U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Thomas William Gentert
December 16, 1916 - May 26, 2013
Thomas William Gentert, 96, of Lostant, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2013 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, May 30, 2013 at Lostant United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Nowakowski, pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview cemetery in Tonica with full military rites conducted by the Lostant American Legion Post 173. Visitation will be 4-7:00 PM Wednesday at Mueller Funeral Home in Lostant and 10-11:00 AM Thursday at the church.
Mr. Gentert was born December 16, 1916 on the Gentert Farm in Lostant to William A. and Marcella (Whalen) Gentert. He married
Doris Grant on June 23, 1943 at the First Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, UT.
Mr. Gentert was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served as a Staff Sergeant in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre during World War II from 1942-1946. He was a lifetime member of the Lostant American Legion Post 173 and Streator Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1492. He was past commander of the LaSalle County American Legion. He was a member of Lostant United Methodist Church and the American Pencil Collectors Society.
Survivors include his wife, Doris; daughter, Nancy (Ron) Williams of Theodore, AL; son, John Gentert of Lostant; three grandsons, Eric, Lee and Dale Johnson and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Albert and Ed Gentert.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and Gary Lenhausen, Buddy Maroni and Jimmy Gentert.
Clarence 'Satch' C. Koplin
July 25, 1936 - May 25, 2013
Clarence C. 'Satch' Koplin, 76, of Peru, passed away surrounded by his family Saturday morning, May 25, 2013 at IVCH in Peru.
Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 30 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Peru followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, Peru with Rev. Harold Datzman, O.S.B. officiating. Burial will follow at Valley Memorial Park, Spring Valley. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Satch was born on July 25, 1936 in Peru to Ervin and Anna (Harseim) Koplin. He married
Mary Padilla on June 26, 1965 in St. Joseph’s Church, Peru. He worked as a Teamster Local 722 truck driver for Hills Trucking, Consolidated Freight and Yellow Freight before retiring in 1984. Later he worked as a student bus driver from 1985 up until his illness. He also served in the Army joining in 1959 and was discharged in 1960 for hardship due to the passing of his father. Most people probably remember Satch as the friendly bartender from the Peru Eagles Club where he would always serve up an entertaining conversation as well as a good drink. Satch was a loving husband, father and grandfather that touched many people's lives and will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Peru, Peru Eagles Club and Cedar Point Sportsman Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Peru; one daughter, Melissa (Steve) Pawlak of Peru; three grandchildren, Marissa, Brandon and Brent Pawlak and his buddy, Bentley.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Wayne and Lloyd Koplin.
Pallbearers will be Brandon Pawlak, Brent Pawlak, Tim Postula, Joe Staski, Gilbert Moreno, Ray Galindo and Lloyd Koplin.
Memorial contributions may be directed to family for a memorial to be established at later date.
Patricia J. Koplin
October 25, 1937 - May 24, 2013
Patricia J. (Burns) Koplin, 75, of Peru, passed away Friday evening, May 24, 2013 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Peru, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Peru with Rev. Harold Datzman, O.S.B., officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet cemetery in Dwight. Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Koplin was born on October 25, 1937 in Streator to Patrick and Margaret (Rozak) Burns. She married
Wayne Koplin on June 15, 1959 at St. Patrick’s Church in LaSalle. She attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She was a licensed practical nurse and a homemaker. Patricia was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Peru.
She is survived by her mother, Margaret Burns of Dwight; two daughters, Margaret Koplin of Peru and Susan (Gus) Haramaras of Glenview; two grandchildren, Elle and Bebe Haramaras and one sister, Margaret (Kenneth) Hauger of Plano.
She was preceded in death by her father and her husband, Wayne Koplin on May 8, 2011.
Pallbearers will be Gus Haramaras, Ken Hauger, Don Bollis, Darin Lilly, Rick Anderson, Terry Jones and Bob Dieci.
Memorial contribution may be directed to family for a memorial to be established at a later date.
CHERYL L. FORREST
April 4, 1947 - May 22, 2013
Cheryl L. (Bara) Forrest, 66, of Lostant, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, May 22, 2013 at home.
Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Friday, May 24, 2013 at Mueller Funeral Home in Lostant with Terry Ann Dumyahn, VITAS Hospice Chaplain officiating. Burial will follow in Hope cemetery in Lostant. Visitation will be 9-11:00 AM Friday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Forrest was born April 4, 1947 in Ottawa to Louis and Barbara (Monahan) Bara. She married
Arthur L. Forrest on August 16, 1968 in Henry.
Mrs. Forrest was a member of the Lostant Ladies League for several years. She enjoyed crocheting, playing cards, cooking and baking and listening to Elvis. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren.
Survivors include three sons, Patrick (Dena) Forrest of Lostant, Corey (Dawn) Forrest of Rutland and Andy Forrest of Lostant; one daughter, Wendy Forrest of Lostant; seven grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, Samantha and Devin Forrest, Bailey Rockey, Robert Vargas and Anthony Keckler; five great-grandchildren, William, Anthony, Laila, Liia and Bryce; one brother, Greg Parsons of Peoria; two sisters, Mary (Steve) Dollar of Peoria and Ronda Harris of Ladd and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Arthur on September 30, 1995; one granddaughter, Ashley Forrest and one brother, Ronald Bara.
Pallbearers will be her three sons and Chris Dose, Scott Dose, Steve Dollar and Rob Vargas.
Memorial donations may be directed to the family.
LORA JANE GRAY
July 3, 1934 - May 21, 2013
Lora Jane (Williams) Gray, 78, of Dalzell, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at her home.
Funeral services will be held 8 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013 at the Mueller Funeral Home, Peru with Pastor Betty Delgado of Trinity United Church of Christ, LaSalle officiating. Burial will be held on Saturday, May 25 with procession to Peru City cemetery leaving the funeral home at 9 a.m. Visitation will be held Friday 5 to 8 p.m at the funeral home.
Mrs. Gray was born July 3, 1934 in Shady Point, OK to Thomas and Mary (McNeil) Williams. She married
James Gray on January 12, 1952 at LaSalle Baptist Church, LaSalle.
She is survived by her husband James, 5 children, James (Annette) Gray of Cape Coral, FL, Cynthia (David) Weberski of Spring Valley, Debra (Mark) Vitale of Dalzell, Brian (Caryn) Gray of Dalzell and Jeffrey (Maria) Gray of Aurora; 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and a brother Bill Williams of McAlester, OK.
She was preceded in death by a son Dennis, a grandson Cody and 2 brothers
Pallbearers will be Anna Weberski, Michael Vitale, Michelle Vitale-Harmon, Nicole Gray, Josh Gray, Mark Vitale and David Weberski.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
Mary E. Wagner
JANUARY 20, 1921 - MAY 19, 2013
Mary E. (Stuart) Wagner, 92, of Peru, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2013 at her home.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Mueller Funeral Home in Peru with Rev. Kay Harding, pastor of Zion United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Peru City cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Wagner was born January 20, 1921 in Traer, Iowa to John and Ida (Kerns) Stuart. She married
Paul C. Wagner on December 5, 1942 at Zion United Church of Christ in Peru.
Mrs. Wagner was graduated from Kewanee Public School of Nursing in 1942. She worked as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in LaSalle and later at People's Hospital in Peru. Mary was a flagger at Byron’s Moto Sports Park and enjoyed going to the motor cross races with her husband and two sons who raced. Mary also enjoyed working outside in her garden.
Survivors include two sons, John Wagner and Joe (Sue) Wagner both of Peru; two nieces, Linda Cross and Jean McHose.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul on December 6, 2003; three brothers; and two sisters.
Pallbearers will be John Wagner, Joseph Wagner, Susan Wagner, Daryll Cross, and Chris Alexander.
Memorial donations may be directed to the family or to IVAR.
Richard Dale Stevenson
August 18, 1937 - May 8, 2013
Richard 'Steve' Stevenson, 75, of Ottawa, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at his home.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with the Rev. Brian Manigold, a nephew, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa where Full Military Rites will be accorded. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, and from 9 to 9:50 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Richard was born on August 18, 1937, in Ottawa, to Milton and Ethel (Clairmont) Stevenson. He served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1962. Richard was a carpenter and was retired from the Sheridan Correctional Center. He married
Maryellen Christopher on February 17, 1957 in Ottawa. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church and the Woodcarvers Club.
He is survived by his wife Maryellen, 2 sons, Keith (Jackie) Stevenson and Kurt (Diane) Stevenson, both of Ottawa, 6 grandchildren; Ashley, Ryan, Ali, Jake, Hayley and Nicole Stevenson and 3 sisters, Phyllis Manigold, Marilyn Roesler, both of Ottawa and Betty (Ken) Blake, of Elkart, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Mildren Lucas, and 4 brothers: Arnold, Ted, Robert and Wayne Stevenson.
Pallbearers will be his grandson, Jake Stevenson, and nephews: Gary, Tom, and Paul Stevenson, Jerry Roesler, David Manigold, Chuck Lucas and Steve Blake.
Memorials may be directed to 'Relay for Life, ' 'Autism Speaks, ' or the donor’s choice.
Louis E. Gerding
May 9, 1926 - May 6, 2013
Louis E. Gerding, 86, of Ottawa, died Monday, May 6, 2013 at his home.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Donna Trinko, Pastor of Evangelical United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park where full military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Louis was born on May 9, 1926, in Ottawa, to Hubert L. and Marie (Broman) Gerding. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, Class of ’44. He married
Eileen Chalus on July 10, 1948 in Ottawa. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was a service Technician for Nicor Gas for 38 years. Following his retirement, he served as a Bailiff for the LaSalle County Circuit Court. He was a member of Evangelical United Methodist Church and past member of Illinois Valley Radio Control Club, Wood Carver Club, American Legion Post 33 and Musicians Union. His most treasured times were spent with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen, a daughter Nancy L. (Randy) Tuftie, of Utica, 2 sons, Daniel L. (Clare) Gerding, of Glenview, IL and Stephen H. (Susan) Gerding, of Joliet and 6 grandchildren, Erica (Jarod) Gutesha, and Katie, Danny, Connor, Kelley and Kendall Gerding.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother Dale Gerding.
Pallbearers will be his 6 grandchildren and Jarod Gutesha
Memorials may be directed to Evangelical United Methodist Church or OSF St. Elizabeth Home Health.
