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Obituaries

Gerald John Soulak

Gerald John Soulak, 78, Wonder Lake, formerly of Antioch, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012. He was born Aug. 8, 1934, to Harold and Mary Soulak.  He grew up with his older brother, Joe, younger brother, David, and younger sister, Margie, in Adams, Wis., on his family’s 17-acre homestead. He worked for his family’s coal and ice business and later at the family-owned Adams Erection Co.  He was a proud member of Ironworkers Local No. 1 for more than 50 years.  He traveled extensively throughout the tri-state area as an ironworker and welder. He helped change the Midwestern landscape with the buildings he constructed. He helped construct countless skyscrapers in Chicago, along with buildings at the University of Illinois-Springfield and Holiday

Doris E. Anderson

Doris E. Anderson, 89, Woodstock, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock.  She was born April 24, 1923, in Boyceville, Wis., to Peter E. and Ida Elise (Larson) Johnson. On June 30, 1943, she married Raymond Groskinsky in Woodstock. He died July, 30, 1974. On Feb. 14, 1976, she married Clayton Anderson in Harvard. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Harvard and the Harvard Women of the Moose.  She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and ceramics. Survivors include three daughters, Norma (Charles) Lockwood, Harvard, Marcia (Glenn) Hanson, Harvard and Joanne (Frank) Hallberg, southern Illinois; three sons, Raymond (Karen) Groskinsky, Adams, Wis., Gerald (Barbara) Groskinsky, Harvard, and Dale (Susie) Groskinsky, Fond du Lac, Wis.; 25 grandchildren;

Lawrence E. Dhom

Lawrence E. Dhom, 64, Woodstock, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at Inpatient Hospice Unit of Centegra Specialty Hospital – Woodstock. He was born Aug. 3, 1948, in Woodstock to Lawrence and Shirley (Salzman) Dhom.   On Nov. 25, 1967, he married Peggy Hoey. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock. He attended grade school at St. Mary and graduated from Marian Central Catholic High School in 1966. He worked at Woodstock Die Cast for 18 years and also owned and operated Bass Pro Shop in Woodstock for 18 years. He was active in Boy Scouts and loved fishing, camping and gardening. He mostly loved spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife; his parents; a

Helen I. Lee

Helen I. Lee, 82, Woodstock, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2102, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock. She was born Jan. 25, 1930, in Harvard to Oscar and Mary (Schufeldt) Torgeson. On Feb. 11, 1949, she married Delbert Lee in Woodstock. In 1965, she went to work for the Foote Insurance Company, which later became Frisbie, Overly & Foote in 1978. She retired from Frisbie & Lohmeyer Insurance Company in 2011 after 46 years of dedicated employment. She and her husband were active members of the Woodstock VFW Post 5040.  They were members of the organizing group. She was loved and will be greatly missed. Survivors include a son, Stephen (Priscilla) Lee, California; four grandchildren, Derek Lee, Keith (Jodi) Lee, Matthew

Robert L. Dowey

Robert L. Dowey, 97, Woodstock, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois Inpatient Care Unit, Woodstock. He was born April 10, 1915, in Harvard to Robert and Bell (Jeffers) Dowey.   On Oct. 14, 1944, he married Gladys S. Heider.  He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock and a farmer in McHenry County for many years.  He enjoyed fishing and other sports.  But, most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his loving family. Survivors include a son, Bernard (Barb) Dowey; a daughter, Shirley Norton; four grandchildren, Kay Hart, Sherri Norton, Brian Dowey and Bruce Dowey; three great-grandchildren, Cassandra, Justin and Brittany; a sister, Dorothy (Al) Dickerson; as well as many

Christopher Dean Panagopoulos

Christopher Dean Panagopoulos, 48, Wonder Lake, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, at home. He was born Oct. 6, 1964, in Chicago to Peter and Gail (Lindy) Alfeas. He worked at Follet Library Resources for 15 years. He loved golf, Chicago sports, hiking, target shooting and spending time with family and friends. He was a caring man who will be missed by all. Survivors include two sons, Jeremiah C. and Johnathan M. Panagopoulos; two daughters, Jessica C. and Shannon G. Panagopoulos; his parents, Gail Lindy and Fred Nemchausky; a grandmother, Cora Lindy; a sister, Pam Lindy; an uncle and aunt, Curtis and Denise Lindy; his fiancée, Amy Lange; and a son, Bozeman. He was preceded in death by Jerome Lindy. Visitation

Angela V. Guevara

Angela V. Guevara, 38, Wonder Lake, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at Centegra Hospital – McHenry. She was born June 3, 1974, in Woodstock to Jose L. and Pamela (Morris) Guevara. Survivors include her father, Wonder Lake; two brothers, Jose L. and Michael A. Guevara; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and her grandparents. Visitation and a prayer service were Oct. 20 at Colonial Funeral Home, McHenry.  Interment was private. Memorials may be made to the family.

Alysha Thurow-Gitzinger

Alysha Thurow-Gitzinger, 19, Woodstock, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. She was born Feb. 22,1993, in Barrington to James P. and Karre J. (Thurow) Gitzinger. She graduated from Woodstock High School in 2011.  After high school she enrolled in culinary school at McHenry County College.  She loved animals and was known to always have a smile. She loved being with her family and especially fishing with her grandfather. Survivors include her parents; her maternal grandparents, Sandra and William Burri; her paternal grandmother, Bernadine Gitzinger; a brother, Jace Gitzinger; two aunts; four uncles; and seven cousins. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Robert Gitzinger. Visitation and the funeral were Oct. 20 at

Paul J. Miljak

Paul J. Miljak, 95, Woodstock, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock. He was born Oct. 12, 1917, in Chicago to John and Milka (Baraban) Miljak.  He was the beloved husband of the late Sophie (Mroczkowski) Miljak. He was a veteran, serving in World War II in the Army Brigade 732 R.O.B. 3rd Army – ETO.  He was employed with United States Steel for 43 years as a foreman in Central Shops.  He enjoyed sports and was a Russel Square Little League Coach. He also enjoyed family reunions in Las Vegas.  He was a member of CFU Local 948 and Local C.L.O. 65. Survivors include a son, John Miljak; five granddaughters, Krista Brietske, Eve McKee, Nicole

Hazel Shaw

Hazel Estelle Shaw, 89, Spring City, Tenn., formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2013, at Erlanger Medical Center, Chattanooga, Tenn. She was born July 21, 1923, in Hope, Ark., to Thomas Larkin and Katie Taylor Finney.   Hazel married Nathan Shaw and lived in Mena, Ark.  In 1950, they moved to Woodstock, where she worked for many years as a supervisor for the Admiral Corporation.   She owned a local 7-Eleven store in Woodstock until she retired. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marengo.   She lived in the Spring City community in Tennessee since 2006.  Survivors include three daughters, Betty (Robert) Kamin, Evensville, Tenn., Ann (Paul) Violett, Harriman, Tenn., and Eva (Charlie) Chapman, Woodstock;

Top Writers

Larry Lough

Larry Lough

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

Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio

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

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

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

Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli

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

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