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Obituaries

John Michael Demcisak Sr., 85

John Michael Demcisak Sr., 85, currently of Woodstock, died Feb. 5, 2023. He was born on June 29, 1937, in Pottstown, Pa., to Michael and Mary Anna Demcisak.  John and his wife, Marian, lived in Hatboro, Pa., for over 50 years. It was there they raised their family while John practiced law and was a community leader. In 2019 they moved to Woodstock to be close to family.  John is survived by his wife, Marian (née Griffiths); children, Michael Demcisak (Jan Russell), St. Louis Park, Minn., Suzanne Steinberg (Brian), Crystal Lake, and Andrew Demcisak, Grand Junction, Colo.; six grandchildren; and many extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 11, at 10 a.m., with a time

Nancy M. Ketchum, 87

Nancy M. Ketchum, 87, of Dowagiac, formerly of Woodstock, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at her home. She was born on March 11, 1935, in Newberry, Mich., the daughter of Charles and Stella (Baker) Bivens. Nancy grew up and spent many years in Woodstock and was also a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and a member of the Dowagiac Seventh-day Adventist Church and would study the bible every night before going to bed. She had a unique and infectious laugh that put a smile on everyone’s face that she laughed with. Nancy enjoyed traveling to visit family and having family over to visit. Nancy also enjoyed going to Pow Wows, knitting, crocheting, shopping and eating

Dennis Michael Gray, 81

Dennis Michael Gray of Woodstock, our cherished husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and dear friend, sadly passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Feb. 25, 2023, at the age of 81, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Dennis was born in Chicago on Feb. 18, 1942, to Charles P. and Lois (Johnson) Gray. The family moved to Crystal Lake in 1952. He was a graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School and Marquette University. While still at Marquette, Dennis started writing copy for broadcast commercials, and thus began a more than 30-year career producing television commercials. It was a career that took him all over the country and beyond. In 1969 he married Priscilla (Avery) Gray, and

Katie (Kathryn) Meigs Macaulay, 42

Katie (Kathryn) Meigs Macaulay, 42, died peacefully in her Crystal Lake home with her family beside her on Feb. 15, 2023.  Katie was born Oct. 12, 1980, to parents David and Margaret (Peggy) Burda. Raised in Palatine, Ill., she enjoyed spending time at her family’s cottage on Lauderdale Lakes in Wisconsin, skiing, traveling, and spending time with friends. She was a graduate of Palatine High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an education degree from Illinois State University, and a master’s degree in education. After college she began teaching social studies at Woodstock High School. There she met her husband, Bill, also from Palatine, who taught in the classroom next door. They married

Marian E. Lang, 82

Marian E. Lang, age 82, of Woodstock, passed away Feb. 11, 2023, in Huntley with her loving family by her side. Marian was born on June 8, 1940, in Greenwood, the daughter of Ralph and Cora (Wilcox) Stecker. She married Ralph Lang on Feb. 14, 1959, at First United Methodist Church in Woodstock. Marian was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over 69 years and was very active in the church. She enjoyed being in the Genesis group, HCE Homemakers club, and the quilting club. She was a member of 4-H Club as well as Nash car club. She grew up working at the Lang’s News Depot on the Square doing the bookkeeping for her family business.

George Farlin Caufield, 94

George Farlin Caufield, 94, passed away June 12, 2022, in Bedford, Texas. Farlin was born in Kenmare, N.D., on Oct. 24, 1927, to George and Anna Caufield. He was veteran of the Unites States Navy, having served on a worldwide tour of duty on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge. He graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in accounting and became a certified public accountant.  Farlin and his wife, Clarice Mae (Decker) Caufield, moved to Woodstock in 1965, where he began a career with Vaughan & Bushnell Mfg. Co. of Hebron. He was a past president of Woodstock Memorial Hospital, a former board member of The State Bank of Woodstock, past treasurer of the Woodstock Mozart Festival,

Chester M. (Chet) Hollister, 81

Chet (Chester) M. Hollister, 81, of Woodstock, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. He was born on May 25, 1941, to the late Chester M. (Dorothy) Hollister in Woodstock. He married Nancy Kazich on July 15, 1967. Chet worked as an earth science teacher at Algonquin Middle School, District 300 for 34 years. Prior to that he served in the U.S. Army for three years, most recently as a signal core instructor where he earned the National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter (Rifle) designations. He attended Woodstock Community High School where he participated in many plays and theatrical productions. He achieved his Bachelor of Arts in English and his Masters in Education from Northern Illinois University. Chet was also

Tom Karst, 47

Thomas N. Karst, born March 17, 1975, in Wheatridge, Colo. died Jan. 17, 2023. The son of Deborah (Steven) Reick of Woodstock and Gary (Barbara) Karst of Englewood, Colo., Tom grew up and attended school at St. Mary grade school, Olson Middle School, and Woodstock High School. A resident of Cherry Valley, Ill., Tom was a member of St. Rita’s Parish and spent his working life in the building trades, most recently as a project manager/superintendent for a national commercial builder. Tom was known for his generous and outgoing nature, exemplary work ethic, and loyalty, but most of all his absolute and unfailing devotion to his children, Emily and Garrett. As an avid outdoorsman he played as hard as he

Stephane Lynn Fylpaa Asher, 79

Stephane Lynn Fylpaa Asher, 79, of Woodstock, died of natural causes at Northwestern Hospital in Huntley on Oct. 21, 2022. Her beloved children were by her side.Stephane was born in St. Paul, Minn., on May 18, 1943. She lived as a child in Long Beach, Calif., before moving to Portland, Ore, and eventually Des Plaines, where she attended Prospect High School. She matriculated to Elmhurst College. She lived in California and raised her children primarily as a single mom in Buffalo Grove. She moved to her beloved Woodstock in 1985.She was preceded in death by her sister Constance Lee Corrales Fylpaa; her mother, Grace M. Fylpaa (Sadek); and her father, John William “Jack” Fylpaa.She is survived by children, Hilary Asher

Beverly Meikel, 94

Beverly Meikel, 94, died Jan. 6, 2023, following a short illness. Born and raised in Chicago, she and her husband, Mike, moved in the late 1950s to Wonder Lake, where they built their first home. They moved to Woodstock in 1972 after renovating Mighty Oaks Farm, which was placqued by the McHenry County Historical Society. They lived on the farm for 46 years and were known for the annual cider pressing from their orchard. Bev volunteered for many years at Centegra Hospital in a variety of positions. She and Mike were active members in the Bull Valley Association, and Shepherd of the Hills Church, enjoying many friendships. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mike, whom she was married

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