U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
ORVILLE M. SOMMER
(1913~2002)
PEKIN ~ Orville M. Sommer, 88, of 2001 Independence Drive in Pekin, died at 9:20 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2002 at Pekin Hospital.
Born April 9, 1913 in Pekin to Wilbert C. and Edna Miller Sommer, he married Tillie Gittinger on April 25, 1935 in Meadows. She survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Gale (Earl) Seamands of Mahomet; two sons, Doug (Jo) Sommer of Pekin and Terry (Marcy) Sommer of Sarasota, Florida; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and one brother, Clarence (Anna) Sommer of Hopedale.
His parents, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.
He was a 1931 graduate of Pekin Community High School.
Mr. Sommer farmed in the Gibson City area from 1938 to 1966 where he was a director on the Ford County Farm Bureau board from 1950 to 1959 and president from 1959 to 1965. He was a director of Agricultural Business Service Company in 1965 and received the Ford County Progressive Farmer Award. He was a member of the Illinois Farm Bureau since 1940.
He became a licensed pilot in 1945 and was a member of the Gibson City Flying Club.
He helped organize the first unit school district in Ford County (Gibson City Unit School District) and served on the school board from 1948 to 1956. While in the Gibson City area, he held numerous civic and agricultural positions and was a deacon and elder at the Gibson City First Christian Church.
He was employed by the Illinois Agriculture Association as manager of the DeWitt County Farm Bureau from 1966 to 1969. He later moved to Pekin where he became the manager of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau from 1969 until his retirement in 1982.
After his retirement, he owned and operated Sommer Tours, a tour company that traveled the United States, including Hawaii and also Canada.
He was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Pekin and formerly served as its newsletter editor. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member and past president of the Pekin Men’s Senior Golf League. He was an avid painter and was a member of the Illinois Art League.
He was an active member of First Christian Church in Pekin, where he had served the church as board chairman, elder and deacon. He also had played on the church’s dart ball team, participated in the men’s fellowship and was an active choir member.
Service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2002 at First Christian Church. The Rev. Robert N. Brite, Jr. will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 1201 Chestnut Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
ROBERT F. HERREN
(1915~2002)
PEKIN ~ Robert F. "Bob" Herren, 86, of 107 Tremont Street in Hopedale, died at 3:36 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2002 at the Hopedale Nursing Home. He was formerly of Pekin and Peoria.
Born November 18, 1915 in Pekin to Frank and Susie Bush Herren, he married Ruth A. Weyhrich on August 1, 1948 in Pekin.
Surviving is his wife of East Peoria and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents; two brothers, Paul Herren and John Herren; and one sister, Clarissa "Babe" Natterstad, preceded him in death.
Mr. Herren was a World War II
Army Air Force veteran serving with the 33rd fighter squadron in the Pacific Theater. He attained the rank of Tech Sergeant.
He was employed at Caterpillar, Inc. for 33 years, retiring in 1978 as a supervisor in the engine test operations facility at the Mossville Tech Center.
A resident of Sun City West, Arizona from 1979 to 1995, he was a member of the Sun City West American Legion Post No. 94. He also was a member of the 5th Air Force Memorial Foundation, Inc.
He was a member of the Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City, Arizona.
He enjoyed playing cards.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2002 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. The Rev. Marvin L. Lorenz will officiate. Cremation will be accorded. Burial of ashes will be in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825.
PAUL L. COOPER
(1917~2002)
PEKIN ~ Paul Lewis Cooper, 84, of 1321 Chestnut Street in Pekin, died at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14, 2002 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Born April 7, 1917 in Pekin to John and Irma Dowell Cooper, he married Edith M. Lindstrom on February 3, 1939 in Burlington, Iowa. She survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Larry D. Cooper of Willington, Florida and Randy L. (Jean) Cooper of Rockford; one daughter, Paula S. (Ken) Ketelsen of Morton; three grandchildren, Patrick (Laura) Cooper of Freemont, California, Jean Marie Cooper of New York City and David C. Ketelsen of Morton and two sisters, Bette Wallinger and Hellyn Sarek, both of Pekin.
Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by his parents.
A graduate of Pekin Community High School, he was a member of the Class of 1936.
He worked at Caterpillar, Inc. for 35 years, retiring in 1981 as a manager of accounts payable in the general offices.
He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 1271 in Pekin. He also was a member of the Caterpillar Retirees Club.
He was a member of First Christian Church in Pekin.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at First Christian Church in Pekin. The Rev. Robert N. Brite, Jr. will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Entombment will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 1201 Chestnut Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
FREDRICK S. MORAN
(1924~2002)
PEKIN ~ Fredrick Steven "Fred" Moran, 77, of 3813 Evergreen Court, died at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2002 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Born August 28, 1924 in Augusta Springs, Virginia to William and Maude Alice Kirts Daley, he married Emma Mae Bollegar on February 21, 1946 in Pekin. She survives.
Also surviving are his mother of Fishersville, Virginia; two sons, W. Barry Moran of Chicago and F. Mark Moran of Tucson, Arizona; two daughters, Barbara Ann Wilcox of Covington, Georgia and Marsha Mae (Dennis R.) Gilbert of Peoria; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one sister, Evelyn (Wyatt) Miller of Baltimore, Maryland.
His father and four brothers preceded him in death.
A World War II
Army veteran, he served in the Philippines, New Guinea and Luzon as a combat engineer.
He was employed by Caterpillar, Inc. from 1946 until retiring in September of 1989, where he was a staff engineer in the planning department, building x.
He was a member of William Schaefer American Legion Post No. 44 and the Disabled American Veterans. He also was a member of the Caterpillar Retirees Club and the National Rifle Association.
He attended Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin.
Private services will be Monday, March 18, 2002 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. The Rev. Gaylord E. Buss will officiate. Public visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, where military rites will be accorded.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial & Tributes Program, Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, Illinois 60678-3968.
BETTY J. GREENE
(1930~2002)
MARQUETTE HEIGHTS—Betty Jo Greene, 71, of 108 Partridge Road died at 6:25 p.m., March 12, 2002 at Pekin Hospital.
Born December 31, 1930 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to William H. and Ollie Anna Lowe Myers, she married Charles D. Greene on October 2, 1948 in Marietta, Georgia.
Surviving are her husband; 1 daughter, Karen Ann Underwood of Marquette Hts.; 1 son, Mark Dwaine (Hyecha) Greene of Gurnee, Illinois; 3 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and 1 brother, John D. (Patsy) Myers of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Greene worked as a telemarketer for Neighborhood Periodical Club of Mid-America in Peoria for 12 years, retiring in 2000. She was a member of Marquette Heights Baptist Church and Order of the Easter Star, Cloverleaf Chapter #1002 in East Peoria.
Cremation will be accorded. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 16, 2002 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin chapel. Rev. H. David Clark will officiate. There will be no visitation. Burial of ashes will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to World Vision, P.O. Box 70200, Tacoma, Washington 98481-200.
BEVERLY C. FRANKS
(1918~2002)
PEKIN ~ Beverly Corrine Franks, 83, of 1622 Summit Drive, Pekin, died at 12:29 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2002 in the emergency room of Pekin Hospital.
Born October 20, 1918 in Taylorville to Alvin and Elizabeth Davis Jones, she married Irving Mark Franks on July 15, 1939 in Pekin. He died October 8, 1989 in Pekin. One infant sister (Florence Jones) also preceded her in death.
Surviving are three sons, Tom M. (Margaret) Franks of Chesterfield, Missouri, Robert I. Franks of Naperville, and Michael A. (Jan) Franks of Pekin; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Wilma (Lowery) Maloney of Moline and Betty (Bill) Bock of Pekin.
Mrs. Franks worked as a payroll clerk for the Tazewell County Clerk’s office in Pekin from 1964 to 1976. She previously worked in the Tazewell County Treasurer’s office and in the office of the American Distilling Company.
She was a member of the Tazewell County Democratic Woman’s Club and a former member of the Sunset Hills Country Club in Pekin. She had played in the ladies golf leagues at Sunset Hills Country Club and Parkview Golf Course, both in Pekin.
She attended First United Methodist Church in Pekin.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2002 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel, where visitation will be one hour prior to services. The Rev. Terry C. Edele will officiate. Entombment will be in Lakeside Mausoleum in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes. Association, 2580 Federal Drive, Suite 403, Decatur, Illinois 62526 or to the charity of the donors choice.
EDNA L. TEBBEN
(1915~2002)
PEKIN ~ Edna L. Tebben, 86, of Pekin, died at 1:42 a.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2002 at Pekin Hospital.
Born June 8, 1915 in Pekin to Walter F. and Winifred Gay Hecker, she married Robert T. Tebben on October 20, 1934 in Pekin. He died May 16, 1985 in Pekin. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Burl Hecker and one grandson.
Surviving are one son, R. David (Denise) Tebben of Pekin; two daughters, Sharon G. (Dr. John) Sombeck of Pekin and Ardis B. (Jerry) Roman of Barrington; twelve grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
A homemaker, she worked as a clerk in earlier years for the Central Book & Toy Store in downtown Pekin.
She was a charter member and past president of the Pekin Junior Women’s Club. She was a former board member of the YWCA in Pekin. She also had been an active member of the Peoria Players.
She was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin, where she was a member and past president of the Corona Society. She also served her church as a longtime Sunday school teacher.
She was an avid bridge player.
A memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2002 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel, where friends may call from noon until time of service. The Rev. Dwight E. Borden will officiate. Cremation will be accorded. Private Burial of ashes will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 101 North 8th Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
ESTHER M. BLACKWELL
(1912~2002)
PEKIN ~ Esther Mae Blackwell, 89, a resident of Westminster House in Kingwood, Texas, died 5:35 a.m., Monday March 11, 2002 in Kingwood.
She was born St. Patrick’s day, March 17, 1912 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Eugene "Blackie" Blackwell.
Surviving are two sons, Charles (Winona) Blackwell of Kingwood and Robert (Cassandra) Blackwell of Pekin; one daughter, Dorothy (Craig) Witte of Bloomington; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be private. Cremation will be accorded.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northeast Hospice Services, 18951 Memorial, North in Humble, Texas 77338
Arrangements by Kingwood Funeral Home, Kingwood, Texas. Obituary information provided by Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.
DONALD L. WAGNER
(1924~2002)
PEKIN ~ Donald Lewis Wagner, 78, of 1531 Glendale Avenue, died at 8:33 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2002 at his residence.
Born February 27, 1924 in Green Valley to George Anderson and Myrtle Gertrude Halsey Wagner, he married Suzanna Shay on October 12, 1946 in Green Valley. She survives.
Also surviving are one son, Dale D. (Barbara) Wagner of Pekin; two daughters, Diana L. (Ronald) Tomevi of Pekin and Darla S. Farnam of Aurora, Colorado; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Darlene (Robert) Meskimen of Pekin and two brothers, Bruce (Ruby) Wagner of San Jose and Keek Wagner of Pekin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and three sisters.
He was a World War II
Army veteran, serving with the 167th combat engineers in the European Theater. He loved his country and was proud to have served.
Mr. Wagner farmed in Malone Township, Tazewell County since 1955. He retired from farming in 1984. He also was employed by Caterpillar, Inc. for 30 years, where he retired from research at the proving grounds in 1976.
He was a member of the Tazewell County Farm Bureau.
He attended Pekin Bible Church.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 15, 2002 at Pekin Bible Church. The Rev. Richard W. Jones will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. Burial will be in Green Valley Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded.
Memorials may be made to Pekin Bible Church, 2405 Court Street, Pekin, Illinois 61554.
