Joe R. Dannels

Joe R. Dannels, age 66, of Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, July 3, 2009, at the FHN Hospital in Freeport, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Savanna. Burial will follow in the Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 5 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Joe was born October 31, 1941, in Savanna, Illinois, the son of Ambrose D. Dannels and Delray Christensen. He graduated from Savanna High School with the Class of 1960. Joe proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1960 to 1964 aboard the USS Henry B. Wilson off the coast of Vietnam. He married Becky B. Crisci on December 31, 1997, in Galena, Illinois.

Joe worked for many years at Chemplex in Clinton, Iowa, and retired from Danisco as a process supervisor. During that time, he also owned and operated the Lakeside Fish Market and Joe’s Roadhouse south of Savanna. Joe was a proud member of the Savanna VFW Post 2223 where he was a past Commander for numerous terms, and received the All State Commander Award in 1992 – 1993, and the National All – American Post Commander Award in 1993 – 1994. He was also a member of the Thomson, Illinois, American Legion, the Elk’s Club and AMVETS in Clinton, Iowa, and the Savanna Moose Lodge.

Joe is survived by his wife Becky Dannels of Savanna, Illinois; two daughters, Christine (Brian) Nelson of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Paula Jo (Stu) McLean of Roswell, New Mexico; one step daughter, Dana (Jim) Haynes of Savanna; one stepson, Bill (Suzy) Crisci of Caldwell, Idaho; his mother Delray Christensen of Fulton, Illinois; five grandchildren, Jake Crisci, Bonnie Crisci, Payton Haynes, Madison Haynes, and Ruby Claire McLean; two sisters, Nancy (Marvin) Johnson of Miles, Iowa, and Betsy Frankel of Islip, New York; three brothers, James D. (Shelley) Dannels Sr. of Reno, Nevada, Bruce (Diane) Christensen of Fulton, Illinois, and Charlie (Peggy) Dannels of Savanna; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Daniel W. "Boots" Koester

Daniel W. "Boots" Koester, age 43, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at his home. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda, with Reverend David Vidler officiating. Burial will take place in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. A Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2009 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Elizabeth. A Memorial Fund has been established in Dan’s memory. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Dan was born on January 13, 1966, the son of DeLoss E. and Joan C. (Kelly) Koester, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Dan attended Scales Mound High School, graduating with the Class of 1984. He later attended Northeast Iowa Community College, graduating in 1986 with a degree in Agricultural Mechanics. Dan married Karen D. Schnitzler on October 29, 1994 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda.

Dan owned and operated Boots Ag Repair in Elizabeth for eighteen years. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Schapville, Illinois and the Trinity Lutheran Church in Derinda. Dan was a proud supporter of the 4-H program, and was also a judge for 4-H fairs. He was a director of the Jo-Daviess County Farm Bureau Board, and was a member of the Dairyland Antique Tractor Pulling Club. He also served on the Elizabeth Fair Board. Dan enjoyed tractor pulling, farming, cattle, and helping out friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed maintaining the track at the Elizabeth Fairgrounds for the truck and tractor pulls. Most of all, Dan cherished the time he spent with his wife and children.

Dan is survived by his wife, Karen; two children, Kelley and Devin of Elizabeth; mother, Joan (Alex) Michaud of Las Crucas, New Mexico; two sisters, Debora (David) Hilby of Cuba City, Wisconsin and Patricia (Patrick) Reser of Phoenix, Arizona; two brothers, Richard (Donna) Koester of Aurora, Iowa and Jeffrey (Sheila) Koester of Scales Mound, Illinois; father and mother-in-law, Marvin and Elizabeth Schnitzler of Elizabeth, Illinois; three sisters-in-law, Leisa (Larry) Hubb of Stockton, Illinois, Sheila (Brandon) Alexander of Chadwick, Illinois and Marla (John) Todd of Tipton, Iowa; one brother-in-law, Roger (Sandra) Schnitzler of Manteno, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.

Dan is preceded in death by his father, DeLoss Koester; infant daughter, Karla Koester; paternal grandparents, Clyde and Ada Koester; and maternal grandparents, William Kelly and Lois (Kelly) Reed.

Lucille Florence McFadden

Lucille Florence (Hartman) McFadden, age 98 of Lanark, Illinois, died Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2009 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Mt. Carroll. Burial will be in Center Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the funeral home. Memorials may be given in Lucille’s memory. Online condolences and tributes may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Lucille was born January 5, 1911 in Savanna, the daughter of Adam and Alice (Hall) Hartman. She attended the Excelsior Country School, rural Savanna. In 1930, Lucille married Owen Moore. She later married Raymond “Mac” McFadden on September 28, 1953.

Lucille enjoyed being a homemaker. She also farmed with her husband, Raymond, in the bluff area between Savanna and Thomson. She loved family get-togethers at their farm. She always cooked from scratch using vegetables from her garden. She also canned much of her harvest, enjoyed crocheting, and hunted for morel mushrooms and watercrests. Lucille enjoyed being very competitive when playing cards, croquet, or other games with family and friends.

She will be dearly missed by her husband, Raymond, of Lanark; her daughter, Lois (Bernard “Bud”) Hartman of Lanark; her daughter in-law, Betty Moore of Savanna; 13 grandchildren, Ronald Hartman of Milledgeville, Jerry (Sheila) Hartman of Mt. Carroll, Tom Hartman of Lanark, Peggy (Bill) Brown of Milledgeville, Mike (Darci) Hartman of Milledgeville, Lavonne (Scott) Sturtevant of Lake Carroll, Cathy (Dennis Dyson) Corey of Savanna, Colleen (Marc) Terry of LaCrosse, WI, Jimmy (Glenda) Moore of Thomson, Patty (John) Derrickson of Mt. Carroll, Raylene Moore of Mt. Carroll, Richard (Brenda) Byram of Thomson, and Brenda (Nick) Wade of Wilmington, NC; 29 great grandchildren; and 23 great-great grandchildren. Preceding Lucille in death are two sons, William (at birth) and James (2000); four brothers, Wilbur, Leon, Lewis and Wayde; and two sisters, Jessie Kosier and Wilma Schradeya.

Laura A. Tumas

Laura A. Tumas, age 89, of Massbach, Illinois passed away on Monday, June 22, 2009 at home. Cremation rites have been accorded. Inurnment will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois. Online memorials may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Laura is survived by four sons, Gedman Joseph Jr. (Emily) Tumas of Ocala, Florida, Donald Maxwell (Jewel) Tumas of Bedford, Virginia, John Herald (Luci) Tumas of Duncanville, Texas, Peter David Tumas of Bolingbrook, Illinois; a daughter, Maxine Adelia (John) Pokornik of Massbach, Illinois; nine grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren.

Diane Irene (Cottral) Brueggen

Diane Irene (Cottral) Brueggen, age 54, of 705 Monroe St., Hanover, Illinois died Sunday, June 21, 2009 at home. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 25, 2009 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hanover. Visitation will be 4:30 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 with a Rosary Service at 8:00 p.m. at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. After cremation rites, a Prayer Service will take place 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 27 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hanover, followed by burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover. Memorials may be made in Diane’s name for the Mayo Clinic.

Diane was born April 25, 1955 in Savanna, Illinois, the daughter of Robert Daniel and Patricia (Ballein) Cottral. She is a graduate of Hanover High School with the Class of 1973. Diane met her future husband, Jeff Brueggen, in 1982. They were united in marriage May 31, 1986 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Diane worked several years as a Reservationist at Eagle Ridge Resort. She had also worked at Chestnut Mountain Resort and Rausch Realty of Stockton. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where she taught Catechism and believed strongly in the Mystery of Holy Communion.

Diane’s joy and strength came from her husband, family, friends, and her faith. She was an accomplished homemaker and had a passion for music, cooking, gardening and socializing, “Sit Long, Talk Much, Laugh Often”. Diane showed great courage in her battle with cancer.

Diane will be dearly missed by her husband, Jeff Brueggen, of Hanover; her mother, Patricia “Pat” Cottral of Hanover; two sisters, Sheila (Dwayne) Allison of Hanover and Amy (Bill) Butzow of Lincolnwood, Illinois; two brothers, John (Kelly Behrens) Cottral and Jim Cottral both of Hanover; father and mother in-law, Albert and Marian Brueggen; a sister in-law, Jane Brussman; two brother in-laws, Pat (Darienne) Brueggen and Bill Brueggen; eight nieces, Eileen, Cecelia, Marikate, Maggie, Maria, Christina, Amanda and Megan; six nephews, Colin, Tony, Joe, Jack, Daniel and Alex; and a great nephew, Christian. Diane is preceded in death by her father, Danny Cottral; her sister, Dr. Julie (Cottral) Cerniglia; and a brother at birth, Christopher.