Obituaries

Stockton

Judith A. Batchelder Dascher, 85

Judith A. Batchelder Dascher, age 85, of Stockton, IL passed away Thursday, July 25, 2024 at FHN Memorial Hospital. She was born on March 17, 1939 to the late Cyrus and Mary (Kappes) Batchelder.

Judy was a 1957 graduate of Stockton High School. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton. Judy worked at The Lantern and The Cove and retired from Honeywell. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family, driving around sight-seeing, gambling, animals, and spending time with her great grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary (Steve) McCloy of Miles, IA; her son, Terry Batchelder of Fort Collins, CO; her grandchildren, Kelsey McCloy, Mercedes (Sawyer) Oglesby, Paige (Ricky Phillips) Dascher, Justus (Sadie) Dascher, and Josie Dascher; her great grandchildren, Kinsley Parker, Felix Phillips and Ezekiel Dascher; and her friend and caregiver, Pauline “PJ” Ebbings. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Mark; her brother, James; and family friend, Ed Coppernoll.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Wards Grove Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Warren

Donald “Don” Hawes, 86

Donald “Don” Hawes, 86, of Warren, IL passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the SSM Hospice Home in Monroe, WI. He was born on May 9, 1938, in Freeport, IL to Robert and Mayme (Schliem) Hawes. He was a 1956 graduate of Warren High School. On November 15, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart Carol Busch and together they raised three daughters. Don worked for Micro Switch Honeywell in maintenance for 44 years. His last 24 years he was a Maintenance Supervisor. He was very dedicated and passionate about his job and looked forward to going into work every day!

He had a great love for cars, owning over fifty throughout his life. Don was an avid NASCAR fan. He attended races and loved watching them at home. He crafted family heirlooms that his family cherishes with his very skilled woodworking abilities. Don and Carol loved going to garage sales and antique stores to find treasures to restore and refinish. Throughout their life they went camping with their girls. In their later years they upgraded to an RV, to share their love of camping with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Don is survived by Carol, his wife of 65 years; three daughters, Pam (John Deyo) Davis of Warren, Marcia (Doug) Kaiser of Monroe, WI, and Lana (Steve) Murphy of Lake Mills, WI; six grandchildren, Garrett (Amy) Davis, Kylie (Matt) Davis, Haley (Luke) Neuenschwander, Riley (Courtney Nevala) Murphy, Bryce (Jasmine Jones) Murphy, and Ian (Julia Carncross) Murphy; six great-grandchildren, Hudson, Adelyn, and Ella Davis, Kameron and Kaden Davis, and Wesley Murphy; sister-in-law Mary Hawes; two nieces, Melissa (Joe) Daddio and Mollie Hawes.

He was proceeded in death by his parents; in-laws Arthur and Alverna Busch; brother Ron Hawes and brother-in-law Karl Busch.

The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm at the Apple River Event Center in Apple River, IL. A light buffet lunch will be served.

For those of you who knew Don, he loved to share a good story. At 3:00 pm a time of sharing will take place. For those with a good story about Don, the family would love to hear them! For those not comfortable sharing in public, we will also have memory cards available to write down your story for the family to read later, in private.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in his memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com

Beverly Ann (March) Schiess, 90

Bev died July 22, 2024 at Winn Prairie in Freeport IL.

She was born on August 16, 1933 in Earlville IA to Marie Whiting March and LeRoy March. She was the first of four children. At age 10, she moved with her family to Warren IL where she attended school and graduated from WHS in 1950.

Bev enrolled in the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with her RN in 1953. She married Bob Schiess on Sept. 6, 1953 at St. Ann’s Church in Warren by the Rev. Clarence Thennes and together they raised six children. They were blessed to spend 70 years together.

Bob was a farmer and they lived most of their working lives on their farm in Stockton IL. Bev practiced her profession at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, St. Clare Hospital in Monroe WI, and lastly in the office of Drs. Rauchy and Williams in Stockton. She and Bob were well known in the area; they loved to dance, spending many Sunday afternoons at Turner Hall in Monroe. They also loved traveling: four times to Europe, twice to Alaska, and three times to Hawaii. Later, they traveled in their motor home, visiting every state and soon bought a home in Mesa AZ, where they spent the winters for 26 years.

Bev was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her husband and family were everything to her. She is survived by her daughters: Tracy Heidenreich of Elizabeth, and Janis (Greg) Thoren of Stockton. Her sons: Kerry (Cindy) of Byron Center, MI, Todd (Laila) of Concord CA, and Brian (Michele) of Lake Carroll. Her grandchildren: Aaron (Sara) Heidenreich, Julia (Ben) Blair, Neil Thoren, Kelly Schiess, Jody (Aedan) Gardill, Shannon (Kynady) Schiess, Anna (Quincy) Bollone, Zachary Schiess, Zoe (Kam) McDonnell, Travis (August) Schiess and Devin Schiess. Her great-grandchildren: Anna Blair, Brynn and Thomas Heidenreich, Scout Schiess and Weston Bollone. Her brother Bob (Trudy) March and sister-in-law Phyllis March many nieces, nephews and friends.

Bev was predeceased by her husband Bob, son Scott, son-in-law Loren Heidenreich, grandson Nathan Heidenreich, sister Mary Akkerman and brother Ron March.

Funeral services were held at Holy Cross Church in Stockton on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 10:30 am with a visitation beginning at 8:30 a.m. A private burial in the church cemetery will be at a later date. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

The family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to the entire Winn Prairie staff for the excellent care and love given to both Bev and Bob for the last 3 years, to Sarah Smith CNP from SSM, and Serenity Hospice.

Pearl City

Kenneth “Kenny” A. Neebel, 77

Kenneth “Kenny” A. Neebel, 77 of Pearl City, IL passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. Kenny was born on November 13, 1946, in Freeport, IL to Robert and Vida (Blair) Neebel. He was a graduate of Pearl City High School.

Kenny was a lifelong farmer in rural Pearl City. He also worked at Pearl Valley Eggs. Kenny enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to fairs to watch the cattle shows, watching rodeos, and raising short-horned cattle. Kenny performed team roping at rodeos, he helped his nephews; Scott and Tracey, get into showing cattle. He was always a jokester, and he loved horses.

Kenny is survived by his sister Jean Hill of Pearl City, IL, two nephews; Scott (Jean) Hill of Stockton, IL, and Tracey (Angie) Hill of Polo, IL, two great-nephews; Wyatt Hill and Sam Hill, one great-niece Sophie Watts, numerous cousins, and his beloved dog JJ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Dennis Hill.

Funeral Mass was held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lena. A visitation was from 9:00 AM until time of services on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the church. Father Andrew Hernandez officiated the services. Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com.

Lena

Gary Allen Schreiner, 88

Gary Allen Schreiner, 88, of Lena, IL, passed away peacefully at Lena Living Center on July 15, 2024. He was born on December 16, 1935 in Freeport to Lloyd and Pearl Schreiner of Lanark. He was their only child. Gary married Aileen Kramer Tonini on June 30, 1973 at their home, “Windy Oaks,” west of Lena, high on a hill overlooking the farm fields of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Gary is survived by Aileen, three children, Lori Logemann, Craig (Lisa) Schreiner and Alan Schreiner; stepson Alan (Kelly) Tonini; grandchildren LeeAnn Meyers, Ashlee (Bernard Cooper) Logemann; Cole Logemann, David (Abby) Jones; Zach (Heidi) Schreiner, Josh Schreiner and four great-grandchildren, Kennedy Cooper and Isabel, Charles and Iris Jones. He was preceded in passing by his parents, a stepson, Mark Tonini, and grandson, Aaron Emmanuel Schreiner.

Gary loved agriculture. He worked first as a farmer and later as a farm implement dealer. As a boy in Lanark, Gary was introduced to farming by relatives, the Hoffman family at Forreston and the Schreiners at Chadwick. As Gary was growing up, he spent summers on the farms of uncles and aunts and grandparents.

In the Lena business community, Gary found forward-thinking friends who would support his business ventures for the rest of his life. Gary’s bond with Lena began in 1960 when, on a drive with his dad, he found a farm west of town. On the 220-acre farm, he raised nearly every kind of livestock except dairy cattle. By the 1970’s he was renting more land and raising corn and soybeans exclusively. Along with farming, Gary began selling and trucking farm equipment for his friend Richard Wilkening, who owned a Case implement dealership in Lena.

As he continued farming, Gary entered a partnership with Wilkening and their friend Bill Kuhlman, owning and operating the popular Red Cedar Lounge supper club in Freeport for several years.

When Gary married Aileen in 1973, he was starting his own used farm implement business, Elroy Sales Co. at Elroy. With his patient, no-nonsense style and intimate knowledge of farm equipment, Gary earned the trust of his customers. Like them, he had farmed, often with the same kinds of machinery he was selling. Gary entered farm implement sales full-time. The small business along highway 20 became a hub of activity with machinery coming and going from across the Midwest. An innovator, Gary even took on a line of new equipment from Germany--air-cooled Deutz tractors. But the used trade was the lifeblood of his business with John Deere, Farmall and Ford tractors, New Idea corn pickers, all brands of combines and much more.

Gary’s exceptional ability attracted attention. In an overture to hire Gary, one Allis Chalmers dealer said he was one-of-a-kind. There was no one like him. When he closed the doors at Elroy for the final time, he began selling new equipment in Stockton at a CaseIH dealership owned by Joe Borsdorf. Gary then capped an outstanding career in his own hometown of Lanark with 20 years as sales manager at Curtis and Sons, where he sold John Deere equipment. An award-winning salesman, Gary received honors from the John Deere Corporation including a vacation trip to Australia with Aileen.

Gary’s successes can make it look like he knew how to do everything right. But it’s important to remember that he was living in the moment. When he took a risk, no one, himself included, knew how it would turn out. Those decisions were educated guesses. The excitement was in how it MIGHT turn out. This is what he leaves us with, along with the lesson that we should love what we do, and then persist.

Gary’s family wishes to thank the nursing staffs at FHN Hospital in Freeport and Lena Living Center for their skilled, compassionate, healing presence at Gary’s bedside. Truly, so many times, they seemed to know how to send just the right person at just the right time. Thanks also to the many friends who have reached out to check on Aileen and all of us. We treasure you.

A graveside ceremony for family and open to friends who wish to come will be held at Lena Cemetery in Lena, IL on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. A celebration of Gary’s abundant life will be held at Coach’s Golf and Grill, 621 W. Lena St. in Lena, IL from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com.