ST. CHARLES – Arlene Francis Garland Perger was born Dec. 10, 1926, to George and Gladys Thompson in Tampico. She passed away unexpectedly Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in St. Charles.

Arlene graduated from Franklin Grove High School in Franklin Grove, and married soon after. She lived most of her married life on a farm in Harmon, where she and her first husband, Jack, raised four children. In addition to farming and raising children, Arlene worked for many years in the medical field in the Sterling area. She moved to Florida in the 1980s. She continued in the medical field, managing clinics and other medical facilities until her retirement. Arlene spent her early retirement in Las Vegas, where she met her second husband, Henry Perger, until his passing.

Her eldest daughter, Victoria, encouraged Arlene to move back to Illinois to be near her and the rest of the family. Arlene enjoyed being around her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called her “Nana” and “Grandma Tweeti.” Arlene enjoyed attending her great-grandchildren’s sporting events and being around for birthdays and holidays. In her retirement, Arlene enjoyed creating beautiful quilts for her family. Arlene enjoyed old movies, particularly Westerns. One of her most recent endeavors was finishing a personal journal (her memoir) that she started on her 7th birthday. Arlene’s grandmother gave her a diary that day, and encouraged her to write in it often.