The life of Vernon S. Stenoien ended peacefully at home in the early morning of March 4, 2021 Vern was born in Cooperstown, N.D. on March 13, 1931, to Pastor Gilbert and his wife, Emma. He was a child who loved to learn and grew up with nine siblings; only two remain: Daniel M. Stenoien and Borghild Gisselquist (101 years old). When he was 3, he lost his father, and his mother died when he was 13. He had many early learning opportunities, from being “obsessed with plowing a straight furrow at the age of 12” to doing “all the required maintenance” on his treasured bike because it was “important to me both from the standpoint of pleasure and need

Ann S. Hughes, 77, passed away March 3, 2021, at home in Woodstock, Ill.  She was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y., the daughter of Robert N. Simonsen and Marian Rownd Simonsen. She was a graduate of Orange High School at Pepper Pike, Ohio, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., in 1965. After graduating, she taught at Hood College in Frederick, Md., for a year. She married Earl Hughes Jr on Feb. 18, 1967, and lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., until his release from the Army November 1967, when they moved to Woodstock. Ann fully participated in life and was never afraid of a challenge. She was secretary-treasurer of Hughes Seed Farms and secretary-treasurer of

Dr. Roy J. Habeck, born Oct. 11, 1933, to Otto and Ida Habeck of the town of Richmond, Shawano County, Wisconsin, passed away on March 1, 2021. Born the youngest of six surviving children in his generation, he was the only one who attended high school, and eventually earned a doctorate degree in educational administration. After graduating from Shawano High School in 1951, Roy attended what is now UW-Stevens Point, graduating with a two-year degree in rural education. While there, he met Phyllis Hazelwood, also earning a rural education degree. The couple married on Aug. 29, 1953, shortly before they began teaching at Hancock, Wis., grade school. Roy also coached basketball, leading the boys’ team to a 7-3 record. While

William Howard Desmond, of Waukesha, Wis., passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, at the age of 67.  Bill was born in San Francisco, Calif., and raised in Woodstock, Ill., the son of William John Desmond and Anne Virginia Desmond (née Slavin). He married Kristine Rose Desmond (née Quasius) on Oct. 9, 1982, at Grace Episcopal Church in Sheboygan, Wis., and together they raised three children in Waukesha. Bill was a gentle and generous man whose time came too soon and who will be deeply missed. His family will remember him for his kind-heartedness and warmth, sense of humor, and wide range of passions and interests.  Always curious about the world around him, Bill was fiercely intelligent

Lynn Diane Brown, 71, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on Feb. 13, 2021, in Crystal Lake. She was born on July 12, 1949, in Harvard to Roland and Margery (Wright) Brown. Lynn was a devoted mother to Christopher (Stephanie) Spitson and Michael (Madeline) Spitson, and loving Nana to Allison and Mason. She worked as a dispatcher for the McHenry County Police Department and city of Kissimmee Police Department for many years. She enjoyed playing cards, watching the Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, and had a true passion for animals. She was loved and will be truly missed. In addition to being survived by her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, she is survived by her sister, Carole (Paul) Jachimek; as well as nephews; a

James M. (Jim) Maggio, age 68, passed away on Jan., 29, 2021, in Woodstock, Ill. He was born on May 23, 1952, in Chicago, the son of Peter and Ruth (Helmuth) Maggio. Jim grew up in Chicago and graduated from Lane Tech College Prep High School in 1970. Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the Naval Air Reserves, serving until 1982, and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle campus. Jim was employed by Illinois Bell Telephone and AT&T for 32 years. He met his wife, Sue, at IBT, and they were married on Dec. 6, 1979. In 1980 they moved to Woodstock, and Jim served the community in many capacities. He was president of the Woodstock Jaycees 1985-1986, especially

William T. Hicks Jr. passed away Jan. 30, 2021, at home in Woodstock, Ill. Born to ZaIda (Moore) and William T. Hicks on June 23, 1936.  He graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He married Janice Johnson Sept. 1, 1962, and they lived in Palatine, Ill., for 24 years before moving to Woodstock. He worked for Chemplex in Rolling Meadows and George S. May in Park Ridge as a system analyst until retirement in 1999. He was a kind and loving husband and was friendly to everyone who met him. He loved spending time with his family and playing golf. He will be missed by so many He is survived by his

Robert Donald Schmidt, 78, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away peacefully to the Lord’s care on Jan. 21, 2021, born Dec. 2, 1942. He was preceded in death by his father Donald A. Schmidt (1966); his mother, Jaine B. Nichol Schmidt (2015); and a great-nephew, Benjamin Srdanovich (2015). He has two sisters, Jean Schmidt Steward (Greg) and Marilyn Schmidt Anderson; a brother, Alan Schkmidt; a niece, Tamara Stewart Srdanovich (Mirko); great-niece and -nephew, Hannah and Zak; nephew, Chad Steward; and great-nieces, Jennah and Samantha Stewart. Robert moved to Elgin in 1966 and has lived in group homes in Aurora, St. Charles, and Elgin. While living in these homes, he attended a workshop program that gave him some money to inspire his