Trust the Torch!

Obituaries

Beverly A. Vanagas

Beverly A. Vanagas, 73, Woodstock, died Tuesday March 11, 2014, at St. Anthony Hospital, Rockford. She was born Nov. 20, 1940, to Addison and Ruth Alma (Hagen) Shultice in Des Moines, Iowa.  She married Tony Vanagas May 1962 in Des Moines. She was a member of Fox Valley Baptist Church in Dundee. She enjoyed Bible study. She also enjoyed being a homemaker. Most of all she treasured time spent with her family.  She is survived by her husband; a son, Jordan (Sherri) Vanagas; a daughter, Melissa (Raymond) Flavin; eight grandchildren, Derek, Dean, Rachel, Grace, Nathan and Bennett Vanagas, Kelly Reinert and David Flavin; two brothers, Gene (Diane) Shultice and Joe Shultice; and a sister, Marilyn Booth. She was preceded in

Edna C. Adamski

Edna C. Adamski, 92, Woodstock, died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at the JourneyCare Hospice Inpatient Unit, Woodstock. She was born on July 29, 1921, to Richard and Elizabeth Nelson, in O’Fallon.  On June 29, 1957, she married Joseph R. Adamski in Melrose Park.  She worked at the Republic Drill and Tool Company, which was converted into a war plant during Word War II. In 1942, the plant earned a U.S. Army-Navy “E” Award, and Edna and her co-workers received pins for their excellence in production of war equipment. In addition, Edna was named Miss Personality of the war plants and received special recognition by the U.S. Army-Navy. She was always proud to have received such a distinct honor for her

Donald C. Sturm

Donald C. Sturm, D.D.S, 86, Wonder Lake, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at JourneyCare, Barrington, with his family at his side. He was born May 19, 1927, to George Albert and Vera Mae (Hickman) Sturm in Macomb. He joined the Navy immediately after graduating from Macomb High School in 1945 and served as a pharmacist’s mate. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he married his high school sweetheart, Esther Chloe Vogler, Feb. 12, 1949, in Macomb. He attended Western Illinois University and then Loyola University’s School of Dentistry, receiving his D.D.S. in 1953. He and his wife moved to Wonder Lake, and he opened a practice on Hancock Drive in the same building with Dr. S.L. Ruggero. He practiced

Jill C. Anderson-Schnulle

Jill C. Anderson-Schnulle, 45, Woodstock, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at her home. She was born Jan. 5, 1969, to Don and Suzanne (Winemiller) Anderson in Walnut Creek, Calif. She was employed at the McHenry County Government Center for many years. She found the greatest enjoyment from her dogs and watching her children play in various sporting events. Survivors include her children, Jason, Mitchell, Madison and Paige; her mother, Suzanne Moeck, Napa Valley, Calif.; her father, Donald (Beverly) Anderson, Walnut Creek; a brother, Scott Anderson, San Francisco; and her loving dogs, Wrigley and Nike. Visitation and funeral were held Feb. 27 at Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home. Interment was private. Memorials in her name can be made to a McHenry

Dale K. Silker

Dale K. Silker, 87, Machesney Park, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at his home. He was born Dec. 8, 1926, to C. Kenneth and Ester (Winters) Silker in Pleasant Grove, Minn. In 1948, he married Jeri Doran in Rochester, Minn. They lived in Waterloo, Iowa, where Dale worked for Doran Equipment Company. In 1971, he married Leone “Jodi” McGowan.  He worked at the Taylor Company in Rockton, where he enjoyed his work and the people he worked with. After retirement, he and Jodi enjoyed extensive traveling and the time they had together. Survivors include his second wife of 42 years; four children, Cynthia Bagus, John (Deb) Silker, Linda (Bob Freed) McGowan and Will Silker; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two

Penny L. Hefner

Penny L. Hefner, 70, Woodstock, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock.  She was born Sept. 6, 1943, to Eugene and Frances (Bird) Kuhn in Woodstock.  On Feb. 18, 1966, she married Roger W. Hefner in Rockford. She was employed with AT&T for 32 years. After she and her husband retired, they spent a great deal of their time at their home at Table Rock Lake in Missouri. There she enjoyed fishing, reading and relaxing days with her husband, who was her life. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Idstein, Florida; a grandson, James (Joanne) Rich; two great-granddaughters, Lilly Rich and Juliette Rich; two brothers, Steven (Jan) Kuhn, Sycamore, and Tom Kuhn, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. She also

George W. Rose Jr.

George W. Rose Jr., 87, Woodstock, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014.  He was born Feb. 14, 1927, to George and Mary Rose (Holmes), Clear Lake, Iowa.  He graduated from Mason City High School in 1947. He was a resident of Woodstock for more than 50 years and served the McHenry County area for years as a technician for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He spent his last years residing at Valley Hi Nursing Home.  Survivors include four children, Cynthia Rose (Dennis) Lubecke, Elizabeth Rose (Dan) Kamp, Janaan Rose and Melodee Singh; two grandchildren, Clinton Selzer and Serena Selzer (Robert) Montgomery; two great-grandchildren, RJ Montgomery and Sierra Rose Montgomery; and his cousins, Maxine Eldridge, Carolyn Albers and Lois Barringer.  He was

Evelyn M. Kirkpatrick

Evelyn M. Kirkpatrick, 94, Woodstock, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at the Hearthstone Care Center in Woodstock, surrounded by her family. She was born May 29, 1919, to George and Alma (Gundlach) Coombs, in Wauwatosa, Wis. On Dec. 21, 1940, she married the Rev. Eustice Kirkpatrick in Dubuque, Iowa. She graduated from Livingston (Wisconsin) High School as class valedictorian in 1937. She went on to graduate from the Platteville Teachers College in 1939 and began her teaching career in a one-room school in Walnut Grove, Wis. Following their marriage, she and her husband moved to the Woodstock area, where she was a substitute teacher and a preacher’s wife. She also worked at Woodstock Auto Lite and a pharmaceutical company in

Rev. Delbert Frank Shinabarger

The Rev. Delbert Frank Shinabarger, 63, Woodstock, died peacefully Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock. He was born March 21, 1950, to Ray and Ruth (Erdly) Shinabarger in Flint, Mich.   On Dec. 31, 1976, he married Barbara Lynne Kenney in Bradenton, Fla. He graduated from Hill-McCloy High School, Montrose, Mich., as salutatorian of his class.  He was a cadet at the US Air Force Academy from 1969 to 1971 and served in the US Army in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1976 to 1980.  He received a bachelor of arts in history from Spring Arbor College.  He earned a Master of Education degree from Boston University in counseling psychology.  He received his Master of Divinity from the Church of God

Maureen “Mo” Downes Sigman

Maureen “Mo” Downes Sigman, 59, Woodstock, Ga., formerly of Woodstock, died Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at her residence following a sudden illness. She was born June 16, 1954, to William and Mary McDonald Downes in Chicago. She and her son and daughter just opened Camp Bow Wow in Woodstock, Ga. She will be missed by all her friends and relatives but especially by her children and grand-pups. Survivors include a son, Kristopher Sigman; a daughter, Kelly (Tim) Wedin; her mother; two sisters, Marylou (Michael) Borowski and Suzanne Downes; two brothers, William Downes and Timothy (Nancy) Downes; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and loving friends. She was preceded in death by her father and her sister, Jeannette Gillespie. Memorials

Upcoming Events

Top Writers

Picture of Larry Lough

Larry Lough

Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.

Picture of Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.

Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.

Picture of Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.

Keep Exploring

Thank you for believing in us Subscribe or Login to continue reading this quality article by The Woodstock Independent …
By Steve Peterson news@thewoodstockindependent.com The Marian Central boys tennis doubles team of sophomore Alek Jasovic and senior Marc Cheng sought …
By Steve Peterson news@thewoodstockindependent.com The magic of the 2026 Woodstock North softball team earned another chapter in a memorable season. T…

Subscriber Access

Login