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Jo Daviess County

Obituaries

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CHRISTENA DOROTHY DAIHN , was born in Massbach, Bavari, April 12, 1851. Emigrated to the United States with her parents in 1865, and settled near Plum river where they resided until November 2, 1870, at which time she was wedded to Mr. Benhardt Hammer, a prosperous farmer in Guilford township where they continued to reside until her summons to that better world last Wednesday afternoon, November 28th at about 5 o’clock. Mrs. Hammer had been to the stockyard assisting the children milk the cows and started to the house before they had completed their work. Near the house they found the nearly lifeless remains of their mother, who had left them only a few moments before in her apparently usual health. The lifeless body was carried into the house. Soon after the sad duty had been performed her husband arrived home from this village. His feelings and that of the children, so suddenly bereft of wife and mother, can better be imagined than described. Dr. Kenegy was summoned and pronounced the cause of death an epilectic fit, an ailment she had been troubled with at times. The greatly bereaved husband, five sons and four daughters have the sympathy of a very large circle of friends. It can truly be said of Mrs. Hammer, a good woman is gone. She was a true friend to all. Her home relations were always pleasant, a devoted wife and an indulgent mother, Mrs. Hammer was a faithful member of the German Presbyterian church. A friend of the deceased said to the writer that she was never known to utter an unkind word to any one. Oh, if such could be truthfully said of us all what a delightful world this would be to live in. Sin would be find no lurking places and the world would soon be taken for the Master. The funeral services were conducted at the home at 11 o’clock last Saturday morning by Rev. Wm. Bruchert, taking for his text the second verse of the 57th chapter of Isaiah. “He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. The songs sung at the services were “Asleep in Jesus,” “Rock of Ages,” “Home of the Dead,” “All’s Well,” “Resting in Jesus,” were sung at the grave. It was one of the largest funerals ever held in the county. Nicholas and John Daihn of Derinda, and Mrs. Sticker of Plum River were brothers and sister of deceased. Two sisters preceded her to the eternal world. Messrs. Adam Rittweger, John Baus, Louis Duerstein, Adam Steifel, William Werner and John Hasselbacker were the pallbearers. For the kindness and sympathy shown by friends and neighbors Mr. Hammer and children are unable to express in words their thankfulness.
Submitted By Alayne Hammer

DURRELL E. DAYTON , 60, of 14877 U.S. 20 W., East Dubuque, formerly of Galena, died at 7:55 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, at home surrounded by his loving family following a long, courageous battle with cancer. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug 22, at United Methodist Church, Galena, with the Rev. Dan Schenck officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena, where military rites will be accorded by East Dubuque American Legion Post 787. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, Galena, where members of the East Dubuque American Legion Post 787 will meet at 7 p.m. Friends also may call after 9 a.m. Friday at the church. He was born on Aug. 4, 1948, son of John R. and Annelle (Norman) Dayton. During his childhood, he and his family farmed and operated Dayton's Dairy on Hill Street, Galena. After graduating from Galena High School in 1967, he was drafted into the Army. He was honorably discharged in 1969, due to the loss of his brother Richard, also in the service. After his military service, he returned to Galena and started a construction business. He married Nancy Anger on Sept. 3, 1977, at United Methodist Church, Galena. Durrell was an extremely hard worker and was a proud Teamster, Local 421, Dubuque, for more than 30 years. He drove a semi for H&W Motor Express, Dubuque, for 27 years, until his retirement in May 2002. In May 1996, Durrell and Nancy opened Moonlight Reflections, East Dubuque. Along with their daughters, they managed the day-to-day operations of their restaurant and event center. Durrell's many hobbies included fishing, mechanical and body work to vehicles and auctioneering. He was even a full-fledged "colonel," graduating from Mason City World Wide College of Auctioneering in 1992. Surviving are his wife, Nancy; two daughters, Renee (Frank) Reddington, of Scales Mound, and Katie (Lee Nestbey), of Dubuque; three grandchildren, Samantha, Hanna and Jonathan "JD;" his mother, Annella, of Galena; a sister, Sharon (Jim) Stodden, of Galena; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Anger, of Galena; four special nieces, Michelle, Melissa, Martha and Monica; and other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, John; a brother, Richard; and his father-in-law, Robert Anger Sr.

STEVEN W. DENINGER , 55, of Galena, died Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3, at Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, where friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena. He was born on Jan. 3, 1953, in Dubuque, son of Lester and Lola (Montgomery) Deininger. He graduated from Galena High School in 1971. He married Donna Schultz on Nov. 18, 1972, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Apple River. He was employed by Hulscher's Fencing, Galena, for many years. Steve enjoyed the outdoors, morel and squirrel hunting, watching the birds, working on guns, woodworking, Western movies, weekends at Devil's Lake, family gatherings, fill-in puzzles, fireworks, and he was very proud of his bald eagle collection. Surviving are his wife, Donna; three children, Michael, Brandon (fiance, Val Ohms) and Amanda Deininger, all of Galena; his parents, Les (Lola) Deininger, of Galena; his paternal grandfather, Willis Deininger, of Galena; a brother, Terry (Rosie) Deininger, of Galena; three sisters, Deb (Don) Lee, of Shullsburg, Wis., and Kathy (Bill) Wienen and Sheila (Jerry) Johnson, both of Galena; his in-laws, DuWayne (Peg) Schultz, Bev (Bruce) Van Matre, Nancy (Chuck) Deininger, Bonnie Vondra and Doug ( fiance, Connie) Schultz; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Alma Deininger; his maternal grandparents, George (Theodora) Montgomery; his mother and father-in-law, Melvin (Betty) Schultz; two brothers-in-law, Roger Eckeman and Jim Vondra; and a great-niece, Emmalee Deininger.

WILLIS DENINGER , 100, of Galena, died at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at the Galena-Stauss Senior Care Community.Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, Galena, with the Rev. Stacy Cavanaugh officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Galena. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Friends also may call after 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.He was born on Jan. 6, 1908, in East Galena Township of Jo Daviess County, son of William and Louisa (Meugge) Deininger.He married Alma Bardell on Jan. 14, 1930, at Hampshire; she preceded him in death on April 1, 1994. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galena. Willis was a retired farmer. He loved coon and squirrel hunting, making homemade wine and just plain loved to work. Surviving are six children, Lester (Lola) Deininger, Bill (Faud) Deininger, Richard (Alys) Deininger, all of Galena, Rose (Bob) Harkness, of Freeport, Marilyn (Kenneth) Flack, of East Dubuque, and Charles (Nancy) Deininger, of Lena; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn M. Deininger; a grandson, Steve Deininger; and three great-grandchildren, Stuart, Chad and Emmalee; and eight brothers and sisters, John, Herbert, Marie, Amanda, Rosie, Bertie, Clara and Pauline.

ANNA (HEITKAMP) DILLON - Funeral services for Mrs. Frank Dillon who died at her home in Rawlins Township Thursday morning (19 May 1938) will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the family home to St. Michaels Catholic church at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be at St. Michaels Cemetery. Mrs. Dillon was born in Vinegar Hill Twp. May 19, 1884 the daughte of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heitkamp. She was married April 19, 1904 to Frank Dillon in St. Marys Catholic church in Menominee. Mrs. Dillon is survived by three daughters Mrs. John Callahan, Mrs. Cyril Bussan, both of Rawlins and Miss Florence at home; five sons Lawrence, James, Charles and Leo at home, Joseph of Galena; her mother of Hazel Green WI; three sisters Mrs Ben Vanderah of Vinegar Hill, Mrs. Ross Doyle of Hazel Green and Mrs. Frank Salwolke of Sinsinawa WI; one brother Joseph Heitkamp of Menominee and ten grandchildren. She was preceded by her husband on July 13, 1924, her father in 1936, a son in 1920, two sisters and a brother.
Freeport Journal Standard May 20, 1938.

DOROTHY (WYNIA) DOMINGUE - age 91, of Savanna, Illinois formerly of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center, Clinton, Iowa. A Graveside Service and Inurnment will be held, 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 12, 2006 at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery Elizabeth, Illinois. Law-Jones Funeral Home of Elizabeth will be in charge of the arrangements.Dorothy was born on March 15, 1915, the daughter of Klaus Frank and Elsie (Willis) Wynia in Platte, South Dakota. On May 6, 1950, Dorothy married Eugene John Domingue in Chicago, Illinois.Dorothy was the founder and co-owner of the Corral Restaurant in Elizabeth, Illinois. She was an avid reader and golfer.Dorothy is survived by two daughters, Linda Domingue of Elgin, Illinois and Charlotte (Richard) Hebert of Hanover, Illinois; one grandson, Anthony (Teddi) Domingue; and three great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene; two sons, Timothy and Gary Domingue; one brother, Frank Klaus Wynia; two sisters, Frances Olander and Keno DeGraffenreid.

JOHN THOMAS DONAHOE - age 82 passed away, November 16, 2007, in Hawaii. John was born the oldest of five brothers on the north side of Chicago in 1925. The Donahoes were members of St. Gertrude's parish. Since Jay's father was President of the Cook County Draft Board, upon turning 18, Jay immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He became a front gunner on the USS New Jersey and served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Theaters. Upon returning home, he married Mary Catherine Sheehan, and joined his father and brothers working at the Chicago Board of Trade. While working at the Board, he purchased a farm in Woodstock and the first four of his seven children were born. Several years later, in the late 1950s, he and Mary ventured further west to the town of Hanover. It was in Hanover where he met John Balbach and purchased the Sanderson farm just north of town and the Atkins property located west of town on Blanding Road. Jay's daily commute began in Savanna each morning where he caught the Savanna daily to Chicago and his job at the Board of Trade. The Savanna train service was eventually discontinued so he drove to and from his job on a bi-weekly basis after finally commuting in and out of Chicago every day for the last seven years at the Exchange. After leaving the Board of Trade in 1972, he dove into farming full time and built the first of three grain elevators named Custom Corn located just north of Hanover where remnants still exist today. Several years later he and a partner built Hicks Corners Grain in Gratiot, Wisconsin. They later built a third elevator, which they named Country Side, in Cobb, Wisconsin. It was later destroyed by a tornado. After selling the farm in Hanover in 1986, Jay and Mary moved to Wisconsin briefly venturing further west to their final destination of Honolulu, Hawaii. Although he spent the last 20 years of his life in Hawaii, he never lost interest in the Hanover area and kept up on it's happenings throughout the years. Portions of his ashes will be spread on the farm while the remainder will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Hanover following a Catholic Mass 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007. at St. John Catholic Church, Hanover. He is survived by his wife Mary, seven children, and one wild eyed stray Hereford cow last seen in 1977 ramming a Jeep pickup in a pasture north of Hanover—current whereabouts unknown.
Contributed by Paula / Find-A-Grave / Law-Jones Funeral Home

ALBERT E. DORAK - Carroll County probation officer from 1926 until his retirement in September, died Saturday night in Savanna City Hospital following an extended illness. (The Social Security Death Index gives this date as October 1971.) Mr. Dorak was superintendent of Chestnut High School here for 14 years, past patron of Order of Eastern Star, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, scoutmaster, a charter member of Community Reformed Church, and was a member of Tebala Shrine, Savanna Masonic Lodge, Freeport Consistory and National Retired Teachers Association. He was born September 13, 1902 in Galena , son of Joseph and Anna (Jones) Dorak. On November 15, 1923 he married Vera Vincent in Galena . Surviving are his widow; and a brother Frank of Champaign. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Community Church with the Revs. Howard Brooks, pastor of the church and T. S. Cleworth, officiating. Burial will be in Galena Cemetery . Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, where Masonic rites will be conducted.
Contributed by Alice Horner

EDNA (DONNEN) DORAN , age 94, of Savanna, Illinois died Tuesday, November 13, 2007, at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 16, 2007 at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna with Reverend Michael Wey officiating. Friends may call from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Friday, prior to the service. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover, Illinois. Edna was born on September 16, 1913 in Clayton County, Iowa to Edward and Nora (Mosley) Donnan. Edna graduated from Hanover High School where she was named most popular in her class. Edna married Robert Smith. She later married Vernon Anderson in 1951. Vernon died on June 12, 1993. In June of 1997 Edna married Charles Doran. Charles died on February 6, 2007. Edna worked at the Hanover Woolen Mill and she later worked for Illowa Music and Games in Savanna. She was a member of the Savanna Women of the Moose for many years. Edna was known for her great sense of humor and her ability to tell jokes. Most of all Edna enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Edna is survived by three step-sons, James Doran of LeClaire, Iowa, Jeff Doran of Thomson, Illinois and Vern (Linda) Anderson, Jr. of Moline, Illinois; one step-daughter, Sharon (Jerry) Raab of Mt. Carroll, Illinois; several step grandchildren; several step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Dena (Walt) Miller of Savanna. Edna was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Robert Smith, Vernon Anderson and Charles Doran.
Contributed by Paula / Find-A-Drive

DANIEL KIMSEY DUNN , age 70, of Hanover, Illinois passed away on Friday, July 29, 2005 at his home. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 3, 2005 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 411 West Catlin Street, Elizabeth, Illinois. A visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. prior to the Funeral Service. Interment will be in Elizabeth Cemetery, Elizabeth, IL. Reverend Harvey Nicholson will officiate. Daniel was born February 6, 1935, in Hammond, Indiana, the son of Samuel and Hazel (Goodrich) Dunn. He married Cindy (Brandt) Whittaker on December 11, 1993 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, IL. Daniel worked maintenance at MMC Manufacturing in Kankakee, IL for 13 years. He was the former owner of two restaurants in Kankakee, IL and Herscher, IL. Daniel was quite the handyman, sort of a “jack of all trades”. He also enjoyed woodworking. Daniel was a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 55, in Joliet, IL. Daniel will be dearly missed by his wife, Cindy, of Hanover, Illinois; one daughter, Crissa (Chris) Lord of Hanover, IL; two sisters, Mary Zorbas of Indiana and Bertie Conley of Indiana; his mother-in-law, Erma Brandt of Elizabeth, IL; two sisters-in-law, Linda (Bob) Schuepbach of Machesney Park, IL, and Bonnie (Phil) Johnson of Machesney Park, IL; and two grandchildren. Daniel is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lloyd Dunn and Jim Dunn; and one sister, Doris Dunn.

VINCENT P. DUSCHEN , 71, of 703 Sinsinawa Ave. in East Dubuque died at 4:12 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Unit, Mercy Health Center, apparently of a heart attack.Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church in East Dubuque, with burial in the East Dubuque Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 p.m. Friday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the rosary will be said at 8 p.m. Friday.Mr. Duschen was born in Dubuque and had been employed with the Illinois Central & Gulf Railrad and Montgomery Ward & Co. Since his retirement he worked part-time at the East Dubuque Post Office. He was a member of St. Mary's Holy Name Society.Surviving are his wife, the former Alvina Pluym; a daughter, Mrs. Wayne (Karen) Gardner of East Dubuque; two grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Teresa Tschiggfrie of Dubuque, and a brother, Anthony Duschen of Lake Eleanor, Calif.
[The Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, August 1, 1980].

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