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Obituaries

Robert “Bob” James Wescott Tirk

Robert “Bob” James Wescott Tirk, 75, died July 3, 2018, in Woodstock. He was born May 29, 1943, in Boston, the son of James Wescott and Marguerite (Greb) Wescott. After James Wescott died while serving in the Coast Guard during World War II, Marguerite married Richard “Dick” E. Tirk, who adopted Bob at age 4. Bob grew up in New York and also spent time with the Greb family in Wisconsin. Bob graduated from Briarcliff High School in New York and was one of many family members to attend Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., where he majored in music education. There he met fellow music student Ann Uber, who was performing an opera double bill. They married June 19, 1965,

The Woodstock Independent

Eugene Albert “Teener” Philipp

Eugene Albert “Teener” Philipp, 91, of Woodstock, died July 10, 2018, at the Hospice Care Center in Woodstock. He was born Sept. 20, 1926, to Albin and Addie Philipp. On Aug. 9, 1963, he married Hazel Mae Lappin at Grace Lutheran Church, Woodstock. Mr. Philipp was a veteran, serving in the Army during World War II. He had worked for McHenry County Title Co. for 44 years before retiring in 1988. He was elected as the city clerk of Woodstock in 1969. “Teener” was an avid sports fan and lifetime Cubs and Blackhawks fan. He was thrilled when the Cubbies won the World Series. He loved to read books; do crosswords and acrostics puzzles; play bingo, video poker, and slots;

Hazel A. Nickels

Hazel A. Nickels, 97, of Woodstock, died June 18, 2018, at Valley Hi Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 20, 1921, in Woodstock to Lester C. and Anna M. (Marvin) Wilcox. In 1940 she married Marvin L. Nickels in Dubuque, Iowa. She was a long-time employee of Guardian Electric in Woodstock. She loved her little house with her garden and flower plants from her “Pa” and often skipped among her pine trees. Hazel enjoyed playing cards and taught other Valley Hi residents how to play when she was 95. She was known to be feisty, independent and strong. Hazel is survived by four grandchildren, Debra (John) Brown, Richard (Kary) Nickels, Zeke (Jennifer) Nickels, and Zach Nickels; two great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren;

The Woodstock Independent

Glenn Crandall

Glenn Crandall, of Woodstock, former owner of local restaurants and a well-acquainted musician, died Thursday, July 12, 2018, at Centegra Hospital-McHenry. He was 66. Glenn was born Oct. 11, 1951, in Elkhorn, Wis., to Lyle “Glenn” and Margaret (Brooks) Crandall. He married Kathleen Woodward on Dec. 29, 1977, in Woodstock. Glenn learned the restaurant trade by starting in the family business, Crandall’s Restaurant in Hebron.  He branched out on his own and opened Rumors Bar & Grill in Hebron. He later opened D.C. Cobb’s in Woodstock and became a fixture in the downtown business district until he retired. In retirement, he was a school bus driver for Woodstock School District 200. From an early age, Glenn was a passionate and

Norman “Rocky” Rauchenecker

Norman “Rocky” Rauchenecker

Norman “Rocky” Rauchenecker, 90, Morris, died July 2, 2018, at Park Pointe Senior Living Center after a battle with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. He was born June 27, 1928, to Ruth Kierland and George Rauchenecker in Chicago. He married Patricia Duffy in 1950. After 57 years together, she preceded him in death in 2007. He attended Kelvyn Park High School, where he played football and was captain of the swim team. He served his country with the U.S. Army, where he spent two years in the Corps of Engineers in Yokohama, Japan, during the occupation. He returned to the U.S. in December 1948 and attended Lake Forest College. He started on the loading dock of New Century Freight Traffic Association

Jack C. Merwin

Jack C. Merwin

Jack C. Merwin, 92, of Grand Junction, Colo., a native of Woodstock, died July 2, 2018. Jack was born in Woodstock to Clifford L. Merwin and Helen M. Boyce on July 9, 1925. He graduated from Woodstock Community High School in 1943. He and Betty Dunning of Woodstock married in February 1945 while he was on leave from the U.S. Army Air Corps. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Illinois, Champaign, in 1954. His first work as a college professor was at Syracuse University. He was also a professor in the School of Education at the University of Minnesota for 36 years, seven of those  as dean of the school. He mentored and advised many American

H. Evalyn (Evelyn) Jarrett

H. Evalyn (Evelyn) Jarrett

H. Evalyn (Evelyn) Jarrett, 72, of Woodstock, died Wednesday, July 4, 2018,  at home while surrounded by family. She was born Nov. 5, 1945, in Rockford, a daughter of the late Floyd and Hazel (Thompson) Sherman. She was adopted by Rev. Cecil and MaryAnn Urch. She was married to Norval “Bud” Jarrett on Nov. 25, 1975, in Woodstock, and he preceded her in death Oct. 24, 2008. She was a medical records coordinator at Hearthstone Senior Living in Woodstock for 22 years before retiring in 2012. She also had worked at Woodstock Die Casting for many years. Evalyn is survived by two daughters, Colleen A. Quinn and Candice L. Prince; five grandchildren, Kristopher Jarrett Radke, Stephanie Evalyn Brown, Adam Jarrett

Ronald D Nunes Sr.

Ronald D Nunes Sr.

Ronald D Nunes Sr., 84, of Woodstock, died June 26, 2018, at Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin after heart surgery. Ronald was born in Jacksonville, and moved to McHenry County in his early teens. He attended Crystal Lake Central High School and married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Tessendorf, on April 19, 1952. She preceded him in death last December after a short illness. Ronald was employed in the trucking industry in McHenry County for his entire life. He was self-employed for many years, owning Nunes Trucking, which hauled sand and gravel. He also assisted his in-laws, Paul and Hazel Tessendorf, on their family farm and did grain hauling for local farmers. He went to work for many years

William W. Morris

William W. Morris, 81, of Woodstock, died Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at his home. He was born Feb. 1, 1937, in Chicago to Eugene Patrick and Ann Theresa (Whalen) Morris. He married Dolores LaBine on Aug. 4, 1962, in Toledo, Ohio. He was a veteran, serving in the Army Airborne, stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. He had owned and operated the X-Cel X-Ray company in Ridgefield for 42 years. His excitement for life was fulfilled by travel with his wife and family around the country and to his homeland of Ireland. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock and served as a lector and minister of hospitality for Sunday Mass. He was a member of the

Nancymay A. Ruffner

Nancymay A. Ruffner (née Johnson), 81, of Woodstock, originally of Chicago, died June 22, 2018. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kenni Joy Alton; a brother, Roy Johnson; her mother, Astrid Turman; and her father, Karl Johnson. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Kenneth Ruffner; two sons Michael (Sheila) Ruffner and  Shawn (Geri) Ruffner; two daughters, Kipton (Merrill) Kirchner and Kendall Morrison; two brothers, Leonard and Harry Graff; four sisters, Barbara Ratliff, Sandra Stevens, Irene Maple, and Shirley Saxinger; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral Mass  at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at St. Patrick Church, Woodstock. Interment will follow in St. Patrick

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