Margaret M. Polnow, 95, Woodstock, died Saturday, May 21, 2016, at Rosewood Care Center, Elgin, surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 26, 1920, to James and Ida (Nieman) Kain in Harvard.  On Sept. 27, 1941, she married the love of her life, Harold A. Polnow, in Harvard. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Woodstock, for more than 60 years. She served as a Sunday school teacher for many years and was awarded the Martin Luther Award for service.  She was a member of the Mary Martha Guild as well as the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She worked at the Woodstock Food Pantry for more than 18 years. She was also active with the Woodstock

Terrence “Terry” Xavier Pirro, 58, Woodstock, died Thursday, May 19, 2016, at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Aug. 19, 1957, to Michael and Josephine (Rosati) Pirro in Evanston.  On Sept. 25, 1982, he married Mary Surovitz at St. Mary Catholic Church, Huntley. He was the proud owner of Pirro’s Restaurant in Woodstock as well as the creator of Pirro’s Sauce. He loved cooking, eating and sharing fine wine, especially when it was in the company of his family and dear friends. He loved cars, fly fishing and music. He was a member of the restaurant association as well as the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. He loved life, living every

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