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

Lillian Marie French, 97, Woodstock, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013.  She was born June 6, 1916. Survivors include a daughter, Norma Hellstrom; grandchildren Richard (Patrice), Patter (Paul), Nancy Spangrud, Susan (David), Kate (Jeff) Davis and Thomas Hellstrom; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends in Woodstock.  A visitation was held at Heritage Funeral Home, Milwaukee, Wis. Interment will be at a later date at Crystal Lake Memorial Park.  Memorials can be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 1300 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock, IL 60098.

Doris Cornelius Martine, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Villages of Wilkes, North Wilkesboro, N.C.   She was born Aug. 30, 1928, in Hopkinton, Iowa, to Frank and Clara Wilson. She was a gentle woman who enjoyed a hot cup of tea and visits from her friends and family. As a young girl, she helped bake pies in her mother’s restaurant. Later on, her family moved to Woodstock where she met her husband, William Martine, who had returned from serving in World War II. The couple had three sons, raising them in Woodstock, where she was a faithful, active member of her Lutheran church. She also worked for Guardian Electric.  After their children were grown, she and her

Cheryl Lynn Jones, 56, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at her home in Woodstock after a two-year battle with cancer. She was born April 20, 1957, in Harvard. She loved to sing and perform karaoke, travel, ride motorcycles and spend time with her family and friends. She significantly touched many lives and will be remembered for her love and kindness. Survivors include Kenneth Jones; their children Jessica Jones, Teri (Andy) Kolls and Tyler Jones; three grandsons, Owen, Kellan and Landon Kolls; her mother, Norma (Michael) Knutson-Shinrock; two sisters, Pam (Nick) Gray and Debra (Jeff) Nelson; her special companion, Dennis Behrens; special aunts, Carol Jenkins, Carol M. Knutson, Carol J. Knutson and Agnes Sumner; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and new

Robert E. “Bob” Kies Jr., 75, Woodstock, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at Rockford Memorial Hospital. He was born May 30, 1938, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Robert and Virginia (Turner) Kies. On Nov. 11, 1961, he married Anne Marie Stapleton in Hinsdale. He graduated from Loras Academy and the University of Dubuque. He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was a teacher and coached basketball, golf, football and baseball at Hempstead High School in Dubuque from 1971 to 1974.  He also worked at Beloit Catholic High School and Johnsburg High School. He was a teacher, athletic director and basketball coach at Quincy Notre Dame High School from 1981 to 1996.  While at Quincy, he led the