Patricia Lynne Auvenshine, 75, died unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, at Centegra Hospital- Huntley. She was born Dec. 10, 1942, to Herbert and Winifred Clarkson in Chicago. She loved people. She was always smiling and spent much of her life working in the hospitality industry. Retirement did not slow her down as she was involved with volunteering for many organizations including the Woodstock Ballet Studio, BraveHearts and the Community Resale Shop. She was a lifelong learner and never afraid of a challenge. She enjoyed animals, riding motorcycles and walking in the woods, but most of all she loved spending time with her family. Survivors include a daughter, Kim (Randy) McLaughlin; two sons, Jim (Carie) Auvenshine and Brad (Sue) Auvenshine; grandchildren,

James Lee Knudsen, 82, Woodstock, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at Centegra Hospital-Huntley. He was born June 20, 1935, to Morris and Emma Knudsen in Wolbach, NE. On June 23, 1956, he married Lorraine Fischer in Woodstock. Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kenneth (Diane) Knudsen, David Knudsen and Gene (Mary) Knudsen; a daughter, Sherry (Mark) Thrun; six grandchildren, Pamela Burton, Patrick (Ashlee) and Christina (Chris) Knudsen, Xavier Thrun and Kyle and Kelly Knudsen; a brother, Ray (Roseann) Knudsen; and two sisters, Betty Ann Lillie and Dorothy Whitt. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John Knudsen. Services were private. Arrangements were made by Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock.

Melinda Louise Farrell Rudick, 66, McCrory and Mountain View, AR, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, surrounded by her family at home. She was born May 30, 1951,  to James and Marion Fish Farrell in Woodstock. On July 6, 1971, she married Cecil Rudick. She graduated from Marian Central Catholic High and was employed by Illinois Bell for 11 years prior to moving to Arkansas. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was owner of Rudick Hunting and Dog Supply. She was secretary/treasurer for the Arkansas Coon Hunters Association and wrote articles for the American Cooner Magazine. She was influential in the coon hunting sport, where she was a show judge in U.K.C., A.K.C. and P.K.C. License Bench. 

Joseph G. Graham Jr., 59, Woodstock, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, at Centegra-McHenry Hospital He was born Sept. 19, 1958, to Joseph G. Sr. and Margaret (Miller) Graham in Freeport. On Oct. 26, 1991, he married Emma Delpino in Woodstock. He worked as a probation officer for the McHenry County Sheriff’s office for 28 years. He loved sports, especially following the Chicago Bears. He was an avid reader and a member of a book club. He especially enjoyed history and anything related to Abraham Lincoln. He was loved and will be missed. Survivors include his wife; his father; two sons, John (Laura) Caccamo Jr. and James (Amy) Caccamo; five grandchildren, Kyle, Lexi, Haylee, Kayla and Anthony Caccamo; and a sister,

Jacqueline Louise Sara, 57, Woodstock, died suddenly Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. She was born in Patchogue, NY. She graduated from Harborfields High School, Greenlawn, NY, and later Valley Forge Christian College, Phoenixville, PA, with a Bachelor of Religious Education. She earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She worked for many years as a special education job coach, music teacher and teacher of young children at North Port Baptist Church, Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle and Hearthstone Early Learning Center, as kids were a joy and passion in her life. She always was active in church activities and loved singing and traveling. She did both of those through her college years at Valley Forge as well as recently, as she and her

Joanne Marie Peterson Johnson, 91, Woodstock, died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, at her home. She was born Nov. 29, 1926, to Raymond and Lillie (Bloom) Peterson in Rockford. On Dec. 22, 1950, she married Donald R. Johnson. Survivors include her husband; daughters, Dianne Johnson Wagner and Ellen (Chris) Johnson Dahm; grandchildren, Matt Gummerson, Jennifer (Kyle) Dahm Oliver, Philip (Kristen) Dahm, Bryan Dahm and Paul Vivirito; and great-grandchildren, Lily and Regan Oliver and Gavin and Madeline Dahm. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Nancy Johnson Anders and Patricia Johnson Vivirito; and her parents. Services were private. Arrangements were made by Davenport Family Funeral Home.

Roger D. Close, 80, Woodstock, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at JourneyCare Hospice, Woodstock. He was born Nov. 13, 1937, in Fort Wayne, IN, to Charles and Marge (Cook) Close. On Sept. 5,1958, he married Phyllis Sherman in Fort Wayne, IN. He earned his jet aircraft and engine license at Chanute AirForce Technical School. He worked for Delta Airlines, Borg Warner Research Center, Packer Engineering and retired from ITW. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, canoeing, sailing and camping, from tents to trailers to “Close Enough 2 Camping” motor home. He traveled to every state and loved to go on cruises. His greatest passion was woodworking. He was an all- around “Mr.Fix-it.”  He was a member and volunteer at the Woodstock Moose

Margaret Phillips Steinam, M.D., 94, Mequon, WI, formerly of Woodstock, died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. She was born June 30, 1923. “Maggie” or “Speed” or “Sprouty,” as she was known to family and friends, was a true Renaissance woman, accomplishing much in her lifetime. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she spent a brief period as the Dean of Women at Iowa, then went on to nursing school at the University of Minnesota. Still feeling she could accomplish more, she attended medical school at Northwestern University, where she also completed her residency in internal medicine. She and her husband, Ed, moved to Woodstock, where she had a very successful medical practice. In addition to her academic pursuits, she was

Rory Robert Semrau, 53, McHenry, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 13, 1964, to Walter Semrau and Dianne Kay Rush in Woodstock. He was a carpenter by trade who took pride in his work. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and any other outdoor activities. Survivors include his parents, Diane Kay and Mark Rush; a brother, Patrick (Christina) Rush; sons, David (Jessica) Helmeid and Ryan Robert Semrau; grandparents, Jim and Rita Valley; grandchildren, Emmaline and Xavier; nieces Breanna and Kayla; and aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father; grandmothers, Dorothy Semrau and Zenith Vela; an uncle, Patrick Vermett; a cousin, Bobby; and

Craig A. Nulle, 68, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, in Anaheim, CA. He graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1967. He earned two master’s degrees in history and accounting, and was employed as a revenue agent for the Internal Revenue Service for 31 years prior to his retirement. Survivors include his mother, Patricia Herrod; a brother, Douglas Nulle, Nevada; half-brothers, James Herrod, Texas, Glenn Nulle, Nevada, and Bruce Nulle, Illinois; and a half-sister, Ruth Nulle-Hoxie, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry A Nulle; and grandparents, Henry and Ora Nulle, and Harry and Nelle Lipe. Services were held Dec. 2 at Buena Park Chapel, Buena Park, CA.