U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Schafer
PANA -- Flossie Nelle Elvers Schafer, 98, Pana, homemaker, died Sunday (March 2, 2003).
Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, McCracken-Dean Funeral Home, Pana. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial: Mound Cemetery, Pana. Memorials: St. John's United Church of Christ, Pana, or Carnegie-Schuyler Library Fund.
Member: St. John's United Church of Christ. Survivors: sons, John L. "Jack" Schafer, Pana; William Joseph Schafer, DVM, Decatur; daughter, Norma June Rever, Assumption; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren. Preceded by: parents, husband, one brother and one grandson.
Schonert
OLNEY -- Kathy Lynn Schonert, 37, Olney, died Sunday (March 2, 2003).
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, First United Methodist Church, Olney. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Olney. Burial: Crest Haven Cemetery, Claremont. Memorials: First United Methodist Church Christian Life Center or Mitchell & Connor Schonert Education Fund.
Strode
PESOTUM -- Diana L. Strode, 53, Pesotum, died Sunday (March 2, 2003). Arrangements incomplete: Joines Funeral Home, Villa Grove.
Zanni
HILLSBORO -- Aldo Zanni, 94, Petersburg, formerly of Hillsboro, Eagle Picher Smelter employee, died Saturday (March 1, 2003).
Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Bass-Patton Memorial Home, Hillsboro. Visitation: one hour before services. Burial: Cress Hill Cemetery, Hillsboro.
Cliff
DECATUR -- John A. "Bubba" Cliff Sr., 44, Decatur died Saturday (March 1, 2003).
Services: noon Friday, Greater Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation: one hour before services in the church. Burial: Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements by: Walker Funeral Service and Chapel.
Cornell
DECATUR -- Noah H. Cornell, 85, of Decatur died Tuesday (March 4, 2003).
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday in J.J. Moran & Sons Funeral Home, with Pastor Richard Woodworth officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Memorials: Meals on Wheels.
Mr. Cornell was born Sept. 11, 1917, in Rural Route Oakley, the son of Herbert Otis and Rosa Alice Crall Cornell. He was employed as an Archer Daniels Midland Co. electrician for 42 years, retiring in January of 1982. As a child, Noah attended Church of the Brethren in Cerro Gordo. A World War II Navy veteran, Noah was a member of the Grain Millers Local 103. He married Violet H. Million on June 14, 1938, in Monticello. She preceded him in death Aug. 18, 2000.
Surviving are his son, Jim (Judy) Cornell of Decatur; brother, Edward L. Cornell of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren, Steve (Vicki) Cornell of Decatur; David (Jackie) Cornell of Decatur; Cathy (Rob) Funk of Indianapolis, Ind.; great-grandchildren, Becky, Jeremy, Chelsie, Kayla, Haylee and Ryan; great-great-grandchildren, Chasity, Destiny and Jersey; stepgrandson, Steve Brown; great-stepgrandchildren, Jeremy and Megan; great-great-stepgrandchildren, Brent and Ashley; special friends, Mike and Kathy Burkham of Decatur; several nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and several brothers and sisters.
Special thanks to the 911 response team, Decatur Ambulance Service, Decatur Memorial Hospital E.R. staff, Coroner Mike Day, Pastor Richard Woodworth and Dr. John Newlin and staff for their many years of care and concern.
Noah, (Dad-Grandpa) you were so good to so many. Thank-you. We will miss you.
Jesse
FORSYTH -- Ronald Emil Jesse, 61, Forsyth, died Friday (Feb. 28, 2003).
Memorial Mass: 1 p.m. Thursday, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Visitation: one hour before services. Burial: Graceland Cemetery. Arrangements by: Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home. Memorials: American Diabetes. Association or Masses.
King
DECATUR -- Rachael Campbell King, 90, of Decatur died 3:55 p.m. Tuesday (March 4, 2003) in her home.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in St. John s Episcopal Church. Arrangements are by Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes. Memorials: St. John s Episcopal Church, Children s Museum or Decatur Arts Council.
Rachael was born June 19, 1912, in Ramsey, the daughter of Walter and Lillian Lyle Campbell. She was a member of St. John s Episcopal Church, worked in the insurance field for Creighton Jackson and Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co. and volunteered at Children s Museum and Thrift Shop.
Surviving are her children, Thomas Nickolas King and wife Chris of Alexandria, Va.; Eric G. King and wife Tina of Decatur; Jon E. King and wife Connie of Moweaqua; Deborah L. Norrington and husband Michael of Carbondale; Melissa A. Rhodes and husband Gary of Decatur; grandchildren, Nathan King; Benjamin King; Roxanne King; Eric and Purnima King; Krista and Nickolas Kates; Stefanie and Tom Dockendorf; Thomas King; Tamara and Richard Evey; Todd and Dannyel Norrington; Christopher Norrington; Tony and Tiela Norris; Andrew and Stacy Norris; Erica Rhodes; great-grandchildren, Kristian and Ian Kates; Seth Kates; Sophie Kates; Connor Norris; Chole Norris; Brandt Norris; sisters, Ruth Queen of Arlington, Va.; Harr
iet Randolph and husband David of California.
She was preceded in death by her parents, seven brothers and two sisters.
NE OBLI VISCARIS (never forget).
Lents
DECATUR -- Harold Eli Lents, 94, of East Peoria, formerly of Decatur, died Tuesday (March 4, 2003).
Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with Father Rick Weltin officiating. Visitation will be one hour before services in the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. J.J. Moran & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: St. Teresa High School.
Mr. Lents was born Oct. 18, 1908, in Springfield, the son of Eli and Anna Hanselmann Lents. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and retired in 1973 from A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. after 47 years of employment. He married Marie A. Schiene on Aug. 23, 1933, in Decatur.
Surviving are his wife of nearly 70 years, Marie Lents of East Peoria; sons, Michael Lents (Judi) of Decatur; Tony Lents (Kay) of Marshalltown, Iowa; daughter, Kaye Pool (Ralph) of Washington; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
Malone
DECATUR -- Melvin R. Malone, 81, of Decatur died 3:40 a.m. Tuesday (March 4, 2003) in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday in Camp Butler National Cemetery, Riverton, with military rites by Inter Burial Detail of Sangamon County. Arrangement are by Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes. Memorials: Millikin Homestead.
Melvin was born March 5, 1921, in Lincoln, the son of Dr. J. Walter and Elizabeth Compton Malone. He was an
Army veteran, serving in World War II in the European, Pacific and North Africa Theatre. He was owner/operator of Malone Equipment Co. and a graduate of Millikin University. He was a member of Millikin Alumni Association and Decatur Boat Club and he enjoyed boating and
hunting. He married Mary Lou May on Dec. 29, 1950, in Decatur. She preceded him in death Aug. 5, 2002.
Surviving are his sons, Patrick and wife Cathy of Rochester; Timothy and wife Patricia of Mount Zion; grandchildren, Matt and Hannah of Rochester; Aaron and Zachary of Mount Zion; sister, Jean Morton and husband Myron of Independence, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brothers, Harold, Roy and Larry.
Maxwell
HARRISTOWN -- Robert Lloyd "Bob" Maxwell, 51, of Harristown passed into eternal life 12:47 a.m. Tuesday (March 4, 2003) in Decatur Memorial Hospital, with his family at his side.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, with visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The family requests that casual dress be worn. Burial will be in Harristown Township Cemetery
with military rites by the Macon County Honor Guard. Memorials: Disabled Vietnam Veterans.
Mr. Maxwell was born Sept. 17, 1951, in Decatur, the son of Lloyd and Doris Ruth Saunders Maxwell. Bob was a proud Vietnam veteran, serving his country in the
Army. He retired from Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. after 28 years of service. He married Sheila M. Mahan on April 24, 1977, in Decatur.
He leaves behind his loving wife; daughter, Krystal Anne Maxwell; parents of Decatur; sister, Brenda Carol Gulley and husband John of Pierson; brothers, Mark Maxwell and Scott Maxwell and wife Laura, all of Decatur; Sheila's parents, Jack and Shirley Mahan of Decatur; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Bob went to join his loving sister-in-law, Roxanne Mahan; uncle, Charles Maxwell; both sets of grandparents.
My Dad was a nice guy if you sat down and got to know him. He loved his country music (Shania mostly) and he would love to sit out in the garage and listen to his baseball games. I am going to miss him saying, "Wish I had to go to work," whenever I had to leave. Mom and I are going to miss making fun of his "No big toe" once in a while. Most of all, I am going to miss everything about him. He was my dad. We all love him very much. I cannot wait for the day when I get to hug him again and be with him for the rest of my eternal days.
I love you Daddy and I always will.
We would like to thank all the staff and doctors at Decatur Memorial Hospital's intensive care unit and intermediate care unit, for everything they did to try to save his life. These people should be commended for their superior care given to our loved one.
Ponewash
DECATUR -- Leam Chandler Ponewash, 90, of Decatur died Tuesday (March 4, 2003) in Manor Care Nursing Home.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in St. Paul s Lutheran Church, with Pastor Wray Offerman officiating. Visitation will be one hour before services in the church. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery. J.J. Moran & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: Alzheimer unit at Manor Care Nursing Home or St. Paul s Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Ponewash was born July 18, 1912, in Tompkinsville, Ky., the daughter of Oliver "Tad" and Martha Combs Hutchens. She had worked at Van Law Carols clothing store. She was a member of St. Paul s Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Mission Society. She was a former member of Junior Decatur Woman s Club. She married Clement Ponewash on July 2, 1934. He preceded her in death in 1977.
Surviving are her daughter, Jill Campbell and husband David of Decatur; sons-in-law, Dale Poor of New Castle, Ind.; Alex Stavropoulos of Irvine, Calif.; brothers, Robert Hutchens and wife Viola of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Gale Hutchens of Camdenton, Mo.; sisters, Joyce Bridges of Decatur; Jackie Floyd and husband Bill of Tallahassee, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; children, Larry Ponewash; Loyce Poor; Linda Stavropoulos; brothers, Kenneth Hutchens and Bill Hutchens; sisters, Irene Chrans and Neil Peperdine; three grandchildren.
Pryczynski
DECATUR -- Pearl Pryczynski, 71, Decatur, died Wednesday (March 5, 2003). Arrangements incomplete: Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home.
Shadley
DECATUR -- Dorothy Shadley, 79, Decatur, died Wednesday (March 5, 2003). Arrangements incomplete: Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home.
Lotzgesell
OREANA -- Cecil E. Lotzgesell, 82, of Oreana went on to be with the Lord 12 p.m. Monday (March 3, 2003) in Shelbyville Manor.
Services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday in Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, with visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.
Mr. Lotzgesell was born May 7, 1920, in Duff, Ind., the son of Henry and Lela Atkinson Lotzgesell. He was raised in Decatur and a graduate of Decatur High School. He was a Sergeant in the
Army during World War II, serving in the European Theater of Operations as well as the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He retired from Mueller Co. in 1983. He was also a part-time home builder in Decatur. An avid ballplayer, he pitched Decatur Tom's Grill Fast-Pitch softball team to two state championships in the early 1950 s. He was member of Forsyth Baptist Church and enjoyed sports, nature, gardening, movies and his pets. He married Nancy E. Sweazy on March 7, 1942, in St. Charles, Mo.
Surviving are his daughters, Karen Smith and husband David of Oreana; Laura Lotzgesell of St. Louis, Mo.; son, John Lotzgesell and wife Charlene of Lubbock, Texas; grandchildren, Jeff and Scott Smith; Keri Lotzgesell (Mrs. Kyle) Gilbert; Nathan, Ben and Kathy Lotzgesell; Aunt Elizabeth Atkinson of Taylorville; three nephews; two nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, James, Kenneth and Albert.
Vieth
DECATUR -- Judith "Kay" Vieth, 59, of Decatur died 12:15 a.m. Wednesday (March 5, 2003) in St. Mary s Hospital.
Services will be 7 p.m. Friday in Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes, with visitation two hours before services.
Kay was born Aug. 31, 1943, the daughter of Wayne and Cecile Staab Mosser. She worked at A.W. Cash Valve from 1983 to 1996, and then as a secretary in the Macon County State s Attorney Office for three years, before retiring in 2001.
Surviving are her mother, Cecile of Decatur; daughter, Dawn Taylor and husband Roger of Decatur; grandchildren, Dalton Ky and Meghan Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her father.
The family would like to give a special thank-you to Dr. Franklin, St. John s Hospice and St. Mary s Hospital 7th Floor nursing staff.
