U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Willard Hansen, longtime N-G editor, dies
WATERTOWN, Minn. – Willard S. "Bill" Hansen, 93, of Watertown, Minn., a longtime editor and writer for The News-Gazette whose journalism career spanned seven decades, died Saturday (Sept. 25, 1999) at Elim Nursing Home, Watertown, Minn.
"Bill Hansen was a part of The News-Gazette family for the better part of this century," said Mrs. Marajen Stevick Chinigo, president and publisher of the newspaper. "His contributions to the newspaper and the community were inestimable."
"Bill was one of the world's fine people," said Charles E. Flynn, editor emeritus of The News-Gazette. "He was an excellent journalist and a man of great judgment.
"Probably the most remarkable attributes were his many contributions to the welfare of7. That year, he began as a financial writer for the Syracuse, N.Y., Herald.
He worked from 1928 to 1929 at the Decatur Herald and began working at The News-Gazette in 1930. Fifty-eight years later, he was still writing his column, "Ramblings," for the paper.
He was an assistant city editor, city editor and twice served as managing editor. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Office of War Information, then worked for the State Department's international information division until he returned to The News-Gazette in November 1947. His second stint as managing editor ran from 1953 until 1969. He was named to the newspaper's board of directors in 1953 as well.
His activities included leadership positions with Rotary, the McKinley YMCA, the Champaign Chamber of Commerce, the Masons, the Illinois Editors Traffic Safety Seminar, the Salvation Army and the First Presbyterian Church. In 1937, he conceived an annual Elks Club edition of the paper, sold to benefit that group. It continued for more than 50 years. In 1979, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He had served the Champaign Rotary Club as its president.
In 1985, Mrs. Chinigo gave Mr. Hansen the paper's first "Employee Emeritus" award.
Funeral services for Mr. Hansen will be at 10 a.m. today at Johnson Funeral Home, 141 E. First St., WaconiaCQ, Minn. The Rev. Frank Wampach will officiate. Burial will be in Glen cemetery, Paxton.
Mr. Hansen was born Aug. 7, 1906, in Rock Island, a son of Henry and Emily Street Hansen. He married
Ebba Anderson. She preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Willard J. Hansen Jr. of Savoy and Jim Hansen of Deerwood, Minn.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Gerald Abbey
CROPSEY – Gerald D. Abbey, 66, of Monmouth, formerly of Cropsey, died at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 14, 1999) at Monmouth.
Graveside services, with full military rites by Fairbury VFW Post 9789, were held at Graceland cemetery, Fairbury. The Rev. Stanley Rapp officiated.
There was no visitation. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury, was in charge of arrangements.
Nina Blankenbaker
MONTICELLO – Funeral services for Nina M. Blankenbaker, 90, of Monticello, formerly of Tucson, Ariz., will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 E. Washington St., Monticello. Clay Blankenbaker will officiate. Burial will be in East Lawn cemetery, Tucson, Ariz.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Blankenbaker died at 2:05 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at Piatt County Nursing Home, Monticello.
Stuart Curtis
SCIOTA – Stuart A. Curtis, 17, of Sciota died in an automobile accident at 5:55 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) in McLean County.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Northwestern High School, Sciota, with the Rev. Michael H. Burdick officiating. Burial will be in the Good Hope cemetery, Good Hope.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home, Macomb.
Guy Davis
THAWVILLE – Funeral services for Guy W. Davis, 93, of Thawville will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lamb-Young Funeral Home, 108 N. Walnut, Roberts. The Rev. Sandra Gambrel will officiate. Burial will be in Lyman Township cemetery, Roberts.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Davis died at 3:30 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.
Walter Early
SEYMOUR – Funeral Mass for Walter Edward Early, 70, of Seymour will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 416 County Road 1100 N, Seymour. The Rev. George Wuellner, the Rev. Gary Fairchild and the Rev. Sidney Hormell will officiate.
Burial will be in St. Boniface Catholic cemetery, Seymour, with military rites by the Champaign Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5520 Color Guard and Seymour American Legion Post 1256.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 E. Washington St., Monticello.
Barbara Harmon
URBANA – Barbara Jean Harmon, 59, of Urbana died at 1:05 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 28, 1999) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Road, U.
Josephine Kent
SAVOY – Josephine R. Kent, 86, of Savoy died at 5:45 p.m. Monday (Sept. 27, 1999) at home.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Road, U.
Don Reed
MONTICELLO – Don F. Reed, 82, of Monticello, formerly of Cisco, died at 10:45 p.m. Monday (Sept. 27, 1999) at Kirby Hospital, Monticello.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine St., Arthur.
Charles Roberts
URBANA – Funeral services for Charles W. Roberts, 72, of Urbana will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Freese Funeral Home, 407 N. Bourne, Tolono. The Rev. Ken Young will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope cemetery, Sidney.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Roberts died at 2 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at Care Center of Urbana.
Edward Schutz
DANVILLE – Edward Russell Schutz, 100, of Danville died at 4:15 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home, Danville.
Pape Memorial Home and Cremation Gardens, 10 E. Williams St., Danville, is handling local arrangements.
Willard Severns
DECATUR – Willard Severns, 68, of Decatur died at 9:30 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Mound United Methodist Church. Private graveside services will be held.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Brintlinger Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland Ave., Decatur.
Ruby Veach
ASHMORE – Ruby Mae Veach, 89, of Ashmore died at 9:15 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 26, 1999) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Coles County.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sutton and Son Funeral Home, 139 E. Buena Vista, Kansas. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Olevia Walls
CHAMPAIGN – Olevia Walls, 98, of 108 W. Washington St., C, died at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 28, 1999) at the Care Centre of Urbana.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Twin City Memorial Chapel, 1203 N. Market St., C.
Jeanne Willis
ROSSVILLE – Jeanne Willis, 56, of rural Rossville died at 9:34 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 25, 1999) at St. Vincent Hospital, Carmel, Ind.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Antioch Church of Christ, 37605-B North 1900 East Road, Rossville. Earl E. Eells will officiate. Burial will be in Floral Hill cemetery, Hoopeston.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hamilton-Orr Funeral Home, 427 E. Main St., Hoopeston.