Ada Snodgrass

Ada Snodgrass, wife of the late Ward Snodgrass, passed away Monday morning May 19, 2008, at Polo Rehabilitation Center with her son Gaurdner and his wife Charlotte by her side. She was born April 19, 1913 the daughter of the late John andVertie (Alford) Pharris. She married Ward on November 5, 1932 in Butler County Ky. He passed away on January 30, 1995.

She was a member of the Shannon Baptist Church where she spent several years attending to the Nursery there. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, gardening and growing flowers. She is survived by her daughters, Zena (Lee) Eidson of Normal, Ill.; Sheila Snodgrass of Nixa, Mo.; Ann (John) Yen-Gilmore of Springfield, Mo.; Sons, Maburn (Marge) Snodgrass of Morgantown, Ky.; Gaurdner (Charlotte) Snodgrass, of Shannon, Ill.; sisters Minnie Beasley, Nova (Otis) Kessinger, and sister-in-law Eveline Pharris all of Morgantown, Ky.; nine grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Musker; brothers Jake Pharris & Hilrie; sister Opla Smith; 4-grandchildren, Ricky, Randy, Karoline & Anita. A funeral service was held Shannon Baptist Church Thursday, preceded by a one hour visitation. The Pastor Tim Lehman officiated. Interment was at Oakland Cemetery in Freeport, Ill. A memorial fund has been established for the Shannon Baptist Church. Arrangements are being cared for by the Hermann Funeral Home.

Lawrence R. Vonesh, Sr.

Lawrence R. Vonesh, Sr., 64, of Thomson, IL formerly of Oswego, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Veterans Administration Hines Hospital in Maywood, IL. He was born September 18, 1943 in Silver City, NM.

Mr. Vonesh was a member of the U.S. Army. He enjoyed membership with the American Legion and VietNow.

He was a loyal member of the National Rifle Association and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was also a tremendous cook.

He is survived by his two sons, Lawrence R. (Christine) Vonesh, Richard W. (Michelle) Vonesh; his fiancée, Pauline Scharf, seven grandchildren, Marissa, Matthew, Ryan, Jonathan, Chloe, Isabelle and Lily Vonesh, a brother, Louis (Susan) Vonesh; two sisters, Faye (Fred) Owens and Margaret (Tim) Brooks; several nieces and nephews; many dear friends and his beloved dog, Sasha.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Lorene (Smith) Vonesh.

Military Honors will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 11:30 AM at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery 27034 South Diagonal Road Elwood, Illinois 60421.

A reception celebrating Lawrence's life will be held Friday, May 23, 2008 at 6:30 PM at The Montgomery V.F.W. Hall, 121 North River Street, Montgomery, Illinois 60538.

Arrangements are being handled by The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 North Lake Street, Aurora, IL. 60506. (630) 631-5500.

Memorials may be made in Lawrence's name to the The American Legion Endowment.

Joyce H. Jungjohann

Joyce H. Jungjohann, 87, of Savanna, Illinois, died Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center North in Clinton, Iowa. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service was held on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at the First United Methodist Church, Savanna. Reverend Larry Thomson of First United Methodist will officiate. Interment of her cremated remains will take place in Lost Mound Cemetery, rural Hanover, Illinois. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Joyce was born on September 5, 1920, the daughter of Harold S. and Eleanor L. (Philips) Hushaw in Clear Lake, Iowa. She attended school in Clear Lake, Iowa and graduated with the Class of 1937. Joyce later attended the Iowa State Teacher College and received her teaching certification in 1940. Joyce married Leroy F. Jungjohann on June 2, 1942 in Kahokia, Missouri. Leroy passed away on February 25, 2002 in Clinton, Iowa.

Joyce accepted her first teaching position in Preston, Iowa and taught there until he son was born. When her son was older, Joyce started teaching for the Savanna School District in Savanna, Illinois. Joyce was a Christian Scientist, but she most recently attended the First United Methodist Church, Savanna. She enjoyed attending "Birthday Club" and spending time with her friends, better known as "The Ladies Aide Society". She was also a member of the Savanna American Legion Auxiliary. Joyce enjoyed gardening, quilting, reading, and collecting antiques.

Joyce is survived by one daughter, Judith (Robert) Mandernack of Brandon, Florida; granddaughter, Karen (Glenn) Wiebe of Toronto, Canada; two great grandchildren, Charlotte and Aidan, both of Toronto; and five nephews and three nieces.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leroy; one son, Jon; and one sister, Patricia Ruigh.

Frank Kendall

Frank Kendall, age 88, of Milledgeville, died Friday, May 23, 2008 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling.

Mr. Kendall was born September 7, 1919 in Milledgeville the son of William and Alta (Turner) Kendall. He married Margaret Rife in Milledgeville. He farmed in the Milledgeville area retiring in 2002. He was a member of the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren and enjoyed custom combining for many years.

Survivors include his wife of Milledgeville; one son Mike Kendall of Milledgeville; two grandchildren, Corey (Jennifer) Kendall of Chadwick and Marcy (Scott) Lenox of Round Lake; and three great grandchildren, Kyle Kendall, Ryan Kendall, and Troy Kendall all of Chadwick.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Richard Kendall; one sister, Jean; and one grandson, Jason.

Memorial services will be Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM at the Dutchtown Church of the Brethren in Milledgeville with Reverend Rick Koch officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be from 9 - 11 AM Tuesday at the church. Burial will conclude the services at the Dutchtown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory.

Online condolences may be sent to www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were completed by the McDonald-Allen-Grennan Funeral Home in Milledgeville.

Dr. John I. Gmitro

Dr. John I. Gmitro, age 71, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, formerly of Arlington Heights, Illinois, died Saturday, May 24, 2008 at University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. Cremation rites will be accorded. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, 302 N. Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Reverend John McFayden will officiate. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com. A memorial fund has been established in John's memory.

John was born on May 16, 1937, the son of John and Margaret (Lehet) Gmitro. John served his country in the Minnesota Air National Guard. On June 29, 1963 John married Nancy Voss in Rochester, New York. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Minnesota and later attended the University of California Berkley were he received his Master's Degree. John furthered his education by returning to the University of Minnesota and receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 1969.

John was employed by Kraft Foods Incorporated for thirty years, retiring in 1999. During his career at Kraft, he served as the director of systems evaluation. John enjoyed reading, designing electric train systems, and lecturing on maritime history. John was involved in several Mount Carroll organizations including, Friends of Waukarusa, the Mount Carroll Community Development Corporation, and the People for Progress. He was also a past president of "The Friends of the Library". John was a past president of School Board District #214, and the Stone Gate Neighborhood Association in Arlington Heights. John was also active in numerous church committees and served as an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights.

John will be dearly missed his wife, Nancy of Mt. Carroll; three sons, John Gmitro of Elburn, Illinois, Todd (Sara) Gmitro of Naperville, Illinois, and Mark (Traci) Gmitro of Greenville, South Carolina; two grandchildren, Megan and Kaitlyn; and one sister, Carol (Duane) Hall of Siler City, North Carolina. John is preceded in death by his parents.

Richard (Dick, Rickup) William Kaspar

Richard (Dick, Rickup) William Kaspar, 63, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Mount Carroll, Illinois passed away May 5, 2008 at his home in Florida.

Throughout his short illness his immediate family and a vast extended network of friends and fans surrounded him. Dick mentioned that be had been so blessed and lucky during his life and had no regrets. We too are all blessed and lucky to have known him and only regret that he left us too soon.

Born October 12, 1944, he grew up in Mooseheart and the South Side of Chicago. Dick launched his successful career as commodity broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) in 1968 and in1995, he and his wife Meg retired from the CME. Whether it was playing golf, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, trying to catch a 5 pound bass, cheering on the Chicago Cubs or working the corn harvest in Illinois, Dick valued sharing life's pleasures with friends and family above all else. To Dick, life was too short not to be pursuing what makes you happy and he brought happiness to the lives of those within his generous orbit. He was a key fundraiser for the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) and golf coach at Eastland High School in Lanark, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife Meg; his children, Mike (Helen), Steve (Stacey), and Amy; granddaughter Rachel; and siblings Starlene, Pat (deceased), Jim (deceased), and George.

A private memorial for close family and friends will be held on Sunday, May 11th in Santa Rosa Beach. In late June, a second memorial will take place at his farm in Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

If so desired, memorial donations in Rickup's name may be made to

Caring Bridge (http://www.caringbridge.org). Without this service, Dick would have never been able to feel the love from the many lives he touched so directly and immediately. You can also go fishing, tell a good story, or play a round of golf and think of Dick.

Velma V. Wilkinson

Velma V. Wilkinson, age 71, of Thomson, Illinois, died Sunday, May 25, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 29, 2008 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Thomson. A visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. A memorial fund has been established in Velma's memory. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Velma was born on September 17, 1936, the daughter of Carrol and Mabel (Kinney) Foreman in Alvo, Nebraska. She attended high school in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Velma married Harry Willkinson on August 16, 1952 in Chapel, Nebraska.

Velma was employed by the Eaton Corporation in Savanna and Hanover, Illinois, for twenty-eight years. Velma and her husband, Harry farmed in rural Thomson, using horse drawn equipment. She was a member of the Northern Illinois Draft Horse and Mule Association. Velma enjoyed classic country music and sewing. Most of all, Velma loved cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

Velma will be dearly missed by her husband, Harry of Thomson; a son, Steve (Tina) Wilkinson of Thomson; three daughters, Vicky (Brian) Maze of Thomson, Becky (Sheldon) Geison of Chadwick, Illinois, and Sheila (Gordie) Hawkins of Thomson; seven grandchildren, Cari (Dan) Bush, Christy (James McDonald) Foster, Justin (Katie Shaffer) Wilkinson, Marissa Wilkinson, Emily and Shawn Geison, and Cassie Hawkins; three step grandsons; two sisters, Edith Butler of Quincy, Illinois, and Betty Frank of Colorado; two brothers, Lee Foreman of Nebraska, and Jim Manning of Washington; three brothers in-law, Dwight (Estella) Wilkinson of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, Harold (Diane) Wilkinson of Thomson, and Herbert Wilkinson of Savanna; one sister in-law, Sharon (Larry) Miller of Pearl City, Illinois; and a special family friend, Craig Sturtz.

Velma is preceded in death by one granddaughter, Melinda Wilkinson; three brothers, Larry, Clyde, and Franklin; and five sisters, Doris, Rosie, Shirley, Jeannie, and Joan.

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