Obituaries
Joseph John Mercaitis Jr.
Dec 19, 2017
Joseph John Mercaitis Jr. 75, of Rockford died on December 19, 2017. Born June 3, 1942 in Rockford, son of Joseph and Mae (Nordstrom) Mercaitis Sr. United in marriage to Michele Lage on June 2, 1962. Formerly employed at Sunbeam Bakery and Durst, where he repaired machines. He was an avid HAM Radio operator. Survived by his wife, Michele; children,...
Gene C. Michaels
Dec 18, 2017
Gene C. Michaels, 78, of Belvidere was called home by Jesus on December 18, 2017. Born October 6, 1939 to Clemens and Frances (Duszynski) Pruszynski in Chicago. Graduate of Lane Tech High School in Chicago. In 1958 he joined the United States Air Force. He received an honorable discharge in 1962 and remained in the Air Force Reserves for two...
Helen Irene Bird
Dec 17, 2017
Helen Irene Bird, 94, of Rockford died on December 17, 2017 at River Bluff Nursing Home. Born on May 17, 1923 in Rockford. Helen was a loving and caring mother and grandmother. Survived by her children, Thomas (Nancy) Luepkes, Amber Allen and Marlena; 8 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her first husband, John Luepkes, second husband, Jerry...
Charles V. Barker
Dec 6, 2017
Charles "Chuck" "Charlie" V. Barker, 86, of Shirland died on December 6, 2017. Born February 24, 1931 in Freeport, son of Verdi and Grace (Reimer) Barker. Graduate of Hononegah High School class of 1949. United in Marriage to Carol Roth on June 16, 1951 in Shirland. Charlie was the owner of Barker Excavating, retiring at the age of 82. In...
Edward Calvin Day
Dec 5, 2017
Edward Calvin Day, 90, of Rockford passed into eternity December 5, 2017 at Independence Village. Born May 4, 1927 in Belvidere, middle son of Floyd and Mabel (Dorn) Day. Graduate of Belvidere High School and also attended Lincoln Institute while working at Barber Colman for 17 years. Later Ed worked at Ingersoll for one year and Rockwell for 13 years....
Geneva A. Charnesky
Nov 29, 2017
Geneva A. Charnesky, 88, of Loves Park went to be with her Lord and Savior on November 29, 2017. Born on August 18, 1929 in Bowling Green, KY; daughter of John and Carmen (Davenport) Adams. Graduate of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, IN; class of 1947. United in marriage to John M. Charnesky on August 8, 1953 in Milwaukee,...
Ralph Kenneth Quanstrom
Nov 19, 2017
Ralph Kenneth Quanstrom, 97, of Rockford, and a longtime resident of Galesburg; passed away on November 19, 2017 at River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford. Born January 14, 1920; son of Edward John and Lillian (Lundholm) Quanstrom. He attended Altona High School, where he was a star basketball player, shot put and javelin thrower. He was nicknamed "Punk" by his...
Major (Retired) William O. Brown
Oct 25, 2017
Major William O. Brown (Retired) Born: March 17th, 1927 Promoted to Glory: October 25th, 2017 Major William O. Brown, 90, was promoted to Glory on Wednesday evening, October 25th, surrounded by his family. William was born to Oliver and Dorothy Brown on the 17th of March 1927 in Gary, IN. He served honorably with the US Army in WW2 and...
Cory Michael Spires
Oct 20, 2017
Cory Michael Spires, 28, of Poplar Grove died on October 20, 2017. Born April 5, 1989 in Rockford; son of Craig and Patricia (Johann) Spires. Cory was a graduate of Harlem High School. As a child, he attended Calvary Memorial, where he accepted the Lord as his Savior on a mission trip. He served his country proudly in the United...
Beverly Jean Taylor
Oct 15, 2017
Beverly Jean Taylor, 91, of Loves Park died peacefully October 15, 2017 surrounded by family. Born October 13, 1926 to Ralph and Mildred Peters in Freeport. Married Joseph Taylor March 21, 1947. Employed at National Lock as Union Steward for many years. Owner of Jun-I-Purr Cattery for over 30 years. She enjoyed playing guitar and piano, dancing, singing, family, and...
Hilene Spiezer
Sep 30, 2017
Hilene Spiezer, 68, of Rockford died peacefully at home September 30, 2017, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Born on January 26, 1949 in Chicago; daughter of Jack and Maxine (Berliant) Vihon. Hilene was a wonderful mother and grandmother and was adored by her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family, especially her twelve grandchildren, and loved...
Joanne J. Day
Sep 30, 2017
Joanne J. Day, 83, of Loves Park died on September 30, 2017 at Alpine Fireside Health Center. Born on August 9, 1934 in Janesville, WI; daughter of Lynn and Dora (Updike) Crall. United in marriage to Charles Day on June 1953 in Rockford. Joanne was a loving mother, devoted grandmother; and a wonderful friend and caretaker to many. She is...
Francis L. Castro
Sep 29, 2017
Francis L. Castro was born March 27th 1948 in the Mississippi River town of Savanna, Illinois. After graduating from Savanna High School in 1966, he began an adventurous life that would span almost 70 years and take him across the United States and the World. He attended and graduated from the Institute of Medical Technique in Minneapolis, MN and went...
Dr. Bernard "Buz" Salafsky
Sep 27, 2017
Dr. Bernard "Buz" Salafsky passed away on September 27th, 2017 in Rockford. Born December 27, 1935, Buz was the longest serving Dean at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, which he led from 1983 until 2004. He received his PhD from the University of Washington before embarking on assignments all over the world. Buz joined the faculty of...
Craig Herbert Pearson
Sep 27, 2017
Craig Herbert Pearson, 71, of Cherry Valley died on September 27, 2017. Born on March 27, 1946 in Rockford, son of Herbert and Doris (Johnson) Pearson. He was a loving and supportive father and devoted grandfather. Craig was creative and a very talented wood worker. He loved camping, boating and spending time on his golf cart with his dog, Gracie;...
William "Bill" George Oake
Sep 22, 2017
William (Bill) George Oake, 82, of Rockford, peacefully passed from this earth to enter eternity with his Lord and Savior on September 22, 2017 in his home surrounded by his large, loving family. Born December 16, 1934 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; son of William Harold and Betty Eleanor (Landerkin) Oake. Bill married his high school sweetheart Anita Marie Bourdon on...
Gary Lynn Collman
Sep 21, 2017
Gary Lynn Collman, 73, of Rockford died on September 21, 2017 in his home. Born on October 26, 1943 in Rockford, son of Arthur "Bud" and Doris (Turner) Collman. Formerly employed by Rockford Powertrain and Twin Disc in Racine, WI. In his younger years, he was a skilled baseball player and was offered the opportunity to try out for a...
Mary Josephine Saladino
Sep 20, 2017
Mary Josephine Saladino, 96, of Rockford died on September 20, 2017 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Born on May 3, 1921 in Rockford, daughter of Angelo and Rose (Greco) Spataro. United in Marriage to Peter J. Saladino on July 31, 1937. Formerly employed at Nelson Knitting and Pacemaker Foods at Edgebrook. Survived by grandchildren, Jennifer (Matt) Hopkins, of Rockton, Andrea...
Elia Marie Harper
Sep 13, 2017
Elia Marie Harper, 93 of Rockford, formerly of Scottsdale, AZ went to heaven on September 13, 2017 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Born on May 25, 1924 in Chicago, daughter of Salvatore "Sam" and Therisina (Bruno) Crisorio. Formerly employed as a bank teller at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago; and at the Federal Savings Bank in Oak Park. Elia...
Roland James Rock
Sep 10, 2017
Roland James Rock, 63, of Davis Junction died on September 10, 2017 in his home. Born on August 10, 1954 in Centerville, IA; son of Matthew and Doris (VanBlaricom) Rock. Roland was a Vietnam Veteran who served aboard the USS America, receiving an honorable discharge on November 1, 1973. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed reading. Roland was a...
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