Richard T. Sweeney, age 85, of Woodstock, passed on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, with loved ones by his side. He was born on May 3, 1937, in Chicago. He attended St. Tarcissus Catholic Elementary School and graduated in 1955 from St. George Catholic High School. After moving to Woodstock in 1980, he worked at Cotter Distribution Center and Motorola in Harvard until his retirement in 2002.  Richard is survived by his life partner of 38 years, Barbara Murray, and her children, Michael Murray Jr. (Jen) and daughter Marcia Kalisik (James); daughter-in-law, Deb Donofrio; grandchildren, Jaclyn, Trevor, Jennifer, Morgan, and Joseph Sweeney; and great-grandson, Dacen Sweeney. He was also a special grandfather to Jacob Kalisik. He was preceded in death by

Joyce Sandeen Johnson, 96, passed away peacefully on Jan. 4, 2023, at her apartment in Clark Lindsey Village, Urbana, Ill. Joyce was born on May 7, 1926 in Woodstock, the daughter of Dr. Henry W. Sandeen and Merle Gaskin Sandeen. She graduated from Woodstock Community High School in 1943 and received her B.A. from Beloit College in 1947. There she met Arthur T. Johnson from Rockford. They married in 1946 and celebrated 70 years together in 2016.  Joyce taught in various schools in Rockford and received her master’s degree in the field of learning disabilities from Rockford College in 1976. She became a tutor and consultant in this field, and was active in and served as president of the Zeta

Born: July 13, 1942 in Chicago Died: Jan. 8, 2023 in Woodstock Fred Learman Sr. passed peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Jan. 8, 2023. He was 80 years old. He was born on July 13, 1942, to Joseph and Marie (Halter) Learman. The second of four children, Fred graduated from Main Township East High School before going on to work as a plumber for over 46 years. On June 12, 1959, he met Kathleen Ann Buffington, in Mount Prospect, Ill. Fred and Kathy were married on April 4, 1964, having celebrated 58 years together last spring. Fred was a proud member of the Plumbers Local 130, Woodstock Moose Lodge 1329, as well as the CAATS Car

William E. Reese Sr., 91, passed away on Dec. 30, 2022, at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.  He was born on June 26, 1931, in Woodstock to Harold E. and Clara K. (Stolp) Reese. William was a lifelong resident of Woodstock and graduate of the Woodstock High School class of 1950. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Stephen Potter DD-538 during the Korean War. William was employed as a tool and die maker at Woodstock Tool & Die, Woodstock Die Casting, and TJ Screw Products. His hobbies included woodworking and bowling. Above all, William’s family was his greatest accomplishment. Survived by his son, William (Aimee) Reese Jr.; grandchildren, Kaylee, William, and Addison; and great-grandson, Jace Scherrer.  Preceded

Frances Stanwood passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2023. She was 79 years old. She will be dearly missed by her family, and they are grateful she is in a better place. Frances was born on Nov. 21, 1943, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Frank and Ella (Stanton) Gales. She is survived by her loving husband, Walter, of 56 years, and her children, Walter (Jeannine), John (Amy), and Mark (Emily); forever cherished and remembered by her eight grandchildren, Charlie, Peter, Tess, Caroline, Bill, Cecelia, Charlotte, and Jack; her sister, Mary; and nine nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her siblings Helen, Bill and Ann. She was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, and attended Marycrest College in Davenport,

Mary G. Jones of Woodstock died peacefully at home, born to eternity on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.She was born on Nov. 22, 1924, to John and Maggie (Peterson) Karroll in West Frankfort, Ill. She married William D. Jones on April 3, 1948.She grew up a “coal miner’s daughter” and carried that hard-work life to her life in Woodstock. She with her husband were charter members of the First Baptist Church in Palatine and Calvary Baptist Church Woodstock, now known as Gospel Grace Church. She was an active member at church, teaching Sunday school for many years, and loved the mission work at church. She loved crocheting, gardening, and baking. Her family always came first; grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the center

Roy Passfield Jr., 91, of Woodstock passed away Dec. 5, 2022, at his home of some 62 years in Woodstock. He was born on July 13, 1931, in Wauconda, Ill., the son of Roy Sr. and Sarah (Dowell) Passfield. He married the late Marjorie (Weidner) Passfield on Sept. 29, 1956. Roy attended Central School in McHenry and Woodstock High School from 1945 until 1949. Roy joined the United States Air Force and served from 1950 until 1953 as an aircraft frame repairman. He was stationed in Korea from 1951 to 1952, repairing F-84 and F-86 fighter jets returning from combat. Roy received the Korean Service Medal, the UNS Medal, National Defense Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He was also stationed

Dorothy Butler Barkwill, 89, of Woodstock, went to be with her Lord on Dec. 7, 2022. Born on May 11, 1933, in Scranton, Pa., she was the daughter of Clarence and Margaret (Simpson) Butler.  Dorothy graduated from Dunmore High School in Dunmore, Pa., and Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. Following college, she worked at the Otterbein Children’s Home in Lebanon, Ohio, and the Woodstock Children’s Home, followed by employment at the Methodist Publishing House in Chicago as private secretary to the editor of TOGETHER (a Methodist family magazine in the 1950s and ’60’). Dorothy was a member of the Woodstock Free Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for over 20 years. Following marriage, she was the church secretary as