Lillian Ellen (Conway) Braidwood, 100, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at JourneyCare Hospice Center, Woodstock. She was born Nov. 30, 1914, to Carl and Anna Kristina Blanner. She enjoyed her family, friends and volunteer work as a Pink Lady and for Sheltered Village.  She was a supporter of the arts, and one of her favorite accomplishments was during World War II when she became the first woman clerk for McHenry Township.  She was an active member of the McHenry Legion Post 491 Auxiliary.  Her sense of humor and endless stories will be missed. Survivors include two children, Dennis (Janet) Conway and Judith (Peter Vucha) Svalander;  15 grandchildren; William (Regina) Weyland, Kristi-Ann (James) Finnan, John (Shari) Weyland, Joseph Carl Weyland, Alex

Phyllis Fondakowski, 99, Woodstock, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at Hearthstone Manor, Woodstock. She was born May 1, 1915, to Frank and Angelina (Scala) Marolda in Chicago.   On Jan. 12, 1946, she married Raymond Fondakowski in Chicago. Survivors include two daughters, Pamela (Bill) Fritz and Denise (Stephan) Scalzo; five grandchildren, Erich (Jean) Fritz, Mark Fritz, Matthew (Marcie) Scalzo and Nicholas Scalzo; a great-granddaughter, Samantha Scalzo; and a brother, Dan Marolda. She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Susan Farrell; her parents; and five siblings, John, Mary, Phillip, Gerard and Lucille.  Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Colonial Funeral Home & Crematory, 591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry.  Visitation will continue from 10 to

Louis De Strooper, 92, Woodstock, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock. He was born Oct. 16, 1922, in Belgium to Edmond and Georgette (Bogaert) De Strooper.  On June 3, 1944, he married Maria Van Pollaert in Buggenhaut, Belgium. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Monique (Ed) Payton and Rita (Rob) Fleig; two grandchildren, Debbie (Steve) Avonts and Linda (Tim) Gagnon; six great-grandchildren, Matthew, Brittany and Ryin Avonts and Justin, Jessica and Jennifer Gagnon; and two sisters, Magda and Marriette De Strooper. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Maurice and Alfonse; and a sister, Leona. Visitation and memorial service were Feb. 15 at Colonial Funeral Home & Crematory, McHenry. Interment was Feb.

Richard V. Schmidtman, 90, formerly of Woodstock, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, in his home in Middleville, Mich. He was born June 29, 1924, to Herman and Elizabeth (Foster) Schmidtman in Lansing, Mich.   On April 5, 1952, he married Doris Krause in Diamond Springs, Mich.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a member of the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division. After the war, he attended Michigan State University, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.  He retired after working nearly 38 years as an electronics engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration.  A classical music enthusiast, he attended the Woodstock Mozart Festival on numerous occasions.  He was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Lions and Tigers, and Michigan State

Herbert F. Neubaum Jr., 73, Bull Valley, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at JourneyCare Hospice Center, Woodstock. He was born Dec. 13, 1941, to Herbert and Virginia (Makarski) Neubaum in Chicago.  On May 5, 1963, he married Donna Thompson in Prospect Heights. He and his family moved to Bull Valley in 1994 after spending 30 years in Arlington Heights. He worked for the Siemens Corporation for many years as an IT manager.  He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He was involved in Scouting as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader. He loved trips with his wife in their RV with Alaska as a favorite destination. He enjoyed woodworking and doing house projects for himself and his family.

Howard Lamb, 74, formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, in Seattle, with his son at his side. He was a 1960 graduate of Woodstock High School. He graduated from DeVry University, Chicago. He traveled internationally to all corners of the world in his career in electronics. He stayed actively engaged with his son throughout his life. He loved all outdoor activities and was an avid sailor, rock climber and explorer. While most people slow down in physical activity later in life, he took up a newfound passion for rock climbing in his mid-50s. It was through climbing he found a new community that embraced him, and he was highly regarded for his rock-climbing skills, amiability and humor. On

Anita M. Fraase, 92, formerly of Harvard, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock. She was born March 30, 1922, to Emil and Edna (Plisch) Krohn, near Wausau, Wis.  On June 4, 1946, she married Cassius “Bud” Fraase in Wausau.  Survivors include three children, Jane (Whitey) Ratzlaff, Wonder Lake, Dale Fraase, Stillman Valley, and John (Jean) Fraase, Malta; seven grandchildren, Jessica (Ratzlaff) Johnson, Elizabeth (Matt) Johnson, Dylan Fraase, Christopher Fraase, Kelly (Scott) Gollan, Matthew (Jenn) Peterson, Mark (Stephanie) Peterson; three great-grandchildren, Brayden, Dayne and Gavin; two sisters, Alice Christian and Marie (Earl) Krohn, Wausau; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Sept. 4, 2003, and her parents.  Visitation and funeral

John L. Eppley, 64, Woodstock, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at JourneyCare Inpatient Care Unit, Woodstock.   He was born June 9, 1950, in Milwaukee. He graduated from Lombard High School in 1968 and earned a degree in criminal justice at McHenry County College. He began his career in law enforcement in 1974 with the Harvard Police Department. He joined the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department in 1978 where he served for 28 years.  As a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, his favorite assignment with the department was the motorcycle unit and participating in all of the parades throughout McHenry County. He was a member of the Tabala Shrine, Rockford, and past president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 118. He had

Esther Chloe Sturm, 85, Wonder Lake, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in her home with her family at her side. She was born Feb. 13, 1929, to Clarence and Ocie Vogler in Macomb. On Feb. 11, 1949, she married Donald C. Sturm. As a young child, she attended a one-room school house and was able to graduate from high school in three years. While attending school, she met her future husband. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy near the end of World War II. Since he had no middle initial in his name, he took the letter C from Esther’s middle name as his official initial. They were married after he came home and celebrated 65 years together. The

Marie L. Iversen, 83, Greenwood, Ind., formerly of Woodstock, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at Community Hospital South, Indianapolis. She was born April 28, 1931, to Fred and Catherine (Krapf) Lammelin in Oak Park .  On June 28, 1952, she married Robert R. Iversen in Chicago. She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Woodstock, and St. Jude Catholic Church, Indianapolis.  She volunteered at the Clothing Closet in Woodstock for 20 years.  Her interests included opera, paper dolls, reading, classical music, traveling, genealogy and cooking.  Her passion was her family, and her vocation was a wife and mother. Survivors include three sons, Robert M. (Mary) Iversen, Michael R. (Laura) Iversen and Peter (Yumi) Iversen; five