Ruth Ann Lazio

Ruth Ann (Pfeiffer) Lazio was 107 years young when she passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

She was one of eight children of Mary Ann (Mamie) Elizabeth Johnson and Frederick Pfeiffer. She was born on December 29, 1904 in Stitzer, WI. In 1910 she moved to Mt. Carroll with her mother and siblings to live with her aunt Ruth Johnson Buckwalter. Her siblings were Edith Siemen, Hannah Hungerford, Olga Phillips, Charles, Frederick, Robert, and DeForest. She attended Mt. Carroll High School. She worked at the grocery store in Lanark for 10 years, attended beauty school in Madison, Wi, and then worked as a beautician in Lanark and Mt. Carroll until 1949.

Ruth married Michael James Lazio on March 13, 1941 in Washington, DC, where Michael was stationed during WWII. Later they made their home in Lanark where Mick died on November 8, 1965. After that Ruth’s mother Mamie lived with her until her death at age 103 in 1975. She kept her mother active making bread and noodles every day.

Ruth was a wonderful and amazing lady. She lived in Lanark until she was 100 years old, when she decided she couldn’t live alone anymore.
She was Aunt Ruth to Mona Hungerford, Iris and Rosalynne Phillips, Charmion Ewing, Priscilla Pfeiffer, Rebecca Crisci, Judith Wilmarth, James Pfeiffer, Margo Atherton, Frederick Pfeiffer, LaRue Pfeiffer, Jody Goodwin, and Shirley Pfeiffer. She was Great Aunt to 23 great-nieces and nephews and Great-Great Aunt to many more.

Ruth moved to Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Mt. Carroll in 2005 where she would knit dish clothes until she was 105. She got her first email address when she was 100 and was an active e-mailer until about a month ago. She received the most loving care from the staff at Good Samaritan Nursing Home and her niece Margo Atherton until her death.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Lanark Cemetery with Chaplain Ron Abbott officiating. A memorial fund has been established in her memory for the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Mt. Carroll. The Russell-Frank Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Private condolences and online guest book may be signed at www.shwarzfh.com

Bradley Dale Rippy

Bradley Dale Rippy, 53, of Savanna, formerly of Lanark, passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at his sister’s home in Albany, IL surrounded by family after a courageous battle with lung disease.

He was born on November 15, 1958, in Freeport, to James and Mary Anne (Gerbrick) Rippy. He was a graduate of Forreston High School and Highland Community College. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent most of his life working on the farm.

He is survived by his mother: Mary Anne; siblings: Jamie (Bill) Walker of Albany, IL, Kerry (Ann) Rippy of Freeport, Daniel (Carol) Rippy of Forreston; Karen (Tim) Cochran of Sterling, Douglas Rippy of Lanark, and Patrick (Sandy) Rippy of Lanark; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father: James; and grandparents.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark with Rev. Herbert Bollman of Lanark Faith Reformed Church officiating. A visitation will be held after 1:00 pm until the time of service at the Funeral Home on Monday. Interment will be at the Lanark Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his memory to help with funeral expenses.

Private condolences and online guestbook may be signed at www.schwarzfh.com

Joan Marie Rahn

Joan Marie (Houzenga) Rahn, age 75, died Saturday May 5, 2012 at home. A funeral service will be held at the Law-Jones Funeral home in Mt. Carroll at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012. The service will be officiated by Pastor Josh Jensen. Burial will be in the Chadwick Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the Chadwick Community Building. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 at Law – Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Online memorials and condolences may be left for the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Joan was born February 7th, 1937 in Fulton, Illinois at the family’s residence. Joan’s parents were John and Inez Houzenga. She was the oldest of seven children. Joan graduated from Chadwick High School in 1955. It was there that she met the love of her life, Kenneth. They married on August 11th, 1961 at Spring Valley Reformed Church in Fulton, Illinois. Joan was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She loved to laugh and spend time with her family. She attended numerous sporting, music, and church related events. Joan used her musical talents singing with her family and was a choir director for 40 years and played the organ for services, weddings, and funerals. She used her strong soprano voice singing at several weddings as well. Joan taught Sunday school for 50 years and loved teaching kids about the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joan was a member of the Christian Women’s club and a member of the Chadwick Evangelical Free Church.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Gordon and Randall Houzenga. She is and will be dearly missed by her husband Kenneth; her daughter Deb (Duane) Herin of Chadwick; three sons, Bill (Connie) Rahn of Schaumburg, Illinois; Brian (Amanda) Rahn of Chadwick; and Kevin (Vicki) Rahn of Genoa, Illinois; 10 grandchildren: Andrea, Brianna, Zachary and Hope Herin; Josh, Abbie and Faith Rahn; Alison and Kaitlin Rahn; Daylen Rahn as well as four sisters, numerous nieces, nephews and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Orvin E. Petersen

Orvin E. Petersen, age 84 of Miles, Iowa, died on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at The Alverno Nursing rehabilitation Center, Clinton. A funeral service was held 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 7, 2012 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston with Pastor Greg Gregory officiating. Burial will take place in the Andover Cemetery, Andover, Iowa. A visitation was held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2012 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston. A memorial fund has been established in Orvin’s memory.

Mary Eileen Zeal

Mary Eileen Zeal, age 91, of Hanover, Illinois, died Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Galena-Stauss Senior Care Community, Galena. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hanover with Father Christopher Kuhn as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover. Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover with a Rosary Service being held at 4:00 p.m.

Edward Ben Dykema

Edward “Ed” Ben Dykema, age 90, of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, passed away on May 6, 2012, at Harbor Crest Nursing Home, Fulton, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Gateway Baptist Church, 722 S. 16th St., Clinton, Iowa. Burial will take place in the Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, Illinois. A visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 10, prior to the funeral service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mercy Hospice in Ed’s memory.