Obituary Listing

Nov 26, 2023

LaVonne T.  Spillane, 80, of Apple River, Illinois passed away peacefully at home with her beloved family at her side. She was born February 16, 1943, in Menominee, Illinois, the daughter of Albert & Theresa (Imbus) Erner. She graduated from Galena High School. LaVonne married her high school sweetheart Robert J Spillane (RJ) at  Nativity BVM Church in Menominee...

Nov 25, 2023

Kathryn Helene Reed, 88, formerly of Warren, Illinois, passed away on November 25, 2023, at the Lafayette Manor in Darlington, Wisconsin. Kathryn was born on September 18, 1935, to Luke and Berneice (Hall) Saunders, and she married Raymond Lewis Reed on March 3, 1962, in Stockton, Illinois.

Kate worked as a beautician, and after she and Ray...

Nov 22, 2023

Richard Diffenderfer, 87, of Winslow, IL passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. He was born on January 21, 1936 to Charles and Edna Diffenderfer. He married Mary Garnhart on July 31, 1955. Together they raised five children. Richard farmed most of his life. After retiring from farming Richard could still be seen at the sale barns, checking the...

Nov 20, 2023

Alberta "Bertie" E. Leehan 92 originally of Apple River, IL passed away on Monday, November 20, 2023, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI after a brief illness. Most recently Bertie was living at St. Clare Freidensheim Assisted Living in Monroe, WI. Alberta was born on July 14, 1931, to William and Mary "Nellie" (Bourquin) Gallagher. She was their...

Nov 13, 2023

Wendy Lynn Williams, age 55, passed away on Monday November 13, 2023. She was born on June 18, 1968 to Gordon and Connie (Schneider) Williams.Wendy was a 1986 Pearl City High School graduate where she was Captain of the Pom Pom Squad and played many sports. After graduating from Rockford Business School she worked at several State Farm Claims...

Nov 8, 2023

Charlie E. Nipple of South Wayne WI, went to his heavenly home on November 8, 2023 after a long courageous battle with cancer. Charlie was born on June 8, 1956, to Donald and Laverne (Spond) Nipple. Charlie was a 1975 graduate of Evansville Wisconsin High School. He met the love of his life, Cindy Blackbourn, on May 6, 1977...

Nov 5, 2023

Vivian (Kleckner) Otte, 101, of Lena passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 5, 2023. She was born on January 13, 1922 on the home farm in Pleasant Valley Township near Stockton, IL. Vivian was the third daughter of Mary (Staub) and Ernest Kleckner. She attended Neutral Ridge Grade Rural School all eight years in a one room, one teacher...

Nov 5, 2023

Dean M. Kempel, age 90, of Lena, IL passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at the Lena Living Center surrounded by his family. He was born March 23, 1933, in Kent, IL to Milfred and Dorothy (Krienke) Kempel. Dean served his country in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957. He married Margaret Harrenstein on May 14, 1960, at St....

Nov 5, 2023

Dorothy Ditzler, 97, of Pearl City, IL went to be with her Lord, with her children by her side, on Sunday November 5, 2023.  Dorothy was born on June 27, 1926 to T. Arthur and Amy (Buss) Ellis in Winslow, IL.  She graduated from Winslow High School, she then attended the Nursing Cadet Corps Training through St. Francis Hospital...

Nov 3, 2023

Timothy James Costello, 55, passed away on November 3, 2023. He was born on April 5, 1968, to James and Waynette (Holland) Costello. Tim received his Associate's Degree from Highland Community College and his Bachelor's Degree from Siena Heights University in Michigan.

He lived in Little Rock, Arkansas the past 12 years. He served as a Deacon...

Nov 2, 2023

Midge A. Engelkens, 83, of Orangeville, IL passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, with her family by her side, at Pearl Pavilion in Freeport, IL. She was born on January 25, 1940 in Freeport, IL to Lyle and Mary Evelyn (Klontz) Meyers.  Midge attended a one room schoolhouse through 8th grade, she then attended and graduated from Freeport...

Oct 31, 2023

Merton G. Holland age 82, of Lena passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at SSM Health Monroe Hospital. He was born on October 7, 1941, in Jo Daviess County, the son of Paul and Lola (Bunker) Holland. Shortly after graduating High School, he got a job with Gantts where he met Sharon Koch. Sharon and Merton were married...

Oct 31, 2023

Jason Lee Severson age 45, of Warren, IL passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 in Darlington, WI.  He was born on June 5, 1978 in Freeport, IL and shortly after adopted by Edner and June (Vance) Severson.  He attended Freeport School when he was younger but graduated Warren High School in 1997....

Oct 30, 2023

Wendy Lee Broge, age 61, of Orangeville, IL passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, October 30, 2023, at SSM St. Mary's in Madison, WI. She was born on August 19, 1962, in Freeport, IL to Paul and Bonnie (Smythe) Viel. She was a 1980 graduate of Lena-Winslow High School where she participated in various...

Oct 28, 2023

Joanne Strobehn, age 82 of Lena, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Joanne was born on April 26, 1941, in Chicago, IL, to George and Grace (Werdell) Schreier. She married George Strobehn on January 23, 1960, in Chicago, IL.  George and Joanne moved to Simi Valley, CA where Joanne raised her...

Oct 22, 2023

Larry C. Nichols, 80, of Apple River, IL passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at his home.  Larry was born on July 19, 1943 in Port Clinton, OH to Veneta (Morgan) Nichols.  He married Lillian Lomas on October 6, 1962 in Cedarville, IL and together they raised three sons.

For many years, Larry was an...

Oct 16, 2023

Kathryne "Katie" Keeffer-Warthen, 97, of Lena, IL passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 16, 2023 surrounded by her family.  Katie was born on March 31, 1926 to John and Gladys Mantzke in Lena, IL.  She was a 1944 graduate of Lena High School.  Katie married Gale Keeffer in 1944.  Katie worked alongside her father, John, at...

Oct 11, 2023

Randy "Roy" Koehn, 63, of Apple River, IL passed away on October 11, 2023 at his home.  He was born on July 12, 1960 in Hazel Green, WI to Harlan and Edith (Bourquin) Koehn.  Roy was a 1978 graduate of Warren High School.  He was a truck driver for various companies throughout the area.

Roy was a...

Oct 9, 2023

Wilma Irene (Townsend) Balbach passed away at her home on October 9, 2023 at the age of 91.  Wilma was the daughter of Claude and Irene (Logemann) Townsend.  She was born November 14,1931, in Freeport, Illinois.  Wilma graduated from Stockton High School in 1949.  She met ted Balbach at the Jo Daviess County fair when they were 16.  She...

Oct 8, 2023

James "Jim" England, age 76, of Lena, IL passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at SSM Monroe Hospital surrounded by his family.  Jim was born on May 8, 1947 in Belle Plaine, IA to DeWitt and Dorene (Meyocks) England.  He was a 1965 graduate of Princeton High School.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse with...