9 minute read
Cleon David Eyrich, Rita A. Nagel, Karen L. Temple, Jody B. Vroman, C.E. “Nip” Hartman, Clarence A. “Clink” Kettler, Pages
Rita A. Nagel of Morrison, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 in Maple Grove, Minnesota after battling dementia with grace and dignity
for two decades.
She was born on November 29, 1932 in Clinton, Iowa to long-time local florists Joe and Helen (O’Toole) Wilson. Rita and her “favorite sister”, Joanie, spent many hours together at Wilson’s Greenhouse, which fostered a lifelong love of community service, nature and science.
Rita graduated from Morrison High School in 1950, and then attended St. Catherine College in St. Paul, Minnesota, before graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University.
Rita married John Nagel on June 16, 1956 and they celebrated their 60th Anniversary together before he passed away in 2016. As a wedding present, John built Rita her dream home on Carroll Road. She loved “The Red Brick House”. They lived there together for over 45 years, where they raised their six children.
Education was a lifelong passion for Rita. For more than 25 years, she taught full-time while raising 6 kids and somehow finding time and energy to earn her Master’s Degree in Education. She wrapped up her career teaching 8th grade Science at Morrison Junior High School and won Teacher of the Year for her work re-establishing a prairie and a windbreak at the school.
She was curious and cultivated a sense of curiosity in others. She always had a jigsaw or crossword puzzle underway. Rousing family game nights brought her joy and she will be fondly remembered for assembling the family on the driveway on warm summer nights to watch meteor showers. She loved creating things - dozens of spectacular quilts, endless crafts, thousands of cookies and hours of volunteer time for the Morrison Historical Society. Rita was a lifelong faithful Catholic. Serving and staying connected to the community was important to her.
She loved her family, especially her 13 grandchildren, and every holiday was a celebration. Upon retirement, she and her husband, John, enjoyed many trips touring the U.S. and overseas, winters in sunny Florida as well as visiting her far-flung family.
Those left to honor her memory include daughters, Doris Nagel of Lincolnshire, Illinois, Susan (John) Mack of Maple Grove, Minnesota; sons, Joseph (Julie) Nagel of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Robert (Nancy) Nagel of Morrison, Colorado, Thomas (Shirlene) Nagel, of Amarillo, Texas, and William (Sarah) Nagel of San Francisco, California; 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Joan Wilson Lane and numerous in-laws.
Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 6 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Morrison, with Rev. Slawomir Zimodro officiating. Burial will be at Grove Hill Cemetery afterwards. Visitation will occur one hour prior to Mass at the church.
Cleon David Eyrich, 98, of Prophetstown, IL, died Thursday, December 29, 2022 at Allure of Prophetstown. There will be a funeral mass held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown, officiated by Father Reese. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2023 at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, IL. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown.
Cleon was born November 30,1924 in West Reading, PA, to Clarence C. and Elmira (Wayne) Eyrich and moved to Illinois as a child. He was educated in rural Henry County schools. On November 30, 1946 he married Jean C. McKenna in Prophetstown. She died on September 15, 2020. Cleon farmed alongside his father and continued to farm for a total of 52 years, retiring in 1991.
Cleon was a lifelong member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Prophetstown where he volunteered years of service caring for the church and grounds.
He loved restoring International Harvester Farmall tractors, and also acquired an Oliver 66 and 77 as well. He displayed his collection for many years at the Whiteside County Fair and participated in many area parades. He was a member of the Antique Engine and Tractor Association in Geneseo.
Retirement found him often fishing, especially sharing a boat with his brother-in-law Al Vroman in Minnesota and Florida.
Cleon enjoyed traveling, including a vacation in Hawaii, an Alaskan Cruise, as well as visiting various locations in the Western U.S.
He also loved to share stories of his youth, some of his favorites were coming home from school to find electricity running through his home for the first time and running his father’s twine baler, which was the first one in the area purchased in 1944.
The family would like to thank the staff at Allure in Prophetstown and his special caregivers over the past few years.
Survivors include four daughters, Darla (Clare) Corbin of Prophetstown, Joan (Ken) Weerts of Carmel, IN, Elizabeth (Bill) VanZuiden of Fulton, IL and Colleen (Jake) Warren of Harvard, IL; three sons, David Eyrich, Paul (Bonnie) Eyrich and Dan (Susan) Eyrich, all of Prophetstown; twenty-three grandchildren; thirty-four great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one infant daughter-Diane, one son Mark and six siblings.
A memorial has been established to St Catherine Church in Prophetstown.
RITA A. NAGEL
Born: November 29, 1932 in Clinton, IA Died: December 27, 2022 in Mapel Grove, MN
WALNUT – Karen L. Temple, age 82, formerly of Sterling died Sunday, December 25, 2022 at Heritage Health in Walnut. Karen was born on November 30, 1940 in Boone, Iowa the daughter of Leo and Elda (Larson) Bell. She graduated from Fulton High School in 1959 . Karen married Allen Temple on March 18, 1960 in Fulton. He preceded her in death on December 9, 2011. She was employed at several area department stores and worked a short time at General Electric in Morrison. Survivors include one daughter, Kim (Randy) Melton of Rock Falls; two sons, Dr. Brian (Kim) Temple of Los Alamos, NM and George Temple of Rock Falls; one sister, Sandy (Tom) Hansen of Clinton, Iowa; one brother, Ron (Kathy) Bell of Clinton, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Betty Bell of Sterling; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Peter Bell. Gathering of Family and Friends will be from 10:00 – 11:00 AM Tuesday, January 3, 2022 at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM with Pastor Dalmus Meeks officiating. Burial will follow at Garden Plain Cemetery in Garden Plain. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.
Online condolences may be sent to www. mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com
KAREN L. TEMPLE
C.E. “NIP” HARTMAN
C.E. “Nip” Hartman, 78, of Morrison, IL, passed on December 31, 2022.
Arrangements entrusted to Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, Morrison, IL. Additional information: www.bosmarenkes.com.
JODY B. VROMAN
Jody Vroman, 76, of Hillsdale, IL, died Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at the Royal Oaks Care Center in Kewanee, IL. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am – 10:30 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Gibson – Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron, IL. Graveside Services will follow at the Rock Island National Cemetery at 11:00 am. Anyone wishing to attend will need to be at the funeral home prior to 10:30 am to join the processional to the Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Moore Memorial Library in be made to the Moore Memorial Library in Hillsdale or the Hillsdale United Methodist Church.
Jody was born November 2, 1946, in rural Prophetstown to Llyod and Miriam (Weber) Toppert. She attended Prophetstown schools. She married Dale Vroman September 28, 1969 in Prophetstown. Dale died December 5, 2021. Jody worked for Riverdale schools for many years. She loved shopping, especially antiquing and estate sales.
She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dale; brothers, Dale and Marvin Toppert; and one sister, Marilyn Lanphere. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com
CLARENCE A. “CLINK” KETTLER, 93, of Bickford Cottage in Clinton, IA; formerly of Fulton, IL, died Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at Bickford Cottage.
There will be a public visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, January 2, 2023 at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. The funeral service will be private. A private interment will be at Fulton Township Cemetery in Fulton. A memorial to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities has been established.
Clink was born December 17, 1929 in Clinton, IA to Alfred and Nellie (Byland) Kettler. He was educated in the Fulton public schools and graduated from Fulton High School. Clink served in the U. S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. On December 26, 1951 he married Jeanne M. Plambeck in Clinton. She died March 21, 2014. Clink was a self-employed carpenter/contractor in the area for over 30 years. He then worked for the City of Clinton as a housing inspector. After retirement he was the zoning officer for the City of Fulton. Clink and his wife were life-long members of First Reformed Church in Fulton, where they faithfully served in many capacities. He was a volunteer miller for the Fulton Windmill and did extensive work at the Windmill Museum. For many years he was Commander of the Fulton American Legion. He was involved in launching a patented product for sewNgo. He also served on the Fulton City Council. In his free time Clink enjoyed bass fishing, family outings, and traveling.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda (Jim) Humphrey of Plainfield, IN, Kathy Hand of Fulton, IL and Nancy Fosburgh of Happy Valley, OR; one son, Larry (Robyn) Kettler of Fulton, IL; ten grandchildren, Travis (Will Dixon) Humphrey, William (Anna) Humphrey, Nicholas Hand, Katrina Hand, Russ (Amanda) Huelle, Tracy Stone, Steven (Michelle Christopherson) Huelle, Jordan (Dawn) Kettler, McKenzie Kettler, Dennis (Sarah) Barr; ten great grandchildren, Madalynn Hansen, Grayson Strawder, Ethan Huelle and Amerie Stahler, Hannah Huelle, Cole, Melody and Steven Huelle, Valerie and Carmen Kettler.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jeanne; one sister, Thelma Dykstra.
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Cordova District Library hosted a “Noon Year’s Eve” bash on Friday, Dec. 30, to celebrate the new year. After a 20-second countdown at 11:59 a.m., dozens of balloons dropped from the ceiling and the kids partied with noisemakers and lots of laughing while having a blast bringing in 2023. The library’s annual Noon Year’s Eve party gives kids a chance to experience the New Year’s Eve experience without having to stay up until midnight.
Photos by Sarah Ford for Shaw Media
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