Larry Ray Wisnosky

Born: February 3, 1948 in Marshfield, WI Died: August 9, 2021 in Mt. Morris, IL

Mt. Morris resident Lawrence Ray Wisnosky, age 73, died on Monday, August 9, 2021 in his home from natural causes.

Known to his friends a sLarry, he was born on February 3, 1948, in Marshfield, Wisconsin. His parents were Ray Lawrence Wisnosky and Doris Elizabeth (Doyle) Gilbert. After his parents divorced, his mother remarried, and Ferol A. Gilbert of Mt. Morris became his stepfather. His parents, grandparents, all of his aunts and uncles, and an infant granddaughter preceded him in death.

He graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1966 and immediately joined the Army, inspired by President Kennedy’s famous speech: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” He served in Vietnam as a door gunner with the 1st Aviation Brigade, and he bore witness to the 1968 Tet Offensive.

After his release from active duty, he enrolled at Western Illinois University. While in college, he married Nancy Dickson, an MMHS ‘66 classmate. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in politicals cience and immediately took a job at the VA Regional Office in Chicago.

His career in VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration moved his young family all over the country: to North Dakota, Nevada, and twice to Virginia, where he was a program analyst at VA Central Office, located on the north side of Lafayette Park. He loved that assignment; the view of the White House is spectacular.

He finally moved his family to Ankeny, Iowa, and served as a division chief at VA’s Des Moines Regional Office, where he retired from federal service.

He had a life-long, enduring love of flying machines, and he became an instrument-rated private pilot. While in high school, he had dreamt of a career as a concert pianist. To the great relief of his passengers, he was a better pilot than he was a pianist.

His survivors include his children, Elizabeth Wisnosky of Iowa City, and David Wisnosky of College Park, MD; two granddaughters who live with their mother in Iowa City, Grace Wisnosky and Faye Wisnosky; and 11 cousins.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris, the VFW, the American Legion, and the Vietnam Helicopter Crewmember’s Association.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday August 21, 2021 at 10 a.m. in Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt, Mt. Morris, IL with Rev. Josh Ehrler officiating. Burial will be in Silver Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 9 a.m.. until service time in Finch Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial expressions may be directed to the Mount Morris Community Library Foundation.

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following police activity

Aug. 5

Denny Dal Santo, 55, of Rockford, was arrested for driving with no valid driver’s license after being stopped for speeding on Interstate 39 near Monroe Center. Dal Santo was taken to the Ogle County Jail.

Aug. 6

At approximately 1:34 p.m. deputies responded to the 6000 block of Illinois Route 2. After an investigation, they learned that Gregory Garrett, 60, of Mt. Morris, was traveling southbound in a white Buick passenger car and drove off the east side of the roadway, striking a small tree before the vehicle came to rest. Garrett was transported by Byron EMS to Swedish American Hospital for minor injuries.

Ernest Elswick, 54, of Byron, was arrested at 4:05 p.m. in the 800 block of East Spring Creek Road for aggravated driving while license revoked. Elswick was also cited for expired registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle and was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

At approximately 7:18 p.m., Ogle County deputies stopped Jerime Kuhlemier, 40, of Oregon, was arrested at 7:18 p.m. in the 6000 block of West Pines Road for aggravated driving while license revoked. Kuhlemier also was cited for unlawful use of registration, illegal transportation of alcohol, obstructed registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Kuhlemier was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

At approximately 10:14 p.m., Ogle County deputies and Lynn-Scott-Rock EMS personnel responded to the 14000 block of state Route 72 for a one-vehicle crash with suspected minor injuries. After an investigation, it was determined that Adam Moschel, 55, of Monroe Center, was traveling westbound on Illinois Route 72 and entered the north ditch, striking a telephone pole.

Moschel fled the scene, but was located by the Ogle County K-9 unit and transported to Rochelle Community Hospital for minor injuries from the crash.

Moschel was issued citations for driving under the influence of alcohol, open container/alcohol, failure to give notice of an accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and improper lane usage. He received an I-Bond and was left in the care of Rochelle Community Hospital personnel.

Aug. 7

At approximately 1:26 a.m., Ogle County deputies, Lynn-Scott-Rock EMS and Rochelle EMS responded to the 2000 block of South Lynnville Road for a one-vehicle crash with injuries. After investigation, it was determined that Michael Drendel, 22, of Lindenwood, was traveling northbound on South Lynnville Road when he lost control of the vehicle and entered the east ditch, striking an embankment.

Drendel’s vehicle continued into a bean field, at which time the vehicle is believed to roll over twice before come to rest upright on all four tires. Drendel was transported by Lynn-Scott-Rock ambulance to the Rochelle Community Hospital for minor injuries.

A front seat passenger, Nolan Turner, 22, of Rochelle, was transported by Rochelle ambulance to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Medical Center for suspected major injuries.

Drendel was issued citations for driving while under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Drendel received an I-Bond and was left in the care of Rochelle Community Hospital personnel.

At approximately 2:16 a.m., Ogle County deputies responded to a disturbance at the Lake Ladonna Family Campgrounds. After an investigation, Tammy Marozik, 49, of Elgin, and Joseph Marlett, 37, of Elgin, were arrested for disorderly conduct. Marozik and Marlett were transported to the Ogle County Jail.

At approximately 8:39 p.m., Ogle County deputies responded to the 3000 block of Illinoia Route 2 for a single-vehicle crash with no injuries. After an investigation, it was determined that Randall L. Clark, 51, of Dixon, was traveling southbound when he left the road, striking a rock wall on the west side of the road. The vehicle then traveled eastbound across the center line and the northbound lane, coming to rest on the east side of the road.

Clark was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Clark also was cited for improper land usage, failure to reduce speed to prevent an accident and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Clark was transported to the Ogle County Jail.

Aug. 8

At approximately 11:10 a.m., Ogle County deputies responded to a two-motorcycle crash in the 5000 block of Illinois Route 64. After an investigation, it was determined that a 2007 Harley Davidson operated by Michael Avolio, 53, of North Riverside, was traveling west on state Route 64 behind a 2014 Harley Davidson operated by Dale Detman, 67, of Plainfield, when Detman slowed for a vehicle in traffic.

Avolio struck Detman and lost control, causing the motorcycle to slide on the left side. Avolio and his passenger, Cheryl Serpico, 62, of North Riverside, were transported by Oregon Fire Protection District to KSB Hospital for minor injuries.