INDEX

Carol (Anderson) Gardner, 76, of Woodstock, passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Huntley. She was born Sept. 28, 1944, in Raymond, Wash., to Melvin and Agnes Anderson.

Carol grew up in Chicago, and then Western Springs, Ill., and graduated from Lyons Town- Carol ship High School Gardner in 1963. She then went on to study Spanish and biology at Illinois State University, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1967. It was at ISU that she met her husband, Ken, to whom she was married for 46 years. She later went on to complete her master’s degree at Northern Illinois University.

Carol taught Spanish at Woodstock High School for 32 years. She inspired a love of the Spanish language in many students. She also loved teaching her students about Hispanic and Latino cultures, especially through field trips.

Carol was also a loving wife, mother, and friend to many, known for her can-do attitude, generosity, and good humor. A proud “cat lady,” she adopted several cats throughout her life.

In her retirement years, Carol happily spent many hours gardening, and was a member of the Woodstock Garden Club for several years. Colorful blooms and abundant holiday displays were prominent features at her home, which included a backyard pond and stream. She was a collector of snail-themed memorabilia and an ardent Betty Boop enthusiast. She also loved traveling, visiting six different continents throughout her many years of travel.

However, Carol’s biggest passion in retirement was her grandkids. She babysat for them regularly, and loved spending time with them. They absolutely adored her.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Katrina (Marc) McLaughlin; her grandkids, Cailin and Xander; and her sister, Edna Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Gardner, and her parents.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helping Paws Animal Shelter at helpingpaws.net.

Elsie Mae Stoddard, 97, daughter of the late Eric and Teresa Akerberg, was born Aug. 26, 1923, in Woodstock, Ill. Having had the precious time to visit with her family, Elsie passed quietly on Jan. 15, 2021, in the comfort of her daughter Lisa’s home.

Elsie grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Woodstock along with seven other siblings. She was extremely proud of her 50+ year Elsie Mae membership Stoddard with Greenwood Homemakers. She enjoyed many years of playing pinochle with friends at the Woodstock firehouse. She was also an avid rummy player and a fierce bingo competitor. Elsie sold her Hoy Avenue home and moved to the Fountains in Crystal Lake, Ill., in June 2017. While there she made many friends. The Fountains CNAs and foodservice staff were always so kind and engaging. Each and every one of the InHome Personal Services staff are incredible, dedicated human beings, and Elsie’s family cannot thank them enough for all their considerate and gentle care.

Elsie married Laurin Stoddard on Sept. 27, 1943, and they were happily married for 46 years before Laurin’s death on June 25, 1989. They were a hardworking farm couple until they sold their milk cows and moved to town. Their union blessed them with five children. Her family was her passion, her job, and she was always there to lend a helping hand whenever she was needed. Her long and wonderful life will forever be cherished by her children, Gene (Pegg) Stoddard of Brodhead, Wis., Dale (Chona) Stoddard of Wheeling, Ill., and Lisa (Alex) Petralia of Island, Lake, Ill.; and daughter-in-law Jenny Stoddard of Mount Carroll, Ill. Elsie is preceded in death by brothers Eric, Walter, William, and sister Marion, as well as her daughter Carol Hillman (January 2019) and son Roger

WFRD board interviews deputy chief applicants

Two candidates for deputy chief of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District were interviewed last week in a process that is expected to lead to a hiring in mid-February. Stoddard (May 2019), and many other beloved family members and friends. Elsie leaves behind her brother Edwin (Polly) Akerberg, and two sisters, Lucille (Bob) Gavers and Helen Joosten.

Elsie, affectionately known as Gma, was interested in the goings on in the lives of her family. She was engaged and very supportive of each of her 16 grandchildren. She made a point of treating them as if they were the most important person in the room. She reveled in the activities of her 21 great-grandchildren and was delighted with her one great-great-granddaughter.

Elsie/Mom/Gma – you are and will always be our Sunshine!

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, visitation, funeral and interment will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home and will be restricted to family only.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Elsie to Main Stay Therapeutic Farm, 6919 Keystone Road, Richmond, IL 60071

For information, call the funeral home at 815-338-1710 or see the website at slmcfh.com.

Virginia May Stroh, 84, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Northwestern Medicine-McHenry from complications of COVID-19 along with other health challenges.

Virginia (Ginny) was born in Hawley, Minn., on May 26, 1936, to Alois and Norma (Gaenzle) Vorgert. She attended grade school in Urbank, Minn., and graduated from Parkers Prairie High School Virginia May Stroh in 1953. After attending the Minnesota College of Business in Minneapolis, she worked for Kaiser Aluminum in the Twin Cities.

At a dance in Alexandria, Minn., she met the love of her life, Alfred Stroh, and they married on Oct. 19, 1957, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank, Minn. They settled on a 200-acre family farm in Millerville, Minn., and started their family. They lived there until 1968, when they moved their three children and their dairy herd to Woodstock to begin their new life

The Board of Trustees, in a closed meeting Jan. 14, interviewed the two applicants, Capt. Brendan Parker and Lt. Matthew Hedges, according to Chief Mike Hill.

Parker has been with WFRD for 22 years and a captain since 2013. Hedges has been with the district for more than 14 years, the past nine as lieutenant.

The two will be assessed at the end of on a 524-acre farmstead.

She was a devoted and hardworking farm wife who took great pride in her expansive vegetable and flower gardens. She was an excellent seamstress and always kept busy with “projects.” She was never afraid of rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty. After she and Alfred were introduced to square dancing, she created many beautiful dance dresses for herself and matching shirts for him. They eventually learned ballroom and round dancing and enjoyed attending large dance gatherings around northern Illinois with fellow dance couples, many who became their lifelong friends.

She worked as a bookkeeper at Tidy Rug and as a secretary at Harding Real Estate and State Bank of Woodstock. She took tender care of all the farm animals – except those pesky squirrels – but was especially fond of cats, even breeding and raising Persian cats at one time.

After her husband’s death, she moved back to Minnesota and became a “snowbird,” wintering in Mesa, Ariz. She never missed an opportunity to get dressed up to go out socializing or dancing with other snowbirds from Minnesota, some of whom were treasured friends she had grown up with.

As health issues began to plague her, she moved back to Woodstock in 2013 to be closer to her children. She remained fiercely independent and loved nothing more than to be outside in the sun tending to her yard and flowers.

Ginny is survived by her son, Robert Martin Stroh (Elizabeth Stanek), and daughter, Fay Marie (Alan) Wilson, both of Woodstock; siblings Phyllis (Roger) Ericksen of Andover, Minn., and Gladys (Paul) Jobe of Alexandria, Minn.; grandchildren, Mark, Ellie, Alexandra, and Benjamin Stroh, and Hannah Wilson; brother- and sisters-in-laws, Ben and Kathleen Stroh and Betty (Neil) Ostlund of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alfred Anthony, in 1985; and her son, Mark Alfred, in 1992.

Because of COVID restrictions, a private funeral mass will take place at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hartland, with burial at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in Ginny’s name.

For online condolences, visit slmcfh.com or call Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney at 815-338-1710 for more

information. January by a consulting firm, Stephen A. Laser Associates of Chicago, before additional internal interviews Feb. 4, including with the Board of Fire Commissioners.

The position of deputy chief was eliminated in recent years for financial reasons. But voters approved a tax increase referendum in April 2019 that will allow the district to increase staff and upgrade equipment.