Billy Dean Barger, 84, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away on Jan. 24, 2021, due to complications from dementia. He was born April 30, 1936, at home in Pope County, Illinois, to Clifford and Wilma Barger. After graduation from Galatia High School, he joined the United States Air Force and proudly served his country at O’Hare International Airport, working on airplane hydraulics. After his enlistment, he used the veterans’ bill to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. He trained as a certified vocational machines instructor. After one year of teaching special education industrial arts in Murphysboro, he obtained a teaching position in Woodstock, where he taught vocational machines, drafting, woods, and welding for 34 years. He married Sharon Heuerman in

Diana Maria (Alvarez) Webster, 79, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on Jan. 19, 2021, at home, with her beloved husband. Robert (Bob). and loyal companion. Lily. by her side. She was born May 9, 1941. in Cotulla, Texas, to Pedro (Pete) and Margarita Alvarez. She married Bob on Feb. 27, 1960. Diana was a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother/great-grandmother. She and Bob were blessed with four children, Theresa (Dan Buss), Daniel (Beth), Ralph, and Heather (Brett Heidtke). Her greatest joy was becoming Grandma to her eight grandchildren, Jarrad (Becky), Jamie (Rob Ehlenburg), Tyler (Kate), Bryce (Allie), Tate and Taylor (Kayla), Payton and Aj, as well as six great-grandchildren, Sophia, Oliver, Hudson, Miranda, Carson and Bentley, with another on

Jeffrey Trewyn, 60, passed away surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Jeff was born on Nov. 5, 1960, to parents Harold and Joyce Trewyn. He graduated from Janesville Craig and UW-Whitewater. Jeff owned and operated Organic Way Corp. in the Chicagoland area. Jeff’s family meant everything to him. He coached several youth teams and continued to support all Wisconsin sports teams. Jeff was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed time at his cabin. Jeff is survived by his children, Alec and Ally; his mother, Joyce; siblings Julie Carter, Jodi (Dave) Spencer, Jacki Foss, Jason (Yianna) Trewyn, and Jared (Lisa) Trewyn; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold, and brother-in-law,

Helena (Leni) Ideler, 94, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 18, 2021, surrounded by family. She was born in Dinklage, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1926, to Bernhard and Emma Moellers. In her 20s she followed her fiancé (Albert Ideler) to the United States, where they were married several months later. Leni and Albert celebrated 65 years of marriage on Nov. 12, 2020, raising their family in Woodstock, Ill. Leni was a loving wife, mother, oma, and omama. She was a talented seamstress who shared her talents with many over the years. In addition to sewing, she loved to knit, crochet, and do amazing needlework. Her hands were never idle; she was always creating something beautiful. She was

Elsie Mae Stoddard, 97, daughter of the late Eric and Teresa Akerberg, was born Aug. 26, 1923, in Woodstock, Ill. Having had the precious time to visit with her family, Elsie passed quietly on Jan. 15, 2021, in the comfort of her daughter Lisa’s home. Elsie grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Woodstock along with seven other siblings. She was extremely proud of her 50+ year membership with Greenwood Homemakers. She enjoyed many years of playing pinochle with friends at the Woodstock firehouse. She was also an avid rummy player and a fierce bingo competitor. Elsie sold her Hoy Avenue home and moved to the Fountains in Crystal Lake, Ill., in June 2017. While there she made

Virginia May Stroh, 84, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Northwestern Medicine-McHenry from complications of COVID-19 along with other health challenges.  Virginia (Ginny) was born in Hawley, Minn., on May 26, 1936, to Alois and Norma (Gaenzle) Vorgert. She attended grade school in Urbank, Minn., and graduated from Parkers Prairie High School in 1953. After attending the Minnesota College of Business in Minneapolis, she worked for Kaiser Aluminum in the Twin Cities.  At a dance in Alexandria, Minn., she met the love of her life, Alfred Stroh, and they married on Oct. 19, 1957, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank, Minn. They settled on a 200-acre family farm in Millerville, Minn., and started their

Carol (Anderson) Gardner, 76, of Woodstock, passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Huntley. She was born Sept. 28, 1944, in Raymond, Wash., to Melvin and Agnes Anderson. Carol grew up in Chicago, and then Western Springs, Ill., and graduated from Lyons Township High School in 1963. She then went on to study Spanish and biology at Illinois State University, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1967. It was at ISU that she met her husband, Ken, to whom she was married for 46 years. She later went on to complete her master’s degree at Northern Illinois University. Carol taught Spanish at Woodstock High School for 32 years. She inspired a love of the Spanish language in many students.

Paul Thomas Wilson Jr., 88, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 at his home in Woodstock, Ill., of natural causes. He was surrounded by family and friends in his last days and weeks and was able to express his love for them and their love for him. He leaves his wife of 70 years, Laila (Hansen) Wilson; his sons, Paul Wilson III, Tim Wilson, Todd Wilson; his daughters, Linda Hansen, Greta Engholm; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; and many close friends. Born in Chicago, the son of Paul Sr. and Ruth (Leidholm) Wilson, he was a lifelong resident of the greater Chicagoland area. Most recently, and for the past 52 years, Paul lived in Woodstock. Paul met his wife, Laila

On Jan. 2, 2021, Anna Victoria Matthei passed away peacefully at the age of 92 after a long fight with Alzheimer’s. She was the beloved wife of Richard Fred Matthei, who preceded her in death in 1984. The youngest of seven children, Anna was born in Pennsylvania to Polish immigrant Stanley and Catherine (Novobilski) Gorel. After the death of her mother when Anna was six days old, Stanley married the late Catherine McCabe, and Anna eventually gained five younger half-siblings. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by siblings John Gorel, Stanley “Stash” Gorel Jr, Frank Gorel, Catherine Yusko, Mary Connor, and Millie Griffin. She is survived by siblings Sophie Homa of Connecticut, and Florence

Richard G. Johnson, 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Woodstock surrounded by his family on Dec. 31, 2020. He was born on Father’s Day June 19, 1932, in Ridgefield, Ill., the son of George and Elsie (Wille) Johnson. He married his beloved wife, Rita Roberts, on Nov. 21, 1953, at St. Thomas church in Crystal Lake. They had just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this past November. He graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1950 and then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. where he served for three years in North Carolina. After serving in the military, he returned to Crystal Lake to become owner and operator of Ideal Oil Co., the family business. Richard served on