Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021
WHITESIDE NEWS
8
OBITUARIES
JUDITH ANN ‘JUDY’ DUNN
Born: April 27, 1942 in Savanna, IL Died: December 11, 2021 in Thomson, IL Judith Ann “Judy” Dunn was a fiercely-loving Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. Over the years, she was known as being strong-willed, even being described as a warrior and real firecracker, as she cared for her growing family and her students, teaching Special Education for 27 years. At the age of 79, Judy passed away December 11, 2021 at home in Thomson, Illinois in the loving care of her family and Rock River Hospice.
JUNE REESE NICHOLSON
Born: January 11, 1930 in Colona, IL Died: December 7, 2021 in Hillsdale, IL June Reese Nicholson, age 91, Hillsdale, Illinois passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. June was born January 11, 1930 at home on a farm south of Colona, IL to Norman and Helen Jacobson Reese. Her education was at a one-room school, Briar Bluff, and later at Hillsdale High School after moving to Joslin. She attended Moline Institute of Commerce for a year before going to work at Deere & Company Export Department for four years. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Nicholson on September 11, 1949. They lived in Rock Island a few years before moving to Hillsdale, eventually to the
JUDY HANNIS
Born: July 5, 1939 in Moline, IL Died: December 7, 2021 in Morris, IL Judy A. Hannis, 82, of Erie, IL, died Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at the Gardens at Park Pointe in Morris, Illinois, where she had recently resided. A Visitation and Graveside Service were held Monday afternoon, December 13th at Gibson – Bode Funeral Home in Erie and the Erie Cemetery. Memorials may be made to The Gardens at Park Pointe Activity Fund. Judy Ann Weber was born July 5, 1939, a daughter of Walter and Margaret (Gerdes) Weber. She attended Erie schools and was graduated from Erie High School. On February 2, 1957, she was married to Mervin P.
Judith was born April 27, 1942, in Savanna, the daughter of George and Beulah (Corbett) Pratt. Her family moved to Shelbyville, Missouri where she graduated from high school with the Class of 1959. They later moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico where she worked as a waitress in her mom’s restaurant. It was there in New Mexico where her two children, John and April were born. Judy’s father passed away the family moved back to Savanna in 1968, where she took a job at Eaton Corp. Judy was fortunate to have her mom, Beulah living with her as she raised the kids. When April started kindergarten, Judy began her college education at Clinton Community in 1971, then on to the University of Dubuque receiving her B.A. in Special Education in 1975. She later received her Master’s Degree from Western Illinois University in 1995. Judy taught in Hanover in 1980-1981, then the
River Bend School District from 1984 retiring in 2010. In 1970, Judy married Edward Smith. He passed away in 1973. She later married Danny Dunn April 15, 1976. They celebrated 23 years of marriage before he passed away in 2009. Danny and Judy owned and operated the Hanover Café from 1979 to 2001, this time counting on her mom, Beulah, to help her by cooking pies. Judy enjoyed reading, walking, her book club, volunteering at the Fulton Thrift Store, playing the lottery and spending time with her friends and doing lunch. She especially enjoyed family events, spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Judy will be dearly missed by her son, John (Sheila) Looney of Chadwick; her daughter, April (Randy) Joyner of Huntsville, Alabama; five grandchildren, Ryan (Evy) Looney,
Chad Looney, Angel Looney, BriAnn Joyner and Nate Joyner; four great-grandchildren, Robert and Rio Looney, and Lexi and Lacey Warren; two brothers, Herbert (Sandy) Pratt of Thomson and James (Wanda) Pratt of Las Cruces, New Mexico; two sisters, Diana Tharp of Pittsburgh, Oklahoma and Dorothy Oliver of Huntsville, Alabama. Judy is preceded in death by two husbands, Danny Dunn and Edward Smith; a brother, John Pratt; and both parents. A funeral service will be held 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the Law Jones Funeral Home in Savanna with a visitation prior to the service from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor David Yim of the First United Methodist Church of Savanna will officiate.
telephone company’s house where she was the night operator for several years before phones became dial. They then built their house in Hillsdale and raised their three children, Daniel, Janis, and Lisa. Once they were all in school, June went back to work for John Deere Company, East Moline, IL, where she worked 21 years before retiring. Bob and June started a manufacturing business, NikWood Products, Inc. in 1979 where June was bookkeeper for 37 years. She also served as the Billing Clerk for the Hillsdale Sanitary District for 20 years. June was very active in her church and many other organizations volunteering all her life. A member of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, she served as teacher, youth leader, Sunday School Superintendent, United Methodist Women President, United Methodist Women District Officer, lay delegate to Annual Conference. She had a passion for supporting Cunningham Home, served on mission trips to Henderson Settlement in Kentucky and worked as a volunteer on two trips to Slidell Louisiana after Hurricane
Katrina. She also was a member of Rock Island County Republican Women and served as Secretary to Rock Island County Republican Central Committee for three years. She served as Assistant Cub Scout leader and Assistant Girl Scout leader while her kids were young, and until very recently remained active as a member of Zuma Home Extension, TOPS and Red Hats. A very special place to June and her family has been her home in the north woods of Michigan where she always welcomed friends and family. Vacations and holidays spent there brought joy and unforgettable memories with her that will forever remain in our hearts. She is survived by her beloved family including children Dan Nicholson, Lisa (Al Talley) Nicholson, of Hillsdale, and Janis (Scott) Turner of Elgin, IL; 4 grandchildren, Dana (Emma) Nicholson, New York City, Alex (Brandi) Nicholson , Ohio, Talyr (Shane) Themas, LeClaire, IA, Nicholas (fiancé Brianna Wright) Turner, Coralville, IA; 3 great grandchildren, Julie,
Chloe and Henry Nicholson, and 3 step-great grandchildren, Noah, Madyson, and Makenna Themas. June was predeceased by her parents, husband, sister and brother-in-law, Darlene & Don VanOpdorp, and sister Norma Reese. Many thanks Genesis Hospice – Maggie, Madison, and Chris, for the comfort, love, and care given to Mom and Grandma during the last months of her life. Her family is forever grateful. Visitation was held Friday, December 10, 2021 from 4 – 7 pm at Gibson - Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron, IL. Funeral Services were Saturday, December 11th at 10 am at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Burial service was at Mt. Maria Cemetery in Hillsdale, followed by a lunch at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church. Memorials can be made out to the Hillsdale United Methodist Church or Nicholson Family Trust (to be donated to June’s favorite charities); and sent in c/o Lisa Nicholson, P.O. Box 112, Hillsdale, IL 61257.
Hannis at the Erie Christian Church. She was a homemaker and enjoyed playing cards with her friends. For many years she was an antique dealer and a familiar face at auctions and yard sales. In later years she and her husband worked together at Logical Technology in Peoria, IL, and spent holiday seasons helping out at Runyan’s Country Tree Farm in Clio, MI. She volunteered with the Erie Area Chamber of Commerce and the King’s Kloset in Erie. Survivors include a daughter, Amy Wynn of Friday Harbor, WA; a son and daughter-inlaw, Paul and Caroline Hannis of Morris, IL; a son and son-in-law, Donovan W. Hannis and John Eide of Waianae, HI, five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Jane Carlsen of Kasson, MN, and Janet Teague of Flint, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and an infant brother, Donald. Share a memory or condolence at www. gibsonbodefh.com
ROBERT HENSEL Robert J. Hensel, 84, of Princeton, passed on 12/06/2021. Arrangements entrusted to Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments, Princeton. Additional information: www.norbergfh.com.
