Obituaries

Pearl City

Vicki Lou Stiefel-Lartz, 63

Vicki Lou Stiefel-Lartz, born August 25, 1956 to Wilbur and JoAnn (Gates) Stiefel, passed away at home, after a long and courageous fight with cancer, surrounded by her family on May 10, 2020.

Born in the middle of ten siblings, Vicki grew up in the hills of Apple River where she recalled many fond memories of her mom singing to all of her siblings as they worked together on the farm and were rocked to sleep at night. Vicki graduated from Warren High School in 1974. She was crowned Dairy Princess for the JoDavies County Fair in that same year.

Vicki married Tom Lartz on September 9, 2000. Vicki and Tom farmed together up until her passing.

Together they have six children, ten grandchildren, and two great grandsons. Wil Lartz of Pearl City, IL, Michael (Bex) Brinkmeier (Zizi) of Portland, OR, Kari (Jamie) Scobee (Isabelle, Joseph, and Brianna (Jay) Laupp (Keston)) of Lanark, IL, Sabrina (Andrew) Kauffman (Aurora, Elydia, and Reuben Vic) of Westfield, IN, Jesse (Jill) Lartz (Alex and Jackson) of El Paso, IL, and Beau (Danialle) Lartz (Nora and Emma) of New Lexington, IL.

Vicki was an active member of the Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren in Pearl City, IL. She took charge of vacation Bible school, Christmas pageants, and Sunday school. Vicki also spent time with the Church of the Brethren IL/WI District Youth Group and Cabinet chaperoning retreats and leading service projects.

Vicki spent many summers at Camp Emmaus as a counselor and director. She always felt at home there.

Family was the heart of life for Vicki with Christmas being her favorite holiday. She also enjoyed working outside and always prided herself in her beautiful landscaping of the yard and garden. Vicki enjoyed collecting chicken statues and decor. She also loved having bird feeders around the house to watch the different types of birds come and feed. She loved spending time crafting and sewing.

Vicki is preceded in death by her father, Wilbur Stiefel.

Vicki is survived by her husband, Tom Lartz and her mother, JoAnn Stiefel. Vicki also leaves behind her siblings, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial scholarship to honor Vicki. A memorial for Vicki will be published online in the near future and will be viewable on Facebook and the Law-Jones website. The family will also host an in-person Celebration of Life at a later date.

Lanark

Marcie M. Kruse, 78

Marcie M. Kruse, age 78, of Lanark, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Liberty Village Manor Care in Freeport, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name. Family and friends are invited to share in Marcie's life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Marcie was born December 23, 1941 in Forreston, IL, the daughter of Max and Betty (Smith) McKean. She grew up in the Milledgeville and Lanark areas. On April 11, 1978, Marcie married Darryl Kruse, in Livingston, Montana. Montana became a special place for Marcie and Darryl. Every year they'd travel there, often by motorcycle. Marcie cherished her motorcycle trips with her husband, with whom she celebrated 41 years of marriage, before Darryl's passing.

Marcie's passion in life was that of a wife, mother, and by extension...a cook. Feeding you was one of the ways that she showed her love. In fact, she often operated as though all life's problems could be fixed by a tasty meal, and even tastier desserts, oh and of course coffee! This woman was a real culinary talent. Her family would regularly witness her turning a couple of random items in the refrigerator into a gourmet meal. She was also quite proud of her laundry. That may sound trivial, but much like feeding her family, this was a way she could care for those she loved. She had the whitest whites you'll ever see. The "whiteness" of her towels, many of them nearly 50 years old, could only be described as miraculous.

You don't become a great cook and a magician with the laundry without an immense level of care and devotion. Fittingly, this was exactly how she approached her true passion...her family. She will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many more family and friends. Marcie is preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

It was Marcie's wish to offer a special thank you to the Lanark Fire Dept. As her husband's health, and in turn, her own health deteriorated, the Lanark Fire Dept. was called to their home for assistance, numerous times. The kindness and patience they showed Marcie and Darryl will always be held in high regard by their family.

Hanover

Ronald Louis Petesch, 98

Ronald Louis Petesch, age 98, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 8, 2020 of natural causes.

Ron is survived by his wife of almost 72 years (5/15/48), Lois (Cheney) and by his daughter, Rhonda (Gibbs) of Bloomington, MN. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Matthew (Kate) of Fort Collins, CO, Meghan (Shaen) Inglis of Keller, TX, Jonathan (Renee) of Vail, CO, Patrick (Stephanie) of Arden Hills, MN, and Erin of Jackson, WY; and seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Memphis Mae, Barrett, Isla, Liam, Martin and Josephine.

Ron and Lois, after making their home in Hanover, IL for 62 years, moved to Hopkins, MN in 2014 to be closer to family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mary (Deichelbohrer), brother, Gordon and twin brother Roland; and a sister, Vera, all of Bellevue, IA.

Ron was born and raised in Bellevue. In 1946 he enlisted in the Army, serving in post WWII Occupied Japan from October 1946 to November 1947. He worked briefly at the Savanna Army Depot before buying and operating his own dry-cleaning plant in Elizabeth, IL for 23 years. He “retired” from dry cleaning in July ’76 before serving as Manager of the Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau from July ’76 until retiring in 1992. He also co-owned and operated the Hanover Speedwash with good friend, Larry Eastman from 1960-1983. He and Larry also tried worm farming for a time. Ron also had a rug cleaning business on weekends with friend, Dick Miller.

Ron was an active parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hanover, as well as a Third- and Fourth-Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He was a proud member of the Hanover VFW, serving several terms as Post Commander.

Funeral services were held in Hanover on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Because of the current virus situation, a private family visitation was held at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Saturday morning before an immediate family-only Mass service at St. John’s, with Father Steve Wilbricht Presiding. Interment with military honors were at Evergreen Cemetery. All three services were live-streamed by Law-Jones on Facebook and later posted to the Law-Jones website at http://www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations preferred to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Hanover VFW Post 5300.

Warren

Judith “Judy” A. Dagle, 78

Judith “Judy” A. Dagle, 78, of Warren, IL passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at the Monroe Clinic Hospital.

She was born on June 13, 1941 in Mineral Point, WI to Theodore and Annabell (McKernnan) Weier. Judy married Eugene D. Dagle on October 3, 1959 in Lawton, IA. She worked in production at Eaton in Warren for 15 years, until her retirement in 1985. She was also a home-health aide.

Judy loved music; especially Christian, Western, and Celine Dion, she loved taking vacations with Eugene; North Carolina, Branson, MO, Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, and for a second Honeymoon to Niagara Falls. Judy enjoyed gardening and loved to cook, and she also loved to play Euchre and Word games. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who loved her family.

Judy is survived by her husband of 60 years, Eugene D. Dagle Sr. their children; Arleen Dagle of Warren, IL, Margene Dagle of Warren, IL, Janine Dagle of Liberty, MO, Chris Dagle-Olson of Warren, IL Eric (Kathy) Dagle of Dubuque, IA, Gene (Stephanie) Dagle of Warren, grandchildren; Wendy (Paul) Gray, Jenny (James) Williams, Adam (Nicole) Swift, Jamie (Dena) Dagle, Heathure (Tony) Bouxa, Brad (Lindsey) Schubert, Robbie Risser, Tony (Bobbie) Schubert, Jeremy (Maggie) Schubert, Christopher Dagle, Ashley (Brandon) Hartzell, Alex Flynn, and Autumn Flynn, 21 great-grandchildren, brothers; Jim, Jack, Steve, Bob, Jerry, Nick, Ted, Phil, Ron, and Randy, and a sister Elaine.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Mitchell Dagle on March 17, 2020. Judy has requested that there be no services. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com.

Freeport

Jane L. Julius, 78

Jane L. Julius, age 78 of Freeport, IL, passed away at home on Friday, May 15, 2020.

She was born November 21, 1941 in Stockton, IL; the daughter of the late Alvin and Leola (Buss) Ploeger. She was a 1959 graduate of Stockton High School and attended Illinois State University. Jane married Roger Julius on June 24, 1962.

She was a wonderful and loving wife and mother who also farmed alongside her husband until retiring. She had also worked at Union Savings Bank and was a teacher’s aide at Immanuel Lutheran School of Freeport. She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where she was involved in the Fideles Circle, GEMS, the church choir and played hand bells. She was also a member of several card clubs. Jane enjoyed making cards and collecting silhouettes. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. She was known for her homemade cinnamon rolls she would make for church events. She adored her grandchildren and loved spending time with family and friends, especially going to her children and grandchildren’s events. Anyone that knew her always felt they were a better person having known her.

She is survived by her husband, Roger Julius of Freeport; sons, Steve (Anna) Julius of Freeport, Dan (Penny) Julius of Freeport, Randy Julius of Freeport, and Mark (Cortney) Julius of Benson, IL; 9 grandchildren; brothers, Jerry (Erlys) Ploeger of Loudon, TN and Jim (Jeryl) Ploeger of Mahomet, IL; sister, Sally Fehrle of Belvidere, IL; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father-in-law, Alvin and Grace Julius; and brother-in-law, Ray Fehrle.

A private committal service will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church at a later date. A memorial fund has been established for Immanuel Lutheran Church and School. Condolences may be shared at http://www.walkermortuary.com.