U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Edward F. Kaeb, 81, of Cissna Park, IL
Edward F. Kaeb died Wednesday (June 10, 2009) at his home.
A private graveside service will be held on Friday (June 12, 2009) at the German Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Cissna Park, IL.
Mr. Kaeb was born November 19, 1927, a son of John and Eliza Baer Kaeb. He was in the US
Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Ruth Neukomm in November, 1950 in DeRidder, LA. She survives.
Other survivors include five sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Jill Kaeb, Timothy and Colleen Kaeb, Dale and Sandra Kaeb, Dean and Peggy Kaeb and Jerry and Sue Kaeb all of Cissna Park; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Barbara Baer of Cissna Park, Rosemary and Ivan Schmidgall and Deloris and Harry Klopfenstein of Silverton, OR and Joann and Steven Slagel of Fairbury; four brothers, Elmer, Urban and Norman Kaeb all of Cissna Park and Robert Kaeb of Indiana; two sisters, Madeline Miller and Anna Kaeb both of Fairbury; thirty-seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, three sisters and one son-in-law.
Wendell Wilken, 88, of Onarga, IL
Wendell Wilken died Monday (June 8, 2009) at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton, IL.
Visitation will be Wednesday (June 10, 2009) from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga and from 1:00 p.m. on Thursday (June 11, 2009) until the 2:00 p.m. service at Onarga Methodist Church in Onarga. The Rev. Elizabeth Reis will officiate. Burial will be in the Onarga Cemetery in Onarga, IL. military graveside rites will be accorded by Onarga American Legion Post #551.
Mr. Wilken was born January 30, 1921, a son of John and Bertha Eisenhower Wilken. He served in the US
Army during WWII. He married Cora Sands on September 28, 1946 in Hollis, NY. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Elaine Wilken of Martinton and Wendy and Ken Ecker of Watseka; two granddaughters, Stacy Ecker and Sherri Sorensen, both of Watseka; six great-grandchildren, Danielle, Haley and Matthew Shuper, Ashtyn and Allyssa Sorensen and Kiaria Wright, all of Watseka; and one nephew-in-law.
Preceding him in death was his parents; two sisters, Murial Coulter and Buelah Guinan; and one step-brother-in-law, Leslie Conn.
Mr. Wilken was a member of Onarga Methodist Church. He was a member and former commander of Onarga American Legion Post #551 and a member and former Director of the Farm Bureau of Iroquois County. He also enjoyed playing cards.
Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.
Robert “Robbie” Wood, 48, of Sheldon, IL
Robert “Robbie” Wood died Saturday (June 6, 2009) at his home.
Visitation will be for one hour prior to the 2:00 p.m. funeral service on Wednesday (June 10, 2009). Joe Hughes will officiate. Burial will be in Gaffield Cemetery in Iroquois, IL.
Mr. Wood was born March 10, 1961, a son of James and Ida Hollon Wood. He was a self-employed carpenter.
Survivors include four sons, James and Bonne Wood of Watseka, Brandon Wood and friend Faith Keay of Sheldon, Travis Wood and friend Britney Dillon of Sheldon and Jacob Wood; three daughters, Amber Wood and friend Jacob Schaubert of Lincoln, IL, Tasha Burnside of Hoopeston and Amie Anderson of Watseka; one brother, James Wood of Brook, IN; seven sisters and four brothers-in-law, Faye Halstead of Morocco, IN, Thelma Miller of Watseka, Linda “Susie” and Tom Garrett of Sheldon, Becky and Bruce Smith of Charlotte, NC, Diane “Annie” and Greg Norder of Sheldon, Mary Alice Newger of Broken Arrow, OK and Patty and Norm Lewis of Sheldon; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one sister-in-law and one brother-in-law.
Memorials may be made to Family Wishes.
Ricki L. Sharp, 59, of Watseka, IL
Ricki L. Sharp died Friday, May 1, 2009, at her home. Visitation will be from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka, where funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 4. The Rev. Bobbi Schultz will officiate.
Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Milford. Memorials may be made to Iroquois Sexual Assault Services or to Iroquois Memorial Hospice.
Mrs. Sharp was an advocate/social service worker for Iroquois Sexual Assault Services for five years. She was born July 25, 1949, in Kankakee, the daughter of Leonard and Rose Pentecost Long DePatis. She was a member of Woodland United Methodist Church. She volunteered at Watseka elementary schools for many years and was an avid Donovan Wildcat fan. She enjoyed playing bingo and doing cross-stitch.
Surviving are her husband, Howard “Sonny” Sharp, whom she married April 24, 1971, in Danville; two daughters and one son-in-law, Melinda Sharp-Butler of Watseka, Christina and Jeramy Parsons of San Diego, CA.; one stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Denise and Dave Cook of Gilman; one stepson, Craig Sharp of Sheldon; several grandchildren; one brother and sister-in-law, Chuck and Opal DePatis of Bradley; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Linda and Ron Morrical of Watseka, Chris and Jay DeMent of Lutherville, MD.
Deceased are her parents and one sister, Renee Scherf.
Azalia G. Avila, 81, of Watseka, IL
Azalia G. Avilia died Thursday, May 7, 2009 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka. Private funeral services will be held. Burial will be in Sugar Creek Cemetery, Stockland. Memorials may be made to Iroquois Memorial Hospice.
Mrs. Avila was born December 8, 1927, in Cheneyville, the daughter of Vernon and Winnie Walker Carter. Her husband, Israel H. Avila, whom she married July 31, 1954, in Milford, died October 21, 1997. She was a Jehovah’s Witness since 1959 and loved gardening.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Marc and Melissa Avila of Star City, IN, and Judah-Ben and Angela Avila of Monticello, IN; one daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and David Durflinger of Watseka; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and one brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Hazel Carter of Milford.
Deceased are one grandson, Jimmy Avila; three great-grandchildren, Travis and Stephen Tyler and Travis Ahnert; one brother, Merle Carter; and one sister, Ruth Carter.
Charles “Bill” Peck, 95, of Sheldon, IL
Charles “Bill” Peck died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon Saturday, May 9, at Knapp Funeral Home in Sheldon until the 2:00 p.m. funeral service. The Rev. Neil Larimore will officiate.
Burial will be in Sheldon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes. Association or the Watseka Public Library.
Mr. Peck farmed in the Sheldon area for many years. He was born Jan. 4, 1914, in Milford, the son of William and Ethel Holmes Peck. His wife, the former Marian Lucille Hardisty, whom he married May 9, 1936, in Sheldon, died March 14, 1998. He was a member of the Sheldon Church of Christ. He was also a 50-year member of the Sheldon Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed reading and his family.
Surviving are two daughtes and sons-in-law, Cathy and Fred McEwen of Sheldon, Roxy and Vic Callahan of Kalamazoo, MI; five grandchildren, Sheila (Marty) Buehler, Teresa (Steve) Snook and Rhonda (Jim) Beatty, all of Kalamazoo, Amy (Mark) Portwood and Tim (Melissa) McEwen, both of Sheldon; and 18 great-grandchidren.
Deceased are his parents, one brother and two sisters.
Douglas G. Trudeau, 65, of Lafayette, IN, formerly of Watseka, IL
Douglas George Trudeau, 65, of West Lafayette, Ind., passed away Friday, May 1, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette. Doug is survived by his sister, Donna Marjean Allspaw, of Lafayette, and by his two sons, Russell Lee Trudeau of West Lafayette and John Douglas Trudeau of Pawcatuck, Conn. Grandchildren by John and his wife, Debra Ann Trudeau, include Samuel Charles Trudeau, 9, Jack Douglas Trudeau, 7, and Charlotte Ann Trudeau, 4.
Donna’s family includes her daughter, Dena Allspaw, son Dave Allspaw and wife, Amy Allspaw with children, Jamie Marie and Christine Ann, all of Lafayette. Other surviving family members include Doug’s Uncle Joe Handy and Virginia Hoppel of Bourbonnais, and their surviving children. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Millie Trudeau of Watseka.
Doug was born in Iroquois Memorial Hospital on April 5, 1944, but spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Sheldon. A 1962 Sheldon High School graduate, Doug was an all-state basketball player, three-sport athlete and class salutatorian. After high school, Doug earned a basketball scholarship to Purdue University. While at Purdue he earned three varsity letters and graduated in 1967 with a degree in pharmacy. Doug’s basketball success earned him a spot in the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1984.
After spending a short time post-graduation in Chicago, Doug moved back to Watseka, where he owned and managed Trudeau Drugs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. During his time working in Watseka, Doug was very active in the community and county as a whole, serving on the board of Iroquois Memorial Hospital, being elected to the County Board and was exalted ruler of the Watseka Elks Club. He was also a longtime Shriner, serving with his Uncle Joe Handy and Cousin Dave Handy.
After selling his business, Doug continued his successful pharmacy career working in multiple communities and companies stretching from southern Illinois to northern Indiana, spending many years in Kentland, Ind. Always a proud member of Iroquois County, he was very active in organizing the annual Sheldon High School reunion. Also, during his last years, Doug committed lots of his time dedicated to restoring Stockland, a place he spent time as a child that occupied a special place in his heart.
More important than the career and accomplishments, being kind and compassionate to people was his greatest strength and a reason why he was considered a friend to everyone.
Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, May 4, at the Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 5. Memorials may be made to Purdue University Athletics and Academics or to benefit the common areas of the town of Stockland.
Richard A. Thompson, 91, of Watseka, IL
Richard A. Thompson died Monday, May 11, 2009 at Watseka Rehab and Health Care Center in Watseka. Visitation will be on Monday, May 18, one hour prior to the 10:30 a.m. service at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Clifton where military graveside rites will be accorded by Watseka American Legion Post #23 and Iroquois County VFW Post #7450.
Mr. Thompson was born March 16, 1918 in Cedar Rapids, IA, the son of Alonzo and Thelma Stichler Thompson. He married Maxine Hansen on June 30, 1966 in Joliet, IL. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth Anne (Jock) Giacomi of Joliet; and one step-son, Roland Kuhlman of Watseka.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Janet Isenhaer.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Watseka; a past member of the Watseka Masonic Lodge, Watseka American Legion and VFW; and past Exalted Ruler of Watseka Elks Lodge. He had been an insurance salesman with the Hartford Group for 43 years. He also enjoyed golfing 
, fishing and woodworking. As a member of the US
Army, Mr. Thompson received the Bronze Star during WWII.
Memorials may be made to Iroquois Memorial Hospice.
Flora R. Lisciandra, 96, of Cissna Park, IL
Flora R. Lisciandra died Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park where services will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Christopher Decker will officiate. Burial will be in Cissna Park Cemetery, Cissna Park, IL.
Mrs. Lisciandra was born March 17, 1913 in Parma, MO to James and Clara Donahue Porter. She married Joseph Lisciandra on August 20, 1955 in Missouri. He survives. Also surviving is one sister-in-law, Eleanor (Jim) Close of Edwardsville, IL.
Mrs. Lisciandra was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters.
She enjoyed stamp collecting and gardening.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Health Care Center in Paxton or Donor’s Choice.
Dorothy Gercken, 94, of St. Charles, MO, formerly of Onarga
Dorothy Gercken, 94, former Onarga resident, passed away at Progress West Medical Center at 11 AM Sunday May 17th after a brief illness. She had been living with her son, Glenn Gercken, St Charles, MO, since 2004.
Visitation will be held at Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga from 4-8 pm Thursday May 21st. The funeral will be on Friday May 22nd at Trinity Lutheran Church in Onarga at 11 am. The Rev. Michael Poynter will officiate. Burial will be at the Onarga Cemetery.
Dorothy was born Dec. 23rd, 1914 to Robert F. and Alice Ziehr Carter in Gilman, IL. She was married on August 14th 1934 to John F. Gercken in Rensalear, IN. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three brothers, Robert, Floyd and Virgil.
She is survived by her four children, Darlene Hilsabeck, Columbus, OH, Maxine (Harry) Drinen, St. Charles, MO, Glenn (Patty) Gercken, St. Charles, MO, and John E. (Barbara) Gercken, Bellflower, IL. Four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, ten nephews, four nieces also survive.
Dorothy was the last charter member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Onarga, IL, which had started in 1940, and she had attended regularly until she became homebound.
Dorothy worked many jobs through her life. She worked as a seamstress at the Gilman Dress Factory as a young lady and during the Depression, she worked at Onarga Nursery and at the canning factory in Onarga. Later, she worked as a cashier at three Onarga food stores until they closed, then she worked as a cook at Onarga High School for several years. Later, she worked as a cook at Coe military Academy. She retired after it closed.
She took care of her husband at home in Onarga until his death on February 19th, 1993.
Memorials can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Onarga, or the donor’s choice.
James M. Miller, 81, of Milford, IL
James M. Miller died on Monday, May 25, 2009 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka, IL. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Watseka with the Rev. Paul Copeland officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at Cedar Park Cemetery in Chicago, IL.
Mr. Miller was born November 20, 1927 in Chicago, a son of Clarence and Jewel Foster Miller. He married Jacquelyn Melbourne on May 30, 1952 in Chicago, IL. She died on December 17, 1986.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis Allen and Monica Miller of Lynnwood, WA and Martin Edward and Eileen Miller of Lawrenceville, GA; one daughter, Nancy Ann Fugate of Mattoon, IL; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one brother, two sisters and one son, James Barry Miller.
Mr. Miller served in the US Navy during WWII. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Watseka and the VFW. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America; enjoyed working with wood and camping; and also enjoyed Bible studies.
Memorials may be made to Pastor’s Discretionary Fund at First United Methodist Church in Watseka.
Loyde W. Christensen, 89, of Kankakee, IL
Loyde W. Christensen died Monday, May 25, 2009 at Provena St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, IL. Graveside services will be held on June 1, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at Clifton Cemetery in Clifton, IL. The Rev. William Callister will officiate. There will be no visitation.
Mr. Christensen was born January 1, 1920 in Clifton, IL, a son of Carl W. and Sophia Johansen Christensen. He married Elsie L. Roach. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Carl and Linda Christensen of Forsyth, IL and Brian and Judy Christensen of St. Anne, IL; six grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and three sisters.
Mr. Christensen had been a jeweler and watch maker for over fifty years.
Memorials may be made to Donor’s Wishes.
Lorene Tuttle, 94, of Watseka, IL
Lorene Tuttle died on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital inWatseka. Visitation will be Thursday, May 28, from 9:00 a.m. at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka until the 11:00 funeral service. The Rev. Paul Copeland will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Watseka.
Mrs. Tuttle was born July 22, 1914 in Newtonville, IN, a daughter of Delbert and Cora Ferguson Stevens. She married Ray L. Tuttle in Kentland, IN on February 25, 1940. He died on August 5, 1967
Surviviors include one son and daughter-in-law, Leonard and Carole Tuttle of Sheldon; four grandchildren, Lori Zavadovics of Naperville, IL, Steven Tuttle of Clarendon Hills, IL, Lisa Schaefer of Durango, CO, and Craig Hoagland of San Diego, CA; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, eight sisters and one daughter, Carol Stevens.
Mrs. Tuttle was a homemaker. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Watseka and was a volunteer at Iroquois Memorial Hospital for many years. She enjoyed traveling.
Memorial may be made to Iroquois Memorial Hospice or Donor’s Choice.
