Edward Marion Nickels, 89, a former Chicago police officer, died on May 2, 2020. Edward retired as the commander of the Bomb and Arson Division of the Chicago Police Department, after 31 years of dedicated police service. While rising in the ranks of the department and raising a family with four daughters, he took courses at night to earn a degree of Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University. He later attended DePaul University School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate degree. After retiring from the department, Edward was appointed as the director of Arson Investigations for the office of the State Fire Marshal.He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Stephany Nickels (née Madrzyk). He was the

Gerald E. Rockers, 71, a long-time resident of Woodstock, Ill., passed away peacefully on April 27, 2020 in Durham, N.C., surrounded by family. Gerry was born and raised on a farm in Austin, Minn., and is a proud graduate of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.Gerry was a dedicated IT professional, serving clients over many years throughout the Chicagoland area. He was a devout Catholic, and many of his clients were local Catholic schools in McHenry County. He was an avid Chicago sports fan, and loved nothing more than watching or talking sports with his siblings, kids, grandkids, and many friends.He was the son of Harold and Dolores Rockers of Austin, Minn., and he was one of nine kids in

Gene W. Zimmerman of Woodstock passed away on Monday, April 27, 2020, at the Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital.He was born in Florence, Ala., on Sept. 12, 1946, to Donald and Mona Jeanne (Dittman) Zimmerman. He married Nancy Schiller on May 6, 1972, in Woodstock.Gene went to Woodstock Community High School, a graduate from the class of 1964. He went on to serve his country after graduation. With his father and a brother, he owned and operated Zimmerman Construction for many years.His hobbies included fishing, biking and hiking. He made beautiful bird houses using natural materials, giving them to many friends and relatives. He took great pride in his yard at home planting many flowers that were enjoyed by all his

Dennis Wolf, 74, of Fowler, Ill., formerly of Wood Dale, Ill., passed away at 10:21 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at his home.There are no services planned at this time. A Life Celebration for Dennis will be held at a later date.Arrangements for cremation are under the direction of the O’Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home in Quincy, Ill.Dennis was born June 10, 1945, in Cook County, Ill., to Harry and Gertrude Graham Wolf.Dennis is survived by two children, Dennis Wolf Jr. (Frances) of Fowler, Ill., and Natalie Casson of Woodstock, Ill.; nine grandchildren, Brittany Wolf, Cory Wolf, Shannon Wolf, Garret Smid, Ryan Smid, Kyle Casson, Caleb Casson, Chris Richardson, and Mary Richardson; three great-grandchildren, Gabriel Seagle, Emily Martinez, and Paisley Wolf;

Judith Marie Kettmann, 74, of McHenry, Ill., passed away Saturday, April 4, 2020, at White Oaks Memory Care in McHenry following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia.Judy was born in Streator, Ill., on Aug. 18, 1945 to Edward A. Kettmann and Mariette A. Griesmar. She attended St. Mary’s elementary/middle school and Marian Central High School in Woodstock and graduated in 1963.Without a formal college education, but through her hard work ethic, determination and resourcefulness, Judy became an international human resource manager for Union Carbide (later Eveready Battery), where she traveled and worked in Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Turkey and much of the Middle East. She especially loved the many years she

Kathy Bronner, 70, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Alden, Ill., on Feb. 26, 2020. She was born on April 25, 1949, in Howard County, Iowa, to Clarence Bronner and Grace (Larsen) Bronner. Kathy grew up on a farm near Cresco, Iowa, the oldest of four children. She loved riding horses, especially her beautiful part-Arabian sorrel. After graduation from Crestwood High School, Kathy moved to Illinois, where she lived and worked the rest of her life. She was employed by Woodstock Die Casting, American Can, and until her retirement, at Silgen Corp. While at Silgen, her work ethic and integrity were recognized and rewarded with several promotions. After her retirement, she kept busy with part-time work at Alden Resale

Stephen R. Garrelts, 54, of Spring Grove, Ill., lost his battle of six years to ALS on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at Northwestern Hospital, McHenry, Ill. Stephen was born in McHenry, Ill., on Sept. 30, 1965, a son of Joanne (Hughes) and the late Richard Garrelts and graduated from Marian Central Catholic High School. For the past 25 years, he was devoted to the love of his life, Evelyn Mendiola. This journey began on on May 20, 1994, at St. Mary’s in McHenry, Ill. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church Richmond, Ill., and a former parishioner at St. Mary’s in McHenry and Christ the King in Wonder Lake, where he was a member of the Knights of

Joan always said that life on this earth was Boot Camp for what comes next. Well, Joan, you have graduated from Boot Camp at the top of your class. Born to this earth on Oct. 29, 1939. Born to what comes next on March 21, 2020. Music has always been a big part of Joan’s life, playing clarinet in junior high and high school in Leavenworth, Kan., finishing as the band majorette. She virtually always sang in a church choir and enjoyed many years singing with her husband in the McHenry County Chamber Singers and the Northern Illinois Choral Society. Also, while living in northern Illinois, she participated in the McHenry County Fine Arts Society’s efforts to raise funds for