Michael Hayes, 79, of Bull Valley, IL passed away February 24, 2026, in the care of Suncrest Hospice in Elgin, IL. Mike was born August 18, 1946, in Dallas Texas to Johnny and Gloria Hayes. He graduated from Lane Tech High School in 1964 and proudly served his country in the U.S Marine Corps from 1964-1967. He was a Vietnam and Agent Orange Veteran. Mike went on to be a Chicago Local 63 Architectural and Ornamental Iron Worker until retirement. He married Carol (Koester) Hayes, his pen pal sweetheart in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 20, 1968. They were married 57 years. Mike is survived by his beloved wife: Carol (Koester) Hayes; his loving son: Scott W. (Christina) Hayes; sister: Jeanne

Marge passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on February 14th (St. Valentine’s Day), she was 100 years old. Marge was born in Waukegan Illinois on March 15th 1925 to Slovenian immigrants. She attended Mother of God grade school and graduated from Waukegan Township High School in 1942. She graduated from St. Francis Hospital Nursing School in 1946 and began working at Victory Memorial Hospital and ended her career at St Theresa’s Hospital in Waukegan. Marge married Thomas J. O’Grady in 1949 with whom she had 5 children. A second marriage to Gilbert J. Heaphy, which provided her with 3 additional step children, and she embraced them as her own. Upon retirement Marge and Gil traveled internationally through

Stephen Carl Rust, of Findlay, Ohio, left this earthly life peacefully, unexpectedly and suddenly on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026. He was born in Bryan, Ohio on July 25, 1952, living a life devoted to God, caring for his family and enjoying life to the fullest each day.  Stephen, or “Rusty” as he liked to be called in recent years, was born to the late Rev. Harold C. and Anna Heller Rust. The son of a pastor, he lived in Bryan, Ohio, Baltimore, MD, Wheeling, WV and then Oak Harbor, OH during his youth. He was a state cross country and track qualifier in high school. After graduating from Triadelphia High School (Wheeling), he attended Capital University (Columbus, OH), participating

Rosemary Elizabeth Watkins Belmonte of Woodstock, Illinois passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026 at the Lutheran Homes in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She was born on August 30, 1929, in Washington, D.C. at National Homeopathic Hospital. The daughter of Benjamin E. and Frances (Jones) Watkins. On January 30, 1965 she married the love of her life Leonard S. Belmonte at St. Tarcissus Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from DePaul University, and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. She taught at, and later was the first principal of the Lincoln School in Schiller Park. She was a life long member of the National Society Daughters of the American

Bruce Woodruff Anderson passed away in Chicago with loved ones at his side on Monday, December 29, 2025. He was a kind and engaging man who sought to love and serve God, his family, and others. Bruce was born in Boulder City, Nevada, on June 29, 1944. He moved with his family to Tennessee as an infant and graduated from Oak Ridge High School. He enjoyed participating in the marching band then and later, in college. He attended Brigham Young University before and after his two-year church mission to Northern Mexico. He loved the Mexican people and maintained fluent Spanish for the rest of his life. After his return to BYU, Bruce met Susan Albrechtsen on a blind date and

Roger Wilson, 79, of Maryville, TN, passed away on January 12, 2026 in his home, surrounded by family. Born in Macomb, IL on April 9, 1946, Roger was raised on a family farm near Table Grove, IL. He attended school in the consolidated district of V.I.T. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Monmouth College, IL in 1968. Along with his wife, Geneva (Haney) Wilson, Roger moved to Woodstock, IL where would spend his entire career in education in the Woodstock school system. In 1970, he was drafted into the U.S. Army serving primarily at Ft. Polk, LA until his honorable discharge in 1971. Following his military service, Roger earned his Master’s Degree in Business Education at Western

John Ronald “Ron” Beckel, 82, of Apple River, Ill., passed away Dec. 20, 2025, surrounded by family.  A U.S. Air Force veteran, Ron served as a jet engine mechanic during the Panama Crisis and Vietnam War.  Born March 10, 1943, in Chicago, Ron grew up in Crystal Lake and graduated from Mankato State, where he met the love of his life, Carolyn, his wife of 54 years. Ron was a Country Companies insurance agent for 27 years. Ron and Carolyn raised their family in Woodstock and retired to Apple Canyon Lake and Sun City West, Ariz.  Survived by wife, Carolyn; children, Heather (Mike) Connolly and Matt (Jill) Beckel; grandchildren Hannah (fiancé Brodie Eddington), Nathan, and Alyssa Connolly, and Charlie Beckel;

Peggy Louise Carlson was born on February 17, 1926, to Louise Marie (Graesing) Wagner and William Martin Wagner. She passed away peacefully at age 99 in Woodstock, Illinois, after a lifetime of love and service to others. Peggy was a longtime resident of Crystal Lake and Woodstock, Illinois. Peggy attended Woodstock schools, where she was a friend to everyone and excelled academically. In high school she was chosen as May Queen, Prom Queen, and Homecoming Queen before being named Valedictorian of her senior class. In 1948, Peggy married Don Hansen and together they built a life centered on family, hard work, and community service. Peggy’s passion was caring for others. Inspired by her cousin Mildred Nagle, she chose a career