Nicholas Wayne Swift

Nicholas Wayne Swift, age 18, of Savanna, Illinois passed away as a result of injuries sustained in an ATV accident Wednesday, August 15, 2012 near his home in rural Savanna. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 24, 2012 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda, Illinois. Burial will be in Albrecht Cemetery, Derinda, Illinois.

Nick was born September 29, 1993 in Savannah, Tennessee, the son of Wendy Swift and Timmie Hampton. He and his family moved to Carroll County in 1997. He was a member of the F.F.A. at West Carroll High School where he graduated with the Class of 2012. Nick spent many of his days farming with his dad Stan. Nick enjoyed riding his four-wheeler, raccoon hunting, watching wrestling, video games, riding tractors, and spending time with his family and friends.

Nick will be dearly missed by his mom, Wendy Swift and his Dad, Stan Westerman Jr. of Savanna, and father, Timmie Hampton of Enville Tennessee; his sister, Chasity Swift(Jason Barlow), of Savanna; and brother, Andrew Westerman, of Savanna; maternal grandparents Allen and Janice Swift of Mt. Carroll, Illinois; paternal grandparents, Stanley and Janice Westerman of Savanna; paternal grandmother, Shirley Hampton of Enville; maternal great-grandmother Grace Swift of Rockford, Illinois; a nephew, Denny Barlow of Savanna; his best friend and cousin, Tyler Westerman of Savanna; many aunts, uncles and cousins. Nick is preceded in death by paternal great-grandfather, Elvin Swift; maternal great-grandfather, Ronald Pratt; grandmother, Joan Pratt, and his grandfather, Paul Wayne Hampton.

Donald W. Keim

Donald W. “Doc” Keim, age 76, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois died Monday, August 13, 2012 at FHN Hospital, Freeport, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 17, 2012 at the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church with Reverend Terri Lafferty officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll, and also one hour prior to the service at the church. A Masonic Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, during the visitation. Memorials may be given in Don’s memory for the Mt. Carroll Methodist Church. Condolences and tributes may be left at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Don was born September 4, 1935 in Savanna, the son of Edwin and Garnet (McGinty) Keim. He grew up on the family farm near Mt. Carroll with brothers Herb and Lowell. Don is a graduate of the Mt. Carroll High School with the Class of 1953. He then went on to study Animal Science at the University of Illinois and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1957. While at the U of I, he played the coronet in the Fighting Illini Marching Band. Don served in the U.S. Army after college, spending time in Washington State. He then returned to Mt. Carroll to work with his father on the family farm, raising and milking registered Brown Swiss Cows. On June 19, 1965, Don married Beverly Groff. After many years of marriage, they later divorced.

Don continued farming until 1985. After farming, he worked at the Bee Line Ready Mix and Hannaman & Albrecht Feed and Grain, both in Mt. Carroll. He also worked several years at Dura in Stockton, and particularly enjoyed his last job, mowing the golf course at the Stockton Country Club.

Don was a member of the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church and the Mt. Carroll Cyrus Masonic Lodge #188. He enjoyed golfing, playing cards with friends, and driving through the countryside. He like watching eagles and looking for flowers.

Don will be dearly missed by his two sons, Brian (Dana) Keim of Lanark, Illinois and Scott Keim of Sycamore, Illinois; two grandchildren, Jalen and Harper; his brother, Lowell Keim of Mt. Carroll; and his companion, Norma Robbe of Mt. Carroll. Don is preceded in death by his brother, Herb and both parents.

Roy M. Potter

Roy M. Potter, age 98, of Chadwick, Illinois, died Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at the Carroll County Good Samaritan Society, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012, at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Chadwick. Burial will follow in the Chadwick Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. prior to the funeral at Law – Jones Funeral Home, Chadwick. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Roy was born Mar 1, 1914 in Fargo, North Dakota, grew up in Fargo and attended school there. He moved to Illinois in 1937 where he worked as a machinist and toolmaker at International Harvester in Moline, Illinois, producing tooling for heavy farm equipment and then materials in support of the war effort. Roy later worked at and retired from the Savanna Army Depot. His was the last of many generations of skilled craftsmen who relied on manual skill and knowledge of tools and materials before the advent of computers.

Roy and Dorothea Jane Mackey of Chadwick were married Jan. 13, 1940, and moved to Chadwick with sons Roger and Steven in 1946. He helped establish and was Scoutmaster of a local Boy Scout Troop that led to creation of the “Scout Pond” south of town, a source of camp outs and largemouth bass for a time, and he arranged and led Apple River Canyon Boy Scout Camp trips. While a member of the Chadwick Village Council, in conjunction with the local Lions Club, he was instrumental in the planning and installation of street signs and house numbering that remain today.

Roy is survived by sons Roger Potter of Los Altos, California, and Steven Potter, Phoenix, Arizona, grandsons Christopher Potter, Frisco, Texas, and Ross Potter, Mesa, Arizona, and a younger brother, Loren Potter in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Roy was preceded in death by wife Dorothea in 1991.

Larry Ludewig

Larry Ludewig, age 69, of Milledgeville died Friday, August 10th, 2012 at his home.

Larry was born June 2, 1943 in Forreston, the son of Fred and Ruth (Welp) Ludewig. He proudly served his country from April 1965 to April 1967 with the US Army during the Vietnam War. Larry was an Army Specialist 4 with the 9th Infantry BDE Task Force 25th Division as a battlefield medic with the Tropic Lightning Corps. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Drive Bar. Larry owned his own truck and worked for Ludewig Trucking for many years. He also worked as a maintenance man at Lampson and Sessions before retiring. Larry was a member of the Polo American Legion Post 0083 and enjoyed woodworking, metalworking, fishing, and was truly a “Jack of All Trades,” he could fix anything. He also was member of the Milledgeville United Methodist Church.

Survivors include, his wife of 29 years; Sandra Remrey, two daughters; Laurie (Jeff) Burke of Oregon, and Melissa (Jimmie) Austin of Dixon, three sons; Michael Ludewig of Italy, Cory (Becky) Eykamp of Dixon, and Alex (Libby) Remrey of Louisiana, two sisters; Evelyn (Barney) Millard of Missouri, and Barb Horner of Mt. Morris, two brothers; Mervin (Gail) Ludewig of Polo, and Robert (Mary Jane) Ludewig of Missouri, fourteen grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and many special friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and one brother Laverne.

Cremation rites have been accorded and there will be a celebration of life for family and friends at a later date.

Linda L. Weigle

Linda L. Weigle, 74 passed away Monday, August 13th, 2012 in Freeport Memorial Hospital following a short illness.

She had been a recent resident at the Stephenson Nursing Home. Linda was born December 18th, 1937 in rural Freeport, IL, and continued to reside there and rural Shannon for many years. She was the daughter of Floyd and Berniece (Link) Weigle, both of whom predeceased her. Linda graduated from Shannon High School in 1955, and from Rockford School of Business (Browns Business School) in 1957. Linda worked as a secretary for Micro Switch, Sundstrand and as a waitress at the Shannon Café. She was also a care giver for the disabled in Freeport. Linda enjoyed conversation with her friends and for many years she enjoyed the Freeport Symphony, the Audubon Society, Bible Study and was an active Democrat in the Freeport community. For a time Linda resided in Preston, AZ, eventually returning to the Freeport/Shannon area to live for the rest of her life.

Linda is survived by her sister Myrna (Duane) Gruhn and nephew Greg (Annette) Gruhn, niece Cyndy (Rick) Fisher whom she enjoyed, her aunt, Ruth Link O’ Hara, a longtime resident at Parkview Retirement Home and many cousins, including Richard (Jane) Weigle who assisted Linda for the last several years. The family wishes to thank the many helpers and nurses at Stephenson Nursing Home and the nurses, physicians and assistants at Freeport Memorial Hospital.

Friends and relatives may call from 6 to 8 PM on Friday, August 24, 2012 at the Schwarz Park Blvd. Chapel, 608 S. Park Blvd. Freeport for a memorial gathering. Service will be private. Memorials may be given to the Freeport Audubon Society.

Eleanor F. Eagle

Eleanor F. Eagle, age 90, of Thomson Illinois, died Friday August 17, 2012 at her home in rural Thomson, Illinois. Arrangements are pending at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson.

Jeffrey F. Craig

Jeffrey F. Craig, age 45, of Savanna, Illinois, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Cremation rites will be accorded and no services are planned. Arrangements were handled by Law – Jones Funeral Home.

Patrick James Broderick

Patrick James “P.J.” Broderick, 88, of Savanna died on August 16, 2012, at Big Meadows Nursing Home. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church , with burial immediately following the service in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. A memorial has been established for local charities in P.J.’s memory.