Gene D. Judas

Gene D. Judas, age 83, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at his home in Mt. Carroll. Cremation rites will be accorded. A Memorial Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 27, 2010 at the First Lutheran Church, Mt. Carroll. Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church and the Carroll County Senior Center in Gene’s memory. Online condolences and tributes may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Gene was born November 23, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of John and Erna (Willner) Judas. He married Doris Aileen Sandell on August 30, 1947, in Lanark, Illinois. Gene worked for Culligan Water for thirty - seven years, retiring in 1992. In recent years he spent much time working at the Carroll County Senior Citizens. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll, and a longtime member of the Moose and Lions Club. While in the Lions he was awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Award for humanitarian service. He was a past member of the Savanna Civil Defense. In his spare time, Gene enjoyed hunting, relaxing and spending time with his family.

Gene is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Aileen Judas of Mt. Carroll; one daughter, Mary Lynn Judas of Chicago, Illinois; three sons, Steven (Terri) Judas of Ivor, Virginia, Kevin (Debra) Judas of Milledgeville, Illinois, and John (Michelle) Judas of Oakwood Hills, Illinois; five grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and one due in March; one sister, Marian Ewalt of Freeport, Illinois; one sister in-law, Jeanette Judas of Mt. Carroll; and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Ruth, in infancy; his brother, Marvin; and brother in-law, Charles (Lindy) Ewalt.

Orville L. Gilmore

Orville L. Gilmore, 86, of Smackover, died Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at Courtyard Health and Rehabilitation. Born June 26, 1924 in Greenfield, Illinois, he was the son of Frank Martin and Hazel McLeese Gilmore.

He had worked 12 years as a fireman on the Milwaukee-St. Paul Railroad. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in Europe. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 22 in El Dorado and Post 2223 in Savanna, Illinois and was of the Baptist faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Rose Nimrick; a brother, Paul “Gene” Gilmore and a son, Gerald Gilmore.

Survivors include his wife, Martha Fosdick Gilmore of Smackover; sons, Wayne Gilmore of Thomson, Illinois; Terry Gilmore of Mt. Carroll, Illinois; and Frank Gilmore of Savanna; a stepson, Donald Zeeryp of Savanna; daughters, Colleen Hitz of Manteno, Illinois and Carol Young of Mt. Carroll; stepdaughters, Bonnie Warwick of Calion and Connie Hackenberger of Smackover; sisters, Mildred Jaquet of Sacramento, California; Alice Edmiston of Channelview, Texas and Gladys Goodwin of Pinellas Park, Florida; 25 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation services are under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

Rita Ann Traum

Rita Ann (Rivera) Traum, age 68, of Savanna, Illinois, died on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at her home. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 23, 2010 at Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mount Carroll. Burial will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll, Illinois. A Memorial Fund has been established in Rita’s memory.

Gene Fritz

Gene “Sparky” Fritz, age 81, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, died Monday, December 20, 2010, at his home in Mt. Carroll. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 26, 2010, at the Frank – Law – Jones Funeral Home in Mount Carroll. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 27, also at the Frank – Law – Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll. Burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Memorials may be directed to the Mt. Carroll Fire Department in Gene’s memory.

Lars Charles Pedersen

Lars Charles Pedersen (aka Rick, Larry, Nerd), age 69, of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Sunday, December 26, 2010, surrounded by his family following a two month battle with lung & liver cancer. Cremation rites have been accorded and a Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2010, at The Church of St. Mary in Elizabeth, with Father Noel Jacob as celebrant. Burial will follow St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Elizabeth. Memorials may be given in Rick’s memory.

Cora Georgia Buckwalter

Cora Georgia “Corky” Buckwalter, 86, of Mt. Carroll, IL, died December 28, 2010 at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Mt. Carroll. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 31, 2010, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll with a one hour visitation prior (10:00) to the service. Pastor Elizabeth Mascal of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church will officiate. Burial of her cremains will be conducted by the family at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery in Mt. Carroll.