Obituaries

DeKALB

Man charged with home invasion, threatening man with knife

By KELSEY RETTKE

krettke@shawmedia.com

SYCAMORE – A DeKalb man is facing charges after court records allege he broke into a woman’s home and threatened to kill a man inside the home with a knife.

Devonte L. Ragsdale, 28, of the 900 block of Ridge Drive in DeKalb is charged with home invasion, a Class X felony, criminal trespass to a resi dence, misdemeanor aggravated assault and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

If convicted of the most serious crime, home invasion, Ragsdale could face up to 30 years in prison.

According to DeKalb County court records, Ragsdale was charged after a July 4 incident during which he’s accused of breaking into a Sycamore woman’s Brickville Road home through her bedroom window and threatening those inside.

During a bond hearing in front of Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick Monday, Ragsdale was represented by attorney Charles Criswell of the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office. Prosecutors asked for bond to be set at $25,000.

Criswell argued Ragsdale’s lack of criminal history qualified him for a recognizance no-cash bond.

“In this case, he is charged with a Class X felony,” Buick said. “I’ve reviewed the synopsis where there’s the allegation of threatening of the individuals in the residence, arming himself with a knife from the kitchen, so I do think in this case in light of that Class X felony, it’s appropriate I set bail.”

Buick ruled Ragsdale’s bond be set at $30,000, with $3,000 needed to post bail and be released from DeKalb County Jail. Records show Ragsdale posted that cash bail Thursday.

Police were called to the home about 7:37 p.m. July 7 for reports of a domestic battery,

records state. The residents inside the home, a man and a woman Ragsdale knew, told police that Ragsdale allegedly broke into the home through a bedroom window where the couple was and began arguing with them. Ragsdale is also accused of punching a hole in the drywall during the verbal argument, which was allegedly about a child. The victims told police Ragsdale allegedly left the bedroom and went to the kitchen, where he grabbed a kitchen knife. The male victim closed the bedroom Devonte L. Ragsdale, 28, of DeKalb door, but Ragsdale broke it down, records allege, and threatened to kill the man with a knife. Ragsdale is accused of fleeing the home after he put the knife down and driving to another home in the 1400 block of John Street in Sycamore where another child was present. Sycamore police arrested Ragsdale at the John Street home, records show. Ragsdale is due back for a status hearing at 8:45 a.m. July 11.

Sycamore Boy Scout earns Eagle award for conservation project

SYCAMORE – Quinn Harrelson, a member of Boy Scout Troop 2810 chartered out of Salem Lutheran Church of Sycamore, recently completed his Eagle project aiding area conservation.

Harrelson’s project benefited DeKalb County’s Forest Preserves as he worked to help restore wetlands at the South Afton Wetland Mitigation Bank, according to a news release.

Harrelson consulted with Restoration Ecologist Patrick McCrea of the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District and came up with the project together. The pair met several times to plan out the project and Harrelson visited other wetland areas to better understand how they function.

The forest preserve donated 850 native plants for Harrelson to use in his project. To qualify as an Eagle Scout, Harrelson had to earn 21 merit badges, have his project approved by a committee, hold a leadership position in his Boy Scout troop and moved through all prior scout levels.

Lions provide free picnic for those with disabilities

SHABBONA – Lions Club members from 15 communities are preparing the annual picnic for some special heroes.

The Lions Fishing Derby for Persons With Disabilities will take place July 21 at Shabbona Lake State Park. Taking assorted assignments, the Lions provide boat rides, lunch, a petting zoo, canoe rides, trailer rides between areas and, of course, fishing from an accessible fishing pier among other events.

Families, friends and groups are invited to attend the free event. Nearly 150 people will be available to assist in “accessibility.” For over 40 years the event has been an anniversary of the construction of an accessible fishing pier at the well-known fishing lake.

It helps in planning to know how many are attending, and the Lions like to have first name cards for everyone. Contact Lions members Ed and Sue Carter at 630-330-1341, 630-3301339 or edward0022@att.net for information. – Shaw Local News Network

OBITUARIES

KENNETH LEE GUNDERSON

Born: March 31, 1928 in Earl Township, IL Died: July 2, 2022 in Naperville, IL

Kenneth Lee Gunderson, 94, of Aurora, IL formerly of DeKalb, IL passed away Saturday, July 2, 2022 at AccentCare in Naperville, surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 31, 1928 in Earl Township the son of Milton and Esther (Terry) Gunderson. He married Dorothy Hanson on May 6, 1953. He was a member of the DeKalb Elks Lodge, and Leland American Legion. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1946 serving at Ft. Knox, KY, later served in the U.S. Marines from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. Kenneth was a lifelong employee for Com-Ed, avid golfer, enjoyed his garden, active investor, diehard Cubs fan. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. He is survived by one daughter, Kim (Tim) O’Toole of Naperville, IL; one son, Kraig (Debby) Gunderson of Edwardsville, IL; four grandchildren, Matt (Julia) O’Toole, Dan (Beth) O’Toole, Brian and Krissy Gunderson; four great grandchildren, Leo, Lily, Arden, and Rosie O’Toole; two sisters, Mary Leach of Sandwich, IL, and Pat (Dave) Peterson of Peoria, IL; numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; one son, Brian in infancy; three brothers, Graham, Wayne, and Keith. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at the funeral home in Somonauk, IL, with Pastor Stevan Saunders officiating. Burial will follow at Leland Cemetery in Leland, IL. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Alden Gardens Assisted Living in Aurora, IL or Leland American Legion. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com Turner-Eighner Funeral Home 13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404 Somonauk, IL 60552 (815) 498-2363

MARY (KRANOS) RUBIO

Born: November 28, 1921 in Canton, IL Died: July 5, 2022 in Fort Thomas, KY

Mary (Kranos) Rubio, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, age 100 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on July 5, 2022 at Carmel Manor in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. She was born November 28, 1921 in Canton, Illinois to Mark and Elizabeth (Migda) Kranos. In 1938, Mary won a four-year scholarship to the University of Illinois, and continued as a graduate student in the Department of Spanish and Italian. She met Carlos Rubio at the U of I, and they were married for 68 years. After WWII, Mary was secretary to the director of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence, Rhode Island, while her husband was a flight instructor and commercial pilot nearby. Carlos flew for American Airlines from 1950 to 1979, based in Boston and then in Chicago. During that time, they raised four children in Reading, Massachusetts and DeKalb, Illinois. Mary and Carlos retired to Montreal, Canada, where they lived for thirty years. In 2007, they relocated to the Cincinnati area to be near family. Mary enjoyed music, reading, and traveling abroad. Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her two brothers, Peter and James Kranos, she is survived by her four children: Philip (Paula) of Durham, North Carolina; Thalia (David) of Somerville, Massachusetts; Casilda (Paul) of Berkeley, California; and Benita (David) of Park Hills, Kentucky; as well as six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Mary’s life will take place from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Friday, July 15, 2022 at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, 11 East Southern Avenue, Covington (Latonia), Kentucky 41015. Interment at Rehoboth Village Cemetery, Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Memorials are suggested to Bluegrass Hospice, 1733 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, Kentucky, 40504. Online condolences may be expressed on Facebook or at www.connleybrothersfuneralhome.com