Obituaries - S
JOSEPH JOHN SHORT
Funeral services for Joseph John Short who died 2-19-2003 were Saturday morning at Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, the Rev. Randy Surey officiating. Burial with military rites was in Glen Cemetery, Paxton. Organist: Sherrie Morrison, Vocalist: Kammy Johnson Pallbearers: Jim Kietzman George Sandhagen, Mike Griffin Mike Maxey Ardell Schaumburg Norris Burklund. Honorary Pallbearers: Jim Graham.
FRANCIS E. SLEETER
The graveside service of Francis E. Sleeter, 81, of Gibson City, formerly of Rantoul, was at 1 p.m. Saturday in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City, with Rev. Stanley Malinowski officiating. Visitation was private. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, was in charge of arrangements. He died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday 2-26-2003 at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City. Mr. Sleeter was born 4-1-1921 at Thomasboro, a son of Joseph H. and Anna Marie (Mieir) Sleeter. He married Bessie Sharon Anderson 10-9-1965 at Rantoul. She survives. Also surviving are two brothers, Bob L. Anderson, Gibson City; and Willie L. Anderson, Arizona; and one sister, Bernice Climpson Gibson City; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Sleeter was a member of St. Malachy's Catholic Church in Rantoul. He moved to Gibson City in 1992. Pallbearers were Robert Anderson, Chuck Marx, Lonnie Hixson, Dean McMorriss, Drew McMorriss and Kevin Kaiser.
The REV. WILLIAM F. SMITH
The Rev. William F. Smith, 76, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Gibson City, died at 8:27 p.m. Monday 3-31-2003 at his residence. His Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Gibson City. Visitation will be Thursday at the church, with a rosary service at 5 p.m. Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Smith was born 10-27-1926 at Chicago, a son of William F. and Mary Loretta Smith. Survivors include a sister-in-law, seven nieces and nephews, and his extended church family. He was preceded in death by one brother, Thomas. The Rev. Smith studied at St. Procopius Seminary, Lisle. He was ordained to the priesthood on 5-22-1952 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. He was an associate at Immaculate Conception Parish, Elmhurst, from 1952 - 1957; and at St. Alexis Parish, Bensenville, from 1957 - 1959. In 1959, he was named pastor of Sts. Mary and Joseph, Chebanse. He became pastor of St. Walter Parish, Roselle in 1964. He was in residence at St. Francis High School, Wheaton for a short time until 1982. He then became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gibson City and administrator of St. George Mission, Melvin.
DOROTHY M. (SWICK) SMITH
Died at Evergreen Park, age 78, a native of Loda.
VIOLET I. (KARNES) SULLIVAN
Violet I. Karnes, 82, of Gibson City died at 12:40 p.m. yesterday at Gibson Community Hospital. Her funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, the Rev. Brent Zastrow officiating. Burial in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. She was born 8-7-1905, in Pekin, Ind., a daughter of Charles A. and Nellie R. Sappenfield Karnes. She married Otis Sullivan, who preceded her in death. Surviving are a son, Harry Sullivan of Pekin, Ind.; a brother, Charles V.; and a granddaughter. She was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters. She was a member of Saybrook Christian Church and had lived in the Gibson City area since 1935. b. 8-7-1905 d. 2-10-1988
HELEN SALYARDS
Gibson City - Helen Salyards died 9-15-1995
MABEL SCHLICKMAN
Gibson City - Mabel Schlickman died 3-27-1973
ERNEST P. SCHROEDER
Gibson City - Ernest P. Schroeder, 88, of Gibson City died at 11 a.m. Saturday 6-22-2002 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Gibson City.
AMELIA C. SHEPPELMAN
Loda - Amelia C. (Hanson) Sheppelman, 58, of Lake Iroquois, Loda, formerly of Gibson City, a candidate for Iroquois County Board District 5, died at 8:12 p.m. Sunday 3-8-1992 at Chanute Air Force Base Hospital, Rantoul
IVAN SLOAT
Thomasboro - Ivan Sloat, 65, of Thomasboro, formerly of Gibson City, died at 4 p.m. Friday 5-12-1995 at Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.
KAREN SMITH
Gibson City - Karen Gee Smith died 2-14-1987 @ Gibson Community Hospital
WINIFRED M. SNEAD
Gibson City - Winifred M. "Sparky" Snead, 93, of Gibson City died at 6 a.m. Friday 4-30-1999 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Gibson City.
LOUISE STIGER
Gibson City - Louise (Hardies) Stiger, 90, of Gibson City died at 4:40 a.m. Sasturday 5-20-1995 at Ford County Nursing Home, Paxton.
CLAUDIA J. STREBECK
Gibson City - Claudia J. (Coake) Strebeck died 4-22-1986
ROBERT STREBECK
Robert J. Strebeck, age 61, of Gibson City died at 11 a.m. Tuesday 2-5-2002 at his home in Gibson City. Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 9 at Lamb Funeral Home in Gibson City with the Reverend Randall Robinson officiating. Burial was in Drummer Twp Cemetery in Gibson City where military rites were conducted by the Lee Lowery American Legion Post 568. Visitation was from noon - 1 p.m. February 9 at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers were Kristopher Strebeck, John Robert Strebeck, Kamilla Walls and Kelese Walls. Active pallbearers were Ed Kallal, Lloyd Falck, Doug Roesch, Neil Nelson, Tim Barnes and Dave Donovan. Mr. Strebeck was born 9-2-1940 at Gibson City, a son of Richard W. and Leta Mae Wilson Strebeck. He married Antje E. Weber. Survivors include two sons Rudi (Marcy) Strebeck of Urbana and Robert Erik Strebeck of Deizisau Germany; two daughters, Heidi (Daniel) Walls of Gibson City and Anja Strebeck of Gibson City; his mother, Leta Mae Strebeck of Gibson City; four brothers, Richard C. Strebeck of Gibson City, Charles E. Strebeck of Gibson City, Fred E. Strebeck of Gibson City and Larry L. Strebeck of Paxton; four sisters, Georgeanna Rainwater of Broken Arrow, OK, Patricia Ann Essington of Cabery, Grace Thorndyke of Gibson City and Sara Sue Strebeck of St. Louis, Mo.; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father. Mr. Strebeck lived in Gibson City all of his life. He served in the US Army for three years and worked with Strebeck Salvage in Gibson City with his brothers. Mr. Strebeck then owned a tractor dealership and an auto body repair shop in Gibson City. He later worked for FS in Gibson City for nine years. A member of the Lee Lowery American Legion Post 568 and the VFW, both of Gibson City. He also served as a volunteer fireman for several years. Memorials m ay be made to his family.
JEAN E. SWANSON
Gibson City - Jean E. Swanson, 68, of Gibson City died at 4:15 p.m. Monday 9-14-1998 at his home in Gibson City.
LEE VICTOR SWANSON
Lee Victor Swanson, 74, a resident of Bement Health Care, Bement, a former Ludlow resident, died at 1:55 p.m. Sunday 11-10-2002 at the health care center. Graveside rites will be at 11 a.m. today at Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City, with the Rev. Glenn Corbly officiating. Ford - Baier Funeral Home, Paxton is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include two sisters, Mary Agnes Cheatham of Portland, Ore.; and Alice May Swanson, Rantoul; and two brothers, Robert B. Swanson, Morro Bay, Cal. and Charles Swanson, Ludlow.
LILLIAN P. (KIENER) SHILTS
Paxton - Lillian P. Shilts, 84, of Paxton died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday 1-31-2002 at CArle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Her funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Ford - Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, the Rev. John Davenport officiating. Burial will be in Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation will be for one hour before the service Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to IDES of Church of Christ, Paxton; or a charity of the donor's choice. Mrs. Shilts was born 1-19-1917 at Buckley, the daughter of Ned J. and Alma P. Wilson Kiener. She married Bertram A. "Boots" Shilts 10-19-1935 at Gibson City. He died 9-20-1971. Survivors include one sister, Fern Burns, Gibson City. Her parents and two brothers preceded her in death.
JOHN DALE SMITH
John Dale Smith, 76 of Gibson City died at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday 7-16-2002 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Gibson City. His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, the Rev. Terry Bonds officiating. Burial will be in the Drummer Twp Cemetery, Gibson City. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Thursday. Memorials may be made to Heritage Manor Nursing Home or to Parkinson's Disease Associaton.
Mr. Smith was born 9-4-1925 at Harpster, a son of John Newton and Eliza Katherine Atteberry Smith. He married Anna Marie Schroeder on 1-11-1945 at Indianapolis. She died 2-15-1958. He later married Ruby Cobb on 1-15-1959 at Bloomington. Survivors include a son, John Dale (Patti) Smith, Jr. Forsyth; five daughters, Judy (Richard) Hansens, Champaign; Jeri (Russell) Borchers,Gibson City; Leah (Frank) Culbertson Cleveland, Minn.; Maurita (Don) Burgett, Fort Worth, Texas; and Christin (Shayne) McNeil, Chandler, Az.; nine grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. His parents, two brothers and one sister also preceded him in death. Mr. Smith lived in the Gibson City area most of his lfie and farmed for many years. He also was a local contractor for many years. He was a veteran of the US Army.
VERNETTE F. (FREDRICKSON) SCHNEIDER
Vernette F. "Grandma" Schneider, 89, of rural Gifford, formerly of Paxton, died at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday 3-5-2003 at her home. Her funeral was at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, the Rev. Melvin Blobaum and the Rev. Barbara Busboom officiating. Burial was in Glen Cemetery, Paxton. Mrs. Schneider was born 3-4-1914 at Paxton, the daughter of Albert and Nellie Younggreen Fredrickson. She married William M. Schneider 3-20-1954 at Paxton. He died 4-18-1994. Survivors include one son, John M. (Marjorie) Kuntz, Lake Iroquois, Loda; one daughter, Deborah (Michael) Gallagher, Bloomington; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Parry Schneider; two brothers, Novel Fredrickson and Vennum Fredrickson; and one grandson. Mrs. Schneider graduated from Paxton High School in 1932 and was employed for a number of years as a dental assistant in the offices of Dr. Wayne L. Hamm and Dr. James Dunnan, former Paxton dentists. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Gifford, and the Paxton American Legion Auxiliary. Organist was Linda Kellerhals, and vocalist was Robert Ackerman. Pallbearers were Terry Cler, John Franzen, Stanley Wolken, Darrell Busboom, Ryan Ackerman and John Emkes. Honorary Pallbearers were Wendell Johnson, Walter Wolken, Dale Reynolds, Wilbert Buhr, Glen Reynolds and Mark Rodeen.
MARIE L. STEINER
Marie L. Steiner, 87, of Cissna Park died at 9:35 a.m. Friday 5-9-2003 at Provena Covenant Medical Center, Urbana. A private visitation and funeral service was at Knapp Funeral Home, Cissna Park. Burial was in German Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Cissna Park. Miss Steiner was born 12-16-1915, in Cissna Park, a daughter of Carl and Lydia Clauss Steiner. She is survived by three sisters, Ruth Burdick and Margaret Neukomm, both of Cissna Park, and Ann Kennedy of Georgia; and a brother, Joseph Steiner of Cissna Park. Three sisters and two brothers preceded her in death. She was a homemaker and a member of the German Apostolic Christian Church, Cissna Park. paxton record 5-14-2003
LOIS MERNA (BAXTER) BRADLEY STOTTS
Lois Stotts, 80, a Paxton native, died 5-2-2003 at St. John's Hospital, Maplewood, Minn. A local graveside memorial service will be scheduled later. Knapp-Miller Funeral Home, Paxton, is in charge of local arrangements. A memorial service was also conducted May 9 at Mounds View. Burial is planned in early June in Paxton. Mrs. Stotts was born 8-4-1922 in Paxton, a daughter of Floyd and Edith Baxter. She married John Bradley. She later married Frank Stotts. Surviving are five daughters, Delores Garner of Stevenson, Ala., Janice (Kennis) Blackman of Snohomish, Wash., Pam (Garry) Schumacher of Mounds View, Minn., Priscilla Haskell of Everett, Wash., and Debbie (Randy) Thompson of Chandler, AZ. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Everett; one sister, Irene and her husbands. Mrs. Stotts enjoyed roller-skating, gardening, machine embroidery, writing poetry and more recently, cross-stitching. Especially in her later years, she had a passion for butterflies along with rocks, flowers and birds. While her children were growing up, she managed the Dairy Queen in Paxton. Later she worked part time in a food market, a hardware store, the Paxton Record and had an answering service for N.I. Gas Co., in her home. Mounds View became her second hometown, where she was known as "Grandma Lois." She was diagnosed with acute myelogenous Leukemia on April 24. Memorials may be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church, Mounds View, Minn. for the Lois Stotts Welcome Center butterfly pin fund. paxton record 5-14-2003
The many obituaries available here were transcribed and contributed by Gail Hahn Hutchcraft.
