Beth E. Abbadusky, Richard Carroll Parkinson, Thomas “Tom” J. Vanderleest

Wits Fitness Monthly Workshop

Join University of Illinois Extension Educator Karla Belzer from 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 9 as she leads participants through interactive activities designed to exercise the brain to maintain and enhance cognitive function and memory. We will be offering this program at the Whiteside Extension Office in Sterling; new participants are welcome to join at any time. Social distancing and safety guidelines will be followed. Register online at go.illinois.edu/witsfitness

Everyday Environment Webinar

Join us at 1 p.m. May 12 for sessions

OBITUARIES

THOMAS “TOM” J. VANDERLEEST

Born: January 7, 1961 Died: April 13, 2022 in Iowa City, IA

Thomas “Tom” J. VanderLeest, 61, of Clinton, IA, died April 13, 2022 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. There will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation rites have been accorded. A private graveside service will be held at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. The Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Tom was born January 7, 1961 in Morrison to Norman J. VanderLeeest and Leona C. (Buhrow) VanderLeest.

He is survived by his partner and love of his

BETH E. ABBADUSKY

Born: June 26, 1941 in Morrison, IL Died: April 24, 2022 in Sterling, IL

LYNDON – Beth E. Abbadusky, 80, of Lyndon, died on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. Beth was born on June 26, 1941 in Morrison, the daughter of Charles “Rusty” and Ardis (Conrady) Detra. She was a 1959 graduate of Prophtestown High School. Beth married John Abbadusky in 1966. He predeceased her on November 12, 2016. Beth was employed at Penberthy for many years. She was a member of First Congregational Church in Prophetstown. Beth enjoyed visiting with her girlfriends over coffee, but most of all she loved her grandchildren.

Survivors include two daughters, Amy (Troy Rittmer) McCombs of Clinton, IA, and Leisa (Curt) Coburn of Peoria; two sons, Tim (Victoria) Abbadusky of Petosi, MO, and Andrew Abbadusky of Prophetstown; two sisters, Shirley Bohms of Prophetstown, and Audrey (Perry) Bolhous of East Moline; eight grandchildren, Aaron, Andre, Olivia, Emily, Gabe, Samantha, Nathan, and Mackenzie; six great grandchildren, Isabella, Carder, Taylor, Norah, Charlie, and Jacob; many nieces and nephews; and a group of wonderful friends.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents; husband John; two brothers, Carl and Larry; and two sisters, Thelma and Betty.

Cremation rites will be accorded. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4:00-6:00pm on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at McDonald Funeral Home in Prophetstown. Memorial service will follow at 6:00pm with Pastor Geoff Leu officiating.

Online condolences maybe made at www. mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com

on environmental topics presented by University of Illinois Extension’s Energy and Environmental Stewardship Team. These webinars will provide new information on natural resources and help you learn how to make small changes in your lifestyle to have a positive impact on the environment. From lawn care, native plants and managing home waste to understanding coyote behavior and atmospheric optics, there is never a shortage of new things to learn about your everyday environment. Register online for Geothermal Energy at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironmentwebinars

life, Julie Brown; Children, Thomas VanderLeest, Anthony (Ashley) VanderLeest, Tristan (Andrew) Zahnle and Cheyenne (Blake) Huskey. Sisters Norma (Gail) Young of Morrison, IL, Debra (Galen) Johnson of Morrison, IL, Joanne (Duiane) Dahler of Morrison, IL, Bonny (Dale) Kennedy of Fulton, IL, Virginia (Stephen) Velazquez-Wirsing of Sycamore, IL, and Julia Velazquez of East Moline, IL. One brother, Jerry VanderLeest of Morrison, IL; several grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman J. and Leona C. VanderLeest-Velazquez; one sister-in-law, Cynthia VanderLeest.

Tom had a passion for antiquing, Nascar and collecting cars both real and toy. He always had an eye for a great deal. His favorite being Red Line Hot Wheels and his Richard Petty look-a-like pickup truck.

Send online condolences to www.bosmarenkes.com

Hillsdale board hopes for park improvements

By SARAH FORD For Shaw Media

T h e H i l l s d a l e b o a r d d i s c u s s e d potential park improvements, such as adding a pickle ball court, walking t r a c k a n d a d d i t i o n a l p l a y g r o u nd equipment, at their meeting Monday, April 18.

The board has been working on a plan to upgrade Hillsdale Park along Main Street. The park currently has playground equipment, a pavilion, baseball field and ample space for new additions. They’re finalizing plans for park improvement projects to submit to the Bi-State Regional Commission for possible grant funds, with more discussions and updates planned for the next meeting.

The board also discussed needed repairs to the Jackson Street lift station, approving Mississippi Valley Pump’s estimate of $9,375 for repairs, along with a $1,300 charge for an Enviromark truck to be on-site. They approved purchasing 64 sewer manhole inserts from Zimmer & Francescon Inc. for $5,472 and ratified $752.50 to Mississippi Valley Pump Inc. for emergency repairs on the Jackson Street lift station in March.

After reviewing interest rates from local financial institutions, the board voted to roll over two maturing certificates of deposits at FNB, where they’re currently held. One is a General Fund CD and the other a Sewer Account CD.

T h e y a l s o a p p r o v e d s p e n d i ng $975.50 for new flagpoles and flags from Regalia and learned that village staff have been working with current neighborhood vehicle permit holders on applications. Rock Island County deputies will perform required inspections for all applicants by the end of May.

The board also made a $200 donation to the Hillsdale Fire Protection District for its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, May 1. In celebration of Illinois Police Officer Appreciation Week in May, Mayor T.J. Francis authorized a meal purchase at Hillsdale Express Lane for on-duty officers that week. “We’re grateful for what they do, and this is a small way of saying thanks,” he said.

RICHARD CARROLL PARKINSON

Born: August 28, 1940 in Chicago, IL Died: April 24, 2022 in Sterling, IL

RICHARD CARROLL PARKINSON, 81, of Morrison, IL, died Sunday, April 24, 2022 at Rock River Hospice and Home in Sterling, IL.

His Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 29, 2022 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Morrison, with Rev. Father Slawomir Zimodro, Celebrant of the Mass and Rev. Father William Antillon, concelebrant. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 28th at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison. A memorial to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital has been established.

Richard was born August 28, 1940, in Chicago, IL, to Kenneth C. and Mae L. (Carroll) Parkinson. He was a graduate of Park Military Academy in Chicago, and in 1961 he graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational & Technical Education. He continued on at Iowa State and in 1964 he received a Master’s in Educational Administration. After graduation he was an instructor at the Fort Dodge, IA High School and Junior College until 1966. He then moved to Morrison and became an Instructor, Department Chair, Academic Dean and Placement Officer for the Institute of Drafting and Technology, now known as Morrison Institute of Technology. He remained there until his passing. He was the President of the College for 22 years, held the position of Chief Financial Officer for three years, and for the last twelve years held the position of Vice President of Finances and Facilities Planning. Richard, affectionately known as Mr. “P”, devoted his life to the college and his church - St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Morrison. He enjoyed taking students on outings, traveling in his motorhome and spending time with his dogs. Richard was on the parish Finance Council, was very involved in the church renovation and improvements and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. His hobbies included skiing, hiking, aviation and ATV riding.

Survivors include a cousin, Mary Ellen (Bill J.) Woertz of Glenwood Springs, CO, and her son, William Carroll Woertz. He also leaves one brother, Kenneth R. Parkinson, his church and Morrison Tech family and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family would like to thank Rock River Hospice for their wonderful care during Richard’s last days.

To send online condolences go to www. bosmarenkes.com

FULTON

Dutch Days Festival in Fulton this weekend

By SARAH FORD For Shaw Media

Fulton will give a warm “Welkom” to visitors during the 46th annual Dutch Days Festival on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, as the celebration returns after two years of cancellations because of the pandemic.

The theme this year is “Operation Food Drop in the Netherlands,” which marks the 77th anniversary of the May 1945 mission that saved thousands of Dutch people from starvation when Allied Forces, under the leadership of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, flew B-17s filled with tons of food and air-dropped the food to thousands of starving Dutch people in the Netherlands. An airplane flyover and mini parachute drop during Saturday’s parade at 3 p.m. will commemorate those missions, weather permitting.

Dutch Days activities will be ongoing throughout Fulton all weekend, including Dutch displays and presentations at businesses, plus arts, crafts and concession stands in the downtown area, “de Immigrant” Windmill tours, windmill displays at the Windmill Cultural Center and a vintage car and tractor show.

S a t u r d a y ’ s s c h e d u l e o f e v e n t s includes a children’s race at 8 a.m. and the Dutch Days Race 5K Run/Walk at KT3 Fitness at 8:15 a.m. Films of the Netherlands will be shown at the Masonic Lodge. View Dutch treasures, Stippling displays, Hindeloopen paintings and displays, Dutch Klompen d a n c i n g , w o o d e n s h o e - m a k i n g , a Dutch costume fashion show, street scrubbers and much more at downtown locations.

Also on Saturday there will be a Dutch pastries and Poffertjes stand, windmill tours, Great River Gymnastics demonstrations, Fulton Elementary fourth and fifth grade chorus performance and “Chalking the Dike” behind the windmill. Children’s activities will be at 11th Avenue between First and Second streets with a petting zoo, train rides, bounce houses and Discovery Center Games.

The Fidelity-Drives Historic Building, currently under renovations for a future community center, will be open for first floor tours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The lower level was a high school gymnasium from 19251950,with renovations revealing that original building layout.

Wierenga’s Heritage Canyon and Andresen Nature Center will have activities on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Early American Crafters will have exhibits and re-enactments at the canyon. Shuttle bus service will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday only, with pickup at Fourth Street and Ninth Avenue.

Saturday’s festivities will conclude with the festival’s first Lighted Boat Parade at 8:30 p.m., viewable from the dike. The weekend celebrations will wrap up on Sunday, May 8, with Bethel Christian Reformed Church having a Community Church Service at 6 p.m. followed by a fellowship hour with Dutch pastries compliments of the Fulton Dutch Days Committee. Retired Pastor Jake Ritzema will be speaking.

Maps and a detailed schedule of events are available at the City of Fulton website, on the “Dutch Days” Facebook page, at local businesses, and at the festival. Come on out and experience the return of the beloved festival that celebrates Fulton’s Dutch heritage. Admission and parking are free.

D ut ch Days organ izers a nnou nce speaker

T h e D u t c h Days Festival is r e t u r n i n g t o F u l t o n t h i s weekend to celebrate Dutch cult u r e a n d h e r i tage with food, d a n c i n g , v e n dors, a parade and more. There a l s o w i l l b e numerous educational opportunities, including speaker Tom Bijvoet of Canada.

Bijvoet is an author and publisher of Dutch history, war years, cultural activities, places to visit in the Netherlands and immigrant experiences. He has prepared a power point presentation on the Dutch Days theme, “The Food Airdrop in the Netherlands, May 1-8, 1945,” to mark the 77th anniversary of the riskiest, greatest humanitarian mission at that time.

Bijvoet came to Canada with his family from the Netherlands in 1999. He studied at the Universi ty of

Amsterdam. He started writing for De Krant, a monthly magazine in 2000, and founded the DUTCH magazine in 2011, to which he is a regular contributor. He also is the publisher of Mokeham Publishing Company. In 2012, he edited a series of nine books about WWII in the Netherlands. This year, a collection of his essays about the Dutch in North Tom Bijvoet to speak at Dutch Days. America was published under the title “Hiding in Plain Sight – Reflections of the Dutch Presence in Canada and the USA, 1609 to Today.” Bijvoet is frequently invited to speak about the Netherlands and the Dutch in North America. He and his wife Petra and their four children live in Oakville, Ontario. His speaking schedule for Dutch Days is Friday, May 6, at noon in the Masonic Lodge at 1014 Fourth St. and later at 6 p.m. in the EPIC Center at 514 13th Ave., with a power point presentation on the Hunger Years and the Food Airdrop in the Netherlands in May 1945. He also will speak on Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Masonic Lodge.

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