Colleen Sheppard, 60, Marengo, died Thursday, May 28, 2015, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 25, 1955, to Dexter and Vernie (Hatfield) Blair in Guyan, W.Va. On Sept. 14, 1968, she married James Joe Sheppard in West Virginia. She was a fun, cheerful and loving person with a great sense of humor. She had a big heart, and everyone she knew was loved unconditionally. She enjoyed cooking, going to resale shops and working on sewing projects. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Survivors include a son, Thomas Sheppard; a daughter, Jeanette (Rodney) Nelson; a daughter-in-law, Keri (Scott) Chisamore; six grandchildren, Bradley, Chad, Brandon, Chelsea, Joanna

Edward Lyle Howell, 69, Woodstock, died Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at Crossroads Care Center, Woodstock. He was born Jan. 28, 1946, to Ancel and Edith (Whitehead) Howell in Woodstock. He attended Woodstock schools. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of the Woodstock Moose Lodge. Survivors include three siblings, Marcia Holtz, Crystal Lake, Les (Gay) Howell, Bay City, Mich., and Ken (Kathy) Howell, Spring Hill, Fla.; 12 nieces and nephews, Cyndi Pitner, Karen Herman, Scott Howell, Lisa Sanders, Jennifer Howell, Cheryl Lee, Todd Howell, Kristin Heiman, Jay Holtz, Andrew Howell, Michelle Howell and Sherri Howell; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by

Virginia J. Stefanik, 90, Woodstock, died Sunday, May 24, 2015, at Centegra Hospital – Woodstock.
She was born Jan. 12, 1925, to John and Mae (Horka) VanDerHull in Chicago. On Sept. 14, 1947, she married George Stefanik in Chicago.
 She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Her family was the most important part of her life.
 Survivors include two sons, George K. Stefanik and John (Cathleen) Stefanik; three daughters, Susan VanDerHull, Mary Ann (Bill) Bianchi and Judith Popp; eight grandchildren, Scott Pettinger, Lauren Ivancevic, Anthony Bianchi, Jessica Bianchi, Adam (Courtney) Stefanik, Patrick (Emily) Stefanik, Alexander Popp and Michael Popp; and three great-grandchildren, Alyssa Pettinger, Mason Stefanik and Kaydence Stefanik.
 She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband;

Helen Jean Sloan McClain, 88, died Saturday, May 16, 2015, in Woodstock, after recent declining health. She was born Aug. 28, 1926, the youngest child of Harold Dewitt and Pamelia (Arbuckle) Sloan, in Spearfish, S.D. On Nov. 26, 1947, she married Arthur “Art” Wayne McClain in Lincoln, Neb. She was raised on the homestead ranch her father started 40 miles northwest of Belle Fourche, S.D., that included the corner stone of South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. It was a working cattle and sheep ranch with the nearest neighbor miles away. Through third grade she rode triple horseback with her two brothers to a one-room prairie schoolhouse. Then, as was the custom for all the ranch kids, she lived in a

Ruth A. Kortemeier, 92, Rockford, died May 17, 2015.  She was born March 27, 1923, to Carl and Elsie (Draeger) Hayes in Ashford, Wis. On May 13, 1950, she married Kenneth Kortemeier at Ebenezer Evangelical United Brethren Church in rural Dodge County, Wis. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, became a registered dietician and worked in that capacity for many years. She was a full partner in her husband’s ministry as a United Methodist pastor in churches in Hooppole, Batavia, Mount Carmel, Dixon, Palos Heights and Rockford. She touched many lives with her kindness, caring and hospitality.  Survivors include her husband of 65 years; a daughter, Debra (Ron) Bendis, Woodstock; a son, Douglas (Susan) Kortemeier, Eden Prairie, Minn.; and

Eileen A. Lyford, 92, Woodstock, died Monday, May 18, 2015, at JourneyCare Hospice Center, Woodstock. She was born March 4, 1923, to Frank George and Anna (Kirby) Wellek in Chicago. On June 29, 1946, she married William F. Lyford. She was a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Harvard. She was a member of the Woodstock VFW Post 5040 women’s auxiliary, a 4-H ladies group and a tai chi group in Crystal Lake.
 Survivors include her husband; a daughter, April (Robert) Kopplin; a granddaughter, Allison (Milo) Whitcomb; two great-grandchildren, Samuel Kopplin Whitcomb and Maryn Vest Whitcomb. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, George and Bruce Wellek. A memorial gathering and funeral were held May 22

Gary Wayne Reed, 67, died Saturday, March 28, in Kailua, Hawaii, with his wife by his side after losing his battle with ALS. He was born March 28, 1948, to John C. and Alice M. Reed, in Indianapolis, Ind. On April 24, 2010, he married Ofelia Carag in Hawaii. He was the second of six children, and his family moved to Woodstock when he was 3. He played the trombone in the marching band in high school and in drum and bugle corps – first with the McHenry Viscounts, followed by the Chicago Cavaliers (aka The Green Machine). While in high school, he developed a passion for art and thought he might like to teach. After graduation he enrolled at

Irene M. Johnson, 97, Lake Geneva, Wis., formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Pinecrest in Lake Geneva.  She was born Nov. 16, 1917, in Stanley, Wis., to Anthony and Fern (Bruyette) Fitzl.  She lived in Woodstock for most of her life. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lake Geneva. She enjoyed driving her lady friends to and from bingo and playing cards. She was most happy when she was with her family. Survivors include five children, Harold (Jeanette) Johnson, Elaine Johnson, Carol Ballard, Gordon (Alice) Johnson and Linda (Kendall) Lewis; and her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hans; a daughter, Nancy Mercado;

Carol J. Samorez, Gurnee, 78, formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, May 16, at her home in Gurnee. She was born Nov. 4, 1936, to William and Clara Hahn in Woodstock.  She married Walter Samorez. She was a 1954 graduate of Woodstock Community High School.  She was loved and will be missed. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Lisa Samorez; four brothers, Bill (Helga) Hahn, Bob (Pat) Hahn, Don (Juanita) Hahn and Jim (Sue) Hahn; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Dereck. Services will be private.

Mary A. “Moira” Davis, 83, formerly of the Bull Valley and Woodstock area, died Friday, May 1, 2015, at Wauconda Care Center, Wauconda, surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 14, 1931, in Winnipeg, Canada, to Francis Patrick and Frances (O’Connor) Gilligan.  Raised in Canada, she was educated at St. Mary’s Academy, Winnipeg. She lived in several areas of the Midwest before moving to San Rafael, Calif., in the mid-1960s. After returning, she remained in the Bull Valley and Woodstock area for more than 50 years, traveling extensively nationally and internationally. Earlier in her career, she worked for a Winnipeg newspaper. After moving to New York City, she was employed as a flight attendant for TWA and trainer