Allen Boyer

Allen Boyer, age 100, of Savanna, Illinois, died Saturday, March 7, 2009, at the Big Meadows Nursing Facility in Savanna. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Wednesday prior to the service at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service and inurnment will follow at a later date at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Freeport, Illinois. Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society in Allen’s name. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Allen was born December 12, 1908, in Lena, Illinois, the son of T. Arthur and Leah (Blair) Boyer. He attended school in the Lena area. Allen was married to Isabel Mammosser and they later divorced. Allen then married Wynnetta Thomasson on February 2, 1940, in Dubuque, Iowa. She preceded him in death on November 9, 1994.

Allen worked as a farmer most of his life. He also ran the Pleasant Valley Store and worked in the Stockton Country Store. He retired from Ackers Implement where he worked on farm equipment.

Allen is survived by four sons, Clyde (Rosalind) Boyer of Savanna, Illinois, F. Eugene (Betty) Boyer of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, Milo Boyer of Stockton, Illinois, and Bud Boyer of Freeport, Illinois; two daughters, Janice (Bob Brinkmeier) Boyer of Freeport, and Joyce (Gene) Brinker of Warren, Illinois; seventeen grandchildren, thirty – one great grandchildren, and seven great – great grandchildren.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Wynnetta; one son, Dale Boyer; one grandchild, and one great – grandchild.

Xavier Thomas Gabbard

Xavier Thomas Gabbard, six month old infant son of Matthew James and Elizabeth Marie Gabbard of rural Mt. Carroll, Illinois, passed on to eternal life March 4, 2009 at Children’s Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 Monday, March 9, 2009 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll with Father Charles McGuire of St. Hughes Catholic Church, Milwaukee, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll, followed by a luncheon at the Naaman Diehl Hall, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2009 at the Funeral Home followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established in Xavier’s name. Online condolences and tributes may be given at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Xavier was born August 31, 2008 at Bettendorf, Iowa. From the beginning of his life he has had to overcome many challenges. Xavier was courageous and loving. His family has been blessed by his presence in their lives, Mom and Dad; brothers, Alexander Joseph and Zachary Matthew; and his sister, Hannah Marie. Xavier’s journey has also touched many other lives, including a very loving extended family of Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins; and doctors, nurses and caregivers.

Mary A. Pollock

Mary A. Pollock, age 98, of Savanna, Illinois died Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Carroll County Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Mt. Carroll. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2009 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna, with Father Dennis Atto officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, Savanna. A Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 28, prior to the Mass at the Church. Memorials may be given in Mary’s name for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Mary was born on March 2, 1910 in Savanna, Illinois, the daughter of Anton and Anna (Mance) Troha. She married Mathew G. Pollock February 19, 1927 in Savanna. He passed on April 8, 1973.

She was homemaker and cooked at the Savanna High School for several years. Mary belonged to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Savanna and the St. Francis Circle. She loved being in the kitchen cooking for family, canning, needlework and gardening.

Mary will be dearly missed by her daughter, Dorothy Rabun of Riverside, California; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; a brother, Stephen Troha of Sequim, Washington; three sisters, Frances (James) Thomas of Burlington, Wisconsin, Margaret Parenti of Oxnard, California and Barbara (Rush) Ferguson of Sunnyvale, California; a son in-law, Jack Rielly; and sister in-law, Mary Troha.

Mary is preceded in death by both parents; her husband, Mathew; a daughter, Mary Ann Rielly, a grandson, Tom Rielly; a brother, George Troha; and two sisters, Anna Pollock and Kathryn Ripley.

A. Arlene Derrer

A. Arlene Derrer, age 88, previously of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Manor Court Nursing Home, Freeport, Illinois. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mt. Carroll. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 Saturday at the Church. Memorials may be given to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlene's memory. Online condolences and tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Arlene was born March 7, 1920, the daughter of J.G. and Geneva S. (Borreson) Asay in Mt. Carroll. She is a graduate of the Chadwick High School, Chadwick, Illinois with the Class of 1938. On November 20, 1939, Arlene married John Thomas Derrer in Clinton, Iowa. They enjoyed sixty-eight years of marriage. "Johnny" passed away January 5, 2008.

Arlene was a homemaker most of her life on the family farm. She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mt. Carroll and a member of the Women’s Society at the Church. She also enjoyed attending the Preston Prairie Club and the Jacobstown Club. She loved volunteer work, traveling and sewing.

Arlene will be dearly missed by her daughter, Diane (Lowell) Buck of Pearl City, Illinois; her son, Thomas Glenn (Terrie) Derrer of Denison, Texas; three grandchildren, Brandie (Mike) Marlow, T.J. and Tyler Derrer; two step-granddaughters, Tara and Angela Buck; a step-great grandson, Jacob; a brother, Guy (Gwendlynn) Asay of Lanark, Illinois; and a sister, JoAnn Weber of Lanark, Illinois. Arlene is preceded in death by both parents and her husband.

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