BERNELLE (BEMIS) WEILER
, 91, of Savanna died Wednesday May 20, 1998 at her home. Daughter of Henry and Bertha Mae (Duff) Bemis, she was born October 10, 1906 near Versailles . On March 18, 1933 she and Paul Weiler were married in Quincy . He died December 26, 1988 in Savanna. After attending Mount Sterling High School , she continued her education at Quincy Business College . She owned and operated a card and stationery business in Savanna during the 1950s. Active in politics at the local and state level, she was a precinct committeeman and served as chairman of the Carroll County Republican Party. Her memberships included Savanna Christian Science Church , Daughters of the American Revolution, Officers’ Wives Club at Savanna Army Depot, and formerly the Lend A Hand Club. She was active with the Girl Scouts and enjoyed playing bridge, raising flowers and traveling. Surviving are one son, David Weiler of Kewanee; two grandchildren, Delaine (Mark) Merritt of Pawnee and Venetia Weiler of Springfield; three great-grandchildren, Amanda, Alexis and Nicholas Merritt, and several nieces. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna.
Contributed by Alice Horner
WILLIAM L. WILDEY
, of Rockford , formerly of Mount Carroll , died Thursday, February 24, 1994 in his home. He was born in Mount Carroll on February 14, 1917, the son of Harry and Hazel (Leigh) Wildey. His grandfather was Captain William Wildey of Mount Carroll , a Civil War veteran. He lived most of his life in Rockford and was employed by the State of Illinois for many years. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; one stepdaughter, Colleen Jones; two stepsons, Wayne Vanderheyden Jr. and James Vanderheyden; and one sister, Jean McQue of Waverly, Iowa. Preceding him in death were his parents and his first wife. Graveside services and burial were held in the Lanark Cemetery .
Contributed by Alice Horner
WILLIAM WIRES
, 69, of Mt. Carroll , died at 8:30 last Thursday morning in an East Moline hospital following a paralytic stroke. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Christian funeral home in Mt. Carroll with burial in the Wacker cemetery.
Mr. Wires was born April 5, 1868, in Shepherd, Minn. , a son of Lafayette and Sarah Wires. (Note: All the census sources state he was born in Michigan . Furthermore, there doesn’t appear to be a Shepherd, Minnesota . There is a Shepherd, Michigan though; it’s somewhat west of Saginaw .)
Surviving are his widow; six daughters, Mrs. Frank Robbe of Mrs. Ernest Arb of Mt. Carroll , Mrs. Lawrence Smith of Janesville, Wisconsin, Mrs. E. J. Boyles of Madison, Wisconsin, Mrs. Hattie Spahr of Sandwich, and Mrs. William Wagner of Chadwick, and a sister, Mrs. Hattie Brown of Thomson.
Contributed by Alice Horner Thomson Review, Thursday, January 28, 1937 edition
Note: As far as I can determine, the given names of the daughters are as follows: Mrs. Frank Robbe is Mabel Wires, Mrs. Ernest Arb is Lulu Wires, and Mrs. William Wagner is Leona Wires. The remaining daughters are Effie and Alice M.; I don’t know which of them married Lawrence Smith and E. J. Boyles.
