Obituaries

Sterling, Illinois Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Sterling, Il area

Reuben  Bilbrey

Reuben Bilbrey

Mar 17, 2018

Reuben D. Bilbrey 83, of Sterling died Saturday March 17, 2018 at Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling. Reuben was born December 29, 1934 in Portia Arkansas the son of Reuben D. and Ruby (Brightwell) Bilbrey. Survivors include life partner Julie Pratt of Sterling; one son David (Robyn) Bilbrey of Acworth GA; two daughters Susan ( David) Metzler...

Arturs Grabeklis

Arturs Grabeklis

Mar 16, 2018

Arturs K. Grabeklis, 98, of Sterling died Friday, March 16, 2018 at his home. Arturs was born July 27, 1919 in Daugavpils, Latvia the son of Juris and Eva Grabeklis. In his country he loved to hunt deer for food and loved to snow ski. He graduated from college in Riga, Latvia and then became a lieutenant in the...

Carlene Stern

Carlene Stern

Mar 14, 2018

Carlene Mae Stern, 90, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Franklin Grove Living and Rehab Center, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born November 17, 1927, the daughter of Edward and Bertha (Letcher) Jacobs. Carlene worked at Lawrence brothers for forty years, prior to retirement. She married Mike Stern in 1951, he preceded her in death in...

Kevin O'Brien

Kevin O'Brien

Mar 14, 2018

Kevin James O’Brien, 52, formerly of Sterling, passed away, Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at his home in Dixon, after a short illness. Kevin was born May 15, 1965 in Sterling, the son of Gerald and Patricia (Kiefer) O’Brien. He married Megan Lewis on April 18, 2017 in Dixon. Survivors include his mother, Patricia; his wife, Megan;one daughter, Kathleen O’Brien;...

Nellie Stewart

Nellie Stewart

Mar 11, 2018

Nellie M. Stewart, 99, died Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Franklin Grove Nursing Home. Nellie was born November 15, 1918 in Emerson. The daughter of John L. and Bessie (Stanley) Deets. She married Myrl on October 30, 1937 in Coleta. He preceded her in death on July 26, 2002. Survivors include two daughters, Linda (Keith) McCall of North Richland...

Charles Brall

Charles Brall

Mar 4, 2018

CHARLES R. BRALL ROCK FALLS- Charles R. Brall, 93, formerly of Rock Falls, died, Sunday, March 4, 2018 at Lasalle Veterans Home, Lasalle. He was employed at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Company for many years, prior to retirement. Charles was born September 13, 1924 in Geneseo, the son of Raymond and Elizabeth Brall. He married Virginia Smith...

June Soderquist

June Soderquist

Feb 24, 2018

June Rose Soderquist of Sterling passed away on Saturday, February 24th, 2018, at the age of 87. June was born on June 21, 1930, in Deer Grove, the daughter of Rudolph and Emma Harms. She grew up as the youngest of six children and graduated from Sterling High School in 1948. June married Roy Soderquist on October 12, 1952....

June Wolf O'Dell

June Wolf O'Dell

Feb 12, 2018

June Wolf O’Dell, 82, of Sterling, died Monday, February 12, 2018 at Regency Care of Sterling. June was born June 26, 1935 in Sterling, the daughter of Alva and Lucille (Lockett) Wise, Sr. She married Marvin Wolf in October 1952. He preceded her in death on December 18, 1982. She later married Robert O’Dell on June 26, 1998. He...

Faye  Goldacker

Faye Goldacker

Feb 8, 2018

FAYE EVELYN GOLDACKER STERLING-Faye Evelyn Overbey-Goldacker, 97 of Sterling, died Thursday, February 8, 2018 at Parkway Center. Faye was born June 15, 1920 in Stuttgart, Arkansas the daughter of Frank and Leola (Hudson) Lorton. She married James L. Overbey on February 29, 1942. He preceded her in death on July 7, 1972. She later married Carlyle “Korky” Goldacker on...

Gerda Ukena

Gerda Ukena

Feb 7, 2018

STERLING – Gerda A. Ukena, 85, died Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Rock River Hospice & Home, Sterling. She was married to Herman J. Ukena who preceded her in death on October 3, 2011. Gerda was very strong in her faith and lived a Godly life. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling. She was...

Edward Stralow

Edward Stralow

Feb 4, 2018

STERLING- Edward “Grampa” A. W. Stralow, 97, of Sterling, died Sunday, February 4, 2018 at his home. Edward was born April 19, 1920 in Morrison, the son of Ernest and Mary (Rosenow) Stralow. He married Betty Thompson on June 7, 1941 in Morrison. She preceded him in death on June 13, 1961. He served in the United States Army...

Rollo  Wagenknecht

Rollo Wagenknecht

Feb 2, 2018

MILLEDGEVILLE - Rollo N Wagenknecht 1924 - 2018 Rollo Wagenknecht of rural Milledgeville died of natural causes on February 2, 2018 at the farm north of Milledgeville. He was 93. Rollo Nelson Wagenknecht was born February 20, 1924 in Sterling, Illinois to Otto and Jennie (Nelson) Wagenknecht. He was raised on a farm near Sterling before moving to the...

Geraldine  Leftwich

Geraldine Leftwich

Feb 1, 2018

STERLING- Geraldine “Gerry” McEwen Leftwich age 95, of Sterling, Illinois died peacefully at Regency Care of Sterling. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 10, 1922 the daughter of Alvin and Anna (Smith) McEwen. She married William C. Leftwich on August 4, 1945 in Chicago. After 52 years of marriage he preceded her in death on February 27,...

Vernita Mckinnis

Vernita Mckinnis

Jan 28, 2018

Rock Falls - Vernita Mae McKinnis, 85, of Rock Falls, died, Sunday, January 28, 2018 at her home. Vernita was born January 4, 1933 in Dixon, the daughter of Troy and Maude (Brown) Sitter. She married Leo Berard in Dixon on January 21, 1955. He preceded her in death on May 18, 1986. She then married Wilbur “Bill” McKinnis...

Charles  Seidel

Charles Seidel

Jan 22, 2018

CHARLES SEIDEL ROCK FALLS- Charles Seidel, 84, of Rock Falls, died, Monday, January 22, 2018 at Windsor Manor of Morrison. Charles was born August 7, 1933 in Sterling, the son of Harry and Mabel (Moede) Seidel. He married Eleanor Decker on February 14, 1953 in Rock Falls. She preceded him in death on February 10, 2017. Survivors include one...

Lulu  Cook

Lulu Cook

Jan 21, 2018

Lulu Belle Cook, 91, died, Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Heritage Woods. Lulu Belle was born April 24, 1926 in Paris, MO, the daughter of Wade and Ione (Walkup) Reynolds. She married Lloyd Cook on December 7, 1945 in Carrollton. He preceded her in death on September 27, 1988. Survivors include one daughter, Linda (Mike) Love of Sterling; two...

Beverly  Vandermoon

Beverly Vandermoon

Jan 12, 2018

BEVERLY RUTH VANDERMOON STERLING-Beverly Ruth Vandermoon, 89, of Sterling, died Friday, January 12, 2018 at Morningside in Sterling. Beverly was born June 19, 1928 in Sterling, the daughter of Robert Lynfred and D. May (Wesner) Kraft. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1946. She married Veral E. Vandermoon on June 11, 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sterling....

Mary Lou Helm

Mary Lou Helm

Jan 9, 2018

Mary Lou Helm, age 91, died Tuesday, January 9th, 2018. She was born on June 28, 1926, in Waukegan, Illinois, and spent her summers swimming in Lake Michigan. She adored her three older siblings, Bill, Dorothy and Margaret. She graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, with a BA in Music. After college, she worked at KSO Radio in...

Charles Haines

Charles Haines

Jan 4, 2018

CHARLES “CHUCK” NATHAN HAINES STERLING- Charles “Chuck” Nathan Haines, 86, of Sterling, died Thursday, January 4, 2018 at CGH Medical Center. He farmed in the area for many years. Chuck was born September 10, 1931 in Polo, the son of George Washington Haines and Ada Leon (Gatz) Haines. He served in the United States Army Mountaineers Division. He married...

Alvin Johnson

Alvin Johnson

Jan 4, 2018

Alvin L. Johnson, 92, passed away, Thursday, January 4, 2018 at CGH Medical Center, after a lingering illness. Alvin was born February 10, 1925 in Genesee Township, the son of Bernard and Hannah (Rushmeyer) Johnson. He married Frances M. Bauer on May 5, 1951 in Sterling. Alvin owned and operated service stations a water softening business, and sold snowmobiles....