5 Obit Records Bureau County Republican • bcrnews.com
Thursday, May 16, 2013 • Record & Obit • 5
John Ziegler
William Wimbiscus Jr.
Richard Von Holten
Sheryl Cotter
Mary Crain
TISKILWA — John Stephen “Steve” Ziegler, 62, of Tiskilwa passed away at 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2013, in Kewanee Care Home as the result of complications of a massive stroke he suffered April 13, 2013, at his home. He was born Oct. 11, 1950, in Princeton to Howard F. and Carolyn I. (Allen) Ziegler Sr. and lived his entire life on the same farm in rural Tiskilwa. He was a 1968 graduate of Tiskilwa High School. He was of the Protestant faith and served a six-year hitch with the Army Reserve Unit based in Princeton, beginning in 1969, achieving the rank of drill sergeant. He married Addie Kathleen “Kathy” Canary of Chillicothe July 29, 1978, and she survives in Tiskilwa. They would have celebrated their 35th anniversary this year. He is survived by two sons, Jonathan Luke Ziegler of Tiskilwa and Jacob Paul Ziegler of Peoria. Survivors also include two brothers, Howard (Cathy) Ziegler Jr. of Carbondale and Craig Ziegler of Tiskilwa; a nephew, Chad Heilstedt of Henry; and a special aunt, Ruth Ziegler of Tiskilwa. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and several aunts and uncles. He grew up with a determined work ethic and always had more work planned ahead of him than a normal man ever had time for. He farmed the home place until retiring in 1997, was a farrier into the 1990s, having taken instruction with Oklahoma State Horse Shoeing School, roasted whole hogs for wedding receptions and family gatherings in the local area for a number of years, and enjoyed hunting raccoons behind a couple of hounds in his “spare time.” He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed all varieties of hunting, including morels every spring. He was the resident butcher for Marshall-Putnam Locker for many years before purchasing the establishment in 1993. He then worked in the meat department of Sullivan’s supermarket in Princeton before retiring in 2011. He was a member of the former Bureau County Sheriff’s Posse and the Bradford Saddle Club. Per his wishes, his body has been donated to science and cremation rites will be accorded with burial in Mount Bloom in Tiskilwa at a later date. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Tiskilwa Community Church with a celebration of his life following until 1 p.m. Memorials may be directed to his family. The Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton is in charge of arrangements
SPRING VALLEY — William James Wimbiscus Jr., 86, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Born Aug. 29, 1926, to Judge William J. and Mae (Walsh) Wimbiscus of Spring Valley, he married Eleanor Bruder Sept. 24, 1955. She survives. He was a 1944 graduate of St. Bede Academy and then served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in law, he then earned a juris doctor in law from DePaul University College of Law in 1951, passing the Illinois State Bar exam while still a student. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois in 1951, the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972 and the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit in 1981. He joined his father, Judge William J. Wimbiscus Sr., at the Wimbiscus Law Firm in 1951. The firm was established in 1917 and continues to this day. He also served as Spring Valley City Attorney from 1965 to 1981 and DePue Village Attorney from 1975 to 2010. He was a member of Illinois State Bar Association, past president and member of Bureau County Bar Association and a member of LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Bar Association. He was a member and past president of St. Margaret’s Hospital Board of Directors, as well as a member of Hall Township High School Education Foundation, Prairieland Home Care Advisory Committee and Dominic O’Berto Post 182 of the American Legion. He donated legal services to many community and civic organizations. Also surviving are six children, John (SangHui), Sarah, Bill (Sara), Tom (Maureen), Neal and Mary (Phillip) Telfer; one brother, Judge James (Jude) Wimbiscus; one sister, Jane Johnson; 11 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Leona (Mason) Wimbiscus; and one brother, Robert (Donna) Wimbiscus. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley. Internment at Mount Olivet Cemetery will be private. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, Thursday at the funeral home, with a prayer service conducted by the Spring Valley American Legion at 6:30 p.m.
WALNUT — Richard Raymond Von Holten, 88, of Walnut passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013, at his home surrounded by his family. Born Dec. 11, 1924, in rural Rock Falls to Otto and Margaret (Whyte) Von Holten, he married Rosetta Wallace Nov. 24, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rock Falls. She survives. He attended Advance Grade School, Mekeel Grade School and Walnut High School. He also served as president of the board at Mekeel School. He served in the Army as a radio/radar operator during World War II in the South Pacific theatre. He was a member of the Walnut American Legion. He farmed north of Deer Grove and many years north of Walnut and later worked for PAG/Cargill Seeds south of Walnut, until his retirement. He was a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rock Falls where he was active in the church choir, council and Lutheran Brotherhood. At present he was a member of the New Life Lutheran Church of Sterling. Also surviving are two sons, Bruce (Charlotte) Von Holten of Walnut and Bradd (Emily) Von Holten of Walnut; six daughters, Becky (Marvin) Larson of Rowlett, Texas, Susan (Dave) Lauritzen of Wyanet, Rhea Von (Mel Klinkenberg) Holten of Walnut, LuCindy (Bob) Foss of Walnut, Coleen (Clifton) Hon of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Colette (Scott) Odell of Rockwall, Texas; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Marie Schulte, Ellen (Boots) Spencer, Betty Ann Oberle, Marge Parker and Euryth Vickrey; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and six brothers, Leo, James, John, Eugene, Robert “Bob” and Don. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Thursday, at the New Life Lutheran Church, Sterling, with Pastor William Sullivan officiating. Burial will be in the Coloma Township Cemetery, Rock Falls. Visitation was held Wednesday at the McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. Memorials may be directed to New Life Lutheran Church in Sterling.
CLINTON, Iowa — Sheryl Kay Cotter, 69, of Clinton, Iowa, lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Mercy Living Center – North in Clinton, Iowa, with her husband at her side. She was born on Sept. 24, 1943, in Spring Valley to Leslie Kohl Stites and Agnes (Craig) Stites. She married her soul mate, William Sheryl Patrick Cotter from Tiskilwa, on June 6, Cotter 1964. Sheryl worked at Rock Island Arsenal, Clinton Corn Processing Co., and Mount Saint Clare Speech and Hearing Center. She was also a member of the JW Chapter of PEO. Although her life was cut short, she was able to live it to the fullest. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and she especially loved to tryout new recipes on her guests. She also enjoyed playing bridge and visiting with her six grandchildren. Sheryl is survived by her loving husband, Bill of 48 years; two daughters, Leslie Ewers of Cumming, Ga., and Kathy (Mike) Lang of Des Moines, Iowa; two brothers, Roger Stites and Michael (Nancy) Stites; and her sister, Shirley (Dr. William) Nied. She was preceded in death by her mother and father. Her funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Casket bearers are her six grandchildren, Sam, Ben and Allie Ewers, and Kohl, Connor and Cameron Lang. The Clinton Chapel of Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at www. snellzornig.com. Thank you to all the family and friends, including the Ninth Avenue North crew, for looking after Sheryl and Bill during this heartbreaking time. In addition, the family wishes to thank the staff at Mercy Living Center – North for their compassion and care. Sheryl greatly appreciated all of the visitors she had during her illness, it warmed her heart. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Prince of Peace Parish Building Fund or the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa or a charity of your choice.
PRESCOTT, Wis. — A celebration of life for Mary Christine (Bence) Crain, 64, of Prescott, Wis., who passed away at 7:04 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at her home after a long battle with cancer, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Elm Lawn Memorial Chapel in Princeton. A luncheon will follow the service at the home of Mike and Kathy Smith, 13701 1250 East St., Wyanet. She was born May 18, 1948, to Earl and Betty (Coble) Bence. She is survived by her four children, Lisa (Loren) Burton of Manlius, Eric (Sherry) LaCroix of Prescott, Wis., Donald (Melissa) LaCroix of Mondovi, Wis., and Sandra Novak of Prescott, Wis.; one brother, Kenneth (Sharon) Bence of Princeton; one sister, Kathleen (Michael) Smith of Wyanet; 13 grandchildren; four nieces and two nephews; five great-nieces and nine great-nephews; and one great-great-nephew. She was preceded in death by parents; her maternal and paternal grandparents; and two special couples, Lil and Martin, and Jack and Ann Willis.
Mildred Drake PRINCETON — Mildred “Loraine” Drake, 90, of Princeton passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Zearing. She was born June 7, 1922, in Stafford, Va., to William and Rosa (Baber) Shackleford. She graduated high school in Virginia and went on to business school in Washington, D.C. There, she met Donald E. Drake from Princeton and they were married Feb. 3, 1949. He died Feb. 25, 2002. After moving to Illinois, she spent her time being a homemaker and farm wife. She was passionate about gardening and being outside and she was happiest doing things for her family. She showed her endless love by her actions to those closest to her and was beloved by those who knew her also. Loraine is survived by her three children, James Edward (Terrie) Drake of Princeton, Barbara Jean Borys of Princeton and Karen Sue (Steve) James of Salem, Wis. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, David and Daniel Drake, Shirley (the late Jim) Morse, Ben Borys, Sarah (Steve) Lawyer, Peter (Heidi) James, and Adam, Mark and Sarah James; and nine great-grandchildren, Matt, Sam, Lizzie and Erica Lawyer, and Ali, Austin, Maddy, McKenzie and Brooklynn Borys. Surviving as well is one sister-in-law, Charlotte (the late Bill) Shackleford, and her family of Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, an infant granddaughter, and brothers and sisters. A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Princeton Wesleyan Church with Pastor Doug Kirkpatrick officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be directed to 1033 Ambulance Service.
WYANET — Gerald “Jerry” J. Clift Sr., 65, of Wyanet passed away at 9 a.m. Monday, May 13, 2013, at his home in Wyanet. He was born June 18, 1947, in Henry to James and Virginia (Cayton) Clift. He was a machinist and farmer. Survivors include two sons, Jerry (Lori) Clift Jr. of Wyanet and Luke Clift of Wyanet; one daughter, Shelly Clift of Princeton; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, with Pastor Willy Minnix of the Bureau Township Community Church, rural Wyanet, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Tiskilwa. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to St. Margaret’s Hospice in Spring Valley.
Marie Vetter HOOPPOLE — Marie S. Vetter, 74, of Hooppole died Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Zion United Methodist Church, Hooppole, with the Rev. Dan Wright, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Hooppole Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Garland Funeral Home in Walnut.
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