Joseph Laurence McCormack, 90, died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, surrounded by his loving and grateful family.  He was born June 11, 1926, in Chicago to Luke Patrick McCormack and Cecelia Marie Suprenant. He attended Resurrection parish and grade school on the west side of Chicago. He accelerated his studies and graduated early from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago so he could enlist in the Army Air Corp during World War II. He trained as a tail gunner on the B-29 Super Fortress bomber; thankfully, the war ended just as he was to be deployed. Following the war, Joseph graduated from Loyola University and Loyola Dental School and was an active member of the Chicago Dental Society. He opened his

Steve Allen Butcher, 64, Wonder Lake, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at Centegra Hospital-McHenry. He was born Feb. 26, 1952, to Harold E. and Elizabeth (Wise) Butcher in Columbus, Ohio.   In 1986 he married Catherine B. Shaw. Steve enjoyed his family, motorcycles and cars. He was a friend to many and a stranger to few. Survivors include his wife, Cathy; three children, Charity M. (Demetrius) Brooks, Cindy (Nathan) Vandiver and Steve (Megan) Butcher Jr.; five grandchildren, Zachery and C.J. Nay, Preston Butcher, and Makalah and Colin McManus; eight siblings, Clifford, Larry, Stanley and Harold Little, Beverly Jornd, Darlene Gray, Brenda Pigott and Sheila Beard; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and

Dianne Lynn Howard, 65, Rock Falls, formerly of Woodstock, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, at Presence Holy Family Medical Center, Des Plaines. She was born Oct. 28, 1951, to Frank and Violet (Glawe) Schiller in Elgin.   She married Craig Howard. Dianne graduated from Woodstock High School and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. She moved to Rock Falls in 2000. Her pride and joy was her Chihuahua “Moose,” and she truly enjoyed spending time with her grandson, Dacoda.  She had been employed as a CNA. Survivors include her husband; a son, Scott (Carla) Howard; a daughter, Christal Howard; a grandson, Dacoda Howard; and a sister, Louise Burg. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son,

Alexa P. Feezel, 79, Woodstock, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at JourneyCare Hospice Center, Woodstock. She was born Dec. 1, 1937, to Otto and Pearl (Hoeft) Wirth, in Chetek, Wis.  On July 2, 1955, she married Floyd Feezel in Greenwood. She and her husband operated Floyd’s Cleaning Service for more than 40 years. She was a kind-hearted soul who did anything for anybody if she was able. She loved being with her loving family, cooking and spending holidays and birthdays with them. She loved to play bingo and poker and was known to be a good jokester. She was loved and will be dearly missed. Survivors include a son, Blaine (Brenda) Feezel; three daughters, Debra (Lawrence) Feezel Nichols, Dawn (Adelfo)

Edmund “Bud“ Matthew Hayden Jr., 81, formerly of Woodstock, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at his home on Siesta Key, Florida.  He was born Sept. 8, 1935, to Pauline Wensch Hayden and Edmund Matthew Hayden in Manhattan. He was founder and owner of Edmund M. Hayden Inc., a nationally recognized, award-winning commercial landscape construction firm, which operated in the Chicago metropolitan area. Survivors include his loving wife of 31 years, Dlorah Rud Hayden; two stepsons, Matthew (Kim) Stone and Mark Stone; four grandchildren, Autumn, Zachary, Paiton and Zoe Stone; a sister, Patricia Barnes; two nephews, Eric and Steven Barnes; a niece, Kathleen Daniel; two  great-nephews, Sean and Paul Daniel; a great-niece, Christina Daniel; and children from his previous marriage, Julie,

Mary Beth Halvey, 67, Woodstock, died peacefully at her home Monday, Jan. 9, with family and friends present.  She was born Oct. 17, 1949, to Irene (Iverson) and Charles Jusits in Chicago. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert J. Halvey Jr., Oct. 27, 1969, at St. Edward Church, Chicago. She was a manager at Bankers Life & Casualty Insurance Company, Chicago, and retired from Home State Bank, Crystal Lake.  Mary had a special passion for angels, Celtic Thunder, the Chicago Cubs and lighthouses. Later in life, she and Robert enjoyed camping with family and friends. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Robert; three children, Kira, Timothy (Amber) and Michael Halvey; three grandchildren; a brother, Steve Jusits;

Paul H. Kruse, 95, Woodstock, died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, at Valley Hi Nursing Home. He was born on a farm in Addison to Edward and Ella (Fiene) Kruse.   On Jan. 19, 1946, he married Carol Hachmeister . He farmed in Addison where he was also the fire chief. They moved to Woodstock Dec. 13, 1958. He served as the church chairman, treasurer and elder. He also played darts for the church. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, Pork Producers, Extension Council and Livestock Association. He and Carol took many trips with the Livestock Association throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Survivors include his loving wife of 70 years, Carol Kruse; his children, Charles (Karen) Kruse,

Violet L. Bogard, 87, Elgin, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Advocate Sherman Hospital, Elgin. She was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Manitowoc, Wis., to Herbert and Henrietta (Krause) Wagner.   On Sept. 10, 1949, she married Harry C. Bogard . Violet was a very active member of  Zion Lutheran Church, Elgin. In her early married life, she worked by her husband’s side on the farm. After his passing at an early age, Violet raised their three children on her own. She was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Janesville. She enjoyed sewing and making baby quilts. She loved caning and cooking and was known for her famous rolls. Survivors include two sons, Harry C. Bogard and William Bogard;

Nancy Hahn Fischer, formerly of Woodstock, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at The Leaves Christian Science Nursing Facility, Richardson, Texas.  She was born in Chicago and graduated valedictorian from Woodstock High School in 1957. A member of the Kappa Delta sorority of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she graduated valedictorian from Coe College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and music.  She went on to teach English at Barrington High School, Barrington. It was at this time she met her husband, Noel Fischer. Their marriage of 52 years was founded upon a strong commitment to Christian Science. Nancy and Noel moved to Boston in 1968 where Nancy worked as an advertising representative at the Christian Science

Wayne R. Thiede, 63, Marengo, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, after a battle with cancer, with his loving family by his side. He was born Jan. 11, 1953, in Melrose Park to Clarence and Bonita Thiede. He was married to his true companion and loving wife, Marge Thiede, for 45 wonderful years. Wayne worked for Meyer/Aggregate for many years. He was a hard worker with a strong ethic for doing things the right way. He loved classic cars “only Chevys”, good music and quality time with family and friends. He will always be remembered for his great sense of humor and his joy of life. He is survived by his wife, Marge Thiede; his son Shawn (Sarah) Thiede; and his