Kenneth W. Kortemeier, 92, Rockford, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016. He was born Feb. 1, 1924, to Ida and William Kortemeier, on a farm in Lancaster Township northeast of Freeport. On May 13, 1950, he married Ruth Hayes. He graduated from North Central College, Naperville, in 1949 and from Evangelical Theological Seminary – now Garrett Seminary – in 1952. He and his wife served Evangelical United Brethren and United Methodist churches in Hooppole, Mt. Carmel, Dixon, Batavia, Palos Heights and Rockford, as well as participating in summer pastor exchanges in Weston-super-Mare and Withernsea, England. He retired in 1989, and he and Ruth lived in Rockford. They were members of Christ United Methodist Church, and he was active in Rockford Urban

John “Jack” Russell Whitney, 71, died suddenly Thursday, May 12, 2016, at his home in Woodstock. He was born Oct. 11, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a decorated Army officer, highly awarded architect, successful financial advisor, gifted orator and a truly exemplary husband, father and grandfather. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. Survivors include his wife, Ann Rosenbaum; two children, Loren and Andrew Whitney; and five grandchildren, Aidan, Evan, Oliver, Taylor and Schmoo, A gathering of friends and relatives will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 19, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson St., Woodstock, until the funeral Mass at noon. Memorial donations can be made to the Hooved Animal Humane Society. https://www.hahs.org/

Timothy R. Butcher, 45, Huntley, died suddenly Friday, May 6, 2016, at his home.  He was born Aug. 22, 1970, to Donald W. and Joyce E. (Jones) Butcher in Aledo.  On May 25, 2002, he married Anne K. Yuen in Barrington. He was raised and educated in Aledo and graduated from Aledo High School in 1988. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three years before transferring to the Army National Guard. He then graduated magna cum laude from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.  After marrying, he and his wife lived in Wheaton and later lived in Blaine, Minn., before moving to Huntley in 2008.  He was employed at Wells Fargo Advisors, Woodstock.  He

Debbra J. Spitzbart, 63, died April 5, 2016.  A celebration of her life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the Woodstock Opera House. There will be a short service at 1:30 in the community room. To keep her spirit alive and share her passion for reading, books for children and young adult books will be collected at the memorial and at Read Between the Lynes Bookstore for donation to The Book Bridge. Arrangements were made by Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock.  

Margaret Brand, 90, Wonder Lake, died Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Lexington of Lake Zurich. She was born Sept. 30, 1925, to John and Annie Johnson in Chicago.  On Dec. 2, 1944, she married Arthur Brand in Chicago.  She was a caring mother, loving grandmother and doting great-grandmother.  Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Brand; two brothers, Alvin Johnson, Lombard, and Paul Johnson, Gautier, Miss.; a son-in-law, Jack Hansen; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a daughter, Janine Ellen Hansen.  Services were private. Interment was May 10 at Woodland Cemetery, McHenry. Arrangements were made by Justen’s Wonder Lake Funeral Home.

Daniel Michael Grant, 65, Sycamore, died peacefully in his home Sunday, May 1, 2016, in the presence of his loving family.  He was born March 5, 1951, to Anthony and Mary (Dever) Grant in Franklin Park.  A man of strong Catholic faith, he attended St. Gertrude Elementary School. He graduated in 1969 from Woodstock High School where he met some of his dearest lifelong friends. He went on to major in marketing at Northern Illinois University. After a successful career in sales and sales management for Burroughs Corporation, Shared Medical Systems and XA Systems, he launched Sales Consultants of Western McHenry County, later called The McHenry Group, in 1991.  He was a dedicated sports fan, golfer and bowler. What he

Scott H. Denman, 60, Woodstock, died unexpectedly April 17, 2016.  He was born Feb. 28, 1956, to Raymond and Elizabeth (Myers) Denman in Syracuse, N.Y. On Oct. 6, 1984, he married Denise Marie Gahl.  He graduated from Jamesville-DeWitt High School in 1974. He moved from Jamesville, N.Y., to Woodstock in 1980. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from DeVry Institute of Technology in February 1989. He was an application technician in the project execution group at Linde LLC for 27 years.  He was a God-fearing man who loved to travel, and he loved sports. His greatest joy was spending time with his family.  Survivors include his wife; three sons, Caleb (Samantha), Luke and Aaron; two puppies, Bailey

Ann Martha Kuziel, 93, Wonder Lake, died Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Centegra Hospital-McHenry.  She was born May 8, 1922, to Frank and Johanna Primozich in Chicago.  On June 10, 1944, she married John W. Kuziel at St. Stephen Church in Chicago. Formerly of Stickney, she was a summer resident of Wonder Lake in 1976 and became a year-round resident in 1978. She worked in retail women’s apparel for Goldberg Clothing in Chicago and later was employed by the Federal Reserve in Chicago for more than 20 years. She enjoyed volunteering at the Greenwood Elementary School library and looked forward to gathering with family for Sunday dinners. Survivors include three children, John (Polly) Kuziel, David (Susan) Kuziel and Jennifer (Dave)