January 2021

Margaret Lovell, 99, of Ottawa, passed away Monday January 4, 2021 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Due to Covid guidelines, private services will be held at St. Columba Church, with Rev. Gary Caster officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Margaret was born September 21, 1921, in Ottawa, to Howard and Alma (Wergen) Olsen. She married George B. Lovell October 28, 1947 at St. Columba Church. They were married for 60 years before his passing on March 20, 2008.

Margaret was a member of St. Columba Church and the Catholic Daughters of America. She was a graduate of Ottawa High School. She was employed by USDA Farm Bureau Services and retired after 30 years of service. Margaret was a wonderful mom. She enjoyed playing in many card clubs, traveling, spending winters in Florida, and spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She is survived by her two daughters, Gail (James) Lundgren of Bartlett, IL and Linda Carretto of Ottawa; four grandchildren, Lauren (Jay) Avey, Angie Carretto, April (Gary) Windy, and Abby (John Kubiak) Carretto; seven great-grandchildren, Lila and Quinn Windy, Johnathan Kubiak, and Jett, Brynne, Lacey, and Saylor Avey; and one sister, Shirley Stephens of Oak Park, IL.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, her sister, Marie Leonard; and her brother, Glen Olsen.

Pallbearers will be Gary Windy, Jay Avey, John Kubiak, and her great-grandchildren.

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

LaVerne E. Dooley, 93, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 23.
Services will be private with Pastor John Nordstrom officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at a later date.
Mr. Dooley was born on October 30, 1927 in Streator to Elmer and Christine (Wisneski) Dooley. He was a 1946 graduate of Streator High School. He married Leona Ruth Darm on June 4, 1949 at Park Presbyterian Church in Streator. She preceded him in death on January 7, 2011.
He is survived by three children, Bradford (Rhonda) Dooley of Kildeer; Linda Kay (Roger) Walter of Marseilles and David (Janet) Dooley of Highlands Ranch, CO; a daughter-in-law Peggy Dooley of Tuttle, OK; a sister, Jeanne Modesitt of Ottawa, and a brother, William Dooley of Ottawa.
He leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Lee (Joanne) Dooley, Zachary (Stacy) Dooley, Joshua (Holly Renton) Dooley, Jacinda (Jonathon) Olson, Melissa (Jonathan) Halter, Robin (Richard) DeCamp, Justin (Jenna) Dooley, Adam (Brooke) Walter, Kerri (Jason) Walter Blunk, Ted (Cynthia) Walter, Anthony Walter, Saffron Walter, and a step-grandchild, Brandon (Barbara) Walter.
14 great-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren also survive, with another to debut in January.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his first-born son, Allan Lee Dooley and a sister, Doris Iverson.
LaVerne was a self-made man. He began driving a semi-truck for the G & D Mfg. Co. in Streator while he was still in high school, making $.65 an hour. Following a stint in the army he became a traveling salesman for the King & Hamilton Implement Company in Ottawa. In 1957 he began selling insurance for State Farm out of his home and proceeded to become quite successful in that endeavor. He was an agent for 63 years, and had at times achieved President’s Club status, which includes the top 50 agents nationwide. He had been a Lifetime President’s Club agent since 1992.
Verne was a young Jaycee and a member of the Kiwanis Club for many years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ottawa. He was a crazy duck hunter in his younger years and loved to take his boys hunting and fishing. He enjoyed an annual fishing trip to Bemidji Minnesota, where he had been angling since he was a young boy. In his later years he planted walnut trees on his farms
as a hobby.
Verne had a zest for life that kept him young. He always said “the best is yet to be.” He seldom spent money unless he was purchasing farm land. He never retired from the insurance business and could be found at his office every day. He never met anybody that he didn’t try to sell insurance to. He especially liked selling crop hail insurance.
Honorary Pallbearers will be grandsons Lee, Zachary, Joshua and Justin Dooley and Adam, Ted, Anthony and Brandon Walter.

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

Geraldine M. Miller, 91, of Ottawa passed away on Saturday morning, December 26, 2020 at the Ottawa Pavilion.

Private family services will be held at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with the Rev. Carolyn Lukasick, Pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. A livestream of the service will be available on our website, www.MuellerFH.com, starting at 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

Geraldine was born on February 18, 1929 in Ottawa to James and Effie Bernice (Dunk) Anderson. She married Robert E. Miller on May 28, 1946 at the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Geraldine was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church.

She is survived by two daughters, Donna Temple, of Princeton, TX and Karen (James) Brown, of Ottawa, nine grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert, on June 6, 2019, five brothers, and two sisters.

Pallbearers will be Jay Temple, Tadd Varney, Rich Jovanovich, and Trae Varney.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.

Mary Kay Powell, 76, of Marseilles, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 surrounded by her family at home.

Visitation with social distancing will be on Saturday, December 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will be private with Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park.

She was born May 15, 1944, in Ottawa, to Ralph L. and Leora M. (Tattersall) Angelico. She married Robert Powell of Marseilles who preceded her in death in 1998.

Mary Kay was a member of the Ottawa American Legion Auxiliary. She and her husband were very active in the Marseilles VFW for many years. She was employed by Home Hardware in Ottawa for twelve years until her recent retirement.

She is survived by her daughter, Eva Michelle (Matt) Bondelier of WI; one brother, Ralph (Mandy) Angelico of Marseilles; and one sister, Georgiana (Don) Boren of Seneca.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; and two brothers, Larry and Terry Angelico.

She was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Faith.

Carol Jean Juergensen, 79, of Marseilles, passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Aperion Care Center in Marseilles.

Funeral services will be private with Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

She was born October 24, 1941, in Ottawa, to Lloyd and Edna (Dyer) Gage. On July 31, 1960, she married Rodney Juergensen of Marseilles who preceded her in death in 2019.

Carol was employed by Owens IL in Streator until her retirement. She enjoyed reading, traveling, spending time with her friends, family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her two daughters, Twilla (Jeff Ripsch) Benckendorf of Marseilles and Kathy (Roger) Brewster of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Tausha Benckendorf, Ty (Cierra) Benckendorf, Carolynn (Jon) Soots, Caleb (Brianna) Brewster, and Cheyenne (Ryan) Edwards; six great-grandchildren with one on the way; three sisters, Sharon (Frank) Fenoglio, LaReiu (Larry) Reid, and Darlene Gage.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents; a husband, Rodney; two brothers, Bob Gage and Jerry Gage; and a sister, Mary Garcia.

She was laid to rest in the Sanctuary of Prayer.

Howard Brue, 93, of Ottawa died on Thursday, Dec. 17, at the home of his daughter in Ottawa. Private Services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, at Bethel Lutheran Brethren church in Ottawa with Pastor Randy Mortenson, officiating. The service will be live-streamed beginning at 1:50 p.m. on the Mueller Funeral Homes facebook page and the funeral home website www.MuellerFH.com Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the services. A celebrations of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.

Howard was born on Feb. 9, 1927 in Ottawa to Peder and Emma (Olson) Brue. He grew up on the farm on Wedron Road, first a farm hand with chores and then a bus ride to school. They farmed with horses for tilling the fields first, and eventually with a tractor. He married Betty E. Micklos on June 13, 1948 at St. Paul Lutheran church in Streator. He worked
at the Dayton Hydro Plant in Dayton, Illinois for 4 years and then in the Forestry Department at Illinois Power for the next 38 years until his retirement on Jul 1, 1989. After retirement, he and his wife, Betty, tended the lawns at the Marseilles Hydro Plant and at Illinois Power in Ottawa.

He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church. He was a professional musician, playing the guitar and bass guitar. He performed in many musical revues, contests, local bands, and sang at his church.

He is survived by two children, Ron (Cathy) Brue, of Manville, and Rhonda (Bill) Brue McAlpine, of Ottawa, 6 grandchildren, Tiffany Brue Kenney, Travis Brue, Tracy Taylor, Ashley Brue Jansen, Matt McAlpine, and Sean McAlpine, 5 great-grandchildren, Emma Kenney, Jason Jansen, Jaxon Jansen, Jameson Jansen and Kaydence Jansen.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty on Feb. 12, 2020, 2 sisters, Charlotte Henrikson and Evelyn Brue Roeder, and 4 brothers, Palmer, Bernard, Reuben, and Francis Brue.

Pallbearers will be: Ron Brue, Sean McAlpine, Matt McAlpine, Bill McAlpine, Travis Brue, and Bob Brue.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Marie L. Tucek, 99, passed away peacefully at Ottawa Pavilion in the good hands of Vitas Hospice. She almost made it to her goal, her 100th birthday. She lived a long and full life.

There will be a private service at Oakwood Memorial Park and a Celebration of Life will be held at the Ottawa Moose Lodge at a later date. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

Marie grew up in Berwyn, worked as a secretary in Chicago, and raised her children in Western Springs. She retired to Florida where she enjoyed living for over 20 years. She spent the last 10 years in Ottawa to be closer to her family.

Marie married Otto M. Tucek on March 16, 1946 after he returned from serving his country in WW2. They were married for 47 years before his passing in 1993. Marie enjoyed dancing, cruising, ceramics and anything that sparkled. She also enjoyed being a part of the Pitstick extended family. She was a Moose member for many years. Marie had a soft spot in her heart for her grandson Dan.

Marie is survived by her son, Allen Tucek of Ottawa; her daughter, Mary (Steve) Pitstick of Ottawa; a grandson, Dan (Sarah) Fischer of Denmark; and a niece, Lynne (Bob) Bennett of Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Uhlir, her husband, Otto Tucek, and her brothers, George and Arthur Uhlir.

She was laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest in the Sanctuary of Seasons.