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Born: November 7, 1927 in Freeport, IL Died: June 4, 2022 in Peoria, IL

(Phyllis) Joan Burkhalter, age 94, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, IL.

Joan was born on November 7, 1927, in Freeport, IL to John C. and Wanda G. (Gore) Hastings and grew up in Winslow, IL. On June 26, 1949, she married Melvin F. Burkhalter in Freeport and together, they raised three children. He preceded her in death in 1989. She is survived by their three children: John (Edith) Burkhalter of Seattle, WA, Paula (Kevin) Martin of Midlothian, TX, and Mary Kay (Mark) Gamage of Peoria, IL; grandchildren Chris (Kelly) Burkhalter of Dearborn, MI, Matthew (Sarah) Martin of Pagosa Springs, CO, Aaron (Megan) Burkhalter of Seattle, Zachary Martin ofMidlothian, Daniel Burkhalter of Olympia, WA, Rebecca (Tobias) Karlowicz of Peoria, Jared (Jennifer) Martin of Midlothian, John Gamage of Chillicothe, IL, Ben (Phuong) Burkhalter of Seattle, and Michael (Sarah) Gamage of Chicago, IL; as well as 11 great-grandchildren and 1 foster great-granddaughter. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters; Wanda Jean, who died in infancy, and Frances (Raymond) Martin.

After graduating from Winslow High School in 1945, Joan graduated from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Freeport in 1948, having entered as a cadet in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps program. Over the years, she held several nursing positions in Freeport, Madison, WI, Oregon, IL, and Mt. Morris, IL. She retired as Director of Nursing for Pinecrest Manor in Mt. Morris in 1988, having served there for over 26 years.

Joan and Mel were founding members of St. Bride’s Episcopal Church in Oregon, IL, and she served in many capacities over the years on Bishop’s Committee, as Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women, and as a Chalice Bearer. She was a past member of P.E.O. Chapter CU and Eastern Star.

Joan was a wonderful mother and actively involved loving grandmother. She cherished visits with her grandchildren and would fly across the country attending all her grandchildren’s high school graduations, Eagle Scout ceremonies, and weddings.Through the years she loved to golf, play bridge, bowl, deliver Meals on Wheels, and travel. Her sense of humor will be missed, but the family has many wonderful stories to share. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staff at Evergreen Assisted Living in Chillicothe and Lutheran Hillside Village for their loving care of Joan over the past five years.

Joan’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. Bride’s Episcopal Church. A visitation will be held at Finch Funeral Home in Mt. Morris on Monday, June 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. and 1 hour prior to the funeral service at St. Bride’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Bride’s Episcopal Church or to Easter Seals Peoria.

BOBBY ‘BOB’ MCGUIRE

Born: August 9, 1937 in Forreston, IL Died: May 29, 2022 in Cedar Rapids, IA

ROBINS, Iowa –Bobby “Bob” McGuire, 84, of Robins, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa surrounded by his family. A private family inurnment will be held at Fairmont Cemetery in Polo, Illinois. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.

Bob was born on August 9, 1937, in Forreston, Illinois, the son of Keith and Jaunita (Kresin) McGuire. He was a graduate of Polo High School and went on to attend North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. On October 22, 1960, Bob was united in marriage to Eleanor “Kay” Mertz in Polo, Illinois, at St. Mark Lutheran Church. He retired as Director of Information Systems from Rockwell-Collins after 33 years. Bob enjoyed photography, creating stain glass art, woodworking, and gardening. In his later years he enjoyed playing the stock market, crossword puzzles and studying astronomy. Bob will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bob is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Kay McGuire of Robins; three daughters, Lori McGuire (Mickey Reese) of St. George, Utah, Jill (Steve) Breen of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Keri McGuire of of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Keri McGuire of Chicago, Illinois; two granddaughters, Erin Breen and Molly Breen; one brother, Craig (Julie) McGuire of Polo; and one sister, Nancy McGuire of Geneva, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials in Bob’s memory may be directed to Camp Courageous at PO Box 418, Monticello, Iowa 52310-0418; Marion Methodist Church at 5050 Rec Drive, Marion, Iowa 52302; or the charity of donor’s choice.

Please share a memory of Bob at www. murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

WARREN PULLMAN MILLER

Died: May 24, 2022 in Santa Barbara, CA

Warren Pullman Miller passed away peacefully, on May 24, 2022, at home in Santa Barbara, California, surrounded by his family. He died after a losing battle with lung cancer one day short of his 82nd birthday. Mr. Miller was born in Chicago, Illinois to Florence Lowden Miller and Dr. C. Phillip Miller. HIs grandfather, Frank O. Lowden, was the Illinois governor from 1917-1921. His great-grandfather George Mortimer Pullman developed the Pullman sleeper car and founded the company town of Pullman, now part of Chicago’s Southside.

Throughout his life, Mr. Miller had a passion and love for the environment, conservation, travel, flying and above all his family, both the two-legged and four-legged ones (many cats and dogs were lucky enough to call the Miller household their home).

Mr. Miller spent his early life in Illinois. His weekends, holidays, and summers were spent primarily at Sinnissippi Farm, the family’s farm and forestland established by his grandparents, located 100 miles west of Chicago, in Oregon, Illinois. He attended Lawrenceville Academy in New Jersey and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Harvard University in 1962. Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve serving for four years.

Mr. Miller’s early career was taken up by governmental management, natural resources administration and the forest products industry. He served on several advisory panels for state and local governments and as an officer, director, and trustee of several non-profits in the Midwest.

In 1966, Mr. Miller joined the newly formed nonprofit and Presidentially appointed Citizens Advisory Committee on Recreation and Natural Beauty. During that time, he met and married his first wife, Nancy. Throughout the years, he remained close to the family property and businesses at Sinnissippi and in 1978 he and Nancy moved to Oregon, Illinois to help run the family business. They built a new lumber mill, expanded the logging operations, increased the size of the Christmas tree farm to become the second largest Christmas tree grower in the state for some time. He became involved with the Pullman Historic Foundation and the Pullman Historic District in Chicago and continued as a board member of the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation; a foundation established by his great-grandfather in 1949.The Foundation is ongoing awarding scholarships to outstanding high school seniors throughout Illinois.

In 1989, Nancy wanted to reconnect with her family in California, eventually settling in Santa Barbara. Nancy passed away unexpectedly in 1997. Mr. Miller continued to be active in a number of Santa Barbara’s community organizations, among them the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Hope Ranch Park Association and the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. He met Gallery owner Marlene Schulz, and they married in 1999. This would prove to be a new chapter in his life. They collaborated on numerous art exhibitions and publications.

Warren Miller is survived by his wife, Marlene R. Miller, two nieces; Kimberley Lowden Miller, Jennifer Pullman Tadjedin (Amir), cousins; Deborah Lowden Daspit (William), Elizabeth Pullman Daspit, Richard Winslow Daspit Jr. (Cecilia), Anne Deverman Daspit (Kenneth), Amy Drake Daspit, Catherine Elizabeth Culbertson (Charles), Edward Albert Culbertson (Robin), George M. Pullman Drake Jr. (Linda), Christopher A. Drake (Lori), Patricia Lowden Drake, Scott Folker Madlener and numerous grand nieces and nephews. A sister-in-law, Ingrid Cali and her children; Marty Fiolka (Susan), Leeann Folse (Dee).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, or the Pullman Education Foundation (www. pullmanfoundation.org).