Obituaries
Sterling, Illinois Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Sterling, Il area
Thomas L. Schattke
May 8, 2026
Thomas L. Schattke, 87, of Sterling died Friday, May 8, 2026 at Shepherd Premier in Sterling. Thomas was born September 22, 1938 in Chicago, IL the son of Karl and Dotty (Henniges) Schattke. He married Diana Cole and had six children. He then married Catherine Ramer. They both preceded him in death.
Tom was a mechanical engineer and owned...
Donna L. Lenhart
May 7, 2026
Donna Lee Lenhart of Lake Carroll, Illinois, passed away on May 7, 2026. Donna was born on February 1, 1941 and married the love of her life, Larry Lenhart, on September 17, 1961. Together they built a life centered around faith, family, and hard work, raising two children — Lori (Clark) Carroll of Lanark, Illinois, and Doug (Julie) Lenhart of...
Theresa M. Farrington
May 3, 2026
Theresa M. Farrington, 75, of Rock Falls died Sunday May 3, 2026 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. Theresa was born November 28, 1950 the daughter of George and Eveln (Young) Bannick.
Survivors include one son James (Stacy) Farrington; one daughter Tara (Wayne) Abercrombie; one sister Sandy Farrington; one daughter in-law- Maria (Pete) Talley; grandchildren Dalton Dennison-Farrington, Drake Dennison-Farrington, Ciana Farrington,...
Samantha Sue Skinner
Apr 30, 2026
Samantha Sue Skinner, 40, of Rock Falls and formerly of San Antonio TX passed away Thursday April 30, 2026 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, IL. Samantha was born November 20, 1985 in Sterling the daughter of Gerald and Kathy (Purvis) Skinner.
Samantha enjoyed traveling, living her best life and most of all loved her family.
Survivors include one sister Kerri (Jason)...
Juana T. Cervantes
Apr 23, 2026
Juana T. Cervantes, 73, of Sterling passed away Thursday April 23, 2026 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, IL. Juana was born July 10, 1952 the daughter of Fabian and Juana (Villegas) Trujillo. She married Simeon Cervantes on May 17, 1969 in San Felipe, Guanajuato Mexico.
Survivors include her husband Simeon; three sons Refugio (Serena) Cervantes, Juan Cervantes, and Jesus (Marisa)...
John Reeser
Apr 21, 2026
John Reeser, 86, of Sterling, died April 21, 2026, at his home.
John was born on May 30, 1939, in Sterling, the son of Howard and Helen Reeser. He married Joy Gray on October 8, 1961, in Anamosa, IA. She preceded him in death on May 1, 2009.
Survivors include his son, Rick (Sandy) Reeser of Sterling; daughter, Tammy Reeser of Iowa;...
Michael Ray Pierson
Apr 20, 2026
Michael Ray Pierson, 71, of Sterling, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on April 20, 2026, in Apache Junction, Arizona, where he wintered happily with his loving wife and his cats, Hank and Harley. Though his passing leaves an immeasurable void, his family rejoices in knowing he is at peace in the presence of his Lord and Savior.
Mike was born...
Rodney Ross Lilly
Apr 18, 2026
Rodney Ross Lilly, 64, of Lyndon, died Saturday, April 18, 2026 .
Rodney was born June 22, 1961, in Sterling, the son of Clinton and Kaye (Matthews) Lilly.
Survivors include his daughters, Chelsie (Brad Sterling) of Lyndon and Jennifer Sloter of Sterling; one son, Justin (Tracey) Lilly of Texas; his sister Deb and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents...
Louis C. Johnson
Apr 18, 2026
Louis C. Johnson was born on December 8, 1954, to the late Robert Johnson Sr. and Mary Johnson in Shelby, Mississippi. To his parents’ union, he was born to a twin (Lucy) and held the place of the middle child among 18 siblings. From a young age, Louis demonstrated resilience, humility, and a strong sense of responsibility. He was...
Betty Louise Steinke
Apr 14, 2026
Betty Louise (née Garrison) Steinke, 89, of Sterling, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at CGH Medical Center.
Betty was born December 5, 1936 in Oakland, Illinois, to Clarence and Flossie (née Schwartz) Garrison. She graduated from North Boone High School in Poplar Grove, Illinois in 1954, and went on to attend Illinois State University, earning...
Colleen Kay Bonnell
Apr 12, 2026
Colleen Kay Bonnell age 85 of Dixon passed away April 12, 2026 at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford surrounded by her family. Colleen was born March 5, 1941 in Parrish, Il to Emma Ruth Farnam and Willard Gail Smothers. She married Raymond Bonnell in 1981 and they shared 45 wonderful years together. She retired from KSB in...
Zachariah "Zach" Heald
Apr 9, 2026
Zachariah Adam Heald, 46, of Sterling died April 9, 2026 at his home. Zach was born March 3, 1980 the son of Kevin and Judith (Smith) Heald.
Zach graduated from Rock Falls High School, Sauk Valley Community College, and Illinois State University with a degree in education. Zach continued to get his Master’s degree in education from Saint Xavier...
David Osman
Apr 6, 2026
David Francis Osman (Oz), age 52, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Citadel of Sterling Illinois. He was born on November 5, 1973, in Salem, Oregon to Charles Osman (Deceased) and Linda Bertsche. He was a man whose life was shaped by both hardship and extraordinary love. At a young age, when cancer first entered his story,...
Rodney Eugene Janssen
Mar 20, 2026
Rodney Eugene Janssen passed away March 20, 2026 at home. Rod was born August 26, 1958 in Sterling Il the son of Dale and Mary Jane (Bruns) Janssen. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1976 and went on to work many jobs including Wilbert Vault Co., Heckett, Walnut Sale Barn, and retired from Midwest Operating Engineers after 30 years....
Leonard Staranko
Mar 17, 2026
Leonard Staranko died peacefully in his sleep in Sterling, Illinois on March 17, 2026. He was born August 7, 1947 in North Charleroi, PA the son of John and Rose (Rutsky) Staranko. Leonard had a long career as a sales manager at Wahl Clipper Corporation in Sterling.
He is survived by children Kelsey (Chad) Stringer of Rock Falls, Peter (Sarah) Staranko...
Donald Sisson
Mar 15, 2026
Donald Lee Sisson
October 25, 1936-March 15, 2026
Donald Lee Sisson was born in Sterling, October 25, 1936. Son of Lloyd K. Sisson Sr. and Cordelia (Willman) Sisson.
A 1954 graduate of Sterling High School, he was a proud member of the Warriors Hall of Fame Baseball team. Known for his love of sports, especially baseball, and sense of humor, Lee carried these...
Darlene Leona Haak
Mar 12, 2026
Darlene Leona Haak, 94, of Sterling, passed away on Thursday March 12, 2026 at Parkway Center in Sterling, IL. Darlene was born November 28, 1931 the daughter of Menno and Pearl (Landis) Long. Darlene was a 1949 graduate of Sterling High School. On August 25th, 1957, she married the love of her life, Loren Haak. Loren preceded her in death...
John Brian Baird
Mar 10, 2026
John “Brian” Baird, 73, of Coleta died Tuesday March 10, 2026, at Rock River Hospice & Home in Sterling, IL, surrounded by family. Brian was born January 15, 1953, in Olney IL, the son of Philip and Freda (Price) Baird.
Survivors include one daughter Hilary (Joe) Garza; two brothers Brad ( Linda) Baird, and Brent (Janica) Baird; one sister...
Charles Robert Morris
Mar 8, 2026
Charles Robert Morris, of Locust Grove, Virginia, died at 4:25 pm on March 8th, 2026, surrounded by his daughter Amy and grandchildren Ash, Arin, and Fallon. He passed peacefully at his home in Morrison, following a long battle with Lewy Body dementia. He was born on October 20, 1944, at the Morris farm in Nicktown, Pennsylvania, and was the eighth...
Jose Lopez Jr.
Mar 6, 2026
Jose Lopez Jr., 66, of Dixon died on Friday March 6, 2026 at his home. Jose was born June 27, 1959 in Sterling the son of Jose and Elena (Hernandez) Lopez.
Jose graduated from Sterling High School in 1979, and shortly after joined the United States Airforce. He was stationed in California and England. Jose donated time to the Lee County...
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Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation offers a collection of obituaries for Sterling, IL & Whiteside County. With services throughout Illinois that are updated regularly. Find local Sterling, Illinois obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies.