Woodford County

Obituaries

 

 
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From an untitled, undated newspaper clipping:

Stricken suddenly ill on Tuesday morning, Frederick Abel, well known and highly esteemed citizen, died at his home in Cazenovia at 4 o'clock Thursday morning.

Heart disease was the cause of his death. Though he had not been in the best of health for several years, Mr. Abel was apparently robust and the news of his sudden death came therefore as a great shock to the communities of Cazenovia and Metamora. He had arisen as usual on Tuesday morning and went about his daily duties. He soon returned to the house and complained of feeling badly. His condition rapidly grew worse and was quite grave when the family physician arrived. From the first little hope was held out for his recovery, but for a time it seemed that he might survive the attack.

Deceased was born in Germany on March 15, 1861, and came to this locality when a young man, with his brother, Otto, now deceased, and several other young men, among them the late Wm. Broennle. He began life here as a farmer, in which occupation he had since continued. He was united in marriage with Miss Anna Ellsworth and four children were born to the couple, Charles of Cazenovia, Edwin of Clayton, Ill., Eva at home, and Matthew, deceased. Since his marriage he had been engaged in farming near Cazenovia, except two years, in 1907 and 1908 when he farmed in North Dakota.

Mr. Abel was of a most likable nature and his friends were limited to his acquaintanceship. He was always a gentleman and of a deeply religious nature. For a number of years he and his family have been members of the Metamora Christian Union church.

The surviving wife and children have the sincere sympathy of the two communities in their loss.

Funeral services will be held Sunday morning at 10 o'clock in the Metamora Christian Union church. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery, near Metamora.


 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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From an untitled, undated newspaper clipping:

Hugh E. Abel, age 81, of Metamora passed away at 2:02 a.m. Wednesday January 23, 2008 at Snyder Village in Metamora.

He was born July 19, 1926 in Cazenovia Illinois to Charles F. and Lillian (McDermott) Abel. He married Barbara Grebner September 12, 1953 in Metamora.

Surviving is his wife; two sons Allen Abel of Morton, and Stanley Abel of Metamora; one sister Barbara (Donald) Andes of Payson Arizona. He was preceded in death by one sister Elaine Linden.

He was a World War II Army veteran. Hugh then worked for 38 years as a system technician at Illinois Bell. He was a member of IBEW local 399 in Springfield Il. Hugh was involved with various organizations including the Woodford County Historical Society; Boy Scouts of America where he also served as a former Scout leader. He was also a member of Metamora Christian Union Church.

A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday January 26, 2008 at the Mason Funeral Home Metamora with the Rev Gary Salm officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time. Cremation rites have been accorded. Memorials may be made to Emergency 116 or to Snyder Village.
 


Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, 14 May 1959

Final Rites Held for Minonk Resident

Minonk - Miss Anna C. Ahlers, 79, died at her home at 328 Walnut St. at 11:15 p.m. Thursday following a sudden illness.

Her funeral was at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Tallyn-Folkers Memorial Home, with the Rev. Edwin F. Riske officiating. Burial was in Minonk Cemetery.

She was born near Minonk July 7, 1879, a daughter of Henry and Rosa Friedrichs Ahlers.

Surviving is a brother, Robert, Minonk. Two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.

She was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, 15 May 1942

Diedrich Carl Ahlers, 68, died May 12 at San Jose, Calif. The body arrived in Minonk Thursday and was taken to the Wilcox chapel where funeral services will be held at p.m. Friday. Burial will be in the Minonk Cemetery. The Rev. Paul Buchmueller of the St. Paul Evangelical church will officiate.

D. C. Ahlers was born June 6, 1873, on a farm near Minonk, son of Henry and Bertha Friedrich Ahlers. He attended and graduated from the Minonk schools and from Dixon college. He was in business in Denver, Colo., California and Montana, and finally settled in San Jose, where he became owner of the San Jose Typewriter company. He was a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges.

Survivors are one brother, Robert, and two sisters, Mrs. Onken and Miss Anna, Minonk. His parents, two sisters and a brother preceded him in death.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, 1 August 1958

Mrs. Ella Ahlers, 79, of Minonk died at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at St Mary's Hospital in Streator. She had been a patient there for two weeks.

Born near Secor in 1879, she was a daughter of Henry C. and Gretji Mennen Hartman. She was married to Robert H. Ahlers Feb. 19, 1903, in Greene Township.

Mrs. Ahlers had lived in Minonk since 1911 and was a member of St Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church of Peoria, the Ladies' Aid Society, Rebecca Lodge, Triple Link and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Surviving are her husband, a sister, Mrs. Emma Wessel of Minonk, and a brother, Emil Hartman of Secor. Two sisters and a brother preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, with burial in Minonk Cemetery.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, 29 May 1931

Louis D. Ahlers, 62, died at his home in Minonk Monday, following a lingering illness. He had been an invalid for the last 16 years and had been unable to do any work since he was 25 years old. When he was 11 years old he fell and injured his spine. He apparently recovered and worked on a farm until he was 25 years old and had to quit.

Mr. Ahlers was born July 13, 1862, two and one-half miles northeast of Minonk on the Ahlers homestead. He was confirmed in St Paul's church in 1885. His parents came to Minonk with the family in 1903. His mother died in 1912 and his father in 1914. Since then he and his sister, Anna, had lived at the family residence together.

Surviving besides his sister, Anna are another sister, Mrs. Mary Oncken and two brothers, R. H. Ahlers of Minonk, and D. C. Ahlers of San Jose, Calif.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the residence with the Rev. Paul Buchmueller, pastor of St Paul's church, officiating.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, 24 March 1960

Minonk Man Dies at Home Sunday

Robert H. Ahlers, 90, died at his home in Minonk at 5:30 a.m. Sunday. He recently was released from the hospital.

The funeral was at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Wilcox-Folkers Memorial Home. The Rev. Edwin F. Riske officiated. Burial was in Minonk Cemetery.

He was born northeast of Minonk Jan. 20, 1870, son of Henry and Bertha Friederichs Ahlers. He married Ella Hartman Feb. 19, 1903, in Greene Township. She died in 1958.

Four brothers and four sisters also preceded him in death. Survivors include nieces and nephews.

He was a retired farmer.

He was a member of St Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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Metamora Herald, Woodford County IL

18 Dec 1958



Services For John Alig Held in Michigan Thursday

News was received here Monday that John Alig died at 8 a.m. on Monday in the hospital at Menominee, Mich. He had been a patient at the hospital for one week and in poor health for several years.

He was born near Lourdes on Oct. 9, 1879, the oldest son of the late Jacob and Elizabeth Alig. He married Magdaline Theobald at Lourdes and they lived near Metamora where their daughter, Maria, was born. Later they moved to Sherburn, Minn. where his wife died about 35 years ago. He later moved to Draggett, Mich., where he lived with his daughter and family.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Catholic Church in Menominee with interment in a mausoleum. Burial will be later beside the grave of his wife in a Sherburn, Minn., cemetery.

He is survived by his daughter, Maria Kramer; nine grandchildren; and two brothers, Joe and Alois, of Metamora.

Birth: 09 Oct 1879
Death: 14 Dec 1958
 



Transcribed by L. Pfister, Submitted by M. G. Welsch

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October 20, 1955-Minonk News Dispatch


James G. Andrews,
77, died at his home, 511 Mary Street, in Minonk at 8 o'clock Monday morning after a lingering illness. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Tallyn-Folkers Memorial Home, conducted by Rev. James R. Breckenridge of Flint, Michigan, a former pastor of the Minonk Presbyterian Church, and burial was in the Minonk cemetery. The pallbearers were John W. Meierhofer, Calvin Gaisford, Alvin Jording, Wilko Abels, Eilert Rients, and Ray Jones.


Mr. Andrews was born on a farm near Gridley, December 21, 1877, a son of James and Martha Murray Andrews. He was married to Miss Maude Rucker of Minonk, in this city, on December 5, 1900. They made their home on a farm, north of Spires Statin until 1950 when they built a fine home here in Minonk and moved to town.


Mrs. Andrews passed away on December 15, 1951. Surviving are two sisters: Mrs. Mary Jane Spires of Kempton, and Mrs. May McMurray of Pontiac. There are four nieces and nephews, Edna and Mabel Spires and Edson and Russell Spires, all of Kempton, He was preceded in death by his wife, two brothers and a sister.


A retired farmer, he was one of the charter members of the Spires Elevator Company, which was purchased from the Middle Division Elevator Company. The charter was granted to Mr. Andrews, James Murray, Jacob Obert, Peter Saltzman, Henry Eft, Julius Grassman, and Frank Taylor. Mr. Andrews held the place as manager for 23 years.


He was a member and an elder of the Minonk Presbyterian Church, Rob Morris lodge, and OES of Minonk, the Bloomington consistory and the Peoria Shrine. During his long and honored career he had been a member of the Woodford County Mutual Insurance Company, served as a school director for many years for the Spires district and later was a member of the Minonk high school board.


 



Transcribed and donated by Cindy Pickard

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Obituary for Maude Lee (Rucker) Andrews

December 20, 1951 - Minonk News Dispatch


Mrs. James G. Andrews Dies; Funeral December 17


Succumbs Saturday Afternoon, Age 70


Mrs. James G. Andrews, 70, died at 12:45 o'clock last Saturday afternoon at St. Mary's hospital in Streator, where she had been a patient for a week. She suffered a fractured hip in September and was in the hospital following for some weeks and then returned home but continued to decline.


Maude Lee Andrews was a daughter of Martin L. and Louisa (Pickard) Rucker and was born at Minonk on February 10, 1881. She attended the Minonk schools and on December 5, 1900, was married to James G. Andrews. They resided on a farm near Spires Station, until about two years ago when they moved into their fine new home, which they constructed on Mary Street. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary there with an open house just last year.


Surviving is her husband, her aged mother, Mrs. Louisa Rucker, and a grand niece, Elaine Spires, who made her home with the Andrews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Rucker, and a sister, Lola. She was a member of the Minonk Baptist Church, the Eastern Star, the 20th Century club and the Women's Union of the Baptist Church.


Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Tallyn-Folkers Memorial Home conducted by Rev. E. R. Williams, pastor of the Baptist Church and Rev. James R. Beckenridge, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Burial was made in the Minonk cemetery. The pallbearers were: Wilko Abels, John Meierhofer, Calvin Gaisford, Eilert Rients, Ray Jones, and Howard T. Smith. Mrs. Calvin Gaisford was organist. Mrs. Walter Beckmann read "Beyond the Sunset" and "Crossing the Bar."


Among those from away attending the services were: Mrs. Frank Rucker of Decatur; Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Quennemen, Mrs. Lillian Skeen, and Miss Marion Spires of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Seggerman of Pekin; Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Pickard of Peoria; Mrs. Mary Jane Spires, Mabel, and Edson, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Spires of Kempton.


Mrs. E. P. McMurray, Mrs. Jennie Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Vilven, Robert Murray, Mrs. George Bigelow, Mrs. James R. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Kelly, and Mrs. Jessie Kipfer of Pontiac; Mr. and Mrs. Judson Gaisford of Maywood; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Gaisford of Chillicothe; Mrs. Mabel DeGroodt of Saunemin; Mrs. Jessie Blair of Chenoa.


Mr. and Mrs. Louis Miller and Mrs. George Barton of Tonica; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. Ed U. Ridge, and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Ridge of Eureka; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Campbell, and Mrs. George Halfmann of Bloomington; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Taylor, Mrs. Betsey Punke, and Mrs. Ray Shoemaker of El Paso; Mr. and Mrs. George Rathbun and children of Gridley.


Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wehking of Benson; Mrs. W. B. Meils, and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Schaefer of Streator; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Fosdick, Fred Pard, and Mrs. Hattie Redmore of Flanagan; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Spires of Rutland.

 



Transcribed and donated by Cindy Pickard

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Chicago Tribune  9 January 1999
 

Jennifer L. Antonino, 44, most recently of Minonk, formerly of Naperville, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. 

 
Born in Pontiac, Mrs. Antonino was a graduate of Minonk Dana Rutland High School, attended the University of Iowa for two years, and graduated from Lakeland College in Mattoon with a degree in dental hygiene. She worked as a dental hygienist in the Chicago area for more than 10 years, and most recently was employed by Meyer-Jochums in Minonk as a receptionist. 

 
Mrs. .Antonino was a lover of music who sang and played several instruments. 

 
Survivors include three daughters, Vanessa, Olivia, and Mallory; and two brothers, Judson and Joel Janssen. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church in Minonk .

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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From an untitled, undated newspaper clipping

Lyle E. Armstrong, 84, of 881 C.R. 2500 East, El Paso, died at 6:08 a.m. Friday (Jan. 12, 2007) at Eureka Community Hospital in Eureka.

He was born April 14, 1922, in Panola Township, to Clarke and B. Irene Nethercott Armstrong. He married Dorothy A. Peters on Feb. 24, 1946, in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Vickie (Gordon) Hampton, Lubbock, Texas, and Rebecca (Ron) Porth, Secor; four grandchildren, Rob (Denise) Hampton, Green Bay, Wis.; Erik (Rachel) Blackmore, El Paso; Keri (Greg) Dirst, El Paso; and Jamie (Sean) Carr, Springfield, Mo.; three great-granddaughters; two great-grandsons; and one brother, Robert Armstrong, Jacksonville, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mildred Cripe and Blanche Carr.

An Air Force veteran, Lyle served his country as a B-26 pilot and instructor during World War II. He was a member of the El Paso American Legion Post 59.

Lyle farmed in the El Paso area all of his life. He was a member of the Woodford County Farm Bureau and the El Paso Farmer's Club.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in El Paso.

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in El Paso. The Rev. David Estep will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be in Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso.

 



Transcribed and donated by Amy Robbins-Tjaden

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