Obituaries

Earl Merrill

POLO – Dorothy M. Dawson of Polo, formerly of Sterling, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at her home. She was a beautician at several area beauty shops.

STERLING – Wilbur R. Burkitt, 77, of Sterling, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at his home.

WALNUT – Earl D. Merrill, 96, of Homestead Apartments, Walnut, died Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at Walnut Manor Nursing Home. He farmed in the Prophetstown, Lyndon, and Ohio areas, retiring in 1985.

CHADWICK – Eugene Evan Weber, 82, of Freeport, formerly of Chadwick, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at FHN Memorial Hospital, Freeport.

OREGON – Gertrude Myers, 85, of Oregon, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Franklin Grove Nursing Home.

Eugene Weber

DIXON – Robert “Robbie” Feiden Neary, 22, of Dixon, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

MORRISON – John J. Gentz, 86, of 205 S. Clinton St., Morrison, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Four Seasons Living Center, Morrison. He co-owned and operated the former Ice Box restaurant in Morrison for nine years; and most recently operated concessions at Morrison Rockwood State Park for seven years.

STERLING – Roger R. De Langhe, 82, of Sterling, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.

STERLING – Victoria G. Gomez, 76, of Sterling, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at CGH Medical Center. She was a nursing home cook.

PROPHETSTOWN – Richard L. “Dick” Hummel, 80, of 100 Circle Drive, Prophetstown, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Morrison Community Hospital. He had owned and operated Chuck’s Place Restaurant, Prophetstown. He worked at various lumber companies and most recently was employed by Yarborough Electric, Prophetstown. He also served as 1st Ward alderman on the Prophetstown City Council for several years and as a two-term mayor of Prophetstown.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Taft Hughes, 62, of Winter Haven, Fla., formerly of Sterling, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at his home. He was a roofer.

DIXON – Mary Lou Hose, 70, of Dixon, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She farmed with her husband; was a transcriptionist for KSB Hospital, Dixon Correctional Center, and CGH Medical Center, Sterling; and owned and operated Brinton Avenue Antique Mall, Dixon.

BYRON – James O. Kirk, 85, of Byron, formerly of rural Grand Detour, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his family after a long illness. He worked for Dixon Cement Plant for 42 years, retiring in 1989.

Janet Gould

STILLMAN VALLEY – Ricky Leon Roberson Jr., 23, of Stillman Valley, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was employed by Roberson Roberson Builders, as a carpenter.

ROCK FALLS – Janet J. Gould, 86, of Rock Falls, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at CGH Medical Center after a short illness.

HIGDEN, Ark. – Jessie Lee Bennett, 63, of Higden, Ark., formerly of Amboy and the East Moline area, died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008, at White County Hospital, Searcy, Ark. He was employed as a CMS mechanic for the state of Illinois before retiring.

MORRISON – Helen G. Stern, 93, of Morrison, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at Resthave Nursing Home, Morrison. She farmed with her husband in the rural Morrison area until 1981.

CAROL STREAM – Belva L. Foltz, 95, a resident of Windsor Park Manor, Carol Stream, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield.

MORRISON – Connie L. Merema, 46, of 633 W. Lincolnway, Morrison, died Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at Morrison Community Hospital. She was employed by Resthave Nursing Home, Morrison, as a nurse’s aide.

Jessie Bennett

ELDENA – Micheal Scott Arbuckle, 44, of Eldena, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at his home from a battle with cancer.

ROCK FALLS – Geraldine “Geri or Sis” Irene Zinke, 63, of Rock Falls, died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at her home, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

ROCHELLE – Bonnie Lynn Burgess, 56, of Rochelle, passed away Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at Rochelle Community Hospital.

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Fentie R. Welsh, 95, of Punta Gorda, Fla., formerly of Dixon, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, at Tidewell Port Charlotte Hospice House, Port Charlotte, Fla.

Arthur Getzelman

POULSBO, Wash. – Born Nov. 30, 1929, in Rockford, to John Lewis Curran and Emily Irene McCarthy, Thomas Francis Curran Sr. died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at his Poulsbo, Wash., home. Arrangements were completed by Lewis Funeral Chapel, Bremerton, Wash.

POULSBO, Wash. – Born Nov. 30, 1929, in Rockford, to John Lewis Curran and Emily Irene McCarthy, Thomas Francis Curran Sr. died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at his Poulsbo, Wash., home. Arrangements were completed by Lewis Funeral Chapel, Bremerton, Wash.

Thomas Curran Sr.