7 minute read
Walter Heath Sr., Ruth E. Meyer, Jerry Ann Ashby, Riley A. Wilkens, Patricia C. Meier, Arylnn S. Sallows
MORRISON – Walter M. Heath Sr., 80, of Morrison, IL, died Sunday, June 13, 2021 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, WI. A private visitation and funeral service have been held. A private interment was at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. The Morrison chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A memorial has been established.
Walter was born September 5, 1940 in Morrison to Charles and Ethel (Kelly) Heath. He was educated in the Morrison schools. On November 27, 1957 he married Beverly Joan Anderson in Clinton, IA. Walter worked for the City of Morrison for 37 years as the superintendent of the water department. He enjoyed sports, especially the Indiana Colts and the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoyed horse racing and liked going for car rides.
Survivors include four children, Tammy (Steve Blair) Kuehl of Morrison, Walter “Butch” Heath Jr. of Morrison, Shaunda (Todd) Tiesman of Albany, IL and Traci (Rick) Kuehl of Morrison; four grandchildren, Devin Heath, Ty Tiesman, Trae (Peyton) Tiesman and Teagen Kuehl; eight great-grandchildren; and three brothers, John “Jack” Heath of Rock Falls, Robert M. Heath, of Thomson, IL and Larry G. Heath of Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Beverly; two grandchildren in infancy, Zachary Lee and Miranda JoAnn Kuehl; three sisters, Doris Weeks, Betty Harris and Peggy Cherry; and four brothers, Jerry Heath, Lloyd Shepard, Richard Shepard Sr. and Charles Heath Jr.
RUTH E. MEYER
Born: June 20, 1948; Forest City, Iowa Died: June 15, 2021; Morrison
MORRISON – Ruth Elaine Meyer, 72, of Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at Resthave Home in Morrison, IL. A memorial service was Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Morrison chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison.
A memorial has been established.
Ruth was born June 20, 1948, in Forest City, IA, to Emil and Sophia (Harringa) Ouderkerk. She was educated in the Fenton, IL grade school and graduated from Morrison High School. On September 12, 1971 she married Douglas Meyer in Fenton, IL. He died January 30, 2011. Ruth was employed at Markman Peat in Fenton. She was a former member of the Fenton United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school from 1972 to 2016. She also taught Vacation Bible School and helped her husband, Doug, with head usher duties. She enjoyed canning, sewing and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and attending their various activities they were involved in.
Survivors include one daughter, Pamela (Larry) Eads of Fenton; four grandchildren, Noah (fiancée Sydney Shearer) Eads, Abigail Eads, Sophia Eads and Caleb Eads; one sister, Mary (Robert) Huggins of Fenton; and four brothers, David Ouderkerk of Morrison, Harvey (Trish) Ouderkerk of Yuma, AZ, Larry Ouderkerk of Morrison and Gary Ouderkerk of Morrison.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Doug; and two brothers, Albert and Leroy Ouderkerk.
JERRY ANN ASHBY
Born: October 30, 1936; Dixon Died: May 13, 2021; Mesa, Arizona
MESA, AZ – Jerry Ann Ashby, 84, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, May 13, 2021 at Springdale Village in Mesa. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial Mass service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 25, 2021 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Morrison with Rev. Fr. James Brzezinski, pastor of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, officiating. The Morrison chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
A memorial has been established to White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Morrison.
Jerry Ann was born October 30, 1936 in Dixon, IL to Jerry W. and Ruth Ann (Paith) Meakins. She was educated in Morrison schools and was a graduate of Morrison High School. She also attended Highland Community College, where she graduated in 1972, and also attended Shimer College and Northwestern Illinois University.
On September 19, 1954, she married Donald R. Ashby. They resided in Savanna, IL until 1972 when the family moved to Thomson. After the death of Donald in 1998, Jerry Ann continued spending winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where she met and married Milford Darr Olson on October 2, 1999. Jerry Ann taught outdoor education pioneer skills at Taft Campus in Oregon in 1984, and she was employed for 8 years at Warren Cheese Plant as a sales representative and marketing until retiring in 1999. She also enjoyed working at several newspapers .including Carroll County and Quad City Times under the byline “Miles to Go by Jerry Ashby,” which specialized in tourism and human interest stories.
She was a 50-year member of the Girl Scouts, starting as a Brownie and after being a girl member became an adult volunteer leading troops of Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors for many years. She worked for 10 years as a professional Girl Scout field director and public relations director for Green Hills Girls Scout Council in Freeport, IL. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Savanna.
Survivors include one daughter, Valareena DeSpain of Thomson; one son, John Lyle (Kelly Bethard) Ashby of Apache Junction, AZ; four granddaughters, Angela (Joe) Taylor of Thomson, Carrissa (Tommy) Groen of Highland, IN, August Ashby of Chicago, IL and Audrie Ashby of Freeport, IL; five great-grandchildren, Aidan Taylor, Lucas Groen, Savanna Groen, Hayley Groen and Johnathon Groen; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Donald Ashby and Darr Olson; and one brother, Alan Ray Walters.
RILEY A. WILKENS
Born: September 1, 2001 Died: June 15, 2021
MORRISON – Riley A. Wilkens, 19, of Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at his home. The funeral service was Monday, June 21, 2021 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Morrison. Interment was at Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison.
A memorial has been established by the family.
Riley was born September 1, 2001 in Sterling, IL, to Todd and Susan (Habben) Wilkens. He attended Morrison grade schools and graduated from Morrison High School in 2020. Riley joined the National Guard as a high school junior in November of 2018. He completed basic and AIT training at Ft. Benning, GA, and had also completed airborne training. He was a Private – E4 SPC. For many years, Riley worked for J & M (Kophamer) Farms. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Morrison. In high school, he wrestled, and played football and baseball. Riley loved to be on the farm and also enjoyed spending time with his friends and family.
Survivors include his parents, Todd and Susan Wilkens of Morrison; one brother, Luke Wilkens of Morrison; maternal grandmother, Marilyn Habben of Morrison; paternal grandmother, Velma Dean of Morrison; paternal grandfather, Gene (Elaine) Wilkens of Firestone, CO; many aunts, uncles and cousins. Also surviving is his favorite dog, Deno.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Arlyn Habben and his paternal stepgrandfather, Sam Dean.
PATRICIA C. MEIER
Born: May 24, 1948; Zelzate, Belgium Died: June 16, 2021; Erie
ERIE – Patricia C. Meier, 73, of Erie, Illinois, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at home. Her wishes were to be cremated. There will be no services at this time. Burial will be in the Erie Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Erie Fire Department.
Patricia was born on May 24, 1948 in Zelzate, Belgium, the daughter of Raymond A. and Maria (Willems) VanHamme. She married Frank Meier on November 26, 1966 at St. Ambrose Church in Erie, where she was a longtime member. Pat enjoyed fishing, quilting and going on motorcycle rides with her husband Frank
She is survived by her husband, Frank Meier of Erie; daughters, Theresa (Dirk) Rockhold of Walcott, IA, Kelly (Christopher) Cook of Jackson, MO; brother, Richard VanHamme of Erie; sister, Vicki (Mike) Fontenoy of Erie; seven grandchildren, Andrew (Nikita) Janssen, Lydia Janssen, Bryce Rockhold, Jennifer (Jerod) Andrews, Zachary Cook, J.D. Fecht, and Ryan Fecht; and seven great-grandchildren, Sebastian, Noah, Beau, Hunter, Grace, Elijah, and Jakob.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Chris Weiss.
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