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Johanna Westerhoff
WICHERT -- Services for Johanna Westerhoff, 88, of Wichert were held July 6 at First Reformed Church of Wichert. Rev. Gerald Norman officiated.
Mrs. Westerhoff died July 2, 2002.
Burial was in Oakwood cemetery in Wichert. Pallbearers were Ed James, John and Jack Hoekstra, Dale Miedema, Chris Westerhoff and Joseph Howard.
Helen Simpson
WATSEKA -- Services for Helen Mae Simpson, 88, of Watseka, were held July 6 at Milford Christian Church. Rev. Neil Larimore officiated.
Mrs. Simpson died July 3, 2002.
Burial was in Floral Hill cemetery in Hoopeston. Pallbearers were Lori Simpson, James Cavanagh Jr., Amy Simpson-Angkawijaya, Ronald Reynolds, Enrico Angkawijaya and Jonathan Reynolds.
Atwood Smith
SHELDON -- Services for Atwood Smith, 67, of Sheldon, were held July 6 at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. Revs. Gary Milton and James Childress co-officiated.
Mr. Smith died July 3, 2002.
Burial was in Sheldon cemetery. Pallbearers were John Strahl, Ray Galyen, Jim Huff, Carroll Conley, Frank Davenport and Gaylord Lottinville.
Ruth Ayers
Mother of the Year
Visitation for Ruth S. Ayers, 85, of Kankakee, will be from 9-10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais. Rev. John Peeters will officiate.
Burial will be in Maternity BVM cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association.
Mrs. Ayers died Saturday (July 6, 2002) at Manorcare Nursing Center.
She was a member of Maternity BVM Church, a member of the St. Anne Sodality, a charter member of Bradley-Bourbonnais Senior Citizens, past president of the Mothers Club of Maternity School, and the Joliet Diocese Mother of the Year in 1966.
She was born Sept. 21, 1916 in Wahpeton, N.D., the daughter of Oscar and Althea Ulsaker Erickson.
Her husband, Reece L. Ayers, whom she married
Nov. 7, 1939 in Rugby, N.D., died in 1965.
Surviving are three sons and one daughter-in-law, David and Margie Ayers of Kankakee, Mark Ayers of Louisville, Ky., Joel Ayers of Rochester, Minn.; two daughters and one son-in-law, Marcia Wilkinson of Bradley, Kathleen and Paul Legris of Jupiter, Fla.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Margaret and Bill Bailey of Wallawalla, Wash., Dorothy and Chuck Hubner of Garfield, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Wally and Richard; and two daughters, Theresa Robinson Hinman, and Mary Ellen in infancy, are deceased.
Mrs. Ayers attended the State School of Science for Business in North Dakota.
She enjoyed sewing, swimming and gardening.
Stuart Thompson
route salesman
MOMENCE -- Stuart Roger Thompson, 36, of Momence, died Saturday (July 6, 2002) at his parent's home.
There will be no visitation.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made for his children's education, or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.
Arrangements are by Cotter Funeral Home in Momence.
He was a route salesman for Holsum Bread Company in Kankakee.
Mr. Thompson was born Oct. 9, 1965 in Grant Park, the son of Roger and Sally Sutton Thompson.
Surviving are two sons, Alexander and Brandon Thompson of Limestone Township; his parents, Roger and Sally Thompson of Momence; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Mary Thompson of North Augusta, S.C., Anthony and Lori Thompson of Momence; maternal grandmother, Rella Sutton of Lockport; his former wife and her husband, Angela and Mike Smith of Limestone Township; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
His maternal grandfather, Donald Sutton; and paternal grandparents, Paul Melzer and Mary Helen Thompson, are deceased.
Mr. Thompson was a veteran of the Army National Guard, serving for six years in Illinois and Arizona.
He was a 1984 graduate of Grant Park High School and the U.S. Army Quartermaster School.
He was a fan of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan.
Virginia Morgan
Virginia P. Morgan, 90, a lifelong resident of Kankakee, died Sunday morning (July 7, 2002) at Manorcare Nursing Home.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Schreffler Funeral Home in Kankakee.
A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Teresa Catholic Church and burial will be in Mount Calvary cemetery.
Mrs. Morgan was born Feb. 20, 1912 in Kankakee, the daughter of Ignatz and Mary Piettraszewski.
Her husband, Frank H. Morgan, whom she married
Jan. 8, 1955, died May 1, 1993.
Surviving are a stepson, Jerome H. Morgan of Kankakee; a stepdaughter, Shirley Hosek of Manteno; stepgrandchildren, Frank and Kathy Hosek of Kankakee, Joseph Hosek of Bradley, Anthony Morgan of Kankakee, Paul and Julie Morgan, also of Kankakee; step great-grandchildren, Cassie and Cailie Morgan of Kankakee, Katrina and Isabelle Hosek of Bradley; a sister, Loretta Sovinski of Texas; a sister-in-law, Merlin Pietrazewski of Bradley; and a niece, Marie Buck of Bourbonnais.
Also preceding her in death were sisters, Rita Lovell, Gertrude Molitor, Francis Stolarski and Antoinette O'Keefe; and brother, Matthew Pietraszewski.
Mrs. Morgan had been employed as a floor lady at the Bear Brand Hosiery Co. in Kankakee for many years.
A longtime member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Kankakee, she was a graduate of its grade school.
Currently a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, she was a member of the Women of the Moose.
Wilmer Boicken,
former road commissioner
BEECHER -- Wilmer R. Boicken, 86, of Beecher, died Saturday (July 6, 2002) at Anchorage of Beecher.
Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday at Hack Funeral Home in Beecher.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Luke Church of Christ in Beecher. Rev. Tom Ewing will officiate.
Burial will be in St. Luke cemetery in Beecher.
Memorials may be made to St. Luke United Church of Christ, where he was a member.
Mr. Boicken farmed, owned and operated a gas truck for Farm Services. He also was employed by the Soil Conservation Office for many years.
He was a former assessor for Sumner Township, and road commissioner for 15 years. He also served on the Grant Park School Board.
Mr. Boicken was born Nov. 8, 1915 in Beecher, the son of Carl and Amelia Stadt Boicken.
Surviving are his wife, the former Laura Wilkening, whom he married
April 3, 1937 at St. Luke United Church of Christ of Beecher; one son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Josie Boicken of Grant Park; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Gene Snapp of Momence, Nancy and Don Hansen of New Prague, Minn.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.
Five brothers, Arnold, Elmer, Lester, Milford and Irvin; two sisters-in-law, Wilma and Selma Boicken; and two brothers-in-law, Milford Bernhard and Clarence Buente, are deceased.
Dorothy Menzel
LINCOLN -- Dorothy E. Menzel, 81, of Lincoln, died Thursday (July 4, 2002) at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Frickle-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln.
Burial will be in New Union cemetery, Lincoln.
Memorial may be made to First United Methodist Church or Logan County Food Pantry.
Mrs. Menzel was born June 25, 1921 in Rector, Ark., the daughter of Charles D. and Pearl Carter Earle.
Her husband, Harry W. Menzel, whom she married
in 1943 in Malden, Mo., died May 14, 2002.
Surviving are four sons and daughters-in-law, Harry Earl and Jean Menzel of Kankakee, David and Pat Menzel of Springfield, Michael and Marsha Menzel of Williamsville, and Scott and Wendy Menzel of Louisville, Ky.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Menzel was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lincoln, the Ruth Circle of the church, and was a former election judge.
Spec. Grant A. Yohnka
FT. LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Visitation for Spec. Grant A. Yohnka, 21, of Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., formerly of Chebanse, will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at United Church of Christ in Chebanse. Rev. Dennis Brayman will officiate.
Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery in Chebanse.
Memorials may be made to the Army Emergency Relief Fund in Alexandria, Va.
Mr. Yohnka died Wednesday (July 3, 2002) at Lifecare Center in Waynesville, Mo., following a short and courageous battle with brain cancer.
He was born Jan. 15, 1981 in Kankakee, the son of Andrew and Kris Bernard Yohnka.
Surviving are his wife, the former Amber Gustin, whom he married
Feb. 7, 2002 at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.; two brothers, Alexander Yohnka and Bryan Yohnka, both of Chebanse; his father, Andrew Yohnka of Chebanse; paternal grandparents, Richard and Bonita Yohnka of Chebanse; his mother, Kris Bernard of Martinton; and maternal grandparents, George "Barney" Bernard, and Patricia Bernard, all of Cherokee Village, Ark.
Mr. Yohnka was a soldier in the U.S. Army, serving with A-5th Engineers.
He was a 1999 graduate of Central High School of Clifton enjoyed sports, and was a Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan.
James Burrow
CHEBANSE -- James "Jim" A. Burrow, 60, of Chebanse, died Thursday (July 4, 2002) at Riverside Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton. Rev. Dennis Brayman will officiate.
Memorials may be made to Kankakee Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Mr. Burrow was born Feb. 14, 1942 in Fairbury, the son of Arthur Burl and Geneva G. Warder Burrow.
Surviving are his wife, the former Mary Lou Fleming, whom he married
Jan. 14, 1964 in Bradley, of Chebanse; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Don Burrow of Clifton, Jim and Tina Burrow of Ashkum, Tad Lawrence of Chebanse; one daughter, Valerie Burrow and fiance Anthony Williams of Kankakee; his parents, Arthur and Geneva Burrow of Chebanse; one brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Susan Burrow of Chebanse; one sister and brother-in-law, Debbra and Ron Williams of Piper City; three special friends, Louise, Earline and Barbara Mandrell; and three grandchildren.
Mr. Burrow was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp., serving from 1960-1963.
He was a member of Teamsters Local 705 for 20 years, and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Chebanse.
He enjoyed going to see the Mandrell Sisters, trap shooting, country music, stock car driving at the Kankakee Fairgrounds, fishing and gardening.
He was a truck driver for F.J. SIBR & Sons Inc. in Alsip for 19 years.
