Norma Lucille (Carpenter) Stolz, 85, of Rockford, Ill., passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Norma was born April 2, 1933, in Omaha, Neb., daughter of Willard and Edna Pearl (Whitcomb) Carpenter. She was the oldest of six children and was raised in various locations in western Nebraska as her father was a ranchhand at this time. In 1940, her father bought a farm in Agate, Neb., and the family settled down. Norma was to be found most days helping her father with farm work. She rode horses, drove teams, drove tractor, and learned to drive in a 1929 Ford Model A. She was known for being a typical, ornery farm kid, up to mischief, but always working hard. She attended

Donald Robert Lamos, 91, of Woodstock, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019, at JourneyCare Hospice in Woodstock. He was born in Chicago on May 24, 1927, to John and Margaret (Collins) Lamos. He married Mary Louise Sheahan on April 28, 1951, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Woodstock. Donald was a veteran who served in the Army for both WWII and Korea, and then came home to work in his trade and raise his family. As a profession, he worked for many years in the HVAC/sheet metal industry. A talented worker both at home and on the job, he was known to fix and build anything that needed his attention. After retirement, he worked at a part-time job he

Rick Wynn Schaefer unexpectedly passed away on March 17, 2019. He was born in Chicago on Nov. 10, 1964, to Florence and Howard Schaefer. Rick was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks even when he moved to Florida. On Jan. 9, 1993, Rick married the love of his life, Antoinette Griseta, and they were married for 26 wonderful years. No one will ever have a love like theirs. Together they had two beautiful children, Michael Joshua and Samantha Lee. Rick was a loving husband, phenomenal father/father figure, brother, uncle, son, son-in-law, cousin, and friend. While working for UPS for 13 years, Rick received his bachelor’s degree in teaching from Northeastern University and later received a

Marilyn Joyce Stromstedt Hollister, 84, of Springfield, Tenn., passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2019. Marilyn was born Sept. 18, 1934 in Chicago, Ill., to the late Hugo and Elsbeth Huebner Stromstedt. She was a retired librarian from Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Ill. After retirement and moving to Springfield, she worked as a ward clerk at Jesse Holman Jones Hospital. Marilyn was a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., where she enjoyed singing in the choir. Her favorite hobbies in life were cooking, baking, crafts, Titans’ football, flower gardening, her pets, bird watching, watching the Olympics, and holiday gatherings with her family and friends. Marilyn always tried to live life to the fullest, and her life’s

John R. Hughes, 46, of Woodstock, passed away on March 2, 2019, at his home in rural Woodstock. He was born March 22, 1972, in Woodstock to Robert and Genevieve (Gentes) Hughes. It is with tremendous loss and sadness that John passed away. He left us remembering his great sense of humor, his wonderful, cultivated mind, and his sense of humility (even though he had much success). His interest in conservative politics often drew him into lively discussions with friends and foes alike. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1990 as valedictorian and class president for four years. In 1994 he received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and later his master’s degree from Yale Divinity School in religious

Douglas “Doug” Loren Thompson, 62, of Woodstock, passed away in his home on Feb. 28, 2019. He was born May 22, 1956, to Terry and Carol (Stilling) Thompson in Woodstock, Ill., where he lived his whole life. He was a proud third-generation trucker and an avid mechanic. He is survived by his parents; a brother, Brian; a sister, Lisa (Guiseppe); his children, Jami (fiancé – Cody Sauber) and Erica Thompson; and a stepson, Peter Maceika. A memorial will be held later this summer at the Thompson family farm. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Doug’s name may be made to the National MS Society. For more information, call the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney funeral home at 815-338-1710 or visit

James D. Hodges, 93, of Woodstock, Ill., passed away on Feb 22, 2019, in Surprise, Ariz. Born in Cherokee County, Georgia, on June 22, 1925, to George and Ada Elliot Hodges, Jim was their only child. He married Ruth Berg Bohn Hodges on May 11, 1991. Jim was a loan officer at The State Bank of Woodstock for over 20 years and retired from Harris Bank in Barrington. He was very active in Lions Club, Shriners, and was the finance officer at the American Legion. He particularly enjoyed playing “Santa” at the hut on the square and in the Christmas parade. Jim served our country during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was awarded a Purple Heart and

“Better days are comin’,” Everett Donald Hunter would often say. That day came for him on Jan. 10, 2019. At home on Saint Patrick’s Road, surrounded by the love of his earthly family near and far, Everett made the journey to join his beloved deceased mother, Laura Vasey Hunter, father, Donald James Hunter, brother James and sister Loretta (Donald) Soland. Everett entered this world at home on the family farm on Bull Valley Road in McHenry on Feb. 15, 1927, the third of six children. He is survived by Vera Wingate of Crystal Lake, Marie (David) Payne of Hartland, and Robert Hunter of Sterling. “Evie” had fond memories of attending Clemens Country School, taught by his adored teacher, Eileen Fitzgerald.

Elaine Marguerite Eisenmenger, 80, of Woodstock, passed away at home on Feb. 11, 2019. She was born July 2, 1938, to John A and Marguerite E. (McPhee) Hunter. She married Gerald Eisenmenger in Woodstock on May 27, 1961. Elaine was born and raised on the family farm where she developed her great love of animals. She attended Woodstock High School for three years, but graduated from the Hebron High School after the family moved to that area. She and her best friend both earned perfect attendance for all four years of school. She took her first and only job with the State Bank of Woodstock. She worked for many years until her children were born, at which time she took