She loved spending time with family, sewing, and gardening. Elsie also loved her animals, especially the cats. She enjoyed watching the field work take place on the family farm and delivering lunches out to the field.

She is survived by her husband, Murry, four children, Susan (Jim) Spence, Tom (Mary Jo) Ahearn, Dennis (Dawn) Ahearn, and Terry (Jenny) Ahearn, all of Ottawa, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Judy Mazur, of Ottawa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Phillip Ahearn, a sister Hilda Love, and a brother Paul Hoffman.

Pallbearers will be Matt, Jacob, Dustin, Julie, Thomas J. and Sarah Ahearn, Nick and Rodney Spence, Tricia Flavel, and Deanna Kuester.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Zion Lutheran Church or Pet Project.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Ronald Robert Bond, 68, of Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Monday, April 20, 2020.

Private services have been held due to the current pandemic. He will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Ron was born February 27, 1952 in Ottawa to Robert K. and Daisy E. (Sarles) Bond. He married Jackie Simpson on November 3, 1973 in Rock Island. Ron graduated from Jacksonville School for the Visually Impaired and worked at Ottawa Friendship House. He was a member of the Lions Club, Starved Rock Radio Club W9MKS where his call sign was KA9DKF, Ottawa 5 Watters (CB Club), Old Time Radio Users Group, and an honorary member of the Ottawa River Rescue Squad. Ron was a ham radio operator, a radio collector, and music enthusiast. His music memory was flawless- he could name the artist and song title after hearing just a few beats. Ron collected thousands of vinyl records. As technology changed, he stored his music on hundreds of cds and flash drives.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; two sons, Rob Bond of Mammoth Springs, AR and Victor (Jamie) Bond of Oglesby; two grandchildren, Kaedin and Braylin Bond; and his brother, Randy (Lisa) Bond. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Sandra (Schmanske) Kotek, 74, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, April 17, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family.

A memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at a later date. She will be entombed at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation rites.

Sandy was born August 20, 1945, in New Orleans, LA, to Gerald and Florence (Croft) Schmanske. She married Raymond E. Kotek on July 25, 1964 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa.

Sandy was employed at Marquette Academy for 32 years as the athletic director. Prior to this position, she was the pom coach for 18 years, while coaching the cheerleaders for many of those years as well. In her early years, she started as a volunteer that lead her to become the secretary to the athletic director. She loved spending time with her family and friends, and one of her biggest joys in life was supporting and attending events with her Marquette Crusader family.

She is survived by her husband, Ray; her father, Gerald Schmanske of Cherokee Village, AK; three children, Lisa (Sam) Sorce of Willow Springs, Scott Kotek of Spring Valley, and Amy Lechner of Gilbert, AZ; five grandchildren, Ashley (Amy) Jackson, Shea (Heather) Jackson, Brandon (Toria) Wilson, Baily Wilson, and Kelsey Wilson; one great-grandson, Theodore Jackson; her sister, Lori (Mike) Stone of Ottawa; and three sisters-in-law, Bev (Bill) Shingler, Mary (Ron) Burrows, and Betsy Miller.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Florence; her brother-in-law, Bob Kotek; her sister-in-law, Vicki Wanken; two nieces; and one nephew.

Memorials may be directed to Marquette Academy.

Our family knows how many lives she has touched throughout the years, especially at Marquette. Marquette and her friends have been her extended family.

As Sandy would say, “Love you to the moon and back”.

She was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Seasons.

Mary Fullerton, 90, of Ottawa passed away on Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Private funeral services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2020 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Cheri Stewart, Pastor of First United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Mary was born on September 17, 1929 in Toledo, OH to Kennie and Julia Marie (Walling) Tuttle. She married Kenneth L. Fullerton on June 8, 1974 in Ottawa. Mary worked at Thatcher Glass Manufacturing in Streator and then All Steel in Aurora until her retirement. She was a member of the Women of the Moose, and also bowled for years in Streator, Ottawa, and Aurora. Mary was in a grandmother’s league and Carretto’s Card Club.

She is survived by three children, Cassandra Sohm, of Ottawa, Michael Fletcher, Sandwich, IL and Kevin (Tuesday) Fletcher, of Mesa, AZ, 12 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 5 great great-grandchildren, and two sisters, JoAnne Burch, of Tolono, IL and Beverly Burress, of Ottawa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ken, ex-husband Buford Fletcher, a son Jeffrey Fletcher, a step-son Kenneth M. Fullerton, two sisters, Donna Rae Tuttle and Patty Tuttle Wiekert, and three brothers Kenneth, Robert, and Donald Tuttle.

Pallbearers will be Jody Sohm, Errol Troy Sohm, Taylor Fleming, and Ethan Sohm.

Memorials may be directed to the family or the donor’s choice.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.

Barbara Sears, age 90, of Ottawa, IL, passed away at her home on Friday, April 10, 2020, surrounded by her daughter and son-in-law.

Funeral Services will be private at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Barbara was born on July 8, 1929 in Indianapolis, IN, to Frederick William Bretschneider of Ladd, IL and Laura “Mary” Woodson (Hoffman) of Cairo, IL. Barbara had no middle name because her mother thought her name was already long enough. After a few years, the family moved to Chicago, and then relocated to Miami, FL in 1935.

In 1958, in Miami, on a blind date, she met a dashing young Air Force pilot, William Alger Sears, Jr., of Chicago, IL, as he was on his way to be stationed in Germany. After only two dates, they decided to get married. She joined him a couple months later in Germany and they drove to Basel, Switzerland where they married on May 13, 1958. They traveled all over Europe and especially enjoyed the excellent cuisine. They were next stationed in England where their two children were born. They later lived in South Carolina, Germany again, and retired in Chicago. After his retirement they divorced, but remained friends.

Barbara moved back to Miami for a few years and later to Bremerton, WA, where she supported herself by buying and reselling “things other people no longer wanted”. She relocated to Ottawa for the last ten years. Her hobbies included refinishing furniture, framing pictures, woodworking, rewiring lamps, oil painting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She liked traveling and trying anything new.

She is survived by her daughter, Melanie (Kevin) Goodchild and their two children, Duncan and Kali Goodchild of Ottawa, IL; and her son, William A. “Bill” (Crystal) Sears, III and his daughter, Jacquelynn “Jackie” Sears of Santee, CA.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Charles “Bigger” Baxter, 59, of Granville, passed away on April 7, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. A private graveside service will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Charles was born on March 23, 1961 in Ottawa to Charles and Mary (Hunt) Baxter. He married Jill Claggett on November 16, 1996 in Marseilles. Charles was a member of the Laborers Union, Local 393. He enjoyed gardening, working in his yard, and fishing. His favorite thing was a yearly family trip to Wisconsin.Charles is survived by his wife, Jill, two sons, Corey and Jarett Baxter, both of Granville, his mother-in-law Joanne Claggett, of Ottawa, and his dog, Finnegan, his napping buddy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Jack Claggett, a sister Irene Darlasis, and a brother Pete Darlasis.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Noella Dawn Stein, 57, of Ottawa, IL, passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at OSF St.
Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Private graveside services will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Noella was born December 25, 1962, in Ottawa, IL, to Donald Stein and Katherine Stein. Noella was a loving and sweet soul that touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege to know her. Her endearing spirit was infectious.

Over the years she attended Echo School, Lighted Way, Kanthak House, and Friendship Village. She enjoyed camaraderie at all levels including her family and friends at Ottawa Pavilion, Special Olympics, movie nights, family pizza nights with mom’s homemade pizza, and family reunions in the park. She loved to “rock” to all kinds of music and enjoyed the traditions of her family crooning to “Stein Good Cheer Singers” at Christmas
and her birthday.

She is survived by her siblings, Sandi Carroll, Doug (Sue) Carroll, Greg Stein, Keith (Elizabeth) Stein, and Deneise (Tim) Trowbridge and her four nephews.

Noella was preceded in death by her loving parents; her maternal grandparents, Walter and Anna Carroll; and her paternal grandparents, Henry and Amanda Stein.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Richard L. “Rick” Less, 73, of Ottawa, IL passed away Friday, April 3, 2020 at his home.

Private funeral services for will be held. He will be buried at Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Rick was born June 28, 1946 to Oscar & Shirley (Bonhorst) Less. He married Jean M. (Spaulding) Newbury on March 16, 2002 in Ottawa. Rick attended Ottawa High School and was the Football Team Manager. In 2018 he was placed in the OTHS Hall of Fame. Rick was a proud member of the United States Navy, serving from 1966 to 1969 on the USS Boston during three tours in Vietnam. He worked as a glazer for 35 years, retiring in 2005 from DC 30 International Union of Painters & Allied Trades. He was a member of St. Columba Church, the American Legion, Shoreline Boat Club, and a Lifetime Member of the VFW. In addition to spending time with his grandchildren, Rick enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, and boating.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; two daughters, Tracy (Rick) Kuhn and Christine (Dan) Flaherty; his son, Kirk Less; his step-son, Jason Newbury; four grandchildren, Molly, Samuel, and Joshua Jones, and Fiona Flaherty; two great-grandchildren, Payton and Chloe Perry; and three brothers, Jay (Sue), Frank(Candy Fuller), and Walter (Tracy) Less.

Rick was proceeded in death by his parents, Oscar and Shirley; his granddaughter, Grace Flaherty in infancy; and sister-in-law, Sue Less.

Honorary pallbearers will be Samuel Jones, Joshua Jones, Erik Less, Timothy Less, James Less, Mike Less, and Greg Less.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.