For the past decade, if you called our father and reached his voicemail, you would have heard: “This is Gib Kurtz. Possibly I’m alive and possibly I’m not, but I’ll try to get back to you if I am.” A view into Gib’s love of life and recognition of death.  On Dec. 3, Gibson Cochran Kurtz Jr. passed away at the age of 88 years young. Gib was a great athlete, a creative, prolific wood craftsman, and a well-respected high school teacher and coach. Gib was driven and passionate about everything he did. He also was an expert linguist of proper English – regularly correcting his adult daughters’ grammar.  Gib attended East St. Louis High School, where he played basketball.

David F. Miller, age 92, of Monroe, Wis., died peacefully Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at Monroe Hospice Home. He was born on March 31, 1929, in Dundee, Ill., the son of Chris and Clara (Gloede) Miller. He attended Dundee High School. David married his best friend and the light and love of his life. June E. Landwehr. on Nov. 23, 1951, in Bartlett, Ill. He was a dairy farmer his entire life, and he never really retired. His last day driving a tractor was July 23. He was a member of Monroe United Methodist Church and was Clarno Township supervisor for over 30 years. David was happiest when spending time with his family and always enjoyed it when the grandchildren

Born: May 25, 1925, in Chicago Died: Dec. 2, 2021, in Elmhurst, Ill. Loretta Spingola, 96, of Elmhurst, Ill., died peacefully at home under hospice care on Dec. 2, 2021. She was born May 25, 1925, in Chicago to parents Jacob and Anna (Celar) Korenchan, who each had immigrated to Chicago from Yugoslavia in the early 1900s. She is the mother of Woodstock resident Janet Dovidio. Loretta married Joseph Spingola of Chicago in 1948. They lived in Elmhurst, where they raised five children. The family now includes 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. During her years as a homemaker, Loretta was a frequent volunteer for many groups, especially at her church, Visitation Catholic Church in Elmhurst. She played bridge several times

Born: Aug. 26, 1933, in Coronado, Calif. Died: Nov. 14, 2021, in Woodstock Sally Heydon, 88, of Woodstock, passed peacefully at Valley Hi Nursing and Rehab after enduring more than 15 years with dementia. She was born Aug. 26, 1933, in Coronado, Calif., to Julian D. Greer and Eleanor Jones Greer.  Sally’s father was a naval aviator who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned the rank of captain before being killed in a plane crash. Due to his nomadic military career, Sally had a charmed and well-traveled childhood, including living on Ipanema Beach, Rio, Brazil, where she attended three years of high school. Her family also lived in Hawaii, Rhode Island, Atlanta, and California several times.  Sally attended Miami of

Born: April 26, 1932, in Germany Died: Nov. 19, 2021, in Barrington, Ill. Anna Bitschura, 89, of Woodstock, died peacefully, in her sleep, on Nov. 19, 2021, at JourneyCare in Barrington, Ill. She was born April 26, 1932, in Germany to Joseph and Amalie (Beck) Mader. Anna graduated from professional school, as a seamstress, in 1952. Sewing was only one of a long list of skills that she maintained of efficiency and proficiency. She never backed down from a challenge and was always busy. She was an excellent cook, baker, loved to knit, crochet, garden, and make holiday snow angels. In her earlier years, she loved to go dancing with friends on Saturday nights. In the later years, she liked

Born: Nov. 28, 1944 Died: Oct. 28, 2021 Christopher McLean Strong, born Nov. 28th, 1944, would not have wanted a standard obituary. He would have written it himself if he thought death was imminent. And he would want it to be humorous. His death took us by surprise on Oct. 28., 2021. We are left to try and do justice, knowing no one could write like he could. We may struggle with the humorous part.  Along with his wife, Victoria Galbraith Strong, the two most important things in Chris’s life were teaching and music. He taught tens of thousands of students during the 38 years he taught English, TV/radio, films, and advertising at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Ill. He