Obituaries

Jul 15, 2024

Sharon S Thiel 63 of Freeport went to be with the Lord on July 15, 2024, at UW-Madison surrounded by family and friends. Sherry was born November 11th, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Dr. Richard (Joyce) Hessenius and Eileen Curry Hessenius.

Sherry grew up in Freeport and attended Freeport High School....

Jul 15, 2024

Jane L. Lindenman, 84, of Freeport, IL, passed away Monday July 15, 2024 at Walnut Acres with her family by her side. She was born August 7, 1939 in Arthur, North Dakota to Edward and Helen (Burmeister) Quittschreiber. Jane grew up in Waddams Grove, IL. She was a graduate of Lena-Winslow High School. Jane married Albert W....

Jul 12, 2024

Dorothy A. Lashbrook, 90, of Freeport, IL passed away Friday July 12, 2024 at FHN Memorial Hospital. She was born March 1, 1934 in Carroll County, IL, the daughter of Geike and Anna (Wilts) Wubben. Dorothy married James R. Lashbrook on March 11, 1961 in Freeport. James passed away January 2, 1998. Dorothy was employed at Micro...

Jul 10, 2024

Lila Lue Harnish, 80, of Freeport, IL, passed away Wednesday July 10, 2024. She was born March 10, 1944 in Stephenson County, IL, the daughter of Ralph and Dorothy (Messinger) Harnish.

Lila was a graduate of Lena-Winslow Highschool. She worked for Burgess Battery for 12 years, and Micro-Switch for 23 years.

...

Jul 8, 2024

Linda Lou Downing, 78, of Freeport, IL, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital. She was born January 22, 1946, in Freeport, the daughter of Robert E. and Bertha (Krueger) Weier. On June 29, 1969, she married Robert Downing Sr. in Freeport. Linda was a member of Bethany United Church of Christ. She was...

Jul 8, 2024

Melvin C. "Bud" Lafferty began his new journey on Monday, July 8", 2024, after 100+ years of life. He was born on September 27th, 1923, in Green Bay, WI., to Lenora (Daisy) and Clyde Montague Lafferty and grew up in Cedarville, IL. Melvin was proud of his Cheyenne Indian and Irish heritage. His father died...

Jul 8, 2024

Betty Jean Pruitt

Our wonderful mother passed away on July 8, 2024 at Manor Court of Liberty Village in Freeport, IL She was born April 23, 1927, the daughter of Samuel and Luella (Otto) Wilhelms. She married Raymond Pruitt on November 23, 1946 in Champaign, IL. They moved to rural Freeport and lived...

Jul 6, 2024

Cheryl L. Wichman, 73, of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday July 6, 2024 at Generations at Neighbors in Byron, IL. She was born February 11, 1951 in Freeport, IL, the daughter of Felix and Virginia (Pepperman) Dubey. On December 27, 1969 she married Lynn Wichman in Freeport, IL. Cheryl had many careers that included working upholstery at...

Jul 6, 2024

David Joseph Berning, aged 81, of Freeport, IL, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024, surrounded by his family. David was born on June 16, 1943, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin to Edward and Mary Ellen (Heitkamp) Berning. He married Marie Pfohl on June 27, 1964, in Menominee, Illinois. David retired after 40 years of service as a...

Jul 5, 2024

Donna Burton Klapp, 93, of Freeport, IL passed away Friday, July 5, 2024, at Winn Prairie with her daughters by her side. She was born Donna Mae to Roy and Esther (Raetz) Mensenkamp on June 8, 1931, and grew up in a big family alongside her three sisters. As a lifelong resident of Freeport, IL, Donna was...

Jul 3, 2024

James “Jim” Weik, 73, of Freeport, IL passed away Wednesday July 3, 2024 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born March 30, 1951 in Chicago, IL to Robert and Lila (Oftedahl) Weik. On March 13, 1982 he married RoxAnne “Roxi” Smith at Lanark Methodist Church.

Jim graduated from Freeport High...

Jul 3, 2024

Stephen Kenneth Carter died on Wednesday July 3, 2024 at his home in Freeport, IL; He was born on December 30, 1960 in Freeport, to Raymond and Judith (Norder) Carter.

Steve enjoyed cooking and used his skills at restaurants including the Butterfly, Jungle Jim's and Houlihan's. He loved animals and art.

...

Jul 2, 2024

Eloise Jayne Barber 88 of Freeport, IL, sadly left us on July 2, 2024 after a life richly lived in service and kindness.

Eloise lived in Freeport for 55 years and was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, P.E.O. Chapter IY and several other charity organizations. She was a Living Arts and...

Jun 25, 2024

Ray Gene Cunningham, 87, of Freeport, passed away on June 25, 2024 at Ascension Living St. Joseph in Freeport, Illinois. Ray was born on February 6, 1937 in Warsaw, Illinois, to Raydle and Hazel (Jobe) Cunningham. On October 7, 1958, he married Joyce Richardson in Macomb, Illinois. Ray graduated from Warsaw High School in 1955 and Western...

Jun 22, 2024

Vanette L. Rackow, 93, of Freeport, IL passed away Saturday June 22, 2024 at Winn Prairie in Freeport. She was born August 29, 1930 in Rock Grove, IL to Clark and Hulda (Nott) Myers. Vanette married Melvin Rackow on September 25, 1949. Melvin preceded her in death on December 5, 2018 at the age of 87. Vanette...

Jun 21, 2024

Farrell E. Benefiel, 99, of Freeport, passed away, Saturday June 21, 2024 at FHN Memorial Hospital. Farrell was born August 19, 1924 in Centralia, Illinois, the son of Jessie and Minnie (Bryan) Benefiel. He married Margaret Kalberkamp on February 23, 1947 in Centralia. Mrs. Benefiel passed away October 21, 2021. Mr. Benefiel proudly served his country in...

Jun 21, 2024

Clifford Paul Wilken, 73, of Freeport, passed away June 21, 2024. Clifford was born June 4, 1951,to Dick and Eleanor Wilken. He married Beth Ann (Franklin) Wilken on January 16, 1993. Cliff served in the US ARMY as an MP in Germany. Cliff worked at Honeywell as a machinist, where he was a team leader for many...

Jun 20, 2024

Rev. John J. Brandner, 95, of Freeport, IL, has gone to be with his Lord and Savior on June 20, 2024. He was born November 16, 1928 in LaSalle, IL to John and Linda (Trump) Brandner. At the age of 17 John was saved at 1st Baptist Church in LaSalle, IL. He went on to graduate from...

Jun 16, 2024

James A. McLenahan, 91, of Freeport, IL, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Winn Prairie in Freeport. He was born on August 23, 1932, in Freeport, the son of Milton and Christina (Bleymeyer) McLenahan. Jim graduated from Freeport High School in 1951 and joined the Navy shortly thereafter, becoming a four-year veteran during the Korean War....

Jun 11, 2024

Paul Eugene Fry, age 101 passed away peacefully at Winn Prairie in Freeport on June 11, 2024.

Paul was born on October 4, 1922, in Kalona, Iowa to Genevieve (Buck) and Dr. John Lewis Fry. After graduating from Kalona High School, Paul attended Washington Junior College in Washington, IA and Sherwood Music School in Chicago....