Helen M. Eacker

Helen M. Eacker, 92, of Lena and formerly of Fairhaven, died Wednesday May 20, 2009 at FHN Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born on July 20, 1916 in Milledgeville, a daughter of John and Dora (Cheeseman) Orth. She married Freddie R. Eacker on Feb. 17, 1941 in Clinton, IA.

She and her late husband farmed near Lanark all of their married lives. She attended the Ebenezer-Salem United Church of Christ near Loran.

She is survived by one sister, Mae Martin of Freeport, two sons, Clarence (Lorena) Eacker of Lena, and Marvin (Pattie) Eacker of Thomson, one daughter, Sharon (Jerrall) Fox of Lena, one son-in-law; Fred Flickinger of Milan, IL, seven grandchildren; Robin Eacker, David (Melanie) Flickinger, Darrell Flickinger, Kathy (James) Fox-Williams, Karen (John) Gaubatz, Scott (Kelly) Eacker, and Paul (Angie) Eacker, her great-grandchildren; Wyatt and Lilah Flickinger, Matthew Eacker, and Cassidy Meinsma.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on May 4, 1995, her daughter; Patricia Flickinger on June 19, 2004, and her brother, Alfred Orth.

Services will be on Friday, May 22, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark, with Pastor David Mann of the Grace Free Methodist Church in McConnell officiating. Burial will be in the Lanark Cemetery. Friends may call after 12 Noon on Friday at the Funeral home until the time of service. A memorial has been established in her memory.

Kenneth “Kenny” E. Kniss

Kenneth “Kenny” E. Kniss, 84, of Lanark died Sunday May 17, 2009 at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Mt. Carroll.

Kenneth was born on Sept. 14, 1924 in Savanna, a son of Arthur and Kathryn (Wingerd) Kniss. He attended Carroll County country schools, and was a 1942 graduate of Lanark High School. On July 21, 1946, Kenneth married June Martin at the First Brethren Church in Lanark.

Kenneth was a member of the Lanark Church of The Brethren where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years, served on the Lanark School Board for two terms, served on the Board of the Carroll Service Co., was a Freedom Township Supervisor, on the Carroll County Board, and was a member of the Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, six children; Ronald Kniss of Lake Forest, IL, Barry (Barb) Kniss of Mt. Carroll, Tom Kniss (Sandra Cahill) of Lake Carroll, Mary Lou Kniss of Charlotte, N.C., Jonathan (Laura) Kniss of Tacoma, WA, Carolee (Kevin) Stees of Chandler, AZ, 11 grandchildren; Melinda, Hilary, Richard, Jon, Amanda, Bryan, Daniel, Carmelle, Kennedy, Carsyn, and Tanner, 8 great grandchildren, and one brother; Keith (Roma) Kniss of Lanark. He was preceded in death by his parents and twin sisters.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday May 22, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at the Lanark Church of the Brethren with Pastor John Sgro officiating. Interment will be in the Lanark Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 8 pm at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark. A memorial fund has been established for the Church of the Brethren and the Parkinsons Foundation.

Gerald J. “Skip” Bitner

Gerald J. “Skip” Bitner, 62, of Lanark, passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at FHN Memorial Hospital from a malignant brain tumor.

Surviving are his loving wife, Dawn, mother; Evelyn Bitner of Ocala, FL, mother-in-law, Margie Shafer of Mt. Carroll, IL, sisters; Sally (Neville) Mangra of Pierson, FL, Sue Kirchner (Jack Shannon) of Ocala, FL; Terry Bitner of Coal City, IL, brother-in-law; Eldon “Elmo” (Cindy) Shafer of Poplar Grove, IL, children; Lisa (Roger) McCloskey of Dwight, IL, Heidi (Larry) Scaletta of Geneva, IL, Holly (Gary) Schmidt of Sycamore, IL, Aaron (Melissa) Bitner of Clinton, IA, Kenneth Preston (Sheilah Burrington) of Shannon, IL, and Rich (Chrissy) Preston of Minooka, IL, grandchildren; Kevin, Sam, Lauren, Shannon, Liz, Matalie, Allison, Trevor, Jenna, Hailey, and Marie, and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his father, Gerald C. Bitner, brothers-in-law, Danny Kirchner and Ronald Shafer.

A memorial service will be held at the Savanna Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. located at 706 Cedar Street, Savanna, IL. Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark is assisting the Family.

Evelyn Arlene Cook

Evelyn Arlene Cook, age 93, of Chadwick, Illinois, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at Manor Court Long-Term Care Facility, Freeport, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Hope United Methodist Church, Chadwick with Pastor Melwyn Alagodi and Pastor Dave Davies officiating. A time of gathering will be held, one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in Chadwick Cemetery, Chadwick. Memorials may be given to Hope United Methodist Church in Evelyn’s memory. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn was born on September 28, 1915, the daughter of Charles and Adah (Buck) Schreiner in Chadwick, Illinois. She graduated from Chadwick High School with the Class of 1933. Evelyn attended Shimer College in Mount Carroll for two years, where she received her teaching certificate. Evelyn married Claude B. Cook on May 12, 1937 in Chadwick. Claude died on April 16, 1976.

After graduation from college, Evelyn taught at Fairhaven Country School for several years. In 1943 Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as the first woman Postmaster in Chadwick. Evelyn was a compassionate woman, who loved taking care of her family. She was a member of the Chadwick Women’s Club and the Hope United Methodist Church. Evelyn was an unconditional Cub fan whose unwavering devotion to the team defied a century of disappointments on the field. She went to several Cub games over the years including a game with Atlanta in 1995 that she watched with family and friends from a sky box at Wrigley Field in celebration of her 80th birthday. Her last visit to Wrigley was in September 1999 to see the Cub's Team of the Century Celebration. Evelyn was an exceptional cook, known for her prize winning Dutch Apple Pie. She also enjoyed her flower gardens and crocheting dishcloths and potholders.

Evelyn will be dearly missed by her son, Frank (Louise) Cook of Freeport; one daughter in-law, Diane (Steve) Frankeberger of Mount Carroll; four grandchildren, Monica (Kurt) Cook-Sunderman of Chicago, Illinois, Jessica Cook of Sterling, Illinois, Melinda (Chris Behmer) Cook of Chicago, and Caitlin Cook of Freeport; and one great granddaughter, Ruby Behmer.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Claude; one son, Fredric; two brothers, Lloyd and Roy; and one sister, Regena.

Betty J. Haggerty

Betty J. Haggerty, age 84, of Yuma, Arizona, formerly of Savanna, Illinois, peacefully slipped away Monday, May 4, 2009 following a brief illness, at the Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, surrounded by her children and dearest friend, Griffith Short.

Betty was born January 22, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Herman and Lillian (Hupenbecker) Tanner. She graduated from Boscobel, Wisconsin, High School. Betty married Nicholas Drosopoulos in 1942. She served in the United States Army as a Nurse during World War II. She later married Lloyd Haggerty in 1961, he passed away in 1996.

Betty was a professional seamstress working from home. She enjoyed boating, waterskiing, and was an avid gardener. She loved the Chicago Cubs. She had many hobbies, daily crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, knitting & crocheting, ceramics, painting, and crafts. For the past eight years, Betty enjoyed the company of her best friend, Griff Short. They enjoyed bowling, dancing and traveling extensively together.

Betty is survived by her children, Vicki (William) Fargo of South Gate, California, Sam (Barbara) Drosopoulos of West Chicago, Illinois, Dan Drosopoulos of Morrison, Illinois, Penni Jo (Jim) Kline of Freeport, Illinois, Linda Wagenknect of Payson, Arizona, and Craig (Cathy) Haggerty of Houston, Texas; sixteen grandchildren, Cohena, Adam, Andy (Jen), Melisa (fiancé Corby), Kevin, Heidi, Eric, Greg, Tim, Jason, Destiny, Kyle (Nicci), Keith, Cameron, Tom, and Matthew; four great-grandchildren, Eric, Aiden, Brandon, and Aubrie; and two sisters, June Fry of Clinton, Washington, and Jereen (William) Barron of Lamesa, Texas.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lloyd; a son in-law, Danny Wagenknect and one brother, Ted Tanner. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn A. Cook - Pending

Evelyn A. Cook, age 93, of Chadwick, Illinois died Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at the Manor Court Long-Term Care Facility, Freeport, Illinois. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Chadwick, Illinois.

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