Robert "Bob" Smeltzer
Aug 31, 2021
Robert “Bob” Lee Smeltzer, 80, of Loves Park, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2021, in Javon Bea Hospital, Rockford, Illinois. Born September 5, 1940, in Rockford, the son of Robert Earl and Mary Alice (Zimmerman) Smeltzer. Married Sonia Irene Michelsen on October 19, 1963, in St. Bridget Catholic Church, Loves Park, Illinois. Employed by Rockford Silk Screen before opening...
Kevin Harms
Aug 31, 2021
Kevin R. Harms, 35, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2021, in his home. Born November 14, 1985, in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Richard D. and Kathleen Ann (Leber) Harms. Graduated from Rockford Christian High School. Employed as a chef at several restaurants in Rockford and Wisconsin. He enjoyed biking, the outdoors, golfing, and photography. Avid Chicago...
Virginia "Ginny" Schaff
Aug 31, 2021
Virginia “Ginny” Ann Schaff, 91, of Rockford passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 31, 2021, in her home, surrounded by family. Born December 14, 1929, in Rockford, the daughter of Ralph E. and Mary Marguerite (Hutchins) Beckington. Married Richard W. Schaff. Member of Court Street Methodist Church and Quilters Group. Virginia loved her family, farmette, and Fox News. She enjoyed gardening,...
Todd Dermer
Aug 28, 2021
Todd A. Dermer, 54, of Rockford passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021, in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born April 4, 1967, in Rockford, the son of Michael and Gloria (Lester) Dermer. Member of Temple Beth-El. Todd owned and operated Classic Pizza for many years with his family. He enjoyed golfing and traveling, especially to Las Vegas and Disney World. ...
Valorie Mccreath
Aug 26, 2021
Valorie “Val” L. McCreath, 71, of Rockton, passed away Thursday, August 26, 2021. Born September 30, 1949, in Rockford, the daughter of Allen E. and Ruby L. (Willis) Barnes. Graduated from West High School, Class of 1968. Val loved making crafts and quilting. Survivors include one brother, Brian (Liz) Barnes; cousin, Cindy (Butch) DeHaven; and special friends, Diane and Penny. ...
Dorothy Swenson
Aug 24, 2021
Dorothy M. Swenson, 94, of Rockford passed away August 24, 2021, in Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Born January 20, 1927, in Belvidere, daughter of Ray and Evelyn (Spengler) McKiski. Married Carl E. Swenson on February 2, 1946, in Rockford. Formerly employed by Rockford Screw Products. Owned and operated Swenson’s General Store and Stillman Valley Inn. Longtime proprietor of the Rock...
Roger Palmer
Aug 23, 2021
Roger Palmer never met a stranger, his infectious positive attitude was a trait to be admired, his smile was wide and full of love. Family was key, friendship was vital and the love in his heart for life was abundant. Roger E. Palmer 81, of Rockton, IL, passed away to his Heavenly Home in his home, surrounded by family on...
Betty Wright Beier
Aug 16, 2021
Betty June (Somogyi – O’Donnell) Wright Beier, 95, of Rochester, Minnesota, formerly of the Rockford, Illinois, area passed away Monday, August 16, 2021, in her home. Born December 18, 1925, in Peoria, the daughter of Charles and Jessie (Doyle) Somogyi. Graduated from Harlem High School, Class of 1944. Married the love of her life, Richard H. Wright, Jr., on August...
Stephen "Steve" Matthews
Aug 15, 2021
Stephen “Steve” H. Matthews, 74, of Rockford passed suddenly on Sunday, August 15, 2021, in his home. Born October 19, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of Henry and Hester (Whitehead) Matthews. Steve married Kathy Olson in 1973; she passed in 1998. He married Sheila F. McPherson in 2001. Steve obtained a bachelor’s degree from Parsons College in Fairfield, IA, and...
Kenneth "Ken" Thomas
Aug 15, 2021
Kenneth “Ken” Leroy Thomas, 81, of Loves Park passed away Sunday, August 15, 2021, in SwedishAmerican Hospital. Born October 11, 1939, in Beloit, Wisconsin, the son of Lester and Virna (Helser) Thomas. Ken was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving for six years. Married Jean Young on April 5, 1958. Formerly employed by Greenlee / Textron and retired...
Russell Gentry
Aug 11, 2021
Russell L. Gentry, 86, of Rockford passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2021, in his home. Born September 8, 1934, in Kennett, MO, the son of Clarence and Ollie (Gray) Gentry. Married Arlene R. Bigger on October 17, 1953, in Rockford. Employed by Amerock for 43 years. Russell loved ice cream, attending county fairs, NASCAR, watching Western movies and space shuttle...
Richard Anderson
Aug 10, 2021
Richard Lee “Dick” Anderson, 83, of Machesney Park passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2021, after an extended illness. Born November 27, 1937, in Freeport. Graduated from Freeport High School, Class of 1955. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in music from the University of Arizona where he was also drum major. He married Mary Irene Konop...
Joyce Metcalf
Aug 6, 2021
Joyce M. (Wallin) Metcalf, 80, of Machesney Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully Friday, August 6, 2021, at home, surrounded by her children. She was born April 11, 1941, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, the daughter of Elmer S. and Florence A. (Miller) Wallin. She married her high school sweetheart, Alvin Ray Metcalf on October 17, 1958, in Rockford, Illinois. They were...
Eleanor Lantz
Aug 5, 2021
Eleanor Hilda (Curtis) Lantz, 96, of Loves Park, went home to Jesus on Thursday, August 5, 2021. Born August 24, 1924, in London, England, the daughter of Alfred and Minnie (Cooper) Curtis. Married Robert A. Lantz on November 28, 1942, they went on to have two children, Diana and Brenda Lantz. In addition to being a dedicated and loving Nana,...
Anita Daughenbaugh
Aug 4, 2021
Anita L. (Crusan) Daughenbaugh, 82, of Rockford, IL, died Wednesday, August 4, 2021, after an extended illness. Born at home, March 8, 1939, in Bell Center, WI, the daughter of Harry and Lily (Dolejs) Crusan. She was the second youngest of fifteen children and was a 1957 graduate of Ithaca High School. She married Richard Daughenbaugh in 1958 and together...
Phyllis Miller
Aug 4, 2021
Phyllis Elaine (Upstone) Miller, 89, of Machesney Park, passed away Wednesday, August 4, 2021, surrounded by her children. Born September 27, 1931, at home in Fairdale, Illinois. She was the daughter of Floyd and Alta (Abbott) Upstone. Growing up in Fairdale, the family moved to the Rockford area in 1945. She came from a one-room school to attending East High...
Clayton Johnson
Aug 2, 2021
Clayton Leroy Johnson, 78, of Rockford passed away August 2, 2021, in Cleveland, TN, surrounded by family. Born August 19, 1942, in Wyandotte, MI, the son of Ralph and Betty (Olson) Johnson. U.S. Navy veteran. Married Judy K. Allen on February 9, 1963, in Belvidere. Formerly employed by Elco and retired from Specialty Screw. Member of the Corvette Club. He...
Patricia "Pat" Jensen
Aug 1, 2021
Patricia “Pat” Aileen (Dodd) Jensen, 90, of Loves Park passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday, August 1, 2021, at Lincolnshire Place with family at her side. Pat was born at home on June 28, 1931, in Artesian, S.D., the daughter of Willis and Esther (Witzel) Dodd. At the age of 13 she moved with her family to the Monroe...
Marguerite "Marge" Hevrin
Jul 29, 2021
Marguerite “Marge” Evelyn Hevrin, 97, of Rockford passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021, in her home. Born October 12, 1923, in Little Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of Bernard H. and Hilma (Broberg) Kisting. Graduated the first class from West High School, Class of 1941. Attended Hunter College and graduated from Hamilton School of Business. Proud veteran of World War II,...
Joe Clay
Jul 20, 2021
Joe Lewis Clay, 56, of Rockford was called home Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Rockford. Born April 2, 1965, in Rockford, the son of Joe Harrington and Emma Lee (Graham) Harrington-Clay. Attended Auburn High School. Employed by James Thomas Construction for several years. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Joe would always say...
