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OBITUARIES Lowell Kilgus ARCADIA, Ind. – Lowell Kilgus, 68, of Arcadia, passed away Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Lowell was born April 26, 1945, in Sterling, to Christian and Ruth (Schlough) Kilgus. He began his career as a high school physics and math teacher. He moved on, taking a position as an engineer, and worked his way up to become the highly respected president of Mallory Controls in Indianapolis. He was an active participant and faithful member of Christ Lutheran Church in Zionsville, Ind. He loved to play golf, especially the day he got a hole in one. He was an amazing builder, helped with Habitat for Humanity homes, and loved doing building projects with and for his grandchildren. Lowell had a great appreciation for the beauty of nature, and a true love of animals, especially dogs.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Margie Kilgus; daughter, Kirsten (Mark) Sidelnyk; son, Jeremy (Denise) Kilgus; sister, Ruth (Fred) Overdier; brother, Walter (Joann) Kilgus; grandchildren, Jaymin, Nathan, Samantha, and Shane; and six nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ Church – The Lutheran Church of Zionsville, 600 N. Ford Road, Zionsville, Ind. Flanner and BuchananZionsville is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions in Lowell’s honor may be made to Christ Church – the Lutheran Church of Zionsville or the American Heart Association. Visit www.flannerbuchanan.com to send condolences.
Mary Myrle Nice MORRISON – Mary Myrle Nice, 91, of Morrison, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at her home. She farmed alongside her husband in the Union Grove area, and was the Ustick Township assessor. Mary Myrle was born May 8, 1922, in Ustick Township, the daughter of George D. and Ivy L. (Beswick) Howe. She married Warren M. Nice on June 9, 1940, in Burlington, Iowa. She was a member of Morrison United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Nancy K. Stone of Morrison, Beth L. Thornburg of Clifton, Colo., Marilyn J. (Brian) Dolieslager of Lyndon, and Melissa L. (Eric) Arey of Tiffin, Iowa; one son, Merle E.
(Nancy) Nice of Sterling; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sue Pape of Morrison. She was preceded in death by one sister, Emily Sikkema. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday and the funeral at 11 a.m. Thursday at Morrison United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ryan Sutton, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison is handling arrangements. Memorials have been established to Hospice of the Rock River Valley and Morrison United Methodist Church. Visit www.bosmarenkes. com to send condolences.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR THE WEEK Today’s funerals: Gladys D. Martenson OF 3TERLING A M AT )MMANUEL %VANGELICAL ,UTHERAN #HURCH IN 2OCK &ALLS Thursday visitations: Mary Myrle Nice OF -ORRISON A M AT -ORRISON 5NITED -ETHODIST #HURCH Lorinda E. Nielsen OF 2OCK &ALLS P M AT -C$ONALD &UNERAL (OME IN 3TERLING Thursday funerals: Mary Myrle Nice OF -ORRISON A M AT -ORRISON 5NITED -ETHODIST #HURCH Lorinda E. Nielsen OF 2OCK &ALLS P M AT -C$ONALD
&UNERAL (OME IN 3TERLING Friday visitations: Albert G. Helfrich Jr. OF $IXON A M AT 3T 0AUL ,UTHERAN #HURCH IN $IXON Friday funerals: Albert G. Helfrich Jr. OF $IXON A M AT 3T 0AUL ,UTHERAN #HURCH IN $IXON Ronald D. Shook OF 2OCK &ALLS GATHERING OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY P M AT -C$ONALD &UNERAL (OME IN 3TERLING Oct. 27 funerals: Sharon Bittinger OF 0OLO CELEBRATION OF LIFE P M AT $IXON 6ETERANS OF &OREIGN 7ARS
Ronald D. Shook ROCK FALLS – Ronald D. Shook, 68, of Rock Falls, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. He was born Nov. 7, 1944, in DeKalb, the son of Chester and Evelyn (Clark) Shook. Ronald was employed at Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. in Sterling for 35 years, retiring as a die maker. Surviving are his three sons, Brian Shook of Chicago, Michael (Shanda) Shook of Sterling, and Kevin Shook of Rock Falls; his sister, Joyce
Shook of Houston; and seven grandchildren, Nicklaus Shook, Casey Shook, Carter Shook, Kaden Pyron, Jasmyn Woods, Kaitlyn Shook, and Shylyn Shook. He was preceded in death by his parents. A gathering of friends and family will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, 505 First Ave., Sterling. Private burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Creston. Visit www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.
Albert G. Helfrich Jr. DIXON – Albert G. Helfrich Jr., 54, of Dixon, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family, after battling a long illness. He was born Aug. 16, 1959, in Dixon, the son of Albert and Barbara (Culver) Helfrich Sr. He had worked at Dixon Web, BorgWarner, and York Refrigeration. He married Felicia Spotts on Nov. 4, 2011, in Dixon. Albert loved spending time with family and friends. He also liked to fish and garden. He was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan. He is survived by his wife, Felicia; children, Joseph (Marilyn) Helfrich of Dixon, Cara Balsley of Iowa, Jacob Lewis of Dixon, Joshua Helfrich of Sterling, and Santana Martinez, Matthew Martinez, and Selena Martinez, all of Dixon; four grandchildren, Jonah, MacKenzie, Karissa, and Caliann; eight brothers, Michael (Rebecca) Helfrich, Charles (Kath-
leen) Helfrich, William (Laura) Helfrich, Scott (Lynn) Helfrich, Daniel (Melody) Helfrich, John (Kim) Helfrich, Donald (Sally) Helfrich, and Glenn (Rachel) Helfrich, all of Dixon; his grandmother, Olive Culver of Dixon; several aunts and uncles, including Sharon Kemp of Dixon; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friends, Brian (Michelle) Geiger, Kenny (Lee) Mumford, and George Fichtenmuller. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday and the funeral at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dixon, with the Rev. Leo Patterson officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded after the funeral. Jones Funeral Home in Dixon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established. Visit www.thejonesfh. com to send condolences.
Ryan M. Gendreau
SABULA, Iowa – Ryan M. Gendreau, 35, of Sabula, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in Marshall, Ark., as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Lorinda E. Nielsen Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna is handling ROCK FALLS – Lorinda ters, Katalina Nielsen and arrangements. E. Nielsen, 29, of Rock Brigette Walker; and a sisSmaida Bollman Falls, died Sunday, Oct. ter, Jessie LuAnn Davis20, 2013, at CGH Medi- Holcomb of Sterling. STERLING – Smaida Bollman, 75, of Sterling, died Friday, cal Center in Sterling. She She was preceded in Oct. 18, 2013, at Coventry Village Living Center in Sterling. worked at Self Help Enter- death by her maternal and Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling is handling prises. paternal grandparents. arrangements. Lorinda was born April Visitation will be from 2, 1984, in Sterling, the 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday Raymond Hammelman daughter of Earl F. Hol- and the funeral at 2 p.m. comb and Laura Schil- Thursday at McDonald ROCKFORD – Raymond Hammelman, 93, of Sterling. Funeral Home, 505 First ling, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at OSF Saint Anthony Survivors include her Ave., Sterling, with the Medical Center in Rockford. biological father, Earl F. Rev. Les Funderberg offi- Schilling Funeral Home in Sterling is handling Holcomb of Rock Falls; ciating. Cremation rites arrangements. biological mother, Laura will be accorded. (Harold) Biekma of SterIn lieu of flowers, a Gerald M. Mance ling; adoptive mother, memorial has been estabMORRISON – Gerald M. Mance, 64, of Morrison, died Linda Nielsen of Thorn- lished. ton, Colo.; adoptive Visit www.mcdonaldfu- Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at his home. Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home in Morrison is hanfather, Rick Honstein of neralhomes.com to send dling arrangements. Thornton; two daugh- condolences.
ROCK FALLS
WOODHAVEN LAKES
Convenience stores now closer to selling alcoholic beverages
Donations sought for burned security guard
Just 1 place within city is ineligible BY MATT MENCARINI MMENCARINI SAUKVALLEY COM EXT
ROCK FALLS – Five eligible Rock Falls convenience stores have been given liquor licenses recently, the mayor said. In September, the Rock Falls City Council decided to allow convenience stores to sell beer and
wine. The stores “very quickly� applied for the licenses after a 10-day waiting period, Mayor Bill Wescott said. The convenience stores will also have to apply for and receive a state liquor license, he added. The two Casey’s General Store locations, the two Shell gas station locations, and the Mobil Gas Station at 1308 First Ave. have been given the city’s Class 4 liquor license.
However, the Mobil Gas Station at 201 12th Ave. was the only convenience store in Rock Falls that wasn’t eligible for a liquor license, Wescott said, because it was too close to Rock Falls High School. The Mobil Gas Station is across the street from the high school. Assistant Manager Doreen Bontz said she won’t know for a while whether business will be hurt by not being
allowed to sell beer or wine. According to the city’s code, a liquor license can’t be issued to an establishment within 100 feet of a school, church, nursing home, or military or naval station. Sterling has a similar provision in its city code, also prohibiting liquor licenses from being issued to businesses within 100 feet of certain establishments, including schools and churches.
Burke: Project in the plans for long time STREETSCAPING CONTINUED FROM A1
The cost is about $450,000 per block and $150,000 for parking lots. The proposed plan includes two alleys and two parking lots. The city can spend more or less, depending on its plans, Brown said. Because Dixon’s downtown is listed on the National Historic Registry, all engineering will have to be done with input from Dixon’s historic preservation commission, Dixon Main Street and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Brown said. The mayor is hopeful signage can be put up to recognize Dixon’s listing on the registry. Meetings will be scheduled for public input from residents and merchants,
Brown said. Also, commissioners asked for consistent updates on the progress Jim of plans and Burke the opportunity to give input along the way. Commissioners Dennis Considine and David Blackburn discussed possibly getting rid of the traffic signal at Peoria Avenue and Second Street. Depending on the traffic volume discovered at the intersection, it is possible the city could do away with that signal there, or a signal may be placed at Peoria and Third Street instead. The streetscaping will be an opportunity for the city to re-address any issues it has with handicapped parking, Commissioner Jeff Kuhn said.
The mayor informed the council he is working with the governor’s office Jeff to acquire Kuhn $450,000 in grant money for the construction of a parking lot along the Riverfront on the west side of the Peoria Avenue bridge. The project has nothing to do with the $40 million recovered from the recent lawsuit settlement or sale of Rita Crundwell’s assets, Burke said. “This project has been planned for a long time,� he said in response to a visitor’s question about funding. “This was our justification for extending the TIF district by 11 years with the Illinois legislature. This money can only be used for the downtown.�
Also Monday, the City Council placed on file an ordinance that would allow for a referendum asking for a change to the city manager form of government on the November 2014 ballot. A seven-person governmental task force, appointed by Burke and approved by the council, recommended this summer the city ask citizens to decide if they want to adopt the city manager form of government. November 2014 is the earliest the question can reach the ballot. In other items, commissioners authorized the special-use permit for an electrical contracting business, D&R Electric, at 1107 Eastern Ave., and gave the go-ahead to make the prohibition of drug paraphernalia part of city ordinances.
STAFF REPORT NEWS SAUKVALLEY COM EXT
SUBLETTE – Donations are being accepted to help a security guard with medical costs after he was injured Oct. 13 in a propane tank explosion at Woodhaven Lakes. Guy Maychszak was at the scene when the tank explosion destroyed one trailer and damaged two others. His arms and hands were burned, and he
was taken to Mendota Community Hospital for treatment. Maychszak later was airlifted to Loyola Medical Center in Chicago. Checks can be made out to the Guy Maychszak Benefit Fund. They can be dropped off at Farmers State Bank of Sublette, 303 S. Pennsylvania Ave., or mailed to the bank at Farmers State Bank of Sublette, Guy Maychszak Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 20, Sublette, IL 61367.
DIXON
College night set at Sauk STAFF REPORT NEWS SAUKVALLEY COM EXT
DIXON – Sauk Valley Community College’s College Night will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 5 in the gym at the college, 173 Illinois Route 2. More than 80 representatives from colleges, universities, vocationaltechnical schools, and the military will be on hand to answer questions about their institutions and programs.
In addition, there will be a financial aid workshop at 6 p.m. in Room 1K4. Deb Stiefel, coordinator of financial assistance, will discuss financial aid opportunities available to students, including the Free Application for Student Financial Aid. College Night is sponsored by Sauk and area high schools. For more information, call Sauk’s Office of Recruitment at 815-835-6421.