Gerald Gilbert Nichols, 79, of Mattoon died at 7:10 P.M. Saturday at his residence. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at the Epperson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ronald Dickinson officiating. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Monday at the Funeral Home.
Gerald was born Sept. 16, 1922. He was the son of Ira Lee and Violet Okal (Gosnell) Nichols. He married Dee Harris Dec. 12, 1946 in Newton IL.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dee Nichols of Mattoon, Four Sons, Gary Nichols and his wife Sharon, Rick Nichols, Larry Nichols and his wife Connie, and Tim Nichols all of Mattoon. One Daughter, Judy Wallace and her husband Harold of Humboldt. One brother, Don Nichols and his wife Kathleen of Newton. One sister, Mary Webb of Newton. Ten Grandchildren, Annette Willard and husband Terry, Yvette Runner and fiancee Allen Rickelmon, Tony Nichols and Wife Lisa, Maureen Nichols, Brie Nichols, Laney Nichols, Alex Nichols all of Mattoon, Angie Niebrugge and husband Kent of Teutopolis, Kristin Daniels and Husband Nick of Edwardsville, and Kasey Nichols of Bethany. Three great-grandchildren, Austin Nichols, A.J. Nichols, and Ivy Nichols all of Mattoon. Three nieces and 2 Nephews also survive. 3 sons Lee Nichols, Mike Nichols, and Randy Nichols, one Grandson George Michael Runner, 2 Brothers, Elbert Nichols and Joe Nichols preceded him in death.
Gerald worked on the Street Dept. for the City of Mattoon for ten years where he retired in 1987. Gerald was a WWII vet where he earned the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Campaign Ribbon W/Bronze Star, American Theatre Campaign Ribbon; 2 overseas Service Bars; Victory Ribbons; Philippines Liberation Ribbon W/2 Bronze Stars. He retired at the Rank of Staff Sergeant in 1946.
Gerald was a member of the Mattoon Eagles Club, the VFW of Mattoon, and the Mattoon American Legion. He was also a former member of the Mattoon Moose lodge 803. Gerald spent many hours volunteering for the American Legion's Heart Fund and The Eagles Cancer benefits, where he became Eagle of the Year. He delivered Meals on Wheels; he had a great love for volunteering his time to help others. Gerald was a good husband and a loving father. He was a man of many friends. In all Gerald had a great love for his family and life. Memorials may be made to the Lincolnland Hospice or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Mildred Phipps
GAYS - Mildred E. Phipps, 80, of Gays, died at 1 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 28, 2001) at Heartland Christian Village.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard Coen officiating. Burial will be in Branchside Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until service time Tuesday at the funeral home.
She was born March 25, 1921, in Mattoon, the daughter of L.M. and Edna Harder Storm. She married William Shannon Phipps in 1941. He survives.
Also surviving are one son, Richard Phipps of Gays; one daughter, Marsha Hollinger of Mattoon; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters.
Mrs. Phipps was a former employee of Kuene Mfg. and R.R. Donnelly's, and was a member of Smyser Christian Church.
Memorials may be made to Smyser Christian Church.
Ernestine Poorman
WEST UNION - Ernestine Monk Poorman, 84, of Marshall, formerly of West Union, died Friday (Oct. 26, 2001) at 8:45 a.m. at the Burnsides Nursing Home, Marshall.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Chapel, West Union, with Brother Tom Cooperider officiating. Burial will be in Harrison Cemetery, West Union. Visitation will be from 7 a.m. today until service time.
She was born Nov. 24, 1916, in West Union, the daughter of Ira E. and Hattie Mae Medsker Monk. She married Marion Robert Poorman in 1933. He died in 1985.
Surviving are three sons, Dale Poorman of West Union, Paul Poorman of Marshall, and Randy Poorman of Hutsonville; two daughters, Martha Lindley and Elizabeth St. John, both of West Union; one sister, Reba Ogle of West Union; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, one daughter, three brothers,
and two sisters.
Mrs. Poorman was a homemaker and a member of the West Union Christian Church.
Memorials may be made to the West Union Christian Church or the West Union First Baptist Church.
Marshall Simmons Jr.
DANVILLE - Marshall E. (Gene) Simmons Jr., 58, formerly of Mattoon, died at 1:58 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 25, 2001) at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care Systems, Danville.
A private service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Protestant Chapel at the VA Illiana Health Care Systems, Danville. Visitation will be from noon until time of service Tuesday. Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Danville. Gibson Memorial Chapel, Danville, is in charge of the arrangements.
He was born Oct. 1, 1943, in Urbana, the son of Marshall E. and Francis P. Moody Simmons Sr. He married Mary Wines in 1995. She survives.
Also surviving are his father of Farmer City; three daughters, Tina Kulikowski of Caseyville, and Lisa and Anita Simmons, both of Champaign; two stepsons, Russell Mewkin of Effingham and Dennis Brown of Mattoon; two stepdaughters, Linda Brothers of Mattoon and Sharon Griffin of Charleston; three brothers, Ronald L. Simmons of Dewey, Dennis P. Simmons of Farmer City, and Kenneth R. Simmons of Champaign; one sister, Marsha Ward of Champaign; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, his mother, and one brother.
Mr. Simmons served in the U.S. Marine Corp, attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Neoga, and was employed as a truck driver.
Memorials may be made to the Veterans Hospital, Danville.
Kenneth John Sowers
Kenneth John Sowers, Age 73 of Greenup, IL passed away at 5:18 A.M.-Sunday, October 28, 2001 at his residence.
Funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M.-Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at the Bishop Funeral Home in Greenup with Rev. Tim Pearce officiating. Burial will be in the Greenup Cemetery in Greenup, Illinois with full Military Rites to be conducted by the Cumberland County Veterans. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00-Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at the Bishop Funeral Home in Greenup. In memory of Kenneth memorials may be made to the Lincolnland Hospice.
Kenneth was born in Greenup, Illinois on November 10, 1927 a son of William H. and Bertha E. (Hutson) Sowers. He married Rose Marie Klasing on August 20, 1950 in Greenup, she passed away April 8, 1990.
Kenneth retired from the Ettelbrick Shoe Factory after more than forty years of employment. He truly enjoyed his grandchildren, fishing and taking care of his flowers and plants.
Kenneth is survived by his three sons, Michael (wife, Nancy) Sowers and Robert "Duff" (wife, Lisa) Sowers both of Greenup and Scott (wife, Rose) Sowers of Trilla; two daughters, Miki Adams of Madison Heights, VA and Kristy Reynolds of Mattoon; three brothers, Richard "Dick" (wife, Wanda) Sowers of Bethany, Jim "Moe" Sowers of Greenup and William (wife, Joanne) Sowers of Mason; a sister, Pat (husband, Kenny) Titus of Greenup; 8 grandchildren, Jeromy Kyle Reynolds of Westfield, Kendra (husband, Corey) Bradbury and Kari Reynolds both of Mattoon, Nicole Adams of Tampa, FL, Sarah Sowers of Greenup, Scott Sowers Jr. of Trilla, Matthew Sowers and Roger Sowers both of Greenup; 2 step-grandchildren, Angel Guy of Neoga and Derek Malone of Trilla; 3 great-grandchildren, Hunter Reynolds and Tyler Bradbury both of Mattoon and Jacob Guy of Neoga; a special friend, Joy Fitzmaurice of Oblong.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rose Marie; two brothers, Carol "Pete" and Randall Sowers; a sister, Betty Sowers and two grandsons, baby Adams and Bobby J. Sowers.
Wanda Walters
CASEY - Wanda L. Walters, 80, of Casey, died at 2:15 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 27, 2001) at the Heartland Manor Nursing Center.
The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Word of Life Church, Casey, with the Rev. Terry Blanchard officiating. Burial will be in Washington Street Cemetery, Casey. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at the church. The Markwell & Son Funeral Home, Casey, is in charge of the arrangements.
She was born May 8, 1921, in Union Center, the daughter of Harry T. and Stella Alice Shawver Beasley. She married John M. Walters in 1939. He survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Joyce Waller of Casey, Peggy Davis of Martinsville, and Vickie Davis of Bonfield; four brothers, Gene Beasley, Bob Beasley and Danny Beasley, all of Casey, and Bill Beasley of Greenup; four sisters, Thelma Lamb of Casey, Pearl Clark of Martinsville, Mary Jane Warner of Dekalb, and Dorothy Hacker of Westfield; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother.
Mrs. Walters was a homemaker and a member of the Word of Life
Church, Casey.
Minnie Martin
MARTINSVILLE - Minnie Martin, 77, of Martinsville, died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 25, 2001) at the Burnside Nursing Home, Marshall.
The funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday at Greenwell Funeral Home, Martinsville, with the Rev. Glenn Arbuckle officiating. Burial will be in Marshall Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday with a memorial service by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary at 7 p.m.
She was born July 5, 1924, in McClenney, Fla., the daughter of John Hamilton and Margaret Cook McNabb. She married Dale Martin in 1943; he survives.
Also surviving are six sons, John Martin and Thomas Martin, both of Marshall, Raymond Martin of Houston, Robert Martin of Panama City, Fla., David Martin of Las Vegas and Andrew Martin of Terre Haute, Ind.; one daughter, Edith Carter of Robinson; one sister, LeAnn Marsh of Florida; 23 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son.
Mrs. Martin was retired from the TRW factory, Marshall, and was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Marshall VFW Post 5975.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Hazel Bowen
MATTOON - Hazel Bowen, age 77, of Mattoon, passed away at 4:25 a.m. Thursday, October 25, 2001 at Douglas Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2001 at the First Christian Church with Rev. Robert Clark and Rev. Dr. Mark Prevo officiating. Interment will be in Janesville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home.
Hazel Bowen was born November 8, 1923 at Janesville, Illinois, a daughter of Marion and Ora Riley Grafton. She married Russell Bowen at the First Christian Church in Mattoon on December 31, 1949, he survives. Also surviving are her daughters, Elyn Walk and Jane Bowen of Mattoon; a brother, Ab Grafton of Mattoon, as well as four sisters, Jean Warfel and Greta Grafton of Mattoon, Joan Byrnes of Richardson, Texas and Yvonne Boyer of Mesquite, Texas. Hazel leaves her grandchildren, Bart Walk and his wife Belinda of Baldwin, Missouri, Aaron Walk of Mattoon, Andrea Walk of Charleston and Jackie Walk of Carbondale, Illinois. Her parents and one brother Charles Grafton preceded her in death.
Mrs. Bowen was a member and deaconess of the First Christian Church. She was a member and treasurer of the YES Sunday school class and formerly taught the fourth and fifth grade Sunday School Class and served as Sunday School Secretary for many years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Echo Children's Home, 3033 North Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115-1698.
Detective Gordon Henderson
CHARLESTON, IL - Cory Gordon Henderson, age 38, and a Detective with the Charleston Police Department, passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at his residence. Services celebrating his life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 28, (2001) at Charleston Community Church, 2360 Shawnee Drive in Charleston with Pastor Randy Taggart officiating. Visitation will be held this evening (Saturday) from 5:00-8:00 at Adams Funeral Chapel, also in Charleston. Interment will follow the services in Janesville Cemetery.
Gordon was born December 6, 1962 in Charleston, Illinois, the son of Jerry and Janeice (Grafton) Henderson. On August 12, 1989, he married Lori Werling in Mattoon, Illinois.
He is survived by Lori Henderson, his loving wife of twelve-plus years; two daughters, Lyndsay Werling and Corinne Henderson, both of Charleston; one son, Bryce Werling, also of Charleston; his father, Jerry Henderson and his wife Betty of Charleston; his mother, Janeice Allison of Charleston; two brothers, Gary Henderson and his wife Susan of Lerna, Illinois and Mick Henderson and his wife Claire of Monticello, Illinois; and one sister, Jodi Maloy and her husband Tim of Charleston. He was preceded by his grandparents, Garnet and Daisy Grafton and Wayne and Mary Henderson.
The Charleston Police Department lost a giant in Detective Henderson. A dedicated law enforcement professional, he was the only officer to have twice been awarded "Officer of the Year" by the Fraternal Order of Police. He was awarded his Bachelor of Science Degree from Eastern Illinois University in 1984 with a major in Sociology, studies that further prepared him for the success he was to later achieve in police work. His law enforcement skills and educational background, were enhanced by his "strong desire to contribute to society by helping others, especially those that couldn't speak for themselves". These were Gordon's words.
Gordon was in a continual pursuit of knowledge; he was an avid reader and was a student of history. He enjoyed nature, bird watching, wildlife and spending time with his beloved dog "Brody." He loved his country and was fortunate to have nearly accomplished his goal of visiting every state in the union.
Yes, the Charleston Police Department lost a giant. But his family lost a bigger man. He was a compassionate loving and devoted husband, father, son and brother. The memories he leaves will not only be left in abundance, but will be overflowing with values. Charleston, The Charleston Police Department, Gordon's peers, his friends and family are enriched because of their relationship with this outstanding young man.
Gordon's family requests that memorial gifts in his honor be made to his children. Memorial gifts may be made at the Visitation or Services, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.
Barbara J. (Lang) Kater
CHARLESTON - Barbara Jean (Lang) Kater, age 73, of Charleston, passed away on Thursday, October 25, 2001 at her home. Services celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 29 (2001) at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 902 Cleveland in Charleston with Pastor Robert Hackler officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 6-8 at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston. Visitation will close with special services, beginning at 7:45 p.m., conducted by the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 of Charleston. Interment will follow the services in Roselawn Cemetery.
Barbara was born March 6, 1928 in Charleston, Illinois, the daughter of Orlen and Ruth Mae (Campbell) Lee. On June 25, 1946, she married Harold E. Lang in Pontiac, Illinois. Following Harold's death in January, 1995 she married Lloyd Kater on May 27, 1995 in Charleston. Lloyd preceded her on February 27, 2000.
Other survivors include four daughters, Sherry Kirchner and her husband John, Patsy Dunn and her husband Jim and Cynthia Lang, all of Charleston and Linda Miller and her husband Gary of Mattoon, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Michelle Drake and her husband Jeff and Christi Blank and her husband Mark, all of Charleston, Nichole Dunifer of Mattoon, Teresa Packer and her husband Trent of Neoga, Illinois, Shauna Renee Branstetter-Smith and her husband Scott of Wichita, Kansas, Chris Brooks of Toledo, Illinois, Gary Miller, Jr. and his wife Susan of Vermont and Gene Miller of Florida; fourteen great grandchildren; one brother, Maurice Lee of Pontiac; and one sister, Peggy Ann Williams and her husband John of Brooksville, Mississippi. She was also preceded by her parents; one daughter, Mary Ruth Lang; one grandchild, Lisa Lang; three great-grandchildren; and three sisters.
Barbara was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charleston, Women of the Moose-Charleston Chapter No. 1175 and the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 of Charleston. She was an accomplished vegetable and flower gardener, enjoyed yard work and butterfly and hummingbird watching. But, the most enjoyment in her life came from being a homemaker. She fulfilled the homemaker role with such devotion and love that her memories will inspire her family for many, many years.
Barbara's family requests that memorial gifts in her honor be made to "Make A Wish" Foundation, American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association. Memorial gifts may be made at the Visitation or Services, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920.
Frank Prahl Jr.
Frank Edward Prahl Jr., age 67, of Mattoon, passed away at 2:53 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2001, at his residence.
Funeral services celebrating his life will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at the Schilling Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Zion Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon until time of service Monday afternoon at the funeral home.
Frank was born June 16, 1934 in Mattoon, a son of Frank Sr. and Edith Paden Prahl. He married Donna Shelton in 1952. She preceded him in death. He married Peg Gaston in l965. She preceded him in death. He married Janet A. Eddinger on November 29, 1983. She preceded him in death on May 26, 2000. He was also preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Survivors include two sons, Frank E. Prahl of Mattoon, Brian K. Prahl and wife Marlys of Neoga; three daughters, Marilyn Carrell and husband Dean of Toledo, Carla Erickson and husband Jim of Tucson, Arizona, Cheri Prahl of Mattoon; two brothers, John Prahl and wife Carolyn of Lakeland, Florida, Jim Davee and wife Jean Ann of Mattoon; three sisters, Rosemary Myers and husband Bill of Fellsmere, Florida, Ilene Boyles and husband Ken of Ft. Pierce, Florida, Louise Garrett of Mattoon; eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and special friend, Jesse Pearcy of Charleston.
Mr. Prahl retired from Mattoon Sand & Gravel. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 841 for forty years. He was a member of the Eagles and the Loyal Order of the Moose.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Lung Association.
