INDEX

Charles E. Leucht, 92, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully in his sleep late Thursday afternoon, Sept. 17, 2020.

He was born June 9, 1928, in Peoria to William and Lona (Schneider) Hammitt and adopted by Walter H. Leucht in 1938 after his mother remarried. Several of his early years were spent at Guardian Angels Orphanage during the Depression years. He was Charles E. Leucht a member of the 1947 class of Spalding Institute and a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1948. Chuck married Jacquelyn Conger on July 9, 1950, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Chicago and served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Reserves for four years during the Korean War.

In 1953, he founded the SchneiderLeucht Funeral Home in Woodstock with his in-laws, Elmer and Wanda Schneider. The firm grew into the Schneider-LeuchtMerwin-Cooney Funeral Home, and he was very proud of the care given to all the families they were proud to serve. He was a member of the McHenry County Illinois and National Funeral Directors

PUBLIC SAFETY LOG Woodstock Police Department

■ Carolina Heredia Murray, 29, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 19 on charges of driving with electronic communications device, driving with license suspended, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Bond $2,500. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Nov. 19. ■ Robert A. McEstes, 59, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 21 in the 2200 block of North Seminary Avenue on a McHenry County warrant charging failure to appear. Bond $3,000. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Oct. 30. ■ Alexandria R. Murray, 18, McHenry, was arrested Sept. 22 at Church and Main streets on a charge of driving with license suspended. Bond $2,500. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Nov. 19. ■ Nicholas A. Lopez, 25, Harvard, was arrested Sept. 23 on charges of theft and domestic battery (two counts). Taken to jail. Bond and court date to be set. ■ Fortino Salinas-Pluvial, 21, Chicago, was arrested Sept. 23 on U.S. 14 near the South Street bridge on charges of speeding and no valid driver’s license. Association, the Elks, Moose, and Lions clubs, the Knights of Columbus and cofounder of Leo F. Cooney Livery Associates. He was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock and believed in Catholic school education, sending all five of his kids through St. Mary and Marian Central. In his retirement, he was a member of St. Mary Church in Brownsville, Texas.

An avid golfer, he was a 40-year member of the Woodstock Country Club and enjoyed nearly 30 years at Rancho Viejo Country Club in Texas. He was a former senior champion and was very proud of his nine holes-in-one. He loved sports and was a fifth- and sixth-grade boys’ basketball coach for St. Mary’s. He loved it and was very proud of the performance and success of his teams.

In his retirement, he served as an alderman of the town of Rancho Viejo for six years, two years as mayor pro-tem.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; five children, Charles (Patricia), Regina (Wiley) Bell, Walter (Judy), Teresa (John) Pappas, and John (Cathy); and “Big Daddy” to 25 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Our dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather will be dearly missed by all of us who loved him for his kindness, a man with a good heart and very supportive with his family.

Preceding him in death were his parents; Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Oct. 29. ■ Jessica L. Miller, 21, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 23 at South and Throop streets on a charge of driving with license suspended. Released after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bond. Court date Nov. 19. ■ Angel D. Holland, 23, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 24 in the 200 block of North Madison Street on charges of failure to signal when required and driving with license suspended. Bond $2,500. Released on personal recognizance. Court date Nov. 19.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office

■ Randall D. Woody, 40, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 15 on charges of being an armed habitual criminal, felony possession/use of firearm (two counts), delivery/manufacture of cannabis 500-2,000 grams, violation of cannabis control act 500-2,000 grams, possession of controlled substance (four counts), and delivery of 5-15 grams of LSD/analog.Thomas M. Stygar, 54, Wonder Lake, was arrested Sept. 15 on a charge of battery/physical contact. son, Kevin Christopher in 1956; and a sister, Jane (Linc) Williston.

A private Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 312 Lincoln Ave., Woodstock. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery in Woodstock.

Public visitation was on Thursday, Sept. 24, at Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions if desired should be directed to the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society or The Guardian Angel Program of St. Mary Catholic Church, Woodstock.

The Fredrick Funeral Home in Hampshire assisted the family. Info: 847-6832711 or online at fredrickfuneralhome. com.

Steven M. Lilja, age 60, of Woodstock, passed away Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, at Northwestern Hospital-McHenry.

He was born in Harvard on May 21, 1960, to George and Marilyn (Nelson) Lilja. He was a man of faith and opened his heart to many people. As owner of Final Phase Construction company, he prided himself in doing fine work. He was loved and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his parents; a son, ■ Kimberly L. Goffinet, 52, Woodstock, was arrested Sept. 22 on charges of aggravated battery/use of deadly weapon and battery/causing bodily harm.

Charges are only accusations of crimes, and defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District EMS calls for Sept. 24-30: 55 Fire Runs Sept. 24

6:07 p.m. – 1900 block of Tappan Street, arcing/shorted electrical equipment; shift commander, two engines

Sept. 25

2:20 p.m. – 2000 block of North Seminary Avenue, malfunctioning alarm system sounded; ambulance 4:38 p.m. – Square Barn Road and Reserve Road, Huntley, assist police or other agency; Expedition 8:02 p.m. – South and Hill streets, oil/ combustible liquid spill; engine

Sept. 27

4:27 p.m. – Davis and Stieg roads, traffic accident with injuries; engine, shift Christopher (Rebecca) Lilja; two granddaughters, Savannah and Sienna Lilja; a brother, Scott (Doreen) Lilja; two nieces, Rhiannon Lilja and Tyler (Jaime) Cassidy; a great-niece, Hadleigh; and greatnephew, Noah.

Services will be Steven M. at a later date. Lilja

For more information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock, at 815-338-1710, or visit slmcfh. com.

You may mail obituary information to pr@thewoodstockindependent.com, or mail to or drop it off at our office, 671 E. Calhoun St., Woodstock IL 60098.

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For more information, call The Indepen-

dent at 815-338-8040. commander, two ambulances 5 p.m. – Hughes Road and North U.S. 14, traffic accident with no injuries; engine, shift commander, ambulance

5:55 a.m. – U.S. 14 and Lily Pond Road, power line down; engine 2:39 p.m. – 1100 block of South Eastwood Drive, traffic accident with injuries; engine, ambulance 3:34 p.m. – 8200 block of Mason Hill Road, traffic accident with no injuries; engine, shift commander 7:26 p.m. – Eastwood Drive and Irving Avenue, traffic accident with injuries; engine, shift commander, ambulance

6:07 p.m. – 2700 block of Trillium Lane, lockout; engine 9:05 p.m. – 800 block of Zimmerman Road, unintentional smoke detector activation, no fire; shift commander, engine

2:38 p.m. – 900 block of Lake Avenue, unintentional smoke detector activation, no fire; shift commander, ambulance 8:36 p.m. – 400 block of South Madison Street, unintentional alarm system activation, no fire; shift commander, engine, ambulance

Woodstock Square won’t host trick-or-treating this year because of COVID-19, the city announced, but kids can still do their door-to-door solicitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

According to state guidelines, anyone participating in trick-or-treating should maintain social distance and wear proper face coverings; travel only with household members; and wash hands before eating candy.

Residents are urged to place individual candies outside and turn on their porch lights to invite trick-or-treaters.

Parents should teach their children not to approach a house unless the porch light is on.

Valley Hi Nursing Home plans to allow indoor visitation of residents in the next few weeks.

According to a news release, the county-run long-term care facility will continue to follow procedures for enhanced infection control to permit a limited reopening of the facility for family visits.

In July, Valley Hi began to allow outdoor visits that followed CDC guidelines, but that will become impractical as late fall and winter draw near.

The tentative plan will allow for indoor visitation in the common areas and keep families out of the nursing units. Administrator Thomas Annarella said the building’s design would easily allow for that.

He warned, however, that the plan was tentative and could change if local infection rates surged.

McHenry County is on track to submit a flat property tax levy for the 2021 fiscal year for the third straight year.

According to a news release by County Board Chairman Jack Franks, the board’s actions – including making the levy freezes into permanent tax cuts – had saved county taxpayers $28 million.

Although the law would allow the county to levy more than $73.8 million, the proposed 2021 levy at $69.7 million is almost $10 million less than the $79.4 million the county levied in 2016, the release said.

Franks urged other local taxing bodies to follow the county’s example.