Gerald M. Smith Jr., 70, of Woodstock, passed away on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, at the Northwestern Hospital in Huntley. He was born Feb. 28, 1951, in Evergreen Park to Gerald M. and Marjorie H. (Carlson) Smith Sr. He married JoAnn (Deady) Mitchell on July 2, 1994, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock. Jerry graduated from St. Mary Elementary School in 1965 and Marian Central Catholic High School in 1969. He attended McHenry Community College and the University of Illinois-Champaign. He had worked for the Green Giant Co.; and was a Realtor with Gerald M. Smith and Associates; executive director of the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce; and a project manager at Fabric Images. Jerry was very active in many

Randall (Randy) Allen Goebbert, 67, of Woodstock, passed away Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Randy was born Oct. 2, 1953, to Harry and Marion (Wacker) Goebbert in Wayne, Neb. Randy was a graduate of Woodstock High School in 1971. He was a wrestler and a football player, and he attended the Outward Bound Program in Utah. This is when his love of photography started. He developed film and printed his own pictures, and marveled at the work of Ansel Adams. Randy earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in 1975. Randy was a big music lover, of all types of music. He was his younger brother Rick’s biggest musical influence. During their high school years, he brought home all of

Carol Raffel, 90, of Woodstock, passed away on Aug. 30, 2021, at her home in Woodstock. She was born May 9, 1931, to Ralph and Cora (Wilcox) Stecker in Greenwood Township. She married Ferdinand “Ferd” H. Raffel Jr., on Dec. 13, 1953, at the First United Methodist Church in Woodstock. Carol worked as a cashier for Bohn’s Ace Hardware in Woodstock for 29 years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock for 65 years and was a member of the Sewing Circle, where she contributed to making lap quilts for nursing homes for those in need. Her hobbies were making baby quilts, needlepoints, and dish towels, to name a few. She enjoyed sewing and embroidery, as well

Mary Chris Stieg, 57, of Woodstock, was put into God’s hands as an angel on Saturday, Aug. 28, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. She was born Dec. 21, 1963, to Audrey (Mathews) and John Hardt in Woodstock. Loving wife of Michael Stieg, they were married on July 8, 2000, at the family farm where she grew up and later purchased to continue married life and to raise their three daughters. Mary had worked at DB Hess for 30 years until they closed, then she went on to work at the McHenry County Government Center. Mary was a kind, loving person with an infectious giggle and smile. She was a constant companion to Mike and a rock for her girls.

Henry Arnold Schmarje, age 73, passed away Aug., 24, 2021, at the home of his son, Henry, with his family by his side. He was born Dec. 9, 1947, in Woodstock, Ill., the son of Ralph and Lillian (Habbley) Schmarje. He graduated from Woodstock High School class of 1967. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. He enjoyed spending time with his family, NASCAR, football, and hanging out at Colemans in Crystal Lake. Henry worked at Curran Contracting, Toastmaster, and retired from Rongo. He loved to help anyone that needed it.  Henry is survived by his son, Henry (Jenni); grandchildren, Syleena (Alex) Sunderlage and Lexi, Kya, Madison, Jarret and Faith Schmarje; great-grandchildren,

Susan J. Spina, 64, of Woodstock, passed away on Thursday evening, Aug. 19, 2021. Born Sept. 4, 1956, in Mt. Prospect, Ill., the daughter of Barry and Charlotte (Senechalle) Wolfe. Susan married Randy Spina of Chicago Heights, Ill., on Sept. 22, 1982, in her Gramma’s town of Morgan Park, Ill. Susan loved her animals, working out, hiking, and cooking, but most of all her beloved animals. There was nothing she would not do or ask Randy to do for them. Surviving her is her husband of 40 years, Randy; her father, Barry Wolfe; her two brothers, Robert Wolfe (wife: Pam) and Thomas Wolfe (wife: Monica); and her one sister, Janet Tarneaud, of France. She will also be missed by her

Jean Ellen O’Connell, 94, of Geneva passed away at home on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, after a lifetime of love and laughter. She was born in Evanston, Ill., on Aug. 18, 1927, to Chester and Edna Gould. Her family later moved to Woodstock, where she spent her childhood years. Jean attended Stephens College, earning an Associate degree in fine arts and then attended The Art Institute in Chicago, earning a B.A. in interior design. After college, she worked as an interior designer for Hotpoint in Chicago and then St. Charles Kitchens in St, Charles, Ill. She met and married Richard O’Connell, and they made a life for themselves in Geneva. Jean became a stay-at-home mother for their two children, Tracy

Richard “Dick” Feldt, 86, of Woodstock, passed away at home peacefully on Aug. 11, 2021.  Dick was born on Oct. 15, 1934, to Ralph and Rose (Berna) Feldt in Woodstock and was proud to say that he lived his entire life in McHenry County. Dick was a graduate of the Hebron class of 1952, and when asked if he played on the infamous basketball team, Dick replied that he was busy milking cows on O’Brien Road.  Dick started out washing cars at Reichert Chevrolet and retired as their parts and service director after 40 years. He loved cars and helping his customers out with theirs, especially all the young guys looking for those hard-to-find parts as they were rebuilding their

Betty Jane Peters, 91, De Pere, Wis., passed away peacefully early Monday morning Aug. 16, 2021. She was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Painesville, Ohio, to the late Reynard and Sannie (Stenroos) Lanum. Betty graduated from Libertyville High School in Illinois and attended Illinois Wesleyan University. On Sept. 1, 1950, she married John R. Peters in Libertyville. Betty was employed for many years by the city of Woodstock in the finance department. at City Hall. She was previously a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Woodstock, St. Luke’s Lutheran, Wisconsin Rapids, and currently St. John’s Lutheran, De Pere. Betty enjoyed handcraft work of all kinds, including knitting and crocheting. She was active in the quilting club at St. John’s Church,