August 2020

Vernon D. Wilson of Lebanon, Missouri, formally of Ottawa, Ill. passed June 16, 2020.

Vernon was born May 23, 1941 to Theadore and Nillie (McKinny). He graduated from OTHS and enlisted into the Navy. On April 26, 1969 he married Nancy Carrier. They had three daughters Dawn (Steve) Meyer, Susan (Eric) Gibson, Rhonda (Bryan) Miney, eight grandchildren and 5 great granchildren.

He is survived by 3 brothers Daryl, Bob, and Terry, 1 sister Patricia Munari. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nancy, 4 brothers Johnny, Ronnie, Donald Davis and Gene and a sister Imagene Arwood. Grandchildren Aaron Wilson, Charles and great grandchildren Avery Rosario Money and Briellia Meyer.

Services will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park at 11:00 A.M. Saturday August 22, 2020.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

David Edward Purcell, 52, passed away on April 29, 2020, at Yale New Haven
Hospital, as a result of a motorcycle accident.

David was born in the fall of 1967 in Ottawa, IL, to Edward L. Purcell and Judith A.
(Poundstone). David graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1985.
Growing up, David played little league and basketball. As a teen, he enjoyed
discovering new bands and attending concerts.

After high school, David went on to earn his B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering
Technology from Northern Illinois University in 1990. While at college, David
joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where he formed many friendships, most
of which are still in-tact today. Following college, David earned his M.B.A. from
the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2003, where he was a member of Beta
Gamma Sigma and the International Business Honor Society.

Following college, David had a successful 20-year career within plastics
engineering, working for Owens-Brockway, Bucher, Krauss Maffei Corp., Bulk
Molding Compounds, Inc. and Wittmann Battenfeld, Inc., before moving into his
current role as President and CEO of WAFIOS Machinery Corporation. In charge of
the US division which is headquartered in Branford, CT, David’s leadership of
WAFIOS Machinery Corporation for the past 9 years brought the company to new
heights, markets and success. His involvement in industry trade groups touched
many customers and friends. David shaped WMC and WAFIOS group with his
positive attitude to life, unique leadership style and innovative ideas. He truly
respected each and every WAFIOS customer; indeed, he respected everyone. He
loved his work and every interaction was meaningful, purposeful and in the spirit
of fairness. The industry will miss his presence dearly.

David leaves behind his wife, Heather Rowe-Purcell of Branford, CT. While only
recently married, they enjoyed more than seven years together as a couple
boating, traveling, running, golf, skiing and mountain biking. He also leaves behind
his two sons Cole and Ben Purcell, two step-children Onna and Samuel Gott, sister
Heather Purcell-Bushno (Craig) niece Skyler, mother-in-law Susan Rowe, sister-inlaws Beth Mullen (Paul) nieces Kate and Clare, nephew Matt, Carrie Rowe (Jim),
and step-brother Kurt Zwanzig, as well as many adoring aunts, uncles, cousins,
friends and colleagues.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

David’s greatest joy in life was being a father to Ben and Cole, and then to Onna
and Sam. The memories, stories and photographs with his wife and children are a
window into a life filled with faith, love, support and Sunday family dinners. His
friendships ran wide and deep, and the loss of such a great man is felt by many.

He was laid to rest in Oakwood Memorial Park in the Garden of Hymns.

Robert C. “Bob” Freese, 98, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday morning, August 11, 2020 at his home, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park with the Rev. David Daniel, Pastor of Zion
Ev. Lutheran Church, officiating. Entombment will follow. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Due to current guidelines, social distancing and face coverings are requested.

Bob was born on August 12, 1921 in Ottawa to Edmund and Edna (Spohr) Freese. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School class of 1939. Bob married Gladys Redmen on November 28, 1945 in Ottawa. He had farmed his entire life in the Grand Ridge Area. He owned and operated Freese Insurance agency for many years and was also crop insurance adjuster for Rockford Mutual. He was a past Vice-President of the LaSalle County Farm Bureau. Bob was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa.
He enjoyed collecting coins.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys, two children Robert “Kent” (Polly) Freese, of Maysville, KY and Kevin (Pamela) Freese, of Grand Ridge, 3 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, a brother Roger (Lacene) Freese, of Ottawa, and a sister Ruth Harlow, of Streator.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother-in-law, Elmer Harlow.

He was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Peace.

Born to William A. Veith and Florence (Aubry) Veith on May 5th, 1937 in Ottawa, IL. She was ushered into the prescence of the Lord on July 29th, 2020. She married the love of her life Donald E. Goetsch on August 16th, 1957. Donald and Jane were devoted to and loved each other very much to the very end of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Donald and their four children; Donna Kalita (James) of Peru, Diana Goetsch of Ottawa, Dwayne Goetsch (Melissa) of Ottawa, and Sara Goetsch (Aaron Wise) of Naplate. 11 grandchildren; Krista Johnson (Ross) of Ramsey, MN, Michael Kalita (Brittany) of Oglesby, Staff Sgt. David Kalita (Nyvia) of El Paso, TX, Nathan Kalita (Ashley) of Ramsey, MN, Adam Goetsch (Brittany) of Peoria, Matthew Goetsch (Karla) of Marseilles, Amy Evans (Aaron) of Ottawa, Hannah Alvarado (Chris) of Ottawa, Samantha Riedesel (Clay) of Ottawa, Gage Cook of Naplate, and Everly Jane Wise of Naplate. Also 15 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Jane loved her husband of 63 years and also loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She believed in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Jane was a servant of the Lord and was a devoted prayer warrior. She loved helping people, friends and neighbors alike, praying for them in person or on the phone. She was the best Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandmother ever! She will be greatly missed by her family but we rejoice in her homecoming in Heaven!

Donations are to be made to the Donors choice.

Due to the Covid 19 this will be a private family graveside service.

Chaplain William Clark will be Officiating.

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

James G. Wilson Sr. 82 of Streator passed away Thursday (April 30, 2020) at his home.

Following cremation, a private family service will be held and burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery, Ottawa.

Winterrowd Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jim was born on July 13, 1937 in Galesburg to Glenn and Irene (Moore) Wilson. He married Patricia L. (Olesen) Wilson on March 28, 1959. She preceded him in death on February 6, 2011.

Surviving are sons; James G. Wilson Jr. of Champaign, Jeffery (Marna) Wilson of Streator, grandchildren; Adam, Jeremy, Nathan, Nichole, Harli, Joshua, Jacob, Joey and Caleb, 5 great-grandchildren and one due in September, brother Jack (Carol) Wilson of Henderson, NV and a special friend Sandra Fritts of Streator.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Pat, daughter-in-law Stephanie, brother John Wilson and sister Charlotte Halterman.

Jim retired from Transco in 1999.

The family would like to give a special Thank You to Lori and Jane and Compassus Hospice.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Inspiration.

Arlene Nickle, 90, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Ottawa Pavilion. Due to the continued pandemic, private graveside services were held on Tuesday, July 21, at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Arrangements were through the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Arlene was born on August 3, 1929 in Ottawa to Thore and Myrtle (Boe) Alsvig. She was a waitress for many years at Len-Rico’s Restaurant in Ottawa, and later at the Green Mill. She married Charles Robert Nickle on August 28, 1949 at the home of her parents in Ottawa. Arlene was a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church. She devoted her life to her family and serving the Lord.

She is survived by two daughters Nancy (Randy) Polach, of Ottawa, and Cindy Nickle, of Australia, and one son, Duane Nickle (Golden Child), of Ottawa, 5 grandchildren, Mandie (Gerald) Wesbecker, of Ottawa, Brett (Andrea) Polach, of Arizona, Brittany (Austin) Stephens, of Arizona, Haley (Dan) Platten, of Australia, and Kenzie St George, of Australia, and 11 great-grandchildren, 3 sisters, Omi Jovanovich, Sandra Wilson, and Pearl Pastorik, and one brother, Wayne (Sharon) Alsvig.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on April 17, 2006, a grandson, Scottie Polach, 2 sisters, Thelma Kyle, and Mildred Alsvig, and 2 brothers, Marvin and Marshall Alsvig.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.