July 2021

Merrilee Lubshina, 72, of Aurora, passed away Thursday, June 24, 2021, at AMITA Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, surrounded by her family. She was born March 11, 1949, in Ottawa, Illinois, to Truman and Betty (Breitenkamp) Meling. She married Gerald Lubshina on July 11, 1970, at St. Columba Church in Ottawa.

Merrilee was a beloved wife and mother and will be greatly missed by her family. She was a certified dental assistant and had worked for various dentists in the Aurora area. Prior to this, she attended Ottawa Public Schools and graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1967. She briefly attended the University of Illinois; later, she attended Waubonsee Community College studying cultural anthropology and loved her experience studying at a field school in Mérida, Mexico.
Merrilee was baptized and raised in the Evangelical United Brethren Church until she converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 18.
Merrilee had a beautiful voice, and enjoyed singing in her high school choir and in a music group in Wyoming. She also enjoyed gardening, reading sci-fi and mystery novels, as well as listening to her favorite artist John Denver.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Gloria Mason.
Survivors include her husband of more than 50 years, Gerald; four children: Stephanie Lubshina of Arlington Heights, Melanie (Bill) Boehmer of Palatine, David Lubshina of Aurora, and Marie Lubshina of Batavia; two grandchildren: Dakota Boehmer and Joshua Boehmer; three brothers: Gary (Joyce) Meling of Sheridan, Wyo., David (Judy) Meling of Ottawa, Ill., and Robert (Ann) Meling of Tuscon, Ariz.; also, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial visitation will be held Saturday, July 10, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St, Aurora, IL, 60506. 630-631-5500. A memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m. at The Daleiden Mortuary. Inurnment of cremains will be at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, Illinois, at a later date.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

Gareth Michael Beeson, 43, of Plainfield, passed away July 1, 2021.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 12 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa.

Gareth was born October 15, 1977, in Morris, to Gareth and Patricia A. (Wheeler) Beeson. He was raised in rural Seneca by his parents Donald “Moti” and Patti Chapman. He met Rebecca Ruzzini of Lockport in 2006. They were later married in 2015.

Gareth was known for his devotion to his two sons. He had a passion for music, especially playing the bass guitar. Gareth enjoyed sports, was a loyal friend to many, and will be remembered for his sharp wit. Most of his career was spent at Caterpillar in Joliet as a machinist.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Beeson (nee Ruzzini); his two sons, Riley (11) and Finnegan (5); his two sisters, Meghan Ortiz and his twin, Erin (Christopher) Lutz; and his nieces and nephews, Moses, Jolie, and Jayna Ortiz, Ava and Landen Lutz, Johnathon Fronek, Morgan, Paige, and Avery Ward.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Moti Chapman, Patricia Chapman, and Gareth Beeson.

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

Beverly Clarice (Tuttle) Burress, 86, of Ottawa, passed away on June 28, 2021 at Heritage Woods in Ottawa.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday July 7, 2021 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Duane Kaufman, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Beverly was born on June 5, 1935 in Tuscola, IL to Kenny Neval and Julia Marie (Walling) Tuttle. She married Kenneth Johnson in 1953 and had two sons, Kenneth and Steven. She was divorced in 1962 and then married Russell Burress on July 17, 1965 and they had one daughter Tammy.

Beverly worked at Western Electric in Aurora, IL. She and Russell also ran a trucking business for several years after that. Together they owned numerous semi-trucks and trailers. She was a waitress at both the Oasis and Oogies in Ottawa, for many years. After that she worked for Butternut Bread Store in Ottawa, before finally retiring in 2005.

She and her husband Russell owned several race-horse farms throughout the years where they owned and trained many horses, including their own. These horses raced on tracks throughout Illinois and the surrounding states, and they did rather well. Beverly was an avid bowler and her favorite pastime was going to the casino.

She is survived by a son, Kenneth “Buck” Johnson of Ottawa; a daughter Tammy Green of Streator; a sister, Joanne Burch of Tolono, IL; a daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Johnson of Ottawa; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell Burress; a son, Steven Johnson, three sisters, Donna Tuttle, Patty Wiekert, and Mary Fullerton; and four brothers, Harold, Robert, Donald, and Kenny Tuttle.

Pallbearers will be Corey Johnson, Steven Johnson, Jr., Christopher Thompson, Eric Muffler, Greg Mukosey, and Art Cook.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.

David Leslie Thorson, 78, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 in Belvidere, IL. He was born on March 30, 1942 in Wedron, IL to Jonas and Gladys (Peterson) Thorson.

David is survived by his children Florence Angela Thorson, David L. Thorson Jr., Michael J. Thorson, and Kara Thorson; former spouse Betty Walker; 6 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers; and 1 sister. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Victoria Lynn Thorson; 2 brothers; and 2 sisters.

David was involved in his church and enjoyed church activities.

Interment of cremated remains will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL at a future date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N Neil St. Champaign, Illinois 61820. Please join David’s family in sharing memories on his tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.

He was laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.

Charles “Chuck” L. Wolven, age 85, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, June 9th.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 21st at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Cheri Stewart officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. There will be no visitation. Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home is honored to handle arrangements.

Chuck was born May 18, 1936 in Bradley, Illinois, a son of Clarence and Lucille (Yohnka) Wolven. He married the love of his life, Linda C. Bruce, February 9, 1962 in Tinley Park, Illinois. She preceded him in death October 30, 2016. Chuck is survived by his children, Brian (Peggy) Wolven of Columbia, MD and Sherry Wolven of Waterloo, Belgium; and grandchildren, Rachel Wolven and husband Don Carnohan of Jessup, MD, Jennifer (Gabriel) Rykaczewski and husband Sam of Virginia Beach, VA, Joshua (Katie) Gabriel of Alpharetta, GA, and Alexandra, Amaury and Delphine Raymaekers of Waterloo, Belgium. Also surviving are brothers, Kenneth (Rita) Wolven of Barrington, IL and Neil Wolven of Kankakee, IL; and sisters, Marsha Darche of Lansing, MI, Kathryn (Jim) DeYoung of Marion, IL, Gerry Hallas of Bourbonnais, IL and Carol (Paul) Rittmanic of Fort Wayne, IN.

Chuck was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and served in various capacities. He had been employed as a chemical engineer and financial planner for various chemical companies. Chuck was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and cherished the time spent with them.

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

Helen Marie Kirkman, 95, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2021, at the LaSalle County Nursing Home in Ottawa.
Helen was born June 20, 1926, in LaSalle, Illinois, to Frank and Mary (Zupancic) Struna. She married Gordon Kirkman on April 13, 1946, in LaSalle, Illinois. She was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa and Catholic Daughters of America. Before retiring, Helen worked at Westclox in Peru, Ryburn King Hospital in Ottawa, and Community Hospital of Ottawa.
Helen will be lovingly remembered by her three children, Peter (Linda) Kirkman of Ottawa, Gary (Martha) Kirkman of Orland Park, and Gordon Jr. (Karen) Kirkman of Aurora; five grandchildren, Thomas (Lynda) Kirkman, Bart (Jennifer) Kirkman, Blake (Kelly) Kirkman, Marissa Kirkman, Jenna (Bryan) Farris; nine great grandchildren, Drew Kirkman, Dean Kirkman, Jordan Kirkman, Logan Kirkman, Emerson Kirkman, Cole Kirkman, Sydney Kirkman, Callum Farris, and Lydia Farris; along with many nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gordon, in 2013; five sisters, Frances Messaglia, Agnes Wrona, Mary Gunia, Betty Tezak, and Dorothy Struna in infancy; three brothers, Francis Struna, Henry Struna, and Edward Struna.
Helen loved playing bridge, golfing, reading, daily trips to Handy Foods, and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events. While residing at the LaSalle County Nursing Home, she appreciated visits from her great grandchildren, as well as other family. Helen was known for her spunkiness and quick wit, enjoyed by her family and those who cared for her.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ottawa Funeral Home, with a private Mass of Christian Burial to be held. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park.

She was laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.