Obituaries

Rayfield A. Moshure

Rayfield A. Moshure, age 78, of Mt. Carroll, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at FHN Hospital, Freeport. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Cremation will follow the service and burial of ashes will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Monday August 31, 2009 at the Funeral Home. Condolences and tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Marlene Mary Uhl Chunes

Marlene Mary Uhl Chunes, age 67, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died suddenly on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa, after a courageous battle with cancer. A funeral mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 31, 2009, at the Church of St. Mary in Elizabeth followed by a burial service at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, masses and donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Gladys L. Speers

Gladys L. Speers, 89, of Freeport, formerly of Lanark, died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009 at her home.

She was born on Aug. 24, 1920 in Baileyville, a daughter of Ben and Lena (Hinders) Moring. On June 8, 1938, Gladys married Linden Speers.

She enjoyed sewing, and was well known for her Teddy Bears.

Gladys is survived by one son Dennis (Ruby) Speers of DeWitt, IA, one daughter; Dianne (Joseph) Kauffman of Freeport, 11 grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband on May 18, 1984, one son and grandson, and one sister.

Funeral services will be held on Friday August 28, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the Russell-Frank Funeral home in Lanark with Rev. John Hollis of the Freeport First Church of the Nazarene officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Interment will be in the Lanark Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established in her memory.

Helen Margaret Sodt

Helen Margaret Sodt, 99, of Lanark, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 at Manor Court in Freeport.

Born on Oct. 11, 1909, she was the daughter of James and Margaret (Adams) Colter. Helen married Henry Sodt in 1931 and lived in Libertyville until moving to Lanark in 1976.

Helen enjoyed knitting, working in her garden and the company of her cats. While living in Libertyville she was a craft instructor for the Adler Park Summer Day Camp in addition to working with Cub and Girl Scouts.

She is survived by her two sons; Theodore (Marlee) of Stockton, and Kenneth (Barbara) of Antioch; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and her husband who passed away in 2001.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 at 11:30 A.M. at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home; 111 N. High St., Lanark with Pastor Herbert Bollman of Faith Reformed Church officiating. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. In Lieu of flower, a memorial has been established in her name.

Orval C. Shuman

Orval C. Shuman, 91 of Milledgeville, died Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the home of his son in Rock Falls following an extended illness.

Orval was born April 9, 1918 in Fairhaven Township, the son of Charles and Mabel (Isenhart) Shuman. He was united in marriage to Marian Etta Eden on February 11, 1939 at the Little Brown Church in Clinton, IA. She preceded him in death on June 24, 2000.

Mr. Shuman farmed for many years in the Milledgeville area and worked for Rock River Cartage as a truck driver, retiring in 1994. Upon his retirement he delivered the Rockford Morning Star in Milledgeville for 14 years until his retirement in August 2008.

Survivors include 5 daughters, Arlene (Jim) Martin of Rock Falls, Kathryn (Jon) Litwiller of Dalzell, Ruth (Jim) Pitts of Milledgeville, Jeanette (Dick) Meier of Prophetstown and Carol (Harvey) Haars of Rock Falls; 6 sons, Donald Shuman of Prophetstown, Wayne (Madeline) Shuman of Mendota, Charles (Alice) Shuman of Rock Falls, Allen (Mary) Shuman of Rock Falls, Loren (Tammy) Shuman of Lanark and David (Debbie) Shuman of Sterling; a sister Grace Thomas of Milledgeville; a brother Vernon (Pat) Shuman of Wallace, Michigan; 27 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a daughter, 4 grandchildren, a sister and a brother.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:30 AM in Community Baptist Church, Milledgeville with Pastor Craig Farmer officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling. Visitation is Friday, August 28 from 4-8 PM at McDonald-Allen-Grennan Funeral Home, 520 Holcomb Ave. Milledgeville. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to Community Baptist Church or Rock River Christian Center.

Jean Eleanor Sieber

Jean Eleanor Sieber, age 79, of Mt. Carroll, died Monday, August 24, 2009 at FHN Hospital, Freeport. A funeral service will be held 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 29 at the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Harkness officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 29 at the Church, prior to the service. Condolences and tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Cyril "Cy" Breit

Cyril "Cy" Breit of Lena, IL, beloved husband, cherished father and grandfather, dear brother-in-law, uncle and good friend, passed away after a courageous battle with esophagus cancer. He was a vibrant 69-year-old who passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on August 23, 2009. Cy was born in New Holstein, WI on October 23, 1939. He was the son of John and Anita (Schmitz) Breit. He was a graduate of Kaukauna High School in the class of 1958. On September 10, 1960 he married his high school sweetheart Jean Ann Onkels in Kaukauna, WI. Cy was employed by Leath Furniture in Wausau and Oshkosh WI, and later at Leath Furniture in Freeport, IL. He also worked for Perdue Marina and Ferrell Gas of Freeport for many years. He returned to furniture sales and was employed by Leamon's Furniture of Lena and Hartman Furniture in Freeport until its store closing.

Cy was a founding member of the Blackhawk Trailblazers Snowmobiling Club, the patriarch of the 2008 Illinois Snowmobiling Association's Family of the Year Award. He enjoyed snowmobiling in the local area including Northern Wisconsin, going to NASCAR races in Michigan with family, traveling, camping with the Vagabonds Camping Club, hunting, fishing, and riding his bicycle.

Cy's main passion was spending time with his grandchildren. He was a friend and confidant to many who were lucky to know him and will be dearly missed. He enjoyed life and laughter. All who knew him were touched by his sense of humor and positive spirit. Cy was preceded in death by his parents John and Anita Breit, his brother Kenneth Breit and sister Germaine Strong.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years Jean (Onkels) Breit, daughters Faye (Craig) Heilman, Lynn (Kirk) Polhill all of Lena, son Ken (Christine) Breit of Simpsonville, SC. his grandchildren Kyle, Kory, Kaitlyn Polhill, Ashley, Austin (Michelle Magee), Brock Heilman, Delaney and Kylie Breit. Also, foster children Laurie (Dan) Overesch of Appleton, WI, Michael (Julie) Rabideau of Green Bay, Wi. A brother-in-law Gerald Strong of Pewaukee, WI. as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at Leamon's Funeral Home in Lena. Services will be held on Friday, August 28th 2009, at 11:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena, IL. There will be a visitation from 9:30am to 10:30am before the service at the church. Rev. Max J. Striedl will officiate the service. Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lena.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Caringbridges, or Hospice and would be appreciated by the family.

Friends many send condolences to the family at www.leamonfh.com

Tom Edwards

Tom Edwards, Sr., age 48, of Morrison, Illinois, previously of Mt. Carroll, died Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at CGH Hospital, Sterling. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, at Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 21 at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in Tom's memory. Condolences and tributes may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

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