On May 20, 2020, Stephen G. Spear, 80, died of natural causes in the comfort of his home and family.He is survived by his wife, Jeri, of 56 years; daughters Mindi and Missy; son Darren (Jennifer); and four grandchildren, Ethan, Madelyn, Nolan and Liam. Steve was a very caring husband, father and grandpa, expressing this through his soft spoken nature.Steve was a dedicated eighth-grade social studies teacher at Olson Junior High in Woodstock for 30 years. For 20 of those years, he eagerly toured Washington, D.C., with his students, hoping to expand their knowledge and inspire a love of history. Steve also coached for District 200 at both the junior high and high school levels early in his career. Later

David A. Sova of Poplar Grove passed away peacefully at Mercy Health Riverside campus on May 14, 2020.He was born May 5, 1941, in Oswego, N.Y., to Lawrence and Betty (Pryor) Sova. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962.He married Carole Schwake on Oct. 27, 1962, in San Jose, Calif., who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Debbie (James) Boettcher, and four sons, Robert (Belinda) Sova, Kevin (Connie) Sova, Keith (Barbara) Sova, and Larry (Patsy) Sova.He is also survived by his sisters, Josephine (Richard) Roach, Karen Sova, and Sheila (George) Todd; brothers, Daniel (Teresa) Sova and Wayne (Doreen) Sova; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his

James A. Zoia, 89, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his family.He was born March 24, 1931, in Chicago to Eugene P. and Marie E. (Callahan) Zoia. He married Shirley Dacy on Sept. 13, 1958. She passed away on Dec.24, 1967. Jim then married Shirley E. Bell on June 7, 1969. She passed away on April 27, 2015.Jim was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock. He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army as an MP stationed in Verdun, France, during the Korean War. When he returned home after the war, he immediately went to work with his father in the family business, Zoia Monument Co. in

Dolores (Conway) Sporleder, age 92, died peacefully of natural causes on April 4, 2020, at home in Bonita Springs, Fla., with her husband, Kenny, at her side.Dolores was born on Aug. 10, 1927, in Marengo, Ill., to the late Frank and Ella (Metlicka) Holy. She was raised on a small farm and attended Kanaly school, a one-room schoolhouse that served Seneca and Marengo townships. Her family then moved to Woodstock, where she was enrolled at Woodstock High School and graduated in 1945. After that, she worked in the office of Autolite.Dolores and her first husband, William “Bill” Conway, had seven children: Kathleen, Timothy, Denise, Michael, Diane, Mary, and Daniel. When their marriage ended, Dolores raised their children on her own

It is with sadness that the family of Bobbi Lile Davis announces her unexpected passing on May 3, 2020, after suffering medical complications from an illness.Bobbi was born in Woodstock on Nov. 3, 1954, the first child of Arthur and Donna (BeGole) Lile. In 1983, she married Charles A. Davis of Greenwood.She was a 1972 graduate of Woodstock Community High School. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University and a MSW at George Williams College. She had retired as a social worker for the Special Education District of McHenry County after many years.Bobbi lived in Woodstock nearly all her life and resided in several homes within blocks of each other. She was “the face” of

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