Rita Marie Denham, 98, died June 17, 2017, in Woodstock. She was born March 9, 1919, to Arch and Olive (O’Connell) Peebles at a farm outside Griswold, Iowa. She graduated from Griswold High School and from Nebraska State Teachers College at Peru, Neb., after which she taught grades one to eight in a one-room country schoolhouse near Massena, Iowa. She married Max Denham, the love of her life, Sept. 23, 1944, upon his return from Pearl Harbor. They made their home in Charles City, Iowa, until job transfers took them to Minneapolis in 1971 and then to the Chicago area in 1975. While living in Illinois, Rita was employed by the Kemper Insurance Company, Long Grove. Upon their retirement in 1984 they returned to Charles

ucille Ann “Lucë” Marie (Kempinski) York, 73, died peacefully April 12, 2017, in Waterford, Wis. She was born Dec. 23, 1943, in Sharon, Penn., to Casimir Kempinski and Lucille (Nunkovic) Kempinski. She graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and did post-graduate work in Russian literature at the University of Colorado-Boulder. In 1975, while working at Encyclopedia Britannica in Chicago, she met the love of her life, Richard Charles York, and the two married soon after. Lucë was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for many years, serving at the local and council levels in many capacities. She was a member of the Queen’s Vagabonds Ecumenical Choir and later the Trinity Lutheran Church choir,  in Harvard. She was active

John Ernest Jasper, 77, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Centegra Hospital-McHenry. He was born March 30, 1940, in Detroit, Mich. He was preceded in death by his parents, John C. and Suzanne Jasper. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1958, with a major in electrical engineering.  Shortly thereafter, he was hired as the first police cadet for the Oak Park, Mich., police department, and at age 21 he became an officer on the police force. This prepared him well upon being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1963.  He served as an MP at West Point Military Academy for three years. Upon his discharge in 1966, he returned to Detroit, transitioning back

It is with great sadness that the family of Sheri Yvonne Webster announces her unexpected passing June 14, 2017, at the age of 48. Sheri was full of life and loved all things sparkly. She enjoyed spending time outside planting flowers and getting her lines in the grass straight with the mower. Her love of horses started young, and she enjoyed riding, competing and doing day-to-day care for her horse, Riley. She also loved her old English bulldogs, Duke and Deacon. Sheri cherished time spent with “the girls.” She loved her family very much and would do anything and everything for them. Sheri was a loyal, steadfast and loving wife, mom and Gma. She was so much to so many

Sandi Michelle Bounds, 39, Woodstock, died June 12, 2017, at JourneyCare Hospice, Woodstock. She was born Jan. 9, 1978, to Richard and Susan (Seaton) Bounds Sr. in Chicago. Sandi worked as a reservation manager at U-Haul for several years.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends as well as scrapbooking treasured memories and events. She was a loving daughter, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend, and she will be missed by all who knew her. Survivors include: her parents; a son, Dakota Bounds; her brothers, Richard Bounds Jr., Thomas Seaton and Keith Bounds; her sisters, Candida Slater and Billie Jo Jenkins; her best friend, Deanna; as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and dear friends. She

Anthony James ‘Tony’ Sahs, 51, Woodstock, died Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at JourneyCare Hospice-Woodstock. He was born Sept. 12, 1965, to Wayland and Rosemarie (Green) Sahs in Woodstock. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1983 and went on to attend McHenry County College.  He was employed at Woodstock Diecast and JayDee Concrete and then worked for the city of Woodstock Public Works Department.  Tony served on the Woodstock Fire Department for 27 years.  His family owned the Whitehouse Tavern in Woodstock for more than 50 years.  He was a member of the Woodstock Moose Lodge.  Tony was a proud patriot of our country and made sure to fly the flag in tribute. He was a big sports enthusiast, especially

Dwayne E. Raney, 86, Woodstock, died Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Valley Hi Nursing Home, Woodstock. He was born Nov. 19, 1930, to Knute and Florence (Brott) Raney in Woodstock. On May 2, 1953, he married Geraldine Labenski in Chicago. Dwayne was a veteran, having served in the Army during the Korean War.  He was a member and past commander of Woodstock VFW Post 5040 and Peter Umathum American Legion Post 412. Dwayne also was involved with the city’s parks and recreation department, serving as president and chairman of the youth council.  He also served as secretary for Cub Scout Pack 350.  His passion for more than 50 years was umpiring games for Woodstock Little League and Woodstock Girls Softball. 

Genevieve H. Lucich, 87, Woodstock, died Wednesday June 7, 2017, at her home. She was born Jan. 18, 1930, to Rudolph and Hilda (Olesen) Madsen in Woodstock. On Dec. 1, 1951, she married Robert P. Lucich. Genevieve was a longtime and active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woodstock. She was active on the Altar Guild. She served as secretary of the women’s club at the church. She worked for many years at Elco Hillcrest lampshade factory in Woodstock and served as secretary of the workers union there. She was loved and cherished and will be missed. Survivors include: her children, Ray (Elvyra) Lucich, Tom Lucich , Joe (Wendy) Lucich and Jennifer (Dave) Zoellick; seven grandchildren, Arek (Jori) Lucich, Melissa

James W. Koch, 65, Woodstock, died June 5, 2017, at JourneyCare Hospice-Woodstock. He was born May 13, 1952, to Willard and Ione (Lockwood) Koch in Elgin. On May 1, 1976, he married Lorinda Moore in Woodstock. He worked for USF Holland Trucking for more than 20 years. In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his loving family, especially his grandchildren. Survivors include: his loving wife of 41 years, Lorinda Koch; three children, Jaime (Debra Zappa) Koch, Jeremy (Jessica) Koch, and Courtney (Adam) Lockinger; five grandchildren, Madysen Lockinger, Elysabeth Lockinger, Bailey Koch, Ethan Koch and Maeva Koch; three sisters, Deborah (Alan) Steward, Pamela (Larry) Simonsen and Cynthia (Albert)

Stanley Gerald Gizel Jr., 82, Woodstock, died Sunday, May 21, 2017, at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock. He was born Aug. 1, 1934, to Stanley and Julia (Olinski) Gizel Sr. in Chicago. He worked at Woodstock Die Cast for more than 20 years. He enjoyed entertaining children by performing magic tricks as a clown for birthday parties and playing Santa Claus during the Christmas season. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his loving family. Survivors include: a son, David Gizel; a daughter, Donna (Tracy) Juchcinski; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Gizel; grandchildren, Dave, Mike, Emily, Patrick, Dane, Veronica, Lori, Melissa and Joshua; a brother, Robert (Marcella) Gizel; a sister, Geraldine Costa; and a longtime friend and faithful companion, Joan “Betty” Gibson Schroeder and her