Sterling, Illinois Obituaries

Dec 23, 2023

Kenneth “Ray” Gebhardt 89 of Sterling Illinois passed away December 23, 2023. Ray was born October 16, 1934, the son of Kenneth F. and Elizabeth (Reinstra) in Sterling Illinois.

Ray graduated from Sterling High School Class of 1954. He was a great athlete participating in track as a pole vaulter and...

Dec 21, 2023

Myron J. Deets, 82, of Sterling, died Thursday, December 21st, 2023 at Rock River Hospice and Home.

Myron was born on January 22nd, 1941 in Sterling, IL to Nolan R. and Jesse Louise (Sivits) Deets. Myron was raised on a farm in Jordan Township, and was a former member of East Jordan United Methodist Church....

Dec 17, 2023

Kathy Ann Anderson, 66, of Morrison, died Sunday December 17, 2023 at Rock River Hospice, Sterling.

Kathy was born October 16, 1957 in Morrison, the daughter of Ellsworth and Marion (Dykhuizen) Nice. She married Thomas Anderson on January 1, 1999 in Red Wing, MN.

Kathy loved nature and taking pictures of...

Dec 17, 2023

Dorothy M. Lemon, 80 of Dixon died Sunday December 17, 2023 at KSB Medical Center. Dorothy was born August 15, 1943 in Vandalia the daughter of Robert and Lucille (Diveley) Jones.

Survivors include one daughter Rose Price; one son Curt Jones; five brothers Bill (Vera) Jones, Jimmy (Jerrie) Jones, Gilbert (Connie) Jones, Leonard (Rita) Jones,...

Dec 14, 2023

Robert L. Dietz, 95, of Rock Falls, Owner of Bob Dietz Paint Store, died Thursday December 14, 2023 at Citadel of Sterling. Robert was born January 21, 1928 in Sterling the son of John and Nellie (Manon) Dietz. He married Alice Schutt on January 4, 1947 in Rock Falls. She preceded him in death on September 7, 2020.

Dec 7, 2023

Richard Beelendorf, 84, of Sterling, died Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Rock River Hospice and Home, Sterling.

Richard was born November 28, 1939 in Clinton, Iowa the son of Robert and Violet (Shoey) Beelendorf. He was a graduate of Kemper College, Class of 1961. In school he was Sergeant of the ROTC, active in the...

Nov 28, 2023

Robert “Kevin” Miller, 85, of Sterling died Tuesday November 28, 2023. Kevin was born January 20, 1938 in Aurora the son of Walter and Zita (Feldott) Miller. He married Gwendolyn Sykes on January 26, 1957 in West Chicago.

Kevin was a farm hand at Jakobs Brothers Farm for 49 years.

Kevin...

Nov 27, 2023

John Manuel Rodriguez, 70, of Dixon, died Monday, November 27, 2023 at KSB Hospital, Dixon. He was born February 4, 1948 in SanBenito, TX, the son of Ignacio and Celia (Cavazos-Garcia) Rodriguez.

John worked many years prior to retirement for the United States Postal Service in Rockford and for a short time at Sterling Walmart....

Nov 23, 2023

Vernon “Bud” Johnson passed on Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, at the age of 96, peacefully in his home, surrounded by family.

Bud was born in Eldena, IL on May 25, 1927 to Benjamin Johnson and Florence (Fischer) Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Gladys McCann and brother...

Nov 22, 2023

Ralph Ivan Oelrichs, 92, of Sterling died Wednesday November 22, 2023 at Citadel of Sterling. Ralph was born May 12, 1931 in Sterling the son of Eibo and Marie (Matznick) Oelrichs. Ralph married Phyllis Frank on June 15, 1952 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sterling. Phyllis preceded Ralph in death on March 3, 2013.

...

Nov 22, 2023

Nila G. Harris, 80, of Sterling died Wednesday November 22, 2023 at Rock Falls Rehabilitation in Rock Falls. Nila was born January 19, 1943 the daughter of William and Louise (Davidson) Harris. She married Robert Harris on November 17, 1960 in Abingdon VA. Robert preceded Nila in death on December 25, 2020.

Nila volunteered at...

Nov 16, 2023

Edward Lee Wagner, 78, of Sterling died Thursday November 16, 2023 at Allure of Sterling. Edward was born January 26, 1945 in Sterling the son of Lester and Irene (Schreiner) Wagner.

Survivors include one sister Carol (Ed) Habben of Sterling; one brother Bob (Carla) Wagner of Rock Falls.

He was preceded...

Nov 9, 2023

Linda Mae VanDuzen, 78, went home peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on the morning of Thursday, November 9, 2023 after an extended illness.

Linda was born on July 24th, 1945 at the McNeil Hospital in Oak Park IL, the second child and first daughter of Thomas and Lois (Woldman) Mulder. Linda married...

Nov 4, 2023

Arturo "Art" Saldivar, 69, passed away on October 4, 2017, and his wife, Diane M. Dielmann Saldivar, 75, passed away on December 4, 2023, both in Indiana.

Family Memorial Services will be held at 1PM Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Calvary Cemetery, Sterling.

A memorial has been established.

Nov 1, 2023

Stephen A. Deckro Jr., beloved husband, father, and attorney, peacefully departed this world on November 1, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born on February 14, 1940, in Valparaiso, Indiana, the eldest of five children born to Stephen and Mary Deckro.

Stephen graduated from Valparaiso University and School of Law. He was...

Nov 1, 2023

Daisy V. Linker, 93, of Sterling passed away peacefully November 1, 2023. Daisy was a Pink Lady Volunteer at CGH and church secretary at Rock Falls United Methodist Church for many years where she enjoyed meeting and helping people. Daisy enjoyed working in her yard and garden. Daisy married the love of her life Jack Linker on August 1,...

Oct 28, 2023

Florence May (Stern) Pfundstein was born on March 25th, 1925, the firstborn child of John Henry and Elizabeth (Duden) Stern. She passed from this earthly life at age 98, on Saturday, October 28th at 11:20 AM at Rock River Hospice and Home after a short illness. Until recently she still resided in her own home on Penrose Road, Sterling....

Oct 24, 2023

Vicki Lynne Deets went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 24, 2023. Vicki was born April 17, 1953 in Sterling the daughter of David and Nona (Loechel) Bushman. She attended Milledgeville School and Sauk Valley Community College. Vicki started dating Alan Deets in the summer of 1969. They continued together until October 6, 1973 when they...

Oct 23, 2023

Iva Jean Kessler, 93, of Rock Falls died Monday October 23, 2023 at home surrounded by family. Iva was born October 14, 1930 in Magnolia KY the daughter of William and Goldie (Pottinger) Stanfield Sr.. She married Ira "Zach" Kessler in Hart County KY in October of 1947, and they shared nine children.

Her passions...

Oct 21, 2023

On Saturday, October 21, 2023 Elbert J. Kimbrough passed away. Elbert was a tool and die maker and worked most of his work-life with Toastmaster in Elgin, IL.

Elbert was born on June 24, 1943 in Phil Campbell, AL. Elbert moved to the Chicago area in 1964 where he remained until his death. He was...