Rod A Herrick

Rod A Herrick of Otter Creek Drive in Milledgeville passed away at home Friday morning, February 5th, surrounded by his family and many friends.

Rod was born to Ted Herrick & Melva Herrick Stolpa in Oskaloosa IA on September 21st, 1947. He graduated Milledgeville High School in 1965 and proudly served his country in the Army Military Police in Vietnam and Germany from October 1966 through September 1969. Rod married Sara Jane Kreider on October 10th, 1970 and they have one son, Pete Herrick.

Rod continued his career with Law Enforcement for over 40 years with the Milledgeville Police Department, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office. He served 13 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Milledgeville Fire Department. Rod is a Life Member of VFW Savanna Post 2223, a Life Member of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, and a member of the Carroll County Haiti Mission Project.

He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for actions during the Tet Offensive of 1968. During his career in Law Enforcement, Rod introduced the first organized child fingerprinting protection program in Carroll County, set up the first computerized record-keeping system for a department in the county, and focused on child safety through programs throughout the community.

Rod enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, golf, and carpentry.

Rod Herrick is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Pete & Tessa Herrick of Matthews NC; his mother, Melva (Sayer Herrick) Stolpa of Pitkin LA; two sisters, Pam Willis of Pitkin LA and Patty Malone of Alexandria LA; his former wife, Sara Jane (Kreider) Herrick of Milledgeville IL; as well as a many very close friends that shared an admiration for the man that taught them patience, confidence, charity, grace, and strength.

He was preceded in death by his father Ted, step-father John Stolpa, and two brothers, Kevin Herrick and Rick Herrick.

At his request, no services or memorial will be held, just remembrance in personal thoughts. If friends are moved to do so, two memorials have been established:

Hospice of the Rock River Valley who supported, loved and comforted Rod and those around him during his final 5 days.

Carroll County Haiti Mission Project with whom Rod worked for many years, assisting in the building of a medical facility in Haiti and caring for hundreds of Haitians.

Arrangements were completed by the McDonald-Allen-Grennan Funeral Home, Milledgeville. Online condolenence may be sent to www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com

Shirley A. Miller

Shirley A. Miller, age 74, of Chadwick, Illinois, died Monday, February 1, 2010 at home. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 5, 2010 at the First Brethren Church, Lanark, with Pastor E.C. Lathrop officiating. Burial will be in the Lanark Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Online condolences and tributes may also be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Shirley was born March 9, 1935 in Sterling, Illinois, the daughter of Fay and June (Bleitz) Jarvis Paschal. She is a graduate of Milledgeville High School. On October 22, 1954, Shirley married Ivon L. Miller in Milledgeville, Illinois.

Most important in Shirley’s life was her family. She loved raising her children and enjoying the time with her grandchildren. Shirley was a member of the First Brethren Church of Lanark, the Women’s Missionary Society, taught Sunday School and served on the Church Deacon Board. Whenever possible, Shirley enjoyed cooking and entertaining for friends and family. She also loved reading and embroidery. Shirley had worked as a Teller and Bookkeeper at the Farmer’s State Bank, Chadwick, and the Mt. Carroll National Bank for twenty years. She was also active in working at her sister’s greenhouse, Milledgeville Greenhouse, for many years.

Shirley will be dearly missed by her husband, Ivon of Chadwick; two daughters, Terri Hahler of St. Louis, Missouri and Kristy (Chester) Strehlow of Forreston, Illinois; two sons, Danny (Pam) Miller of Rock Falls, Illinois and Dana (Jane) Miller of Mt. Carroll; nine grandchildren, John and Susan Hahler, Brett and Cole Strehlow, Adam, Katey and Emily Miller, and Kayla and Shane Miller; and a sister, Janice (Richard) Millhouse of Sterling, Illinois. Shirley was preceded in death by both parents and a sister, Faye Rae Eller.

Rachel Lynn Speers

Rachel Lynn Speers, age 29, of Chicago, Illinois, formerly of Lyons, Illinois and Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, February 5, 2010 at home. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna with Pastor Floyd West Officiating. Burial will take place in Savanna. Visitation will be held from 11:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Funeral Home, prior to the service. A memorial fund has been established in Rachel’s name.

Gary R. Dittmar

Gary R. Dittmar, age 73, of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Sunday, February 7, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 12, 2010, at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Elizabeth. Burial will follow in the Derinda Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 – 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 12, prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth.

Margret Houver

Margret Houver, age 96, of Savanna, Illinois, previously of Cedar Rapids, Iowa died Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. Cremation will be accorded and burial od ashes will take place in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Iowa at a later date.