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

Justina Elizabeth “Betty” Hale, our beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed naturally and peacefully into her blue heaven on Feb. 21,2020, at the amazing age of 102 1/2. She was surrounded by loving family while comfortably residing at Valley Hi Nursing Home since leaving her precious home and friends in Bull Valley, Ill., in 2018. She was born Aug. 3, 1917, in Wilkes Barre, Pa., to Justina Williams Hale and Lewis Gordon Hale, and delighted in her younger brother Lewis Gordon Hale Jr. She went to high school in Scarsdale, N.Y., and graduated from Skidmore College. She was one of the first women to work at Time Inc. as a bookkeeper. She left employment when she married our

Arthur Erich Koeller, of Delavan, Wis., formerly of Woodstock, passed away Feb. 8, 2020, at his home. He was 91. Art was born Oct. 4, 1928, in Shawano, Wis., to Arthur Henry and Esther Koeller. He attended St. James Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Shawano High School in 1947. He proudly served as a member of the U.S. Navy. He was a kind and gentle man of great Christian faith. He enjoyed the outdoors all his life, camping, hunting, and fishing with his family, riding horseback, and even skydiving in his later years. He enjoyed traveling and was able to take many awesome trips with his wife. He was an avid Packers fan who loved to visit Lambeau Field

Thomas J. Nigbor, age 89, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Feb. 19, 2020, in Woodstock, Ill. He was born in Whitefish Bay, Wis. After completing his education with help from the G.I. Bill at University of Wisconsin-Stout, he moved to Illinois to become an industrial arts teacher at Burlington Central High School and Hampshire High School before settling in at Woodstock High School for a long tenure as the auto mechanics instructor. He launched the auto shop program that led to automotive-related careers for many of his students. After retirement from teaching, he began his second career at Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Woodstock. For 25 years he worked there, serving the public. Outside of

Ann Holtman (née Wrona), 78, of Woodstock passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Journeycare in Barrington on Feb. 15, 2020. She was born Jan. 5, 1942, in Waukegan to Sophie and Stanley Wrona. She is survived by her loving children, James, Philip, and Katherine (Matthew) Sieck; four grandchildren, Marjorie and Rene Holtman, Thomas and Ava Sieck; her siblings, Stan Wrona, Mary Aydt, John Wrona, and Therese Wolf. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved husband, Denis Holtman. Ann was a long-time member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock. She worked as a nurse before retiring in 2010. Also in 2010 she was named Volunteer of the Year by Woodstock PADS. In lieu of flowers,