Pamela Grace Gaffga, 63, Wonder Lake, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at her home. She was born Feb. 27, 1951, to Frances and Ruth (Sauer) McDonald in Chicago. On Sept. 28, 1977, she married Gary A. Gaffga in Chicago. She was a resident of Wonder Lake for the past two years and formerly lived in Chicago and Roselle. For 28 years, she was an employee of Jewel, working at the Bloomingdale and Buffalo Grove stores, first as a cashier and then in customer service and management. She was an avid Cubs fan, and she enjoyed camping. She was very proud of her Irish heritage, a kind and giving person, a doting grandmother and a loving aunt to her nieces and

Charlotte V. Gluff, 97, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at Lexington Health Care Center, Schaumburg, surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 13, 1917, to Elmer and Anastasia (Markle) Rusboldt in Chicago. On Feb.19, 1938, she married Harold Gluff . She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Woodstock, and an active member of the Mariola Club. She also was a member of the Moose Lodge. She grew up in Chicago and was always fond of her alma mater, Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips to Hawaii. Her favorite color was yellow. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and she will be missed by all who knew her.

Ella E. Nienhuis, 99, Woodstock, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. She was born Nov. 23, 1915, to Max and Elizabeth (Schwaab) Prufer in Chicago. She and her husband, Oney, moved west of Woodstock to a small farm in 1949. In 1962, they started planting Christmas trees on the farm. The first 10 trees were sold in 1967, and the business soon turned into a successful choose-and-cut tree farm, one of the first in the area. She enjoyed painting, figurine sculpting, pinochle and bridge. At the tree farm, she made hundreds of wreaths each year and hand painted ceramic ornaments. She was a wonderful storyteller, and her humor was enjoyed by her many friends. Survivors include two sons, John (Gloria), Marengo,

Christopher L. Austin, 48, Harvard, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1966, to Dwight and Lucille (Wakeley) Austin in Woodstock. On Sept. 5, 1998, he married Tamara Lawell in Fort Atkinson, Wis. He was a faithful member of Grace Church, Walworth, Wis. He graduated from Woodstock Community High School in 1984. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a master’s degree from South Dakota State University. He worked for more than 10 years as a chemist in quality control for the dairy division of Deans Food. He enjoyed long-distance running and was known to have a great sense of humor. He was passionate about dairy farming. Survivors include his wife;

Margaret Manke, 92, Woodstock, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at Hearthstone Manor, Woodstock. She was born July 6, 1922, to Herman and Mary (Buttino) Gluth in Woodstock. On Aug. 9, 1941, she married Harvey Manke in Woodstock. She was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Woodstock. She was very active in church activities, including Meals on Wheels and the Ladies Aid. She raised her family on the farm and instilled in them values and morals. She was active in 4-H. She enjoyed Tuesday nights at the Bake House, singing and dancing to polka music. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include two sons, Roger (Char) Manke and Bill

Dave Wiesman, 71, Woodstock, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, losing his battle with cancer. He was born March 8, 1943, to Herman and Marian Wiesman in Rockford, and lived most of his early life in Marshfield, Wis. In 1965, he graduated from Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., and then moved to New Jersey where he worked for Union Carbide Corporation, as a research chemist. In 1982, he took a position with Morton Chemical Company and moved to Woodstock where he retired in 1999.   In his retirement years, he was blessed with the love of his grandchildren, Katherine and Andrew. His eyes brightened and his voice was excited whenever he talked about them. Survivors include a brother, Ken, Mosinee, Wis.,

Barbara A. Howe, 76, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock. She was born July 12, 1938, to Bernard and Barbara Quebbemann in Chicago. On Nov. 12, 1977, she married Richard Howe in Chicago. During her nearly 50-year real estate property management career, she managed or supervised shopping centers, condominiums and apartment developments in the Chicago, Denver and Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan areas. In 1992, she and her husband started the management firm of Howe Real Estate Services Inc. in Woodstock. She retired in 2013 after the business was sold. She enjoyed cross-stitching, crochet, reading and communicating with friends and relatives. She was known for her generosity and quick wit. Survivors include her husband; two brothers, Bernard (Connie) Quebbemann and Al

Joan Miller Jones, 79,Glenview died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014. She was born May 5, 1935, to Eric and Jean (Halliday) Miller in Baltimore, Md. She married Peter H. Jones in 1957. She was raised in Queens, N.Y., with her mother’s family, who were immigrants from Scotland. She lived in Los Angeles, Lake Forest, Bull Valley and Lake Bluff. She was known for beautifully written letters and notes, often signing with a cartoon of her smiling face. She earned an RN degree from Flushing Hospital, N.Y., and then worked at the UCLA Hospital, Lake Forest Hospital and St. Therese, Waukegan. She volunteered at food pantries in Woodstock and Waukegan. Travel was a vital part of her life. She met her husband

Dorothy Benoy, 92, Walworth, Wis., formerly of Alden, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Hearthstone Manor, Woodstock, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born June 2, 1922, to Charles F. and Anna (Burke) Krohn in Ringwood. On Oct. 26, 1938, she married Glen Benoy at Greenwood Methodist Church. Dorothy had many diverse interests, including her family, church and education. She taught Sunday school at the Hebron United Methodist Church, was on the church board and was active in the Dorcas Circle. She was a leader of the Alden Girls 4-H Club, one of the first presidents of the Alden-Hebron PTA and active in the McHenry County Home Bureau. She was a McHenry County Fair home economics classes judge.

William F. Litzenberger Sr., 98, Woodstock, formerly of Sunset Beach, N.C, from 1994 to 2014, and Franklinville, N.Y., died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at Hearthstone Manor. He was born March 30, 1916, to Emil and Marie (Morlok) Litzenberger in Buffalo, N.Y. On Sept. 7, 1939, he married Betty Washburn. His family moved to Franklinville, N.Y., in 1924, and he graduated from Ten Broeck Academy, Franklinville, in 1935. The same year, he began working with his father at Quality Bakery in Franklinville; he purchased the business in 1951 and retired in 1984. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, stationed on the USS Midway during her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. He earned the American Theatre Medal as