Peoria Journal Star

Elena M. Rivas, 91, left this world to join her heavenly father in heaven on January 9, 2023. Elena's last residence was Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Born in Peoria, Illinois to Aldulfo and Maria (Garcia) Gonzalez, on December 4, 1931. She moved at the age of two to Guadalajara Mexico, with her mother and two younger siblings. After her mom's passing, at the age of 8, she returned to Peoria, Illinois, to be with her father and older brothers and sisters. Elena praises the sisters of St. Patrick's Church in Peoria who taught her English and assisted her father with her family's needs. Elena first met her future husband, Henry Rivas, at the age of 10. She and Henry married in...

Ronald Cleveland Browder, 80, formerly of Washington, Illinois passed away on Monday, January 9, 2023 in New Bern, North Carolina. Ronald was born in Johnston City, Illinois on April 2, 1942 to the late William and Gertrude Stocks Browder. Ronald was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing pool. Ronald and Linda were married in October of 1963 in Illinois. Ron retired from Caterpillar after 30 years of faithful service to his community in the parts distribution department. Ronald was a retired member of Local 974 and a current member of the Knights of Columbus. His "papa eyes" and laugh will be missed. Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 59 years Linda, two daughters, Angie...

KOREY STEVEN RUTHERFORD December 3, 1984 - December 25, 2022 Korey Steven Rutherford packed more into his 38 short years than most people do in a full lifetime. Generous to a faultwith those he loved, Korey will be missed by his family and those dear friends he held close. Even as a child, Korey showed signs that he was destined for a business career, asking for office supplies and an adding machine, rather than toys. This early drive for success, led Korey to follow in his father's, Scott Rutherford, footsteps, receiving Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Finance, with a minor in Spanish, and an MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, before joining the Fortune 100...

Michael Ray Shular, 67, passed away at his home on Dec 5, 2022, after a long journey with FTD. He was born to parents Leslie and Wilma Shular on Aug 17, 1955, in Peoria Illinois but grew up in Knoxville TN. As an adult he moved back to Peoria Illinois to work at Caterpillar Inc for 41 years. He started out in the factory and retired as a 3D Graphics Coordinator after completing an Associate's degree in Mechanical Design and an apprenticeship in Machine Repair. He married Eileen Getz in 1981. He is survived by his wife Eileen, his children Steven Shular (Sara), Emily Shular (David Fonseca), and Aaron Shular, his parents Leslie and Wilma Shular, brother Gary Shular, grandchildren Hunter and...

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Carol Ann Fort, 86, peacefully went home to heaven. She was greeted in heaven by her parents, a special sister-in-law Nelda and many beloved family pets. She was born June 20, 1936, in Pekin, Illinois to Richard A and Millicent (Johnson) Sheppert. Carol attended Pekin High School in Pekin, Illinois and went on to graduate from Illinois Wesleyan College with a BS degree in business administration. Carol was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor society. She worked as a business assistant at Keystone Steel and Wire Co. from 1958 to 1965. She was the office manager at Midwestern Wood Products from 1973 until 1988. In...

Lovella Mary Sendelweck Ruckriegel, 87, passed away on November 22, 2022, at 7:18 a.m. Her husband of 64 years, Robert Lee Clinton (Bob) Ruckriegel preceded her in death. She is survived by their two sons Al Ruckriegel (son-in-law, David Adams) of Terre Haute, Indiana and Sid Ruckriegel (& Andrew Rand) of Peoria, Illinois. Lovella ("Val" as she was known in high school) was born on August 17th, 1935, in Boone Township, Jasper, Indiana to Walter Johann and Emily Margaret (Buchta) Sendelweck. Growing up on the farm, she was the youngest of three children, Clarence (& Janice) Sendelweck who passed in 2007 and Ioma (& Edward) Wening who survives. Lovella attended the Portersville...

James C. Cady 105 years - World War II Veteran AAC 1st. Lt. Jim Cady, '41-'45, & Capt. in AF Res., he served with honor. James Christopher Cady recently of Vero Beach Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Born October 5, 1917 to C.W. Cady and Geneva Cady. Jim was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 65 years, Ruth, his parents, a sister and a brother. Jim was "carried away by angels" (Luke 16:22) and greeted with, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23) Jim is survived by his 4 Children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)...

Patricia Caughey Coker, wife of William Thomas Coker, died peacefully at home on Hilton Head Island at the age of 80 years old. Pat was born October 8, 1942, in Washington, DC. She is predeceased by her parents, Major General and Mrs. John Hart Caughey and her son Brendt DeWitt Coker. She grew up in various cities in the world due to her father's rising military career. She graduated from Washington and Lee High school in Arlington, VA, and graduated from Florida Southern University in Lakeland, FL. While in college, the always venturesome Pat twice jumped out of an airplane while her Dad was going through Jump Training as part of the Leadership at Fort Bragg, NC. Pat enjoyed a long...

Rev. Robert Pitsch died November 7, 2022 at Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Home in Charlotte, NC. He was born in Peoria, Illinois on January 19,1920, to Wilhelmina Ruch Pitsch and Richard Pitsch. He attended Peoria schools graduating from Woodruff High School in 1938. He studied at Illinois Wesleyan University where he earned his BA degree in 1945. From IWU, he went on to earn a Masters of Divinity degree from Garrett Theological Seminary and was ordained a United Methodist Pastor in 1949. He served 43 years in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and 14 years at Colington UMC on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In 1943 he and Helen J. Hefner were married at Hale Memorial Church...

A Celebration of Life for Mike Hartnett, 76, will be 10:30 am Thursday, September 15, 2022, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow in Springdale Cemetery in Peoria. Mike passed away on September 6, 2022, in Lawrence, KS. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 13, 1946, to Leo J. (Jan) and Arabella (Dolly) Hartnett. He graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. Mike met his future wife, Barbara, in high school in 1963. They married the day after graduating from the University of Illinois in 1968. Mike was a life-long Chicago White Sox fan. Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Barbara. Mike was a leader in the craft industry serving as editor of...

Claire Lou Johnson Campbell was 92 when she passed away on August 23, 2022. Claire Campbell was born April 4, 1930 in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and Glen Ellyn, Illinois. She attended Beloit College and did her graduate work at the University of Illinois where she met her husband, Kent. They were married November 28, 1953 and lived in Atlanta while Kent was in the Third Army Band. They later lived in Henderson and Louisville, Kentucky, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Peoria, Illinois, and Champaign, Illinois before moving to Bowling Green in 1971. She taught in Champaign and Dunlap, Illinois, T.C. Cherry School in Bowling Green and Rich Pond Elementary School in...

Norma Marie (Barrett) Johnson of Richmond, Texas, peacefully passed away in her sleep on July 27, 2022, at the age of 87 years, of natural causes. She was loving, caring and generous and will be greatly missed. Norma was born in Peoria, IL, on September 21, 1934. Growing up, she attended Academy of Our Lady High School of Peoria and graduated as valedictorian. Upon graduation, Norma started working at Caterpillar, Inc. of Peoria, Illinois, where she met and eventually married her husband, Keith Johnson (deceased). Their sixty-four-year marriage blessed them with four children, and now many grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was an example of a pure life partnership: they...

Roger D. Hiserote, age 94, passed away, July 7, 2022, in Oak Ridge, TN. He was born February 6, 1928, in Eldora, IA, the youngest of ten children born to William Henry Hiserote & Ida Louise Dubberke Hiserote. Roger married Jessie Joan Tokheim in 1948. He earned a civil engineering degree from Iowa State University and worked for Caterpillar Tractor until his retirement. Roger enjoyed travel, sports, and reading, especially history. He was a life-long Chicago Cubs fan and a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge. Roger was preceded in death by oldest son, Craig Roger Hiserote. Survivors include wife, Jessie Hiserote; children, Janie Hiserote (Phillip Stumbo), Kim Hiserote (Linda),...

Daniel A. Niffenegger, Ph.D., 92, of Lexington, Ky., died Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at Baptist Health Hospital in Lexington. He was born on April 7, 1930, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Ora and Virginia Paterson Niffenegger. He married Elnor Vermeer Niffenegger in 1953. She preceded him in death in 2016. He married Irene H. Niffenegger in 2017. Dan earned his bachelor of arts degree from Iowa State University, a master's degree from Montana State University and his Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a statistician and agronomist administrator. He attended Trinity Hill United Methodist Church in Lexington. Survivors include a...

On June 27, 2022, Jacquey (Jackie) Clark Ferrell died at her home in Flowery Branch, GA, at the age of 89. Jackie is survived by her daughters, Laura Elizabeth Wood, Melinda Raquey Sprangle and Virginia Adele Morris and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, Clifton (Cliff) Ray Ferrell. Also preceding her in death was her parents George Albert Clark and Elizabeth Carinne Clark and bother George Albert Clark, Jr. [Jackie] was born on Sept, 23, 1932 in Mississippi. She graduated from high school in Jackson, TN. After graduation she married her childhood friend and sweetheart, Cliff. They moved to central Illinois and...

William "Bill" Eugene Barclay, age 80 of Carrollton, passed away June 18, 2022. He was born January 29, 1942, in Peoria, Illinois, the son of the late Earl E. Barclay and Maggie Rimini Barclay. Bill served his country in the United States Navy and then served as the Director of Engineering for U.S. CAN for 17 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Wilfong Barclay; daughter, Amy Lawhead; sons and daughter-in-law, David & Lynn Diehl and Derek Diehl; granddaughters, Hannah Routon and Reanna Lawhead; and brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Linda Barclay. Bill was preceded in death by his daughter, Beth Ann Barclay, and son-in-law, Dewayne Lawhead. In keeping with his wishes,...

Gary Patrick Wood, 59, of Springfield, Illinois died Friday, April 29, 2022, at Kindred Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Gary was born September 20, 1962, in Peoria, Illinois to Hugh W. and Margaret Bolt Wood. Gary fell and experienced head trauma when he was 12 months old, resulting in epilepsy and seizures throughout his life. Gary attended Peoria schools until 6th grade when his family moved to Springfield, Illinois. He was in the first learning disability class in Peoria but was in mainstream classrooms in Springfield until his graduation in 1982, where he studied data entry during his final year in high school. After graduation, Gary eventually obtained a data entry job with the State of...

David L. Perry, 79, of Greenwood, IN, formerly of Peoria, IL went to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he lovingly served, on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at Bickford Assisted Living in Greenwood, IN. He was born April 18, 1943, in Bremerton, Washington to James R. and Helen H. (Coerber) Perry. He grew up in Craig Colorado and married Marilynn R. (Whittington) Perry on March 26, 1966, in Ft. Collins, Colorado, she survives. David was a 1961 graduate of Moffat County High School in Craig, Colorado, received his B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University and his master's degree from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He had been a design engineer with expertise in...

David L. Perry, 79, of Greenwood, IN, formerly of Peoria, IL passed away Thursday, April 28, 2022 at Bickford Assisted Living in Greenwood, IN. Pastor Brian Holt will conduct a service on Monday, May 2, 2022, at 1 PM at Crosspointe Community Church at 1222 Demaree Road in Greenwood, IN where friends may call from 12 Noon until the 1 PM service time at the church. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Greenwood, IN. A memorial service will take place on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at Bethany Baptist Church, 7422 North Heinz Lane, Edwards, IL. 61528, with a time to be established. Swartz Family Church and Chapel ~ Funeral and Cremation Services in Greenwood, IN is handling arrangements. A...

Carolyn Shult Carter, 91, of Loveland, CO, formerly of Greeley, CO, and Morton, IL, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. She was born on April 14, 1931, in Neponset, IL, to Rev. Carroll and Doris (Pease) Shult. She married Thomas L. Carter on November 27, 1949, in Fairbury, IL. They were married for over 71 years when Tom passed away on August 25, 2021. In addition to her husband, Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Wanda Austin, and her brothers Dale and Ernest Shult. She is survived by son David Carter and his wife, Debbie, of Greeley, CO; son Gary Carter and his wife, Shelley, of Albuquerque, NM; daughter Kathy Carter and her husband, Brad Keefauver, of Peoria,...