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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Arlene McNeil to observe 96th birthday
A card shower is being planned for Arlene McNeil who will be 96 years old on November 25.
Arlene resides at Allure of Prophetstown.
Congratulatory cards may be send to 310 Mosher Drive, Prophetstown, IL 61277.
COLLEGE NEWS McConnell named to Palmer Dean’s List
Owen McConnell of Prophetstown has been named to the summer 2020 trimester Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main campus in Davenport, Iowa.
Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California.; and Port Orange, Florida.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Johnson’s celebrate 69 years
Jim and Anne Johnson celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Jim and Anne (Cox) were married at St. Johns Catholic Church, Rapid City, Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 24, 1951.
They farmed for many years. Jim retired from John Deere in 1992 after 30 years. Anne worked at General Electric and volunteered at Kings Kloset. They are members of the Erie United Methodist Church.
They are the parents of Ruth (Jim) Melton, Roger (Kris) Johnson, Diane (Jerry) Chisamore, and Scott Johnson (finance Renee Gorham). They have 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
Those wishing to send celebration greetings can send them to 6552 Albany Road, Erie, Illinois 61250.
Jim and Anne Johnson
409 N. CHERRY ST. • MORRISON, IL 61270 (815) 400-9496 • office@mahaffeyleelaw.com
We also have meeting space available in Sterling-Rock Falls and Dixon.
OUR AREAS OF PRACTICE • REAL ESTATE • PERSONAL INJURY • WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE • EMPLOYMENT LAW • WORKERS COMPENSATION • BUSINESS CONSULTING
Kenneth A. Mahaffey William H.T. Lee M A H A F F E Y L E E L A W . C O M
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ROGER JAY BUIKEMA
Roger Jay Buikema, 83, of Morrison, died peacefully Thursday morning, November 5, 2020, at his and his wife’s Windsor Manor residence.
There will be no public service at this time. The Morrison chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. A recorded funeral and committal service is being prepared and will soon be available for viewing. Please see the Bosma-Renkes website for details.
Roger was born Sept. 15, 1937 in Morrison, to Perry and Tena (Wilkens) Buikema. He attended Morrison grade schools and was a graduate of Morrison Community High School. He received a B.S. in education and a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Northern Illinois University.
On June 13, 1959 he married Marla Timmons of Fulton, IL. Not long after they married, Roger designed and built the family home he and Marla shared for over 50 years.
Roger’s teaching career spanned 38 years. It began with 4 years of teaching physics and math at Lyndon High School in Lyndon. Thereafter, and for the rest of his career, he taught physical science, chemistry and physics and was head of the Science Department at Morrison Community High School.
During retirement, Roger kept busy as a self-employed professional painter. He enjoyed outdoor activities, fishing, biking, gardening and photography. Roger’s commitment to his faith and church, Ebenezer Reformed in Morrison, was evidenced his service as elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, youth group leader and choir member.
In his later years, Roger and his wife worshiped with Emmanuel Reformed Church, sang with Voices of Praise choir and fellowshipped with YAH Seniors Group. His commitment to service continued to his community as well. Roger served on Morrison’s Library Board, School Board, City Council, and many other volunteer organizations.
Roger’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He was a bit of a romantic and a clever cowboy. He loved all things Western. On their honeymoon adventure in Colorado, Roger somehow managed to arrange a surprise cowboy serenade for his beautiful new bride. He was a man of faith and a follower of Christ; a loving and devoted husband, a caring father, a true loyal friend and a passionate teacher. His beautiful smile, mischievous twinkling eyes and warm embrace will be remembered by his beloved wife Marla; daughters Krista (Paul) Ritsema of Virginia, Jana Ortiz of New Jersey and Heather (Gíovanni) Díaz-Coñrado of Texas; grandchildren, Hannah (Nicolas) Van Balen of Virginia, Nathaniel Ritsema of California, Maya Díaz-Buikema of Colorado and Ava Díaz-Buikema of Texas.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, sister and his infant son Daniel Lee.
In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the American Diabetes Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.
BETTY FABER
Betty Faber, 91, of Fulton, passed away peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at MercyOne Medical Center in Clinton, Iowa.
A private family graveside service will be held at Fulton Township Cemetery. Rev. Kevin VerHoeven, pastor of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Fulton, will be officiating. There will be no visitation; the Fulton chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A memorial to the Bethel Christian Reformed Church - Covenant Promise has been established.
Betty was born June 4, 1929 to Ralph and Martha Balk. She was the last one of 10 children. Don Faber, her husband of 49 years, preceded her in death on April 18, 1996.
She had several jobs, but will especially be remembered as co-owner of B & D’s Dutch Oven. She was a charter member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Fulton, was a member of the church’s Mary & Martha Society, and had served as a Calvinette Counselor and Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed collecting dolls, crafting and spending time with her family.
Survivors include four daughters, Donna VanZuiden of Fulton, Brenda (Ed) Langrehr of Fulton, Sheila (Garry) Huizenga of Fulton, and Laura Foster of Clinton, Iowa; and one son-in-law, Bill Estilow of Fulton. She was also very proud of her 15 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; a daughter, Debra Estilow; a great-grandson, Michael Dann; sisters and brothers.
The family wishes to thank MercyOne Hospital for the special care of Mom in her final hours.
LOYD D. CROCKER
Loyd D. Crocker, 90, of Sterling, died Monday, November 16, 2020 at Morningside of Sterling.
He was born a long, long, time ago in Morganton, Arkansas, the son of Carl and Luna (Stark) Crocker on March 17, 1930.
He served proudly in the US Army as a SGT during the Korean War. Loyd retired from Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. as a car checker. He married Joanne Nelson on December 10, 1987. He followed his Southern Baptist roots and enjoyed reading his Bible. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan, and liked building things.
Survivors include his wife, Joanne; daughters, Beth Zuidema and Angela (Jamison) Schroeder, both of Morrison; sons, Dr. Larry (Mary K.) Crocker of Godfrey, Donald (Tammy) Crocker of Morrison and David Joe (Valerie) Crocker of Livingston, Texas; his extended family, Steve (Shawn) Nelson, Jeff (Debbie) Nelson, Craig (Norma) Nelson and Debbie Schoonover; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 14 stepgrandchildren; and 35 step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, four sisters and five brothers.
Private family graveside services with military honors will be held on Wednesday at Oak Knoll Memorial Park. Arrangements were completed by the McDonald Funeral Home & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you “pay it forward” in acts of kindness to others during this difficult time.
EILEEN L. NELSEN
Eileen L. Nelsen, 73, of Port Byron died November 13, 2020 at home.
She was born in Moline, the youngest child of Bill and Alice (O’Hara) Yates of rural Port Byron. She attended local schools and graduated from Riverdale HS in 1965. She then went to BlackHawk JC and Western Illinois where she earned a BS in education.
In 1969, she married Terry Nelsen in Port Byron. They lived in Urbana, Bozeman, Montatna and College Station, Texas for his education before working in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Miles City, Montana and Washington, Illinois before returning to Port Byron in 1996.
She loved watching her children and then her grandchildren play sports. She was a lifelong Cubs fan, and a good ballplayer herself.
She and Terry loved to travel. They drove all over the U.S. and Canada. They visited Australia, Ireland, Scotland, England, the major cities of Europe, and then Dubai and South Africa. They enjoyed resorts in the Dominican Republic, Cancun and Jamaica with their children and grandchildren.
She was active in the United Methodist Women’s group at the Church of the Cross where her baking skills were highly regarded.
She is survived by her children, Richard of Port Byron, Anne (Scott) Maxell of Washington, and Katy of Hampton; and grandchildren, Brock, Blake and Bodey Maxwell of Washington.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, John Yates of Bushnell, and Daniel Yates of Ashtabula, Ohio; and sister, Linda Flynn of Jacksonville.
There will be no services or memorials at this time. Next summer, a celebration of life gathering will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to your favorite animal shelter or the Church of the Cross. Eileen loved her cats and always enjoyed animals of all kinds (except mice).
SHIRLEY SHARER
Shirley and Bill Sharer did most everything together and hated to be apart. Shirley’s death on November 18, 2020, three days after her husband’s, stamped a poetic ending onto their 70-year marriage.
They married on Dec. 9, 1949 at Leon United Methodist Church in rural Prophetstown. Their marriage was a monument to love’s ability to sustain a couple sharing a journey that took them from teenagers to the retirement home.
Shirley wanted children, no matter the cost nor amount of work it would take to raise them. Her success at making her four children feel loved has echoed through three generations of descendants, who are mourning her passing in Sterling at age 90.
Shirley, who graduated from Prophetstown High School in 1948, was a woman of faith, serving the Leon United Methodist Church for more than 50 years as the Sunday School music teacher.
She was a prolific cooker of family
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Continued from Page 6 meals, often using vegetables she grew herself in an oversized garden on the 40-acre farmstead along Perkins Road in rural Prophetstown where she and Bill lived from 1959 to 2013.
She canned or froze surplus vegetables. Her strawberry jam won’t be forgotten.
Shirley was a sender and receiver of many cards for all occasions. Those on her Christmas list were spoiled by her generosity.
Those giving her gifts were effusively thanked and told “you shouldn’t have.”
She was especially grateful for the work done by caregivers. Of all the holidays, April Fool’s Day was her favorite judging by the amount of string she annually baked into Bill’s pancakes.
Shirley was thrifty, hard-working, extroverted, and, pound-for-pound, among the strongest women around. Her kind heart took it hard when visitors had to depart, an event that often left her in tears.
For many years Shirley worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Morrison Hospital as a nurse’s aide.
Other employment stops included the Eclipse Lawnmower Company and Penberthy, both in Prophetstown. Her limited spare time was often spent assisting her children with school, 4-H and Boy Scout projects.
Her children’s athletic careers demanded she spend untold hours cleaning uniforms.
Shirley’s hobbies included crossword puzzles, collecting porcelain chickens, savoring coffee, phoning friends and enjoying the company of pet dogs.
She often hosted grandchildren for week-long stays during which they perfected the making of mud pies behind the barn.
Shirley’s repertoire of favorite sayings included gems such as “she is as nice as she can be,” “she wouldn’t know me from a load of hay,” “bless her pea-picking heart,” and “whoa Blill.” Blill, it turns out, was her father’s plow horse.
Shirley was born March 25, 1930 to Iva (Tonkinson) and Glen Goodell. She was preceded in death by her parents and only sibling, Gail Goodell, brother-inlaw, Robert Sharer; sister-in-law Dorothy (Robert) Sharer and daughter-in-law Kris (Rollie) Sharer.
Shirley is survived by four children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Survivors include daughter Glenda (Keith Clouatre) Sharer-Clouatre of San Pedro, Belize, and sons Randy (Marie Bosche’) Sharer of Normal, Rollie Sharer of Avon, Ohio, and Rory Sharer of Rockford.Surviving grandchildren are Benjamin (Anya) Ward, Ashley (Blake Brown) Sharer, Molly (Chris Barbee) Sharer-Barbee, Amanda (Chris) Ramsey, Emmary (Adam) Horrocks, Will Sharer, Kamryn Sharer and Kaylin (Ben) Carlson. Shirley’s great-grandchildren are Madison and Sydney Kate Ward, Frannie Brown, Owen and Isla Mae Ramsey, Evelyn Barbee and Isaac and Barrett Carlson. Also surviving are brother-inlaw Eddie (Audrey) Lindskog, sistersin-law Janet Goodell and June (Robert) Sharer, nieces Diane (Kevin) Baker, Kris (Lynn) Miller and Rebecca (Sharer) Sedols and nephews Brad Lindskog, Keith Sharer, David (Casey) Goodell and Robert K. (Mary Ann) Sharer.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no visitation. Private funeral services for Shirley and Bill will be on their 71st wedding anniversary Dec. 9, 2020. A private interment will be at Leon Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Leon United Methodist Church in care of the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home, 320 Lafayette St., Prophetstown, IL 61277.
WILLIAM “BILL” SHARER
Bill Sharer and his high school sweetheart proved the old adage that in marriage, two become one is such a powerful force, only his death at age 91 on November 15, 2020 could bring it to an end.
William Lee Sharer married Shirley Mae (Goodell) on Dec. 9, 1949 at Leon United Methodist Church in rural Prophetstown. Their 70-year union wrapped four children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren in a blanket of love.
At family gatherings, Bill loved teasing grandchildren by stealing food off their plates. The tables were turned every April Fool’s Day when Shirley baked string into Bill’s pancakes. He enjoyed family get togethers while eating Ripp’s chicken in Ladd.
Bill was a dependable family man known for his even-keeled personality. He set an example of how to prepare for every stage of life. Despite the physical challenges of aging, he was never apart from his wife. After graduating from Prophetstown High School in 1947, Bill
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