Obituaries - J
LUELLA M. (FAIRLEY) JOHNSON
Luella M. Johnson, 88, of Roberts died at 2:16 p.m. Thursday 5-1-2003 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, Watseka. Funeral services were private, the Rev. Paul Darveau officiating. Burial was in Lyman Twp Cemetery, Roberts. Lamb-Young Funeral Home, Roberts, was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Johnson was born 10-14-1914 in Roberts, a daughter of Ray and Anna Preising Fairley. She married George M. Johnson in 1933. He died 5-14-1993. Surviving are one daughter, Elsie (Edwin) Bertram of Roberts; two grandchildren, Mark Bertram of Thomasboro and Rhonda Rock of Roberts; four great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; five sisters and four brothers. Two brothers and one sister preceded her in death. Mrs. Johnson worked at Hicks Cafe in Roberts for 30 years as a cook. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Roberts.
GLADYS H. (COYLE) WILLS JONES
Gladys H. Jones, 82, of Elliott died at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday 4-16-2003 at her home in Elliott. Her graveside service was at 2 p.m. Friday in Elliott Cemetery, Elliott, the Rev. Dave Pavesic officiating. There was no visitation. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, was in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Jones was born 10-25-1920 at Lexington, a daughter of Jonnie Lee and Gladys Johns Coyle. She married James A. Wills in 1939 at Henderson, KY. He died in 1951. She married Harold W. "Tate" Jones on 11-27-1964 in Gibson City and he survives. Other survivors include one son, James A. Wills, Jr., Arkadelphia, Ark.; one son-in-law; Roger Baker, Eureka; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, including Ike (Bev) Jones, Elliott. One daughter, Mary Jane Baker, and five brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Mrs. Jones was a nurse's aide at the Illinois Knights Templar Home in Paxton and the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School in Normal for many years. Pallbearers were Donald Wilson, Mick Kingsley, Leslie Jamison, Marvin Beck, and Don Alexander.
RALPH R. JONES
Ralph R. Jones, 73, of rural Ludlow born: 7-22-1929 at Tobeka, Kansas parents: Ralph E. and Nellie Griffith Jones wed: Grace Hopkins 3-7-1953 in Glouster, England wed: Sandra Sergent 7-9-1966 at Rantoul died: Friday 4-4-2003 6:40 a.m. at the home of his son, Lee Jones rural Rantoul buried: Elmmwood Cemetery, Rantoul with military graveside rites
WILLIAM M. "BILL" JONES
CORN BURIES THREE AT CENTRAL SOYA. BILL JONES, 19, DIES TWO OTHERS RESCUED. Funeral services for William M. Jones, 19, were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Methodist Church, with the Lamb Funeral Home in charge. He was a member of the Methodist Church. Rev. Floy Ekin officiated. Burial was in Gibson City Cemetery. Casketbearers were Keith Leathers, Buddie Gee, Charles Ernst, Dave Yates, Tom McCall and Max Gebhards of Kilbourne
He was born at Champaign 9-23-1940, the son of William E. and Eunice Smith Jones. He married Karen Shaner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Shaner 3-1-1958. Surviving are his wife, a daughter, Sandra, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William E. (Bud) Jones; a sister, Judy Ann; grandmother, Mrs. Stella Smith of Elliott, and his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl (Mox) Jones. Young Mr. Jones had attended Western Michigan University and Illinois Wesleyan University. An all-conference halfback, he was much sought after by various colleges. b. 9-23-1940 in Champaign, Il. parents: William E. and Eunice Smith Jones m. Karen Shaner on 3-1-1958 d. 12-19-1959 - accident at Central Soya, Co., Inc. Gibson City buried: Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City
WILLIAM JONES CORN BURIES THREE WORKERS AT CENTRAL SOYA COMPANY...BILL JONES DIES, TWO OTHERS RESCUED
Three men were buried under shelled corn in a silo at Central Soya Company's Gibson City plant Saturday afternoon, 12-19-1959. One died. The other two were rescued alive two hours later. William M. (Bill) Jones, 20, an outstanding athlete at Gibson City High School two years ago, was pronounced dead by a physician inside the silo. His two companions Wayne Brucker, 40, of Sibley, and George Carter, 22, of Saybrook, were buried up to the necks in the loose corn. They were removed from the silo shortly before 5 p.m...............Rescue workers said the three men entered the silo through a....about 14 feet above the ground. They were to help empty the silo by shoveling grain into a conveyor which moves corn from the bottom of the silo undergound to the feed processing plant. About 8 - 10 feet of corn remained in the concrete tank, rescuers reported. It was in this grain that the three men were trapped. Fellow employees went into the silo with shovels to dig corn from around the accident victims. A vacuum-operated conveyer was inserted through the side of the tank to suck the corn outside as it was shoveled away from the men. Firemen, ambulance attendants and police stood by with oxygen. State troopers were called into handle traffic which threatened to block the path of rescue vehicles. Coroner Frank Hunt III is expected to schedule an inquest into Jones' death. The accident occured only hours before the annual plant Christmas party. A thousand persons were to attend. The party went ahead as scheduled. The last fatal accident at the Central Soya plant was in March 1954, when 34 year old Lester M. Culbertson soffocated beneath soybean meal.
Funeral services for Bill Jones will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Gibson City United Methodist Church. The Rev. Floy J. Ekin will officiate, and burial will be in Gibson City Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Lamb Funeral Home. He was born at Champaign 9-23-1940, son of William E. and Eunice Smith Jones. He married Karen Shaner, daughter of Gibson City Mayor Clifford Shaner, 3-1-1958. Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Sandra; his parents; one sister, Judy Ann; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Stella Smith, Elliott; and his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Jones, Gibson City. Jones was an outstanding half-back on Gibson City High School's 1956 and 1957 football teams. He scored 76 points in the 1956 season and 72 points the following year. He was elected to all-conference honors in 1956 when he led the Wauseca Conference in scoring. Following his graduation from Gibson City High School in 1958, he attended Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo and Illinois Wesleyan University. He was affiliated with the Methodist Church. He had been employed by Central Soya for almost six months.
CLYDE R. JONES
Clyde R. Jones, age 77 of Gibson City died at 8:22 a.m. Friday 4-2-1993 at Gibson Community Hospital Annex, Gibson City. His graveside service was at 1 p.m. Sunday at Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. There was no visitation Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City was in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Jones was born 12-10-1915 in Watseka a son of Oscar Clyde and Maude Griffith Jones. He married Virginia A. Nieswander on 11-17-1938 in Gibson City. She died 6-4-1990. Survivors include one son, Tom Jones of Birmingham, Alabama; one daughter, Lynne A. Westenhaver of Urbana; two brothers, Craig E. Jones of Danville and John W. Jones of Bloomington; and two grandchildren. One brother preceded him in death. Mr. Jones was an assistant traffic manager for Central Soya, Gibson City. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.
HAZEL M. (SNIDER) JONES
Hazel M. Jones, age 91 of Gibson City died at 5 a.m. Saturday, 12-27-1997 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Gibson City. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City with the Reverend Dan Hill officiating. Burial was in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation was from 1 - 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Reynolds, Steve Mott, Mike Ames, Danny Breeden and Mike Knapp. Active pallbearers included Tim Bane, John Ames, Jim Breeden, Terry McRae, Clyde McRae and Larry Reynolds. Mrs. Jones was born 10-22-1906 at Charlotte a daughter of Allie and Elizabeth Bickel Snider. She married Harry E. Jones on 8-9-1926 at Crown Point, Indiana. He preceded her in death on 8-3-1972. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Reynolds of Gibson City and Donna Bane of Gibson City, one son, Dale Jones of Gibson City; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister and one brother. Mrs. Jones was co-owner of the H & H Tap in Gibson City. She resided in Melvin and Gibson City for all of her life. She was also employed as a cook at the Gibson City Schools for several years. Memorials can be made to the Heritage Manor Activity Dept.
VIRGINIA A. (NIESWANDER) JONES
Virginia A. Jones, 73, of Gibson City, a former telephone operator, died at 9:35 a.m. yesterday 6-4-1990 at her home. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, Gibson City, the Rev. Randall K. Perry officiating. She was cremated. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangaements. She was born 6-18-1916 at Sibley, a daughter of LB. and Lizzie Freese Nieswander. She married Clyde R. Jones on 11-17-1938 at Gibson City and he survives. Other survivors include a son, Thomas R. Jones, Birmingham, Ala.; one daughter, Lynne A. Westenhauer, Urbana; two grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Dozier, Bland, Mo., and Geneva Hintz, Gibson City; and a half-brother, L.B. Nieswander, Melvin. Mrs. Jones lived most of her life in the Gibson City area and had been employed as a telephone operator. She was a member of the Gibson Community Hospital Auxiliary, the Professional Women's Business Club and the United Methodist Church, all in Gibson City. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.
LOEL JORDAN
Mayor Loel Jordan, 55, died 8-17-1988
LOEL W. JORDAN
MAYOR LOEL W. JORDAN, 55, DIES AT GIBSON CITY Loel W. Jordan, 55, mayor of Gibson City for 11 years and active in city government for more than 25 years, died at 6:55 a.m. yesterday 8-17-1988 at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Gibson City United Methodist Church, the Revs. Randall Perry and Carl Johnston officiating. Burial will be in Drummer Twp Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 - 8 p.m. today at Lamb Funereal Home, Gibson City, and from 1 - 2 p.m. Friday at the church. Mr. Jordan was born 12-10-1932, in Gibson City, a son of Edmund and Florence Scott Jordan. He married Nelda Stauffer on 10-5-1952 in Saybrook and she survives. Other survivors include three daughters, Pamela VanAntwerp, Janice Hall and Rene Tomlinson, all of Gibson City; one sister, Jeanine Shull, Gibson City; and seven grandchildren. His parents, six brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Mr. Jordan managed local groceries for 20 years and for 10 years owned and operated Jordan Funiture Store. He first was elected to the City Council for a two-year term in 1961 as a write-in candidate. He then was elected to a full, four-year term. During a four-year absence from the council, he served on the City Zoning Board of Appeals. He was elected to the City Council for more two four-year terms before being elected Mayor in 1977. Mr. Jordan was chairman of the Industrial Development Committee. He was part of a trade mission to Japan and Korea in 1985 with a group headed by Gov. James. R. Thompson to attempt to attract business to the area. In recognition of his efforts to attract industry to the city, the council in November 1987 voted to name the industrial park west of town, City of Gibson, Jordan Industrial Park. Mr. Jordan was named Citizen of the Year in 1981. In 1982, he was a winner of a third-place award in the Governor's Home Town Awards Competition. The award was for downtown improvements and Gibson Beautification Foundation improvements. He had coached Little Leage for three years. Mr. Jordan was a member of the Gibson City United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, the City of Gibson or to a charity of the donor's choice.
VIRGIL JORDAN
Virgil Jordan, age 73 of Astatula, Florida and formerly of Gibson City, died at 5:36 p.m. Tuesday 12-25-1990 at his home. His funeral was held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City with the Reverend Patrick W. Cox officiating. Burial was in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation was from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Pallbearers were Chad Gregory, Gene Gregory, Jamie Hall, Scott Hall, Tim Wallace and Jim Shipman. Mr. Jordan was born 2-18-1917 in Dewey, a son of Ralph and Grace Sawyer Jordan. He married Opal VanBlaracum on 5-1-1937 in Gibson City and she survives. Also surviving are one son, Michael James of Memphis, TN; three daughters, Peggy Jo Book of Vancouver, Washington; Linda June Gregory, Gibson City; and Margo Jean Dow of LaVerne California; one brother, Don Jordan of Paxton; two sisters, Jenedia Jensen and Betty Leffler, both of Gibson City; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather. Mr. Jordan was employed by M & W Gear Co. in Gibson City for 24 years. He retired in 1981 when he moved to Florida. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Gibson City and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. He was a former member of the Eustis, Florida Moose Lodge. Memorials may be made to the Institute of Logopedics for Speech Defected Children sponsored by the International Barbershop Singers of America.
DANIEL J. JORDAN
Daniel J. Jordan, 85, died Wednesday evening, 10-1-1941. Survivors include a son, Clarence Jordan of Gibson ; 11 grandchildren. Services held Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. with Rev. Hanley officiating. Burial Gibson City Cemetery. b. 1855 or 1856 d. 10-1-1941 Gibson City Courier - October 2, 1941
IRENE (GACOVSKY) JORDAN
Thawville - Irene Jordan, 61, of rural Thawville died at 8 a.m. Sunday 9-10-1989 at the Heartland Health Care Center, Paxton. Private graveside services will be Tuesday in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City, the Rev. Jennifer Seder officiating. There will be no visitation. Ford - Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, in handling arrangements. Mrs. Jordan was born 6-15-1928 at Brownsville, Pa., a daughter of John and Anna Mudry Gacovsky. She married Kenneth W. Jordan on 9-4-1948 at Brownsville, Pa. and he survives. Also surviving are three sons, Arthur Jordan anad David Jordan, both of Thawville, and Michael Jordan of Rankin; three daughters, Marsha Jordan of Sarasota, Fla., Joyce Flohe of Door, Mich., and Susan Suttles of Plymouth, Ind.; four grand-children; and a brother, John Gacovsky of Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, a sister and a granddaughter. Mrs. Jordan was a member of the Thawville United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. Memorial contributions may be made to her church.
MARY BLANCHE (SWEARINGEN) JORDAN
Mary Blanche Jordan, age 95 of Gibson City died at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday 2-9-1999 at the Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Gibson City. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Friday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Gibson City with the Reverend Kathleen Reichmann officiating. Burial was in Drummer Twp Cemetery in Gibson City. Visitation was from 6 - 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City and for one hour before the services at the church on Friday. Pallbearers were Gary Reiners, Gail Reiners, Greg Reiners, Dennis Jordan, Walter Jordan, Timothy Swanson, Douglas Boyce, Daniel Boyce, Paul Jacobs and Sam Jacobs. Mrs. Jordan was born 5-6-1903 at Gibson City a daughter of John W. and Margaret Burns Swearingen. She married Walter W. Jordan on 12-4-1922 at Gibson City. He preceded her in death on 8-9-1953. Survivors include one son, Darrell (Betty) Jordan of Gibson City; four daughters, Juanita (Bob) Boyce and Wilma (Ray) Reiners, both of Gibson City; Arlene (Elmer) Jacobs of Woodland Park, Colorado and Joanne (Ted) Swanson of Gibson City; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, two sisters, one granddaughter, two grandsons and one great-grandson. Mrs. Jordan was the oldest living member of the First Presbyterian Church in Gibson City. A member of the Sunshine Class at the church, she was also a member of the Wantwood Club. Mrs. Jordan graduated from Drummer Twp High School with the Class of 1920. Memorials may be made to the Gibson Area Hospital, Heritage Manor Nursing home or to her church.
ROSE (CELESCHI) TRANOS JORDAN
Rose Tranos Jordan, age 90 of Gibson City died at 11:56 a.m. Thursday 12-24-1998 at Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City. Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City with the Reverend William Smith officiating. Burial was in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation was from 10 - 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Pallbearers were Adam Hall, Dave Celeschi, Steve Wittwer, Tom Hall, Bill Gandy and Robert Morrical. Mrs. Jordan was born 9-20-1908 at Lamoli, Italy a daughter of Anacleto and Maria Fenici Celeschi. She married Gust Tranos in 1938. He died in 1946. She later married Richard L. (Snook) Jordan in 1950. He preceded her in death in 1985. Survivors include one son, William (Connie) Tranos of Kankakee; one sister, Mary (Harry) Wittwer of Overland Park, Kansas; one sister-in-law, Mamie Celeschi of Chicago; two nephews and one niece. She was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. Mrs. Jordan was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gibson City, the Council of Catholic Women and the Altar and Rosary Society for many years. Mrs. Jordan immigrated to the United States in 1914. She has lived most of her life in the Guthrie and Gibson City areas. She and her husband, Gust, owned and operated the Busy Bee Confectionery in Gibson City for many years. Memorials may be made to her church or to a charity of the donor's choice.
THOMAS W. JORDAN
Mahomet - Thomas W. Jordan, formerly of Gibson City, 58, died Saturday 11-14-1998 at his home in Mahomet. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Mahomet. The Rev. John Horton will officiate. Burial will be in St. Boniface Cemetry, Seymour. Visitation will be from 4 - 8 p.m. Monday at the church with a parish wake service at 8 p.m. Owens Funeral Home, Champaign, is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Jordan was born 8-12-1940 at Gibson City, a son of Robert and Lola Williams Jordan. He married Joan Gumbel on 6-1-1979 at Champaign. She survives. Also surviving are his mother, Lola Fairchild of Bellflower; three sons, Chris Jordan, Michael Jordan and Stephen Jordan, all of Mahomet; a daughter, Lauren Jordan of Mahomet, two brothers, John Jordan of Arrowsmith and Robert Jordan of Columbus, Ga.; three sisters, Judie Francis of Vine Grove, KY, Mae Eichelberger of Fisher and Carol Jo Smith of Bryant, Wis.; and a half brother, James Fairchild of Odessa, Texas. Mr. Jordan was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Church, American Legion Post 24 of Champaign, Ironworkers, Local 380 of Champaign and Our Lady of the Lake Mens Club. He served in the Army from 1959 - 1962. He was employed as an iron worker. Memorial contributions may be made to the education fund for Michael, Stephen, and Lauren Jordan at Bank Illinois.
The many obituaries available here were transcribed and contributed by Gail Hahn Hutchcraft.
