John “Jack” Rapp, Jr.

Honorable John W. “Jack” Rapp, Jr. of Mt. Carroll was born December 12, 1940 in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of John W. and Eileen (Barry) Rapp, Sr.. He departed this life surrounded by family and friends on Friday, February 26, 2010 at Tidewell Hospice House, Sarasota, Florida . On July 3, 1965 he married Mary Kathleen Janco. From that union five children were born, Mark, Julie, Matthew, Martin and Maura.

Jack graduated from Loyola University with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1962 and the Loyola School of Law in 1965. He and Mary moved to Mt. Carroll, IL where he practiced law, she taught school and they raised their family. Jack was a partner in the law firm of Eaton, Leemon and Rapp until his election as a circuit judge in 1970. Elected the youngest judge, at the age of 29, he served 31 years in many capacities: as Chief Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit for 16 years, as Chairman of the Conference of Chief Judges of Illinois for 10 years, as a member of the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board for four years and as a Justice of the Appellate Court for three. He retired from the judiciary in November 2001.

Jack served in several volunteer positions in his community and his Church. He was chairman of the Jo-Carroll (Savanna Army Depot) Local Redevelopment Authority; a trustee and volunteer fireman of the Mt. Carroll Fire Protection District; a member of the Board of the Ferguson Cancer Center in Freeport; past president, vice-president and treasurer of the Timber Lake Playhouse; chairman of the Review Board of the Attorney’s Registration and Disciplinary Commission; chairman of the Review Board of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford; and as Lieutenant of the North Central Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Jack also was a lector, extraordinary minister of communion and a member of the finance council of his parish, St. John and St. Catherine in Mt. Carroll.

He thoroughly enjoyed life with his wife and best friend, Mary, his children and his grandchildren. He was especially thankful for the friends and associates with whom he shared his time on earth. Jack is survived by his wife, Mary; his three sons, Mark (Tammy) of Greeley, Colorado, Matthew (Mindy) of German Town Hills, Illinois and Martin (Amy) of Mt. Carroll; his grandchildren, Sydney, John W. Rapp III, Leslie, Emma, Colton and Hayley; and his two sisters, Denise Bryant of Lombard, Illinois and Suellen (Byron) Brayton of Plainfield, Illinois. His parents and two daughters, Julie and Maura, predeceased him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 6, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna, Illinois with Bishop Thomas Doran as Celebrant. A private family burial will be in St. Wendelin Catholic Cemetery, Shannon, Illinois. Visitation (Wake) will be held 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at SS. John & Catherine Catholic Church, Mt. Carroll, Illinois, with a Rosary Service held prior at 2:30 p.m.. Memorials may be given in Jack’s memory for his dear charities. Condolences and tributes may also be sent at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

John E. Heeren

John E. Heeren, 88, of Shannon went to be with the Lord and Savior on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, from his home. John was born June 5, 1921, a son of Alvin and Gertrude (Theilken) Heeren. John married Henrietta Winch on Jan. 10, 1945 in Forreston.

John and his wife owned and operated the hardware store in Shannon for 20 years after leaving the farm. While farming he hauled milk for Kraft and later was a bus driver for Shannon and Lanark schools.

John enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, and volunteering at Bethel United Methodist Church where he was a member. He was also a past member of the Shannon Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce.

He will be dearly missed by two daughters, Evelyn Stoner of Freeport, and Marilyn (Steve) Miller of Shannon; one son, Jerry (Cinda) Heeren of Milledgeville; nine grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy (Ralph) Bomgarden; and two brothers, Harold (Edith) Heeren and Kenny (Jan) Heeren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation was held Monday, February 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hermann Funeral Home in Shannon. The funeral service was held Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethel United Methodist Church, also in Shannon. Internment took place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens following a luncheon at the church after the funeral service.

A memorial fund has been established for the church and hospice.

Julia B. Mills

Julia B. Mills, 96, passed away February 24, 2010 at the Lena Living Center, Lena, IL. Julia was born on November 20, 1913 in Austin, MN to Edmond and Irma (DeVriendt) Vervaecke. Julia married Louis Schroeder in 1934 and then she married Philip Mills in 1951. Julia worked for the Gantt’s Food Store until she retired. She was a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lena, IL, and enjoyed playing bingo and cards.

Julia is survived by: 4 children; Ernie (Anita) Schroeder of Erie, Jane (Dale) Workman of Morrison, Phyllis (Dennis) Potter of Stockton, Paul (Colleen) Mills of Freeport. 9 grandchildren: Todd( Renee) Schroeder, Terry( Rhonda) Schroeder, Joey(Peggy) Dersham, Tom (Debbie) Dersham, Stephanie(Steve) Houzenga, Bob (Becky) Potter, Jennifer (Jason) Barklow, Brandon (Shea) Mills, Justin (Amy) Mills. 15 great grand children, 7 great great grandchildren, 13 step grand children, 16 step great grandchildren, 2 sisters: Berniece Ballard of Prophetstown, and Bertha Gabriel of East Moline, 1 sister in law: Emma Vervaecke of Morrison

She is preceded in death by her: parents, husbands, 1 son Johnny Schroeder, 1 step great granddaughter Amanda, 3 brothers: Frank, Emil & Donald, 1 sister Mary Meier.

Funeral Service will held on Saturday February 27, 2010 at 1:30 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lena, IL.

Visitation will be from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Leamon Funeral Home, Lena, IL.

Officiating the service will be Rev. Rick Bader

Interment will be at Lena Burial Park, Lena, IL

A memorial has been established for Hospice and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonfh.com

John Gardner

John Gardner, 49, of Lanark died on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 in Peoria. He was born on Sept. 17, 1960 in Freeport, the son of Dayton Ray and Ruth (Fast) Gardner. He was a graduate of Lanark High School.

He is survived by his brother Kevin Gardner of Virginia, and his sister, Jan Gardner of Chicago. Also surviving are his aunts, Lorena Morhardt of Lanark, Minnie Sykes of Kirksville, MO, Lila Thomen and Donna Pearce, both of Hazel Green, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark with Pastor Kathryn Ling of the Lanark United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in the Lanark Cemetery.

Bernice O. Marshall

Bernice O. Marshall, age 91, of Fulton, previously of Savanna, Illinois, died Monday, February 22, 2010 at Harbor Crest Nursing Home, Fulton. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson. Private burial will be in Oak Knoll Cemetery, Sterling, Illinois. Visitation will be held 9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday February 26, 2010 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson.

James Philpot

James Truman Philpot, age 84, of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Elizabeth Nursing Home, Elizabeth. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 26, 2010, at the Church of St. Mary in Elizabeth, with Father Noel Jacob as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Elizabeth Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 26, at Law – Jones Funeral Home prior to the funeral mass. Memorials may be directed to the Elizabeth Food Pantry.

Helen M. Smith

Helen M. Smith, age 85 of Mount Carroll, Illinois, died Monday, February 22, 2010, at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Morrison, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2010, at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home, with Reverend Nancy Carr of United Church of Christ, Savanna, Illinois officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. Visitation will be held from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 26, 2010, Friday, February 26, 2010, at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home.

Jerry L. Hockersmith

Jerry L. Hockersmith, age 72 of Hanover, Illinois, died on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Lena Living Center, Lena, Illinois. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover, Illinois.