Michael A. Hansen, 64, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, at his home in Greenwood. He was born March 14, 1949, in Woodstock to Clarence and Marjorie (Hutson) Hansen.  A lifelong resident of Woodstock, he graduated from Woodstock High School in 1968. Immediately after graduation he joined the Army and proudly served his country during the Vietnam war. He worked for Unions 681 and 150 for 30 years, retiring in 2011. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, hunting and the loyal companionship of his beloved Brittany spaniel, Scrappy. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and babysitting his grandchildren. Survivors include a son, Christopher (Jessie) Hansen; a daughter, Vonnie Hansen; five grandchildren, Mollie Hansen, Mariah Hansen, Connor Hansen,

Thomas Richard Bowman, 79, died Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. He was born Dec. 5, 1934, in Rittman, Ohio. He served in the 5th Army Signal Corp in Germany from 1954 to 1956 and was honorably discharged in 1962. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1958.  He was employed with CNA Insurance for 23 years and Zurich Insurance for 15 years.  He owned the Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits restaurant in Woodstock for 10 years.  He enjoyed snowmobiling, boating, fishing, cooking and playing with his grandchildren.   Survivors include his wife, Sue Bowman; his children, Cristy (Steve) Karaba, Mark (Barbara) Bowman, Gregory (Jean) Bowman and Scott (Kristie) Bowman; eight

Shirley Helen Rasmussen Heisler, 88, Woodstock, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at Hearthstone Manor. She was born March 5, 1925, in Waukegan to Carl and Lucille (Barkoske) Rasmussen.  On Aug. 19, 1950, she married Richard G. Heisler in Woodstock.  She lived in Waukegan for the first few years of her life, then lived in Libertyville until 1940. Her family moved to Crystal Lake. She graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1943 and went on to Northern Illinois State Teachers College and earned a degree in teaching physical education. She worked for a year at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and became a “Rosie the Riveter,” working on airplanes during the war. Her first job as a physical education teacher was at

Roger W. Hefner, 79, Woodstock, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, at Hearthstone Care Center. He was born Aug. 8, 1934, in Washburn, to Bert M. and Margaret I. (Nelson) Hefner.   On Feb. 18, 1966, he married Penny Kuhn in Rockford.   He was a U.S. Army veteran.  He was employed by Illinois Bell Telephone, retiring after 32 years.  He was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed fishing and spending time at his home at Table Rock Lake.  He also was a sports fan.  He enjoyed sports of all kinds but was particularly partial to the Chicago Bears. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Linda Idstein, Florida; a grandson, James J. (Joanne) Rich, Crystal Lake; two great-grandchildren, Lilly and Juliette Rich;

Anton Scharko, 94, Woodstock, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at the Highland Park Nursing Home & Rehab Facility in Highwood. He was born Aug. 8, 1919, in Perekale, Ukraine, to Adam and Mary (Babiejczyk) Scharko. He married Mary Tatzer in Leutschach, Austria, in February 1947. The couple moved to Woodstock in 1953.  They were longtime members of St. Mary Catholic Church.  He worked for Woodstock Auto-Lite from 1953 until his retirement in 1984.  He enjoyed maintaining a large vegetable garden, as well as collecting and restoring antiques.  He also loved to entertain visitors who came to his home. Survivors include two daughters, Maria (Art) Santos, Lake Forest, and Jane (Brian) Palmer, McHenry; four grandchildren, Thomas Mathews, Anthony (Ashley) Mathews, Katie

Edwin H. Fish, 90, Woodstock, died Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, at his home. He was born Nov. 17, 1923, to Leon (Roy) and Clara Fish in Woodstock. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy where he enlisted Sept. 4, 1941, at the age of 17, with his parents’ consent. He served four years in World War II and 15 months in the Korean conflict. Most of his combat time was served in the South Pacific. He was a charter member of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and a member of the Experimental Aircraft Asociation since 1961. Survivors include his ex-wife, Mildred; their children, David and Mary Ann; a sister, Dolores; and nieces and nephews. He was proceded in death by his

Robert Dale Watkins, 83, Woodstock, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at  Florence Nursing Home, Marengo. He was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Belvidere to Floyd and Florence Watkins.  On April 14, 1956, he married Faith J. Jensen in Woodstock . He joined the United States Army in November 1951 and served in the Korean War, where he was wounded in battle and received a Purple Heart.  After his discharge, he helped his dad on the farm and also worked at Arnold Engineering in Marengo. From 1968 until 1998 he farmed and worked at Techalloy Inc. in Union. He was a member of American Legion Post 192 in Marengo for 60 years. He loved fishing with his son Mark and his

Maria Volmer, 83, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013, at her home in Woodstock. She was born July 19, 1930, in Osterwick (Rosendahl), Germany, to Leo and Paula (Hageböck) Schild. After college she worked as a school teacher in Germany.  She came to the United States in 1957 and married Alois Volmer Aug. 24, 1957, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hartland.  In 1959 they bought a farm in Woodstock, where she worked as a mother and homemaker, helped on the farm and was a 4-H sewing leader. Survivors include her four children, John (Jeanne) Volmer Sr., Thomas Volmer, Petra (George) Hornbrook and Steve (Gwendolyn) Volmer; five grandsons, John, Henry, Joshua, Jacob and Joel; six brothers and sisters; and many nieces

Gordon Lohmeyer, 86, Woodstock, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at his home with his daughter by his side.  He was born Dec. 10, 1927, to Lawrence and Dora Kriete Lohmeyer in Linn, Kan.   He and his brother, Carroll, had a dairy farm in Hartland and milked more than 100 head a day. After retiring from farming, he and his wife, Shirley, began antiquing and refinishing furniture. Survivors include two children, Ralph (Donna Lynn) Lohmeyer and Donna (Adam) Kling; six grandchildren, Amber (Tim) Carpenter, Mark Jensen, Alexander Jensen, and Molly, Allison and Charlotte Ransbottom; two great-grandchildren, Aubrey Lynn Jensen and Madeline Grace Carpenter; a brother, Carroll (Margaret) Lohmeyer; brothers-in-law, Robert Ward, Fred, Richard, Donald and David Triebold; many nieces and

Meredith E. Trom, 88, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at Hearthstone Manor, Woodstock. She was born March 4, 1925, in Chicago to William and Eileen (Karsten) Matthes. She married Staff Sgt. William V. Hoffstetter who was killed in action in February 1945.  On May 4, 1946, she married Frank Trom at St. Gilbert Church, Grayslake, and they celebrated more than 60 years of marriage. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley. She was a loving wife and mother, not to mention the world’s best cook. For years she prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that would last for hours and serve as many as 20 relatives.  She and Frank moved to Arizona in 1973, and they returned to