U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Carol H. Northcott, 75, of Onarga, IL
Carol Northcott died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. Monday (Feb. 2, 2009) until the 2:00 p.m. funeral service at Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga. The Rev. Tom Logsdon will officiate.
Burial will be in Onarga Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes. Association.
Mrs. Northcott was an EMT in Onarga for 10 years. She was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Champaign, the daughter of Irvin and Gwendolyn Frazee Gromoll. Her husband, William J. Northcott Sr., whom she married June 25, 1955, in Onarga, died Nov. 23, 2002. She enjoyed greenhouses, orchids, gardening, woodworking and rebuilding pianos.
Surviving are one daughter, Kathryn Northcott of Onarga; one son and daughter-in-law, Drs. William and Carrie Northcott of Laingsburg, MI; and two grandsons, Ethan and Justin Northcott of Laingsburg.
Eugene H. Potter, 82, of Watseka, IL
Eugene H. Potter died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009 at the Gilman Health Care Center. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home, Watseka. The Rev. James Legner will officiate.
Private graveside services will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Watseka. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the donor’s choice.
Mr. Potter was an electrician and locksmith for many years. He was born Feb. 19, 1926, in Watertown, S.D., the son of Earl M. and Erma Hubbart Potter. His wife, the former Shirley I. Freeman, whom he married Oct. 21, 1956, in Chicago, died Dec. 21, 2001. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II and the Korean conflict.
Surviving are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Lester and Diana Potter of Pontiac, Eric Potter of Sheldon; one daughter, Patricia Hill of Holton, Kan.; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Dale R. Potter of Oak Forest; and one sister, Dorothy Trumble of Orange Park, Fla.
One brother is deceased.
Darlene Wood Focken, 86, of Watseka, IL
Darlene Wood Focken died Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 at Prairieview Lutheran Home in Danforth. Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009 at the Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka, and from 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Watseka, until the 10:30 a.m. funeral service.
Burial will be in Sugar Creek Cemetery, Stockland. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Mrs. Focken was a registered nurse for 41 years at Roberts Clinic and Iroquois Memorial Hospital. She was born May 12, 1922, in LaSalle, the daughter of Charles Harvey and Mary Grace Thomas Spurr. Her first husband, Dr. Fred Wood, whom she married Nov. 14, 1943, in Sarasota, Fla., died June 7, 1973. She later married Melvin Focken on Jan. 6, 1979, in Crescent City. He died July 28, 1993. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Watseka.
Surviving are two daughters and one son-in-law, Mary Alice and Julian Freund of Chesterton, Ind., Susan Jane Wood of Normal; one son and daughter-in-law, Guy Fred and Janice Wood of Carol Stream; one stepson, Stephen Focken of Beaumont, Texas; four grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
Deceased are one stepson, two brothers and three sisters.
Kelly L. Wright, 27, Hoopeston, IL
Kelly L. Wright, 27, of Hoopeston, IL passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 in Hoopeston.
Visitation will run from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, until the 11 a.m. service at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka, IL. Elder Raleigh Hinkle will officiate.
Ms. Wright was born May 27, 1982 in Watseka, IL, a daughter of Samuel C. and Rossann (Simonton) Hammond Wright.
Survivors of Ms. Wright include her mother, Rossann Hammond of Sheldon; one son, Dylan Shoulders of Hoopeston; one daughter, Samantha Shoulders of Hoopeston; two sisters, Kimberly Hammond of Sheldon and Amanda Hammond of Wellington; one half-brother, Samuel Wright Jr. of Ohio; maternal grandmother, Eleanor Long of Demotte, IN; four uncles, David Wright of Morocco, IN; Matthew Wright and Robert Wright of Rensselaer, IN and Robert Simonton of Roselawn, IN; and two aunts, Brenda Kopka of Demotte, IN and Jane Wright of Goshen, IN.
She was preceded in death by her father; her maternal grandfather; her paternal grandparents; and two aunts.
Ms. Wright was a homemaker. She enjoyed spending time with her children.
Memorials may be made to Family’s Wishes.
DeWayne L. Hemp, 74, Milford, IL
DeWayne L. Hemp, 74, of Milford, IL passed away on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009 at his home.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28 at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton, with a prayer service at 5 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at St. John the Baptist Church in L’Erable, IL. The Rev. James Holup will officiate. Burial will be at the L’Erable Catholic Cemetery in L’Erable.
Mr. Hemp was born June 1, 1935 in Buckley, IL, a son of William and Etta Zachgo Hemp. He married Margaret Dutour on Dec. 18, 1954 in L’Erable. She survives.
Other survivors of Mr. Hemp include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Susan and Larry Peters of Ashkum, IL, Wanda and Randy Berns of Clifton, IL and Debora Hemp of Beaverville, IL; three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Kris Hemp of Cherokee Village, AR, Brian and Lynn Hemp of Winter Haven, FL and Kevin and Trisha Hemp of Milford, IL; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Marilyn and Basil Kilbreath of Herscher, IL and Karen Berg of Bourbonnais, IL; two sisters-in-law, Eugenia Hemp of Ashkum and Evelyn Swanson of Wild Rose, WI; one brother-in-law, Edmund Menard of Clifton; twenty-one grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
Preceding Mr. Hemp in death were his parents; three brothers, Durl, Dilworth and Samuel Hemp; one sister, Naomi Ader; one daughter, Janice Hemp; and one step-grandson, Grant Yonka.
Mr. Hemp retired from Gould Battery as a charging technician after having worked there for 50 years and had farmed for many years, too. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in L’Erable. He enjoyed
hunting, fishing, trapping, and gardening, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Family’s Wishes.
Arvella Seggebruch, 95, Cissna Park, IL
Arvella H. Seggebruch, 95, of Cissna Park, IL passed away on Friday, Dec. 25, 2009 at Heartland Health Care in Paxton, IL.
Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park and from 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, until the 11 a.m. service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ash Grove. The Rev. Kevin Wendorf will officiate. Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Ash Grove.
Mrs. Seggebruch was born Aug. 1, 1914 in Ash Grove Twp. in Iroquois County, a daughter of Henry and Sophie Behrens Schroeder. She married Edward J. Seggebruch on Jan. 1, 1936 in Woodworth. He preceded her in death on July 24, 1996.
Survivors of Mrs. Seggebruch include three sons and daughters-in-law, Gordon and Phyllis Seggebruch of Onarga, Larry and Margaret Seggebruch of Urbana and Stuart and Jane Seggebruch of Morton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Imogene and Henry Breymeyer of Cissna Park and Randa and Kenneth Davis of Urbana; twelve grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Seggebruch was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; four sisters; and one great-granchild.
Mrs. Seggebruch was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ash Grove.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ash Grove or Donor’s Choice.
Andrew J. Atwood Jr., 71, Watseka, IL
Andrew Atwood Jr. Obit PicAndrew J. Atwood, Jr., 71, of Watseka, IL passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 at his daughter’s home in Kankakee.
Cremation rites will be accorded with a memorial service and Burial in the G.A.R. Cemetery in Watseka, IL to be held at a later date.
Mr. Atwood was born Oct. 8, 1938 in Watseka, IL, a son of Andrew J. and Lena A. Ferry Atwood Sr. He married Nancy L. Marcott on Oct. 17, 1959 at the Prairie Dell Church in Iroquois, IL. She preceded him in death on Oct. 6, 2002.
Survivors include one son, Doug Atwood of Watseka; one daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Kevin Sippel of Kankakee; two sisters, Catherine Loveland of Iroquois and Jean Anderson of Hoopeston; four grandchildren, Andy Atwood, Andrea Sippel and Allison Sippel all of Watseka and Amanda (Paul) Culp of Kankakee; one great-grandchild, Sadie Culp of Kankakee; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife, he was preceed in death by his parents; one brother, Fred Atwood; and two sisters, Linda Atwood and Anita Atwood.
Mr. Atwood worked 30+ years for the Union Pacific Railroad in the signal department. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends,
hunting, golfing 
, reading books and watching movies about the Civil War and Westerns, especially if John Wayne was in them.
Claude E. “Bill” Whitlock, 76, Onarga, IL
Claude E. “Bill” Whitlock, 76, of Onarga, IL passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 at Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka, IL.
Visitation will run from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga. Rev. Mike Pennock will officiate. Burial will be at the Onarga Cemetery in Onarga.
Mr. Whitlock was born Oct. 19, 1933 in Chicago, IL, a son of Claude and Sue Karne Whitlock. He married Carol Casey on Oct. 23, 1963 in Las Vegas, NV and she survives.
Other survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Claude “Bill” Whitlock of Chatsworth, IL and Mark and Kelley Whitlock of Gilman, IL; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Jean Smith of New Hampshire, Shirley and Elmer Schroeder of New Mexico and Susan and Joe Bucyk of Arizona; and five grandchidren.
Preceding him in death was his parents; two brothers; and two sisters.
Mr. Whitlock was owner and operator of the Red Door restaurant. He had served in the U.S. Navy.
Memorials may be given to the Salvation
Army.
David D. VanHoveln, 76, Milford, IL
David D. VanHoveln, 76, of Milford, IL passed away on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 at his home.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Segur-Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka and for one hour prior to the 11 a.m. service on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer. The Rev. Matt Steendahl will officiate. Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Schwer.
Mr. VanHoveln was born Nov. 13, 1933 in Ash Grove Township, a son of Hiram H. and Sophie H. Eilers VanHoveln. He married Shirley M. Hummel on Aug. 4, 1962 in Crescent City, IL and she survives.
Other survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Todd Schippert of Milford; one son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Jeanne VanHoveln of Milford; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Anna Marie and Lowell Easter of Urbana, IL and Ruth and Gordon Ewerks of Fruitland Park, FL; and five grandchildren, Cody and Jordan Schippert and Monica, Caleb and Seth VanHoveln, all of Milford.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Joe.
Mr. VanHoveln had been a life-long farmer. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Schwer.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Milford Ambulance or the Amyloidosis Foundation.
Orville W. Cordes, 84, Clifton, IL
Orville W. Cordes, 84, of Clifton, IL passed away on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, IL.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Clifton Wesleyan Church. The Rev. Dan Shipton will officiate. Cremation rites will be accorded.
Mr. Cordes was born July 25, 1925 in Kankakee, IL, a son of Henry and Caroline Janasuch Cordes. He married Dorothy M. Scering on July 29, 1944 in Kankakee and she survives.
Other survivors include one daughter, Cynthia LaFond of Naples, FL; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Glenn Cordes of Placerville, CA, William and Carole Cordes of Coral Springs, FL and Douglas and Brenda Cordes of Piper City, IL; stepchildren, Jane and Russell Reinwald of DeSoto, IL, Victoria and Wayne De Boef of Alexandria, MN, Kathy Jo and Herb Hicks of Elgin, IL and Paul and Rhonda Cordes of Bourbonnais, IL; 18 grandchildren; 26 step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 23 step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; two sisters; two sons; and one daughter.
Mr. Cordes worked for 31 years as a line worker at A.O. Smith and also worked as a farmer and a carpenter. He was a member of the Clifton Wesleyan Church. He enjoyed woodworking.
Memorials may be made to the Clifton Wesleyan Churhc
Donald J. Lajoie, 63, Ashkum, IL
Donald J. “Red” Lajoie, 63, of Ashkum, IL passed away on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 at his home.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton, IL. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Assumption BVM Church in Ashkum. Rev. Charles Tuttle will be the main concelebrant. Burial will be at Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, MA at the discretion of the family at a later date.
Mr. Lajoie was born Feb. 25, 1946 in Worcester, MA, a son of Roland M. and Mabel C. Hickey Lajoie. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include three brothers and sisters-in-law, Roland and Suzanne Lajoie of South Yarmouth, MA, Robert and Patricia Lajoie of San Diego, CA and David and Beverly Lajoie of Holden, MA; four nieces; two nephews; and his long time companion, Ms. Judy Palmer of Ashkum.
Donald graduated from the former New England School of Accounting in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1964; He received his Bachelors’ Degree in Accounting from the former New Hampshire College of Accounting and Commerce in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1968 and attended Pace University in New York, New York.
Mr. Lajoie was a retired Finance Officer/Comptroller in the Department of the
Army’s Corp of Engineers and held other positions. He had various assignment stations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East and also traveled to South East Asia and South America.
He was of the Roman Catholic faith. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree and the Illinois State Council of the Knights of Columbus and was their current Executive Secretary. He was an avid Red Sox fan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Special Olympics or Newman Apostolate (in care of the Knights of Columbus).
Mary H. Newman, 90, of Cissna Park, IL
Mary Helen Newman, 90, of Cissna Park, died peacefully on Monday, December 21, 2009 at Illinois Knight’s Templar Home, Paxton.
Born March 18, 1919 in Danville, Illinois, the daughter of John and Rosa Whipple Carey, she attended St Patrick’s Catholic School and Danville High School and earned her teaching degree from Illinois State Normal University. She taught fourth and fifth grade at Collett School in Danville.
In 1944, Mary Helen married Vincent Newman of Cissna Park and the couple settled on the family farm and raised their six children. Mary Helen was active in Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Rankin, IL and served as the church organist for 41 years. Through her patience, teaching skills and love, she passed on her appreciation for music, reading and education to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mary Helen was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, and will be greatly missed by her six children, Robert of Bogota, Colombia, Mary Kay of Champaign, IL, Tom of Cissna Park, IL, Tim and Ruth (Wagner) Newman of Cissna Park IL, Richard and Karen (Patterson) Newman of Geneva, IL, Anne Newman and Phil Duling of Paxton, IL; six grandchildren, Patrick, Amanda and Angela (Corum) Newman, Jamie Kuhn, Kaitlyn and Michael Duling; three great-grandchildren, Baylee Newman, Ella Corum and Olivia Fuoss; a sister, Winifred Mallard of Trinton Falls, NJ, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosa and John Carey, her loving husband Vincent (1989), and her siblings: Loretto O’Connell, Thomas Carey, Sister Rose Amelia Carey, Reverend William Carey, John Carey, Joseph Carey and Michael Carey.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Knapp Funeral Home, 219 West Blaine St., Cissna Park, IL. and also one hour prior to the service.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24 at Knapp Funeral Home in Cissna Park. Rev. Scott Huggins will officiate. Interment will follow at Rankin Union Cemetery in Rankin, IL.
Memorials may be given to Iroquois Memorial Hospice, Sons of Charity or Donor’s Choice.
For information call Funeral Home at 815-457 -2424.
