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Lloyd Christensen
DWIGHT -- Lloyd J. Christensen, formerly of the Dwight/Gardner area, died Friday (May 31, 2002) at Hines Extended Care Facility.
Arrangements are pending at Hager Memorial Home in Dwight.
Manuel Santoyo
Manuel Hernandez Santoyo, 57, of Kankakee, died Friday (May 31, 2002) at Riverside Medical Center.
Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. today at Hertz-Thoma Chapel in Kankakee, with a 7 p.m. rosary.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Teresa Catholic Church.
Burial will be in Mount Calvary cemetery.
Mr. Santoyo was born July 17, 1944 in Puerto Porullo, Yuriria, Mexico, the son of Rafael and Maria Isabel Santoyo. His father is deceased.
Surviving are his wife, the former Margarita Martinez, whom he married
Nov. 1, 1968 in Uriangato GTO, Mexico, of Kankakee; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Roberto and Liset Hernandez, Carlos Hernandez, and Jose Hernandez, all of Kankakee; three daughters and sons-in-law, Margarita and Martin Martinez, and Marisa and Jose Guzman, all of Mexico, Veronica and Oscar Carlin of Kankakee; his mother of Mexico; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Luisa and Manuel Martinez, Amalia and Jesus, and Guadalupe and Gavino Varela, all of Mexico; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Nicholas and Trinidad Hernandez, and Antonio and Juana Santoyo, all of Mexico, Felix and Maria Eugenia Santoyo of Onarga; nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Santoyo was employed by the Kankakee Nursery.
Ernest A. Grove
WATSEKA -- Ernest A. Grove, 81, former mayor of Watseka, died Saturday, (June 1, 2002) at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka.
Arrangements are pending at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka.
Grove, 81, was a veteran of 26 years in Watseka city government with 16 of those years served as mayor.
He was elected mayor for the first time in 1973 by defeating three term incumbent Mayor Ernest W. Mueller in a close race. Grove retired from public life in January of 1989 announcing that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor.
During his tenure as mayor, Grove established a tax increment financing plan and a revolving industrial development loan program to help lure new businesses to Watseka. Grove credited the industrial development loan program with helping the expansion of Quality Service Electronics, T&D; Metals and J&B; Enterprises.
Grove credited much of his success in office to "good teamwork" between city officials and staff.
Following his tenure as mayor, Grove, a retired building contractor, was hired by the county board as the construction coordinator for the Iroquois Area Career Center which has since closed and is now being used as county offices.
He also served as president of the Iroquois County Historical Society. He was an ardent collector of vintage postcard scenes of Watseka. His collection includes over 200 postcard views of Watseka and other Iroquois County towns.
A native of Sheldon, Grove attended schools in Chicago and graduated from Tilden Technical High School.
He came to Watseka in 1937 and operated G & S Builders.
He joined the Navy during World War II and served two years in the South Pacific. He was a member of the American Legion Post 23, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7450, past president of the Watseka Lions Club, a member of the Watch-E-Kee and Hoopeston coin clubs.
He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church.
Grove served as an alderman for 10 years before moving to Arizona in 1969. He returned to Watseka two years later and made his first, unsuccessful bid for mayor.
Grove's parents, Charles and Mary M. Grove are both deceased.
Peter Berta
COAL CITY -- Peter F. Berta, 88, of Coal City, died Friday (May 31, 2002) at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at Reeves Funeral Home, Coal City.
Services will be held Monday with a mass of Christian burial in Assumption Catholic Church, Coal City.
Burial will be in Mt. Olivet cemetery in Wilmington.
Memorials can be made to the American Lung Association.
Mr. Berta was born Oct. 30, 1913, in South Wilmington, the son of Edmund and Olympia Berta. He married
the former Frances Korelc June 29, 1940 in Coal City.
Surviving are one son, Edmund Berta of Coal City; one daughter, Janice Swisher of Wilmington; two sisters, Esther Scapillato, of Cicero, and Denise Tudor, of Algonquin; four grandchildren, Leandra, Jennifer, Alison and Joel; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents; his wife; a daughter Leandra; two sisters, Adaline Hartman, and Marian Enrico; are deceased.
Mr. Berta was employed as a coal miner with Northern Illinois Coal for 42 years. He later worked for Peabody Coal, retiring in 1975.
He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church and the United Mine Workers Union.
Brenda Varboncoeur
SHELDON -- Services for Brenda Varboncoeur, 48, of Sheldon, were held May 31 at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. Revs. Karen Martin and Jay DeMent co-officiated.
Mrs. Varboncoeur died May 27, 2002.
Burial was in Body cemetery in Woodland. Pallbearers were Bret Wilfong, Christopher Eilers, Ryne and Jon Varboncoeur, Chuck Potts and Robert Martin.
Emily Gibb
PIPER CITY -- Services for Emily Elizabeth Gibb, 84, of Piper City, were held May 30 at the Piper City Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dennis Carr officiated.
Mrs. Gibb died May 26, 2002.
Burial was in Graceland cemetery in Fairbury. Pallbearers were Chris, Jennifer and Melinda Gibb, Alison Tirona, Matt and Susan Kinate. Honorary pallbearers were Genevieve Barnes, Lola Mary Drew, Betty Ficklin, Ann Kennedy, Margot Phelps, Thelma Slagel, Johanna Somers, Gloria Sterrenberg, Jean Sutter, Elma Trinkle and Mary Ann Ulfers.
Louise Hopman
WATSEKA -- Services for Louise C. Hopman, 84, of Watseka, were held May 30 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Woodworth. Rev. James Ritter officiated.
Mrs. Hopman died May 27, 2002.
Burial was in St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery in Woodworth.. Pallbearers were Dale Brutlag, Russell Carley, David Hulse, Kenton Carley, Ronnie Crabtree and Tom Taden.
Rilla Schriefer
ONARGA -- Services for Rilla J. Schriefer, 52, of rural Onarga, were held May 30 at Iroquois West High School. Revs. James Small and Connie Williams Moodie co-officiated.
Mrs. Schriefer died May 26, 2002.
Burial was in Wenger cemetery in Gilman. Pallbearers were Eugene Bork, Erwin, Aaron and Alan Perkinson, William Poppie and Steve Walters. Honorary Pallbearers were Patrick Hanna and Richard Walters.
Rodney Schriefer
Services for Rodney Lee Schriefer, 54, of rural Onarga, were held May 30 at Iroquois West High School. Revs. Connie Williams Moodie and James Small co-officiated.
Mr. Schriefer died May 26, 2002.
Burial was in Wenger cemetery in Gilman. Pallbearers were Jim Alsip, Todd, Terry, Tim and Tyler Miller, and Bill Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers were Rodney Copas, David Eshleman, Ralph Henrichs and Victor Monk.
William Burke
WWII veteran
MANTENO -- Visitation for William J. "Bill" Burke Sr., 76, of rural Peotone/Manteno will be from 10:30 a.m. Saturday until the 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Manteno. Rev. Mark Fracaro, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Minooka will officiate.
Private burial will be in Abraham Lincoln National cemetery in Elwood.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley, American Cancer Society, or masses at his church.
Arrangements are by Senesac Funeral Homes, Kankakee.
Mr. Burke died Thursday (May 30, 2002) at his home.
He was born July 17, 1925 in Chicago, the son of William J. and Mary E. Brennen Burke. His parents are deceased.
Surviving are his wife, the former Gloria M. LeBeau, whom he married
Sept. 13, 1952 at St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago, of Peotone/Manteno; two sons and daughters-in-law, William J. and Kathy Burke of Niles, Noel and Tammy Burke of Manteno; two daughters and one son-in-law, Paulette Butler of Bourbonnais, Judith and Dog Hescox of San Ramon, Calif.; one sister and brother-in-law, Mary and John O'Sullivan of Pittsboro, N.C.; two brothers, John Burke and James Burke, both of Chicago; and nine grandchildren.
One son, Larry Burke; one grandson, Jim Hescox; and one brother, Tom Burke, are deceased.
Mr. Burke was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy, and during the Korean Conflict with the SeeBees in the South Pacific and Alution Islands aboard the USS VO-11 Ship.
He was a meat cutter in Chicago for many years, sold wholesale meats for many years, and retired from Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee.
He was an area resident since 1961, graduated from Leo High School in Chicago, and attended Night College in Chicago for two years.
He was a member of the Peotone American Legion Post, Disabled American Veterans, and the SeeBees Organization.
William Chinski
William "Billy" L. Chinski, 68, of Bradley, died Saturday (June 1, 2002) at his home, following a short illness.
Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. today at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bradley.
Burial will be in All Saints cemetery, Bourbonnais.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Grade School.
Mr. Chinski was born Oct. 6, 1933 in Kankakee, the son of John T. and Marguerite Rosendahl Chinski. His parents are deceased.
Surviving are his wife, the former Adeline Fraser, whom he married
Aug. 10, 1957 in Bradley; one son, Matthew Chinski of Bourbonnais; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Georgann and Edward Carraher, Rose and James Swanson, all of Kankakee, Luella and William Hart of Bradley; five brothers and four sisters-in-law, Robert and Hazel Chinski, Lester and Bonita Chinski, and John and RuthAnn Chinski, all of Kankakee; James and Shirley Chinski of Iron River, Wis., and Daniel Chinski of Arizona; any many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Chinski retired from Armstrong World Industries, and previously worked at Kankakee Roper Corporation, and J.W. Mortell.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1953-1955.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bradley, and the Holy Name Society.
He was a member of the Bradley American Legion, and enjoyed fishing, reading and playing Scrabble.
Charles Dennis
community leader, farmer
GRANT PARK -- Visitation for Charles R. Dennis, 78, of Grant Park, will be from 4-9 p.m. Sunday at Hub Funeral Chapel in Grant Park, and from 10 a.m. Monday until the 11 a.m. services at First United Methodist Church in Momence. Rev. Jim Ruberg will officiate.
Burial will be in Union Corners cemetery in Grant Park.
Memorials may be made to the family for a special memorial in his memory.
He died Thursday (May 30, 2002) at his residence.
Mr. Dennis was a retired farmer. He also was a member of the Grant Park Sportsmen's Club, served on the Planning Commission of Grant Park and was a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank in Grant Park, and the Whitaker Farmers Co-op.
He served as secretary-treasurer of the Union Corners cemetery Board, vice-president of the Kankakee Mutual Fire Insurance Board, and was on the board for the Kankakee Soil & Water Conservation District.
Mr. Dennis was born Sept. 14, 1923 in Sumner Township, rural Grant Park, the son of Louis Raymond and Clystia Hayhurst Dennis.
Surviving are his wife, the former Elizabeth M. Martin, whom he married
May 17, 1943 at First United Methodist Church in Momence, of Grant Park; one son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Debra Dennis of Grant Park; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Delmar Mattias of Grant Park; one sister, Helen Gamble of Momence; and three grandchildren.
One son, Thomas Harold Dennis; and one brother-in-law, Franklin Gamble, are deceased.
He was a member of the church board at First United Methodist Church in Momence, where he was a lifetime member.
Mr. Dennis enjoyed collecting toy and full-sized tractors.
