Whiteside Co IL Obituaries

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DANIEL A. PEARCE - 84, of Sterling Colonial Acres, Sterling, died Thursday morning (20 Nov 1975) at Community General Hospital. Funeral services will be held at the Allen Funeral Home in Sterling on Saturday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Donald D. Pritz, pastor of the St. John's Lutheran Church of Sterling officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 7-9 p.m. He was born Oct. 14, 1891 in Piper City, Ill., the son of Ralph and Anna Sweigert Pearce. He was formerly employed by the Wahl Clipper Co. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Glenn (Lilas) Riddle of Peoria and Mrs. George Hafner of Sterling; four grandchildren; Mrs. Harley (Glenice) Maske of Peoria; Teala Rager of Peoria; Eugene Hafner of Sterling; Mrs William (Carolyn) Duncan of Sterling; 10 greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one grandchild and his wife.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - Sterling Gazette November 20, 1975 - Thursday, pg 6

EDWARD OLIVER PETERSON - Funeral services for Edward Oliver Peterson were held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock at the Parent chapel when many relatives and friends came to pay their respects. Rev. Hollis Wharton, pastor of the Methodist church, officiated. Mrs. Ransom Egert and Mrs. Archie Yarde, sr., sang “Beautiful Isle of somewhere” and “In The garden”, accompanied by Mrs. Neva Denison. The many beautiful floral offerings were in charge of Mrs. Earl Bolind, Mrs. Lawrence Ganschow and Mrs. Ormond Gerbitz. Burial was in the Tampico Memorial cemetery with Armond Gerbitz, Arthur Gallentine, Lawrence Gansschow, Lloyd Christiansen, George wolf and Elmer Wright acting as pallbearers. Many relatives attended from Sandwich, Paxton, Manlius, New Bedford, Walnut, Prophetstown and Tampico.
Contributed by Margaret Mangers from the Oct 19, 1948 Sterling Gazette

FRED PETERSON , 73, 205 E. Wall St., retired farmer, died suddenly Saturday afternoon (21 Oct 1961) in his home. He had been in failing health for a little more than one year. The body was taken to the Reynolds Funeral home where friends may call. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home Tuesday at 2 p.m., the Rev. Carl I. Fant, pastor of the Bethesday Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Grove Hill Cemetery. Mr. Peterson was born Oct. 6, 1888, in Solvesborg, Sweden, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Peterson. He came to the United States in 1906. He was married to Minnie Olson in Morrison on Feb. 24, 1915. They farmed in Clyde Township following their marriage until 1948, when he retired and they moved into Morrison to reside. He was a member of the Bethesda Lutheran Church. Survivors include his widow, one daughter, Mrs. Frank (Fern) Olson, and one son, Harold Peterson, both of Morrison; four grandchildren, Arlene Olson, La Von, Glen and Ray Peterson; one brother, Anton, in Sweden and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ben and Paul, and one sister, Mrs. Charles (Hilda) Anderson.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois October 23, 1961 - Monday, pg 2

HARRY W. PETERSON , 70, of Sterling died Oct. 18, 2005 at CGH MED. Ctr. He was employed by Sterling-Rock Falls Clinic as a maintenance assistant for several years. He was born June 29, 1935 in Sterling, the son of Gerald & Mabel (Christofferson) Peterson. He was a 1953 graduate of Rock Falls high. He served in the Army for 2 years and then in the reserves for 2 years. He married the former Patricia A. capp on Aug. 20, 1960 in Sterling. He was a member of Sterling America Legion Post 296 and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2783 Rock Falls. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Mike of Davis Junction and Tom of Geneva; two daughters Katy Marshall of Cornelius NC and Terry McFadden of Sterling; four brothers, Gerald, Jack, Doug and Dennis; two sisters Karen Miner and Sandra Dennis; a brother-in-law Larry Olmstead; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

JOHN PETERSON - Funeral services for the late John Peterson were held at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon in the Parent funeral chapel in Tampico. Rev. Milton Lundahl of Prophetstown officiated, basing his message of comfort on the text found in Matthew 7:21. Mrs. Everett Wilkinson of Prophetstown was the soloist and sang "In the Garden" and "The Old Rugged Cross." She was accompanied by Mrs. Gene Gardner of Prophetstown. There were beautifiul floral offerings. Interment was in the Greenville-Fairfield cemetery. The pallbearers were Eli Furry, Roy Cassens, Gid Love, Levi Lutyens, Phil Burgess and Victor Newman. John Peterson was born in Sweden, April 1, 1865, and migrated to America with his parents and two sisters in 1870. They settled in Chicago for a number of years, later moving to a farm near Thomas where he married and moved to his present home where he has lived for the past 35 years. He was confirmed in 1880 at the Swedish Lutheran church in Fairfield township and always remained a member of that church. He passed away June 12, 1942, at the age of 77 years, two months and 11 days, after an illness of several months. He leaves to mourn his passing his widow, Carrie Taft Peterson, a step-son, Lester Taft Peterson, of Detroit, Mich., and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johanas and Stava Peterson; two sisters, Mrs. Christine Munson and Mrs. Mary Giibson; and his former wives, Lizzie Sooderburg and Ida Anderson.
Contributed by Melva Taylor - Sterling Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois June 16, 1942 - Tuesday, pg. 6 col. 2

KATHLEEN (BUCHWALD) PETERSEN , 85, of Geneso, formerly of Prophetstown died Thursday, July 31, 2003, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa. She was employed by Micro-Gear, Prophetstown for several years and by Quality Control, retiring in 1980. Mrs Peterson was born Nov. 29, 1917, in Prophetstown the daughter of William and Celia (Olson) Buchwald. She was a graduate of Prophetstown High School and attended nursing training in Clinton, Iowa. She married Vernon Peterson on Aug. 6, 1938, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. He died Dec. 7, 1996. She attended First Evangelical Free Church, Geneseo. She enjoyed reading and playing cards. Survivors include two daughters Patsy (Douglas) Gigstad of Des Moines, Iowa, and Carol (Steve) Lowther of Silvis three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral is at 1:30 p.m. Monday at McDonald Funeral Home, Prophetstown with the Rev. Jim Jenson, pastor of Advent Christian Church, ProphetStown officiating. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery,
Daily Gazette 02 August 2003

Lavelle (Milnes) PETERSON , 78, of Morrison died Nov. 30, 2004 at Mercy Med. Center, Clinton Iowa. She taught at Robertson School, rural Whiteside County and then farmed with her husband in the Morrison area. She was born April 9, 1926 in Morrison the daughter of Sidney V. & Edna (Swanson) Milnes. She was a 1944 graduate of Morrison High School. SHe married Harold C. Peterson on Dec. 17, 1946 in Morrison. She was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Morrison, the Ladies Guild, taught Sunday School and was a Sunday School Superintendent; a member of Rebekah Lodge 202, Rock Falls and a 4-H leader for several years. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, LaVon Downing; two sons, Glenn and Ray; two brothers, Vernon and Virgil; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded by a sister, Beulah Recker. Burial in Grove Hill Cemetery.

LEONARD L. PETERSON , 75, of 1514 Gregdon Shores, Sterling, died (27 October 1985) suddenly Sunday morning in his winter home at 5 Galena Court, Jamaica Bay West, Ft. Myers, Fla. Funeral services for Mr. Peterson will be held on Wednesday morning with a prayer service at 10 a.m. at the Allen Funeral Home in Sterling, followed by Mass of the Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sterling with Rev. Francis McDonnell officiating. Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Riverview Cemetery in Streator, with Rev. Joe Kuczborski, associate pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church of Streator presiding. Friends may call at the Allen Funeral home in Sterling on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. A memorial has been established in his memory. Mr. Peterson was born on March 21, 1910 in Tampico, the son of Oscar and Hilma Sofia Peterson. He attended Tampico Schools, Cornell College and then went to Western Illinois University at Macomb. He received his Masters Degree at the University of Wisconsin. He taught school and was superintendent of the grade school and high school at Grand Ridge. Mr. Peterson went to the west coast and was employed with the Immigration and Naturalization Department of the U.S. Government for ten years. After returning to Sterling, he became affiliated with the W. B. Wetzdell Insurance Agency from 1949 until 1957. Mr. Peterson then started the Peterson Insurance Agency, better known today as the Peterson, Detweiler, Book & Klocke, Ltd., Insurance Agency. He was founder and chairman of the board, retiring on Jan. 1, 1966. The deceased was past president of the Life Underwriters Association, past president of the Sterling-Rock Falls Independent Insurance Association, past president of the Rock Falls Rotary Club and a current member. He was a former member of the Sterling Elks Lodge and the Sterling Moose Lodge 927. Leonard Peterson was united in marriage to Irene M. Noon on May 25, 1935 in Pekin. The couple celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past summer at the Rock River Country Club. Surviving are his wife, Irene, one son, Donald C. Peterson of Sterling; three grandchildren, Donald Jr., Jennifer and Amie Peterson, all of Sterling; one sister, Mrs. Mildred Smith of Tampico; two brothers, Virgil Peterson of Tampico and Vernon Peterson of Prophetstown and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Bruce Lee Peterson
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois October 28, 1985 - Monday, pg A4

THELMA JEAN (BENNING) PETERSEN , 76 of Union Grove, Wis., passed away Saturday, March 3, 2001 at Winchester House in Libertyville. She was born Sept. 29, 1924 in Piqua, Ohio, the daughter of Emerson and Ada (nee Ward) Benning. She had lived in Lake County, Kenosha County, Denver, Colo. area and the last 15 years in Union Grove. She had employed at Klienshmidt Laboratories, Northbrook, Lutheran Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colo. and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's North Chicago hose plant, where she retired after 25 years of service. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Union Grove. She enjoyed cooking, canning, her family, old movies (she was a great John Wayne fan) and her rose gardens. She spent much of her retirement years crocheting afghans. Survivors include a daughter, Rose (Robert) Foskett of Johnsburg; three sons, Philip (Ann) Campanella of Genoa City, Gilbert (Ginger) Petersen, Jr. of Union Grove and Randy Petersen of Nekoosa; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Norma Denney of Tipp City, Ohio and Dorothy Arnett of Greenville, Ohio; a brother, Richard Benning of Troy, Ohio; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Thelma Jean Campanella; a son, Raymond Campanella; a brother, Raymond; and a great-grandson, Justin Foskett. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, March 8, 2001 at Poinasek-Daniels Funeral Home, Union Grove, the Rev. James Keuch officiating. Burial will follow in Union Grove Cemetery. Friends may call 5-7 p.m., Wednesday in the funeral home
Source: Find A Grave submitted by James Seidelman

HERVIE PETRIE , 84, of San Juan, Texas, a former Rock Falls resident and uncle of Mrs. Olaf Johnson of 1011 8th Ave., Rock Falls, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 1957 His death occurred in the San Juan Hospital after a brief illness. When he left Rock Falls a number of years ago, Mr. Petrie moved to Aurora. In 1949 he went to Texas and had since made his home in San Juan. He was a retired railroad engineer and member of the San Juan Methodist Church. Surviving Mr. Petrie are his wife, Gertrude; three grandchildren, Mrs. Marty Garrick, North Madison, Ohio; Caroline Petrie of Boston, Mass., and Mrs. Julies Goldberg, of Hialeah, Fla. He also leaves seven great grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Mae Ross and Mrs. Alta Elmitt, both of Bellingham, Wash. A son Charles and a brother Charles preceded him in death. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 2 at 4 p.m. in the Skinner Funeral home Chapel in Pharr, Texas, conducted by Rev. Ted Spillman, pastor of the San Juan Methodist Church. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery.
Contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois May 7, 1957 - Tuesday, pg 2

FLORENCE (WERTZ) PICKENS , 82 Erie, died at Eveningside Nursing Home, Morrison, Sunday evening (20 Dec 1970). Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Schilling Funeral Home, Erie, with burial in the Erie Cemetery. Friends may call after 7 p.m. Monday (tonight) and until time of services. Florence Wertz was born July 20, 1888 in Streator, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wertz. She married Hollis Pickens Nov. 2, 1907, in Long Point, Ill. He preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Lyle, Moline; Clair, Morrison; two daughters, Mrs. Alex (Wilma) Miller, Downers Grove; Mrs. Dean (Rita) Gilman, Tampico; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren; one brother, William Wertz, LaVerne, Calif. A memorial has been established for the Erie Public Library.
contributed by Melva L. Taylor - The Daily Gazette, Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois December 21, 1970 - Monday, pg 2

EMMA (KNIGHT) WYTHE PUFFER - When the Retail Development Group purchased two buildings in the 1100 block of 4th Street, research began on the buildings and owners. At that time wonderful stories emerged about the Wythe family, the Stuarts, and the Knights. A letter was found from Joseph Smith III to Emma Knight, but the connection to the Wythes was not perfectly clear. Last week’s discovery of an obituary for Emma Puffer explained the relationship. Emma Knight with her parents and siblings were on the steamer Uncle Toby when Emma Hale Smith and her family came to Fulton in 1846-47.
Fulton Journal: January 8, 1895:
Friday afternoon Mrs. L.F. Puffer died at her home in this city, after an illness of but ten days. The cause of her death was an abscess in the right lung. Her maiden name was Emma E. Knight. She was born in Charleston, Illinois, January 24, 1839, being fifty-five years, eleven months and ten days of age at the time of her death. She was one of the old residents of Fulton, having come to this city with her parents in 1847, and resided here since, excepting a short time spent in Colorado. She was married to Monroe C. Wythe, in Sterling, in 1856. To this marriage two children were born, Frank A. who resides in this city and Eva who died in infancy. Her married life was not a happy one and in 1866 she obtained a divorce from Mr. Wythe. At Black Hawk, Colorado, November 25, 1868, she was married to L.F. Puffer and soon after Mr. and Mrs. Puffer returned to Fulton. To this marriage two daughters were born, Nettie, now Mrs. Martin H. McGrath, of this city, and Daisy, now Mrs. Clayton Snodgrass, of Iron Hill, Iowa. About twelve years ago her sight failed and she had been practically blind since, but through it all she was ever patient and uncomplaining, thinking more of others than herself and cheering those about her with words of encouragement, sympathy and love. When quite young she became deeply interested in the teachings and philosophy of modern Spiritualism and soon became not only satisfied in her own mind that its claims were true but became herself a medium and through all her life her faith in, or as she claimed her knowledge of, the truth of continued life and inter-communion of friends here and hereafter was a source of great comfort to her and that faith sustained her in the closing hours of her life. She was fully conscious throughout her final illness, but could speak only with great difficulty. The funeral services were at the house Sunday held at 2 o’clock p.m. Rev. Frank S. Arnold officiating, and the remains were buried in Fulton cemetery. Thus another old resident of Fulton sleeps in the silent city of the dead. Mr. Puffer will reside for the present with his daughter, Mrs. McGrath, in this city.
Contributed by Nancy Kolk -- Glimpses of Fulton