12 minute read
Betty Ann Vos, Mary ‘Jeri’ Renkes, Terry James Tufty, Marian L. VanDerLeest, Donald Gene ‘Swany’ Swanson, Virginia K. (Bush) Carroll
MARY “JERI” RENKES, 99, of Resthave Home, Morrison, IL died Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Resthave. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Morrison, IL with Rev. Father Slawomir Zimodro officiating. A memorial visitation will precede the service, starting at 10:00 a.m. The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. A memorial to St. Mary’s Catholic Church has been established.
Jeri was born May 30, 1922, in Tampico, IL to Francis Edward and Helen Alice (Brophy) Kelly. She was educated in the Tampico Grade School and was a graduate of Tampico High School. Jeri served in the U.S. Navy Waves during WWII. On December 6, 1946 she married Henry J. Renkes in Morrison; he died on February 27,1973. Jeri was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she taught religion class and served as a prayer chain member and on the Altar and Rosary Society. She was a member of the Morrison VFW Auxiliary and served as a Cub Scout Leader. Jeri enjoyed reading, cooking and golfing.
Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca (Tim) Reilly of Cincinnati, OH; two sons, John “Rocky” (Jane) Renkes of Rock Falls, IL and Patrick Renkes of Lansing, MI; one daughterin-law, Pamela (Lee) Daniels of New Buffalo, MI; ten grandchildren, Patrick (Becca) Reilly, Mary (Patrick) Newton, Will Reilly, Anne (Matt) Welter, Julia (Mark) Sonnichsen, Tom (Aimee) Renkes, Marc Renkes, Reilly Renkes, Wyatt Renkes, Christina (Dave) Hamilton; twelve great grandchildren, Franklin and Owen Reilly, Rory, Oliver and Eliza Newton, Armando and Max Valerio, Rosalindh, Bob and Tara Renkes, Ryan and Layne Renkes; two sisters, Margaret “Peggy” Foreman and Rita (Burt) Seaman both of Morrison, IL; a sister-in-law, Janice Kelly of Morrison, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Robert J. Renkes; two sisters, Helen Millerschone and Marlene “Molly” Jones; two brothers, Francis and James Kelly; three brothers-in-law, Kent Foreman, Kenneth Jones and Ken Millerschone.
BETTY ANN VOS, 90, of Morrison, IL, died Saturday, March 5, 2022, peacefully at her home in Morrison. Her funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022 at Spring Valley Reformed Church in Fulton, IL, with Pastor Joseph Crum officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery, at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10th. A memorial has been established to the Spring Valley Reformed Church.
Betty was born on November 19, 1931 in Fulton, IL, to Garrett and Gertrude (Housenga) Ottens. She was a 1949 graduate of Fulton High School. Betty was proud of the fact that she first attended the Union Grove Grade School in rural Whiteside County, where all six of her children later attended. On February 14, 1952 she married Albert J. Vos in Morrison; they had just celebrated their 70th year of marriage. She worked as a telephone operator for the Morrison Telephone Company and then together, Betty and Al developed the Pleasant View Acres Subdivision west of Morrison. They also owned and operated the ParkView Motel, the East End Mini Restaurant and Vos Apartments. She was a member of Spring Valley Reformed Church in rural Fulton for over 75 years, where she loved being involved in many groups. When Betty had free time, while raising her six children, she enjoyed refurbishing trunks, bowling on the Wednesday Morning Coffee League, doing puzzles, feeding wildlife and watching cardinals. She especially enjoyed staying in-touch and never missed an opportunity to send a card. Her family will fondly miss her beautiful handwriting. Above all, Betty valued her family, especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Al; four daughters, Nancy (Doug) Bush of Fulton, IL, Brenda (Jim) Mitchell of The Villages, FL, Barbara (Mike) Schorpp of Rogers, AR, and Lisa (Joshua) Bush of Morrison; two sons, Larry Vos and Tim (Linda) Vos, both of Morrison; eleven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren, plus one due in July; five step great-grandchildren; three brothers, Richard (Marlene) Ottens, Gary Ottens and Jim (Barb) Ottens, all of Morrison; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Ottens and Marilyn Vos, both of Morrison; one brother-in-law, Dewey Decker of Erie, IL; several nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Alberta Decker; one brother, Leon Ottens.
MARY “JERI” RENKES
MARIAN L. VANDERLEEST
MORRISON – Marian L. VanDerLeest, 92, of Morrison, died Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Morrison Community Hospital.
She was born on April 20, 1929 in Sterling, the daughter of Carl and Reka (Camps) Meiners. She married Arnold VanDerLeest on June 16, 1949. He died in April 1987. She had worked for 12 years at GE in Morrison, and also as a CNA at Pleasant View Nursing Home. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her children, Sue (Carl) Stephens of Morrison, John (Christy) VanDerLeest of Morrison, Marcia (Dave) Brands of Morrison, Mike VanDerLeest (Rudy Wright) of DeBary, FL, Sandy (Lester) Huizenga of Morrison and Jeff VanDerLeest of Moline; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her two sons, Terry Joe in infancy and Richard VanDerLeest; her granddaughter, Melissa VanDerLeest; five brothers and two sisters.
Graveside services were held Wednesday March 2, 2022 at Hopkins Township Cemetery, rural Sterling.
Memorials may be given in her memory to Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Arrangements by McDonald Funeral Homes.
TERRY JAMES TUFTY
Born: August 23, 1943 in Sioux Falls, SD Died: March 1, 2022 in Clinton, IA
TERRY JAMES TUFTY, 78, of Fulton, IL, died Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at MercyOne Clinton in Clinton, IA. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fulton, officiated by Rev. Father Matthew Camaioni. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 7th, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Interment will be at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Fulton. A memorial to the Fulton Association for Community Enrichment (FACE) has been established.
Terry was born August 23, 1943 in Sioux Falls, SD to Ivan A. and Minerva A. (Overskei) Tufty. In 1961 he graduated from Sioux City Central High School in Sioux City, IA. He received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, in 1966. On July 22, 1967 he married Jeanine M. Steele in Iowa City. Terry was employed at Moline Lutheran Hospital in Moline, IL – from 1966 until 1986 – as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy. He and Jeanine then moved to Fulton, where he owned and operated Berg Pharmacy, until retiring in 2011. Terry was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fulton, where he was on the Financial Council. He served on the Fulton Community Fund for six years, and was on the Chamber of Commerce Board for 12 years, six years as the board president. He was a member of the Fulton Kiwanis Club and the American Pharmaceutical Association. He and his wife volunteered at the Windmill Cultural Center and were Grand Marshalls of Dutch Days in 2019. Terry was a member of the University of Iowa Alumni Association and was an avid Hawkeye Fan. He enjoyed golfing and fishing, but Terry’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends, especially attending his granddaughters’ activities.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanine; one daughter, Anne (John) Davis of Clinton, IA; two granddaughters, Halle and Elle Davis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Janis Tufty; two brothers, Ivan and Thomas Tufty.
DONALD GENE ‘SWANY’ SWANSON
Died: January 28, 2022 in Shannon, IL
Donald Gene “Swany” Swanson, age 84, of Shannon, Illinois passed away, Friday, January 28, 2022 at home surrounded by his caring family and FHN Hospice. A Celebration of Life will be held 10:00 – 11:30 Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Bethel United Methodist Church, Shannon. Masonic Rites will be held at 11:30 followed by a memorial service at 12:00 noon. Law Jones is in charge of arrangements and friends and family are encouraged to share in Don’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome. com. You may also view these events on FB Live at Law Jones, or anytime thereafter at the following link: http://bit.ly/32JUYSF. Memorials may be made in Donald’s memory to the Shannon Lions Club, the Shannon Fire Department & Ambulance, and the Shriner’s Hospital.
VIRGINIA K. (BUSH) CARROLL
Virginia K. (Bush) Carroll, 74, of Galena, IL, passed on 03/02/2022.
Arrangements entrusted to Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, IL. Additional information: www.furlongfuneralchapel.com .
Planning for Erie’s 150th anniversary under way
By SARAH FORD For Shaw Media
Exciting things are happening in Erie this year as the town of 1,600 readies to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Planning is well underway for festive spring and summer events and a once-in-a-lifetime sesquicentennial celebration.
Erie’s AmeriCorps intern Katelin Bridgman, the organizer of a “dedicated and passionate” team of volunteers, is bridging the gap between public and private partners that are unifying for Erie’s year in the spotlight. Operating out of the Country Financial office, Bridgman credits n u m e r o u s p l a n n i n g p a r t n e r s f or working toward a bold vision this year: the Village of Erie, Revitalize E r i e E v e n t P l a n n i n g C o m m i t t e e , small businesses, the Erie Illinois Historical Society and dedicated citizens including Carla Jaquet, Sandi Gieson, Kathy Kuhnen and Village President Marcia Smith.
The sesquicentennial will culminate with celebrations all weekend on Aug. 12-14, and organizers want community members to mark their calendars for the festivities. An Erie school reunion is set for Friday, Aug. 12, followed by a daylong downtown celebration on Saturday, Aug. 13. The w e e k e n d w r a p s u p o n S u n d a y, Aug. 14, with a community worship service, golf outing and burying of a “2022” time capsule.
Saturday’s celebration will include live music, an artisan and farmers market, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, water hose fights a t t h e E r i e F i re D e p a r t m e n t , h o r s e - d r a w n w a g o n r i d e s , a pie-baking contest with three categories, Little Miss & M i s t e r c o m p e t i tion, a beard judging competition at L e g e n d s B a r & Grill and 150th memorabilia giveaways. There will be a sesquicentennial clothing contest, with categories for historical 1800s and 1900s styles and the vintage decades of the 1970s and ’80s. A historical museum showcasing relics of Erie’s past will be at the Village Hall.
“We’re keeping it as historical as possible,” Bridgman said of the celebrations.
“We’re building upon our history and honoring our foundations.”
Part of the planning process for both the celebration and the restoration of the old fountain in the triangle includes researching Erie’s history in older newspapers and the 1972 centennial celebration book full of historical information, such as 10,000 attendees lining the centennial parade route. A n d t h a n k s t o social media, citizens are reaching out with old d o c u m e n t s , black and white photos and information about the past. O t h e r E r i e p r o je ct s i n t h e w o r k s i n c l u d e the makeover of Margaret Park, complete with sidewalks, weather-resistant benches and crabapple trees and flowerbeds. A mural on a downtown building is in the planning phase and contingent on grant funds. The design incorporates elements of Erie from the 2020 winning contest design by high school student Jillian Norman. A muralist from Rockford is lined up, with the art project tentatively scheduled for the last week of July and first week of August. The unveiling will occur at the main celebration Aug. 13.
“We’re hoping that it will instill a sense of community pride while showcasing Erie’s unique characteristics,” Bridgman said of the mural.
Planning and preparations are underway for the Revitalize Erie 1970s Trivia Night on Friday, March 18, at Lake Erie Country Club, an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt around the village on Saturday, April 9, a Memorial D a y p i c n i c f o l l o w i n g t h e a n n u a l parade on Monday, May 30, and a Heritage Park Day on Saturday, June 25, featuring hot air balloon rides, a kickball tournament, and a movie with pizza and popcorn at dusk.
A 5K fundraiser is the newest idea, with organizers still working out the details.
With all the events this year, Revitalize Erie will not be hosting its Street Fest in conjunction with the annual Countyline Cruisers Car Show in September. Still, the group has plenty to keep it busy for the year.
“The volunteers are just astonishing. People are stepping up to make it happen,” Bridgman said. And while some of the events are months away, it’s those behind the scenes that are working away to make it happen.”
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