Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Tuesday, July 20, 2021
WHITESIDE NEWS
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OBITUARIES PAUL J. HUIZENGA Born: September 25, 1922 Died: July 17, 2021
Paul J. Huizenga, 98, of Morrison, IL, died Saturday, July 17, 2021, at Resthave Home in Morrison, IL. His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Spring Valley Reformed Church in Fulton, IL, officiated by Rev. Ralph Beidler, pastor at Holland Heights Christian Reformed Church in Holland, MI. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Face masks will be required at the visitation and the funeral service. Interment will
LAVERA R. BULL
Born: July 13, 1925 in Parkers Prairie, MN Died: July 18, 2021 in East Moline, IL LaVera R. Bull, 96, of East Moline, IL, died Sunday, July 18, 2021 at her home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Gibson – Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Port Byron. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, East Moline. LaVera was born July 13, 1925 in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, the daughter of Richard V. and Mary Ann (Blashack) Tyler. She attended Port Byron High School and was married to Joseph Bull on September 13, 1943 while he was stationed in South Carolina. They had 5 sons together, later divorcing in 1970.
DON FLOMING Celebration of Life for Don Floming July 24, 2021 Our family invites yours to join us as we pay tribute to the life of Don Floming. A life well-lived deserves to be celebrated, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Bring your smiles and your fondest memories on Saturday, July 24th, from 4:00-7:00 PM, at St Ambrose Church Hall in Erie. There will be stories and grins, as well as food, drinks, and loved ones all around. As we share memories, there are no regrets, only grateful hearts, sharing all that he meant to us. We weren’t allowed to honor Dad in 2020. Now that we can, we hope you will join us!
be in Fulton Township Cemetery. A memorial has been established to Resthave Home and Spring Valley Reformed Church. Paul was born September 25, 1922, in rural Whiteside County, Ustick Township, Fulton, IL, to Claus P. and Kate (Eissens) Huizenga. He was educated in the Fairhaven and Cobb schools in rural Whiteside County. On September 25, 1944, he married Verna J. Dykstra in Fulton, IL. She died on December 18, 2001. Paul farmed his entire life in Ustick Township, Whiteside County. He was a member of the Spring Valley Reformed Church, where he served many years as a consistory member and Sunday School teacher. He belonged to Gideons International, where he was involved in the Jail Ministries. He was also a long-time member of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau. Paul was the last surviving member of the Spring Valley Aces fast pitch softball team and watched the Cubs play his
entire life. Paul and Verna farmed together all of their lives on their family farm and built a close knit community that would get together for a ‘wiener roast’ at the drop of a hat. He enjoyed playing golf and traveling, especially to California, Maine and Michigan where he could watch all his grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ activities. He spent hours entertaining his grandkids with stories about the one horned cow and stories about growing up with his family and friends. He took great pride in teaching his grandkids the finer points of rodent mitigation in the hay mow and helping them dam up the creek so they could make mud slides. He loved teaching the lessons of loving one another and never shared a sour word about anyone, which earned him the family nickname of St. Paul. He was sharp until the end and left us all with the most encouraging words of love, hard work, hard play and patience. He will be
greatly missed. Survivors include two daughters, Ruth (Robb) Robbins of Grand Haven, MI, and Donna (Doug) Nelson of Ojai, CA; one son, Bob Huizenga of Muskegon, MI; former daughter-in-law, Barb Kirchaine, of Muskegon, MI; eight grandchildren, Josh (Lidie) Robbins, Ben (Amy) Robbins, Adam (Mia) Nelson, Matt (Lindsey) Nelson, Luke (Marisol) Nelson, Chad Huizenga, Jon Huizenga, and Katie Recknagel; seventeen great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Workman and Mrs. Anna Marie Smith, both of Fulton; and sister-in-law, Marian Vogel, of Fulton. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Verna; three sisters, Gertrude Drolema, Hildred Buikema and Minnie Huizenga; and one brother, Charles Huizenga. To send online condolences go to www. bosmarenkes.com
LaVera was a talented tailor working for local businesses including Younkers, von Maur, and Columbia Drapery. She also ran a tailor shop out of her home for many years. She was a lifetime member of the PTA serving in all of the offices. She was a longtime active member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Port Byron, serving 14 years on the Church Council and teaching Sunday School for 35 years. In recent years she was a member and enjoyed attending St. John’s Lutheran Church in East Moline. La Vera was proud to have received her degree in interior design in 1970. She is survived by her sons, Dr. James (Margaret) Bull, Port Byron, Joseph (Amy) Bull, Buffalo Hart, IL, Frank (Kris) Bull, Port Byron, John (Annie) Bull, East Moline, Dean (Jennifer) Bull, East Moline; 22 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, William and Vernon Tyler; and a sister, Leona Hanegmon. Share a memory or condolence at www. gibsonbodefh.com.
BETTY LOU TAYLOR
Betty Lou Taylor, age 87, of Chillicothe, passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at UnityPoint Health Proctor in Peoria. Betty was born on August 12, 1933 in Morrison, Illinois to Bert and Henrietta (Decker) Wiebenga. She married Donald W. Taylor on July 29, 1955 in Morrison. He preceded her in death in March of 2004. Also preceding her in death are her son, Daniel, and her daughter, Barbara Jo. Surviving are her children, Beth (Craig) Welk of Gladstone, MO; her grandchildren, Eric Welk of Riverside, MO, Aaron Welk of O’Fallon, MO and Marissa Welk of Independence, MO; and her great-grandchildren,
Joseph, Van, Shyla, Bennett and Rowan Welk and Baylee and Carter Orwick. Also surviving is her brother, LaVerne Wiebenga in Plant City, FL. Betty worked for Bob Smith Insurance for 9 years and for the IVC School District as the secretary for Chillicothe Elementary Center for 17 years. She was a member of the Chillicothe First United Methodist Church and Pearce Community Center. Betty was also active with Leatha Circle and she enjoyed bowling and playing cards. Services will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Chillicothe United Methodist Church. Rev. Ron Martz will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at Chillicothe City Cemetery in Chillicothe. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Women Kitchen Fund for the New Church. Online condolences may be made through www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com
ROBERT ‘BOB’ E. HUNGATE
ROBERT L. ‘BOB’ HANSON
Robert ‘Bob’ Eugene Hungate, 67, of Walnut Grove, Illinois, passed on June 24, 2021. Arrangements entrusted to Gibson-Bode Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Port Byron, Illinois. Additional information: 309523-3151.
Robert L. ‘Bob’ Hanson, 78, of Albany, Illinois, passed on July 11, 2021. Arrangements entrusted to Bosma-Renkes Funeral Homes, Fulton, Illinois. Additional information: 815-589-2244.
JEANETTE THERESA THOMAS DEPAUW Born: June 18, 1928 Died: December 17, 2020
PORT BYRON – The family of Jeanette DePauw, (June 18, 1928 to December 17, 2020) invites friends and relatives to help them celebrate a life well lived on Sunday, July 25, 2021, at St. John’s Church in Rapids City, Illinois. A rosary will be prayed in the church beginning at 12:15 pm. An open house will be held in the church hall from 1 to 3 p.m., where there will be a light lunch served.
Born: August 12, 1933 in Morrison, IL Died: July 15, 2021 in Peoria, IL
