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Obituaries

Brenda Zange

Brenda Zange. 49, died March 24, 2018, surrounded by her family. Brenda “Red” Zange was born in Woodstock on March 18, 1969, to Melvin and Jean (Mackey) Schneiderman.    She was a loving wife to her husband of 22 years, Kevin Zange, whom she married on Oct. 5, 1995, in Algonquin; and a beautiful mother to her four children, Courtney, Abigail, Kevin Jr., and Alexander. Nothing brought Brenda more joy than spending time with her family. Brenda was employed by Waste Management for 23 years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Woodstock and the Woodstock High School Backers Club. Brenda enjoyed spending time helping to organize events and cheering on her children at their sporting events.

Beatrice Edith Meyer

Beatrice Edith Meyer, 97, Woodstock, died Friday, March 16, 2018, at Hearthstone Manor Nursing Home, Woodstock, surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 20, 1920, in Forfar, Scotland, to Robert and Beatrice (Cox) Byars. On Dec. 25, 1944, she married Roger F. Meyer She was employed for more than 20 years at Oak Industries, Crystal Lake. She also found the time to work many part- time jobs including at Centegra Hospital and Doctor Purdy’s office, Woodstock. She was known as an artist, sketching many things for family and friends. She loved animals, gardening and sewing. She was a dedicated mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was loved and will be missed. Survivors include a son, David (Linda Rizzo) Meyer;

Betty Kayse

Betty Kayse, 62, of Woodstock, died March 8, 2018, at Loyola University Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 3, 1955, in Carlton, Minn., to Melvin and Twyla (Hackensmith) Puotinen. On March 20, 1976, she married Charles Kayse. Betty was a school bus driver for District 200 for many years, which she immensely enjoyed. She loved spending time with her family and friends, playing cards, and watching game shows. Betty was able to make friends anywhere she went and would do anything for anyone in need. Survivors include two daughters, Cristal (Thomas Sr.) McMillan and Cammi (Nicholas Sutton) Kayse; six grandchildren, Holly McMillan, Bryttani, Brandon and Bradley Surma, T.J. McMillan, and Louis Sutton; a nephew, Brian (Crystal)

Woodson “Woody” A. Garrett

Woodson “Woody” A. Garrett

Woodson “Woody” A. Garrett, 78, Woodstock, died Friday, March 9, 2018, surrounded by loving family and friends. He was born Nov. 13, 1939, to Finis and Rosa Annie (Alley) Garrett. On Oct. 20, 1963, he married Carol Okrasinski. Woody loved the outdoors and being on his motorcycle. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association and the International Brotherhood of Motorcycle Campers. He supported his grandkids in all their activities and made it a priority to be at any activity they were involved in. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Beth (Vik) Burg-Krishnan, Woodstock, and Lisle (Nathan) Stalter, Russell; many nieces and nephews; and grandchildren, Abbi, Jason, Nathan and Rebecca. He was preceded in death by a brother, Finis

Laurel Ann Ackerman

Laurel Ann Ackerman, 60, died after a long battle with cancer Sunday, March, 18, 2018, in Woodstock. She was born Sept. 27, 1957, in Elmhurst, to Norman and Olga (Klimchuk) Seidensticker. On Oct. 19, 1980, she married Bruce Ackerman She was passionate about music. She was a multitalented singer and musician and was an accomplished pianist and keyboard player. She played in several bands such as Ghost Ryder, Phidget, and The Rage. She was also a devoted superfan of Spiderman. She had a great dry sense of humor that she shared with everyone. She was a loving mother who was extremely proud of her son, Charles. She will be missed by many family and friends. Survivors included her son, Charles;

Glenn F. Walkington

Glenn F. Walkington, 96, died Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Sandpoint, Idaho. He was born Dec. 31, 1921, in Greenwood, to Howard and Althea (Bumsted) Walkington. On July 2, 1944, he married Sara Tuttle in Greenwood. He worked on the family farm until he was drafted in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army paratroopers. He resumed farming after serving his country. In 1948 he joined his three brothers in hauling milk from local dairy farms. At that time, milk was kept in heavy milk cans. Fortunately for “The Walkington Brothers,” a family business with a 50-year history, bulk tanks became available to farms in 1954. In 1986, Glenn and Sara sold their home in Woodstock, bought an RV, and

Marion Paul Messman

Marion Paul Messman

Marion Paul Messman 94, McHenry, formerly of Woodstock, died Sunday, March 4, 2018, at his home. He was born Oct. 5, 1923, to Fredrick and Louise (Hornung) Messman in Sadorus. In October 1946, he married Grace Thompson. He moved with his family of 11 brothers and sisters to Woodstock when he was 6 years old. He attended Lutheran and public schools in Woodstock before enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 19. He spent most of his time during World War II in the Pacific theater, serving as an engineer. In January 1946, he returned home and met his wartime pen pal, Grace Thompson. They were married in October of that year. During the next 40 years, he worked at Woodstock

William C. Botts

William C. Botts

William C. Botts, 83, Woodstock, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at Centegra Hospital-Huntley with his family by his side. He was born April 16, 1934, to Bernice (Lembcke) Botts in Woodstock. On Oct. 23, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Marlene Elizabeth Schroeder, at Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock. He served in the U.S. Army’s 5th Division in Munich, Germany, from 1954 to 1956. He was a member of the rifle team that finished first in the NATO games held in Cologne, Germany, in 1955. A 1953 graduate of  Woodstock High School, he enjoyed following Blue Streaks sports, especially the two football state championships they won in 1983 (4A) and 1997 (5A). He was an avid fan of Chicago’s

John Stanley Blaine

John Stanley Blaine, 76, Woodstock, died peacefully at his home Thursday, March 8, 2018. He was born Dec. 20, 1941, to Lucille and Curtis Blaine in Oak Park. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1959. He attended both Lincoln College and Culver Stockton College. In 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and specialized as a radarman. During his service, he traveled the world and, most notably, was part of a mission to restore peace and stability during the 1965 civil war of the Dominican Republic. He was honorably discharged in 1967 as petty officer third class. After returning home, he began working for UPS and remained a dedicated employee for 29 years. He was a devout father, set

Ruth Mary Ann Sullivan

Ruth Mary Ann Sullivan, 88, Wonder Lake, died Feb. 23, 2018, at Bickford Assisted Living, Crystal Lake. She was born May 22, 1929, in Chicago, to Richard and Marian (Shmerling) Kleeman. On July 16, 1949, she married Donald B. Sullivan at the Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Chicago. She was an avid gardener, loved mowing the grass and working in her yard. She also loved knitting, cooking, sewing, and working on jigsaw puzzles. Family was very important to Ruth because, after the death of her parents, she and her sister Ellen lived in the St. Joseph Orphanage in Michigan until they graduated from high school. She went to work as a secretary in Chicago. She also worked in the bookstore

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