Obituaries

Elizabeth

Beverly Ellen Dittmar, 79

Beverly Ellen Dittmar of Freeport, previously of Elizabeth, Illinois passed away on Saturday August 15, 2020 at Manor Court Nursing Center, Freeport, Illinois. A private funeral service will be held with Pastor Roger Bokkema of the Elizabeth United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in the Elizabeth Cemetery. Memorials may be made in her name to the Friends Forever Humane Society, Freeport, or to the Elizabeth First Methodist Church, Elizabeth. Family and friends are invited to share in Beverly’s life at http://www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Beverly was the daughter of Ward G. and Araminta I. (Reed) Dittmar. She was born at home in Elizabeth on her mother’s birthday, May 27th, 1941.She graduated from Elizabeth High School, with the Class of 1959. Beverly was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth and was a member of Friends Forever Humane Society in Freeport.

Beverly’s first job right out of high school was a stenographer at Burgess Battery Company. She then worked in the recruiting department, traveling all over for Crum & Forster Ins. Cos. Beverly eventually retired from Micro Switch after 25 years as a Customer Service Specialist.

Beverly loved the outdoors, hiking and backpacking the Rocky Mountains near Aspen with her brother Ward. She was a conscientious, energetic, loving person, who followed through on her words. She dearly loved her cats, they were precious to her. Being an Aunt was one of her most favorite things, as she loved taking her nephew Ben swimming, feeding the ducks, and to the Madison Zoo.

Beverly is survived by her brother Ward (Susan) Dittmar of German Valley; nephew Ben (Krysta) Dittmar of Normal; and great nieces Paige Lynn Dittmar and Khloe Jayne Dittmar of Normal. She is also survived by her cousin and close friend Jeneile (Greg) Haas of Elizabeth and numerous other cousins. She is preceded in death by both parents, brother Gary Dittmar in 2010, and sister-in-law Helen Dittmar.

Lanark

Esther M. Martin, 85

Esther M. Martin, age 85, of Tipton, Iowa, previously of Lanark, Illinois, passed Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the Cedar Manor Nursing Center, Tipton, Iowa. A funeral service was held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020 at the Mt. Carroll Church of God, Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Visitation was held one hour prior to the service from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. A memorial fund has been established. Family and friends are invited to share in Esther’s life at http://www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Esther was born October 20, 1934, in Neshola County, Mississippi, the daughter of Covert and Esther Pauline (Talbert) Lundy. On July 2, 1960 Esther married Glenn Martin in Douglas, Georgia. They celebrated 51 years of marriage until Glenn’s passing. She was a member of the Church of God in Mt. Carroll.

Esther was a homemaker for many years. To keep busy, she opened her own beauty shop in 1976, and worked there until she retired. She enjoyed traveling and cooking. She liked to sew and knit.

Esther will be dearly missed by her son Timothy Martin of Davenport, Iowa; her daughter Karen (Greg) Bondele of Monroe, Wisconsin; 4 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two brothers, C. A. Lundy of Rockford, Illinois and Reverend Jerry Lundy of Louisville, Mississippi; and a sister Helen Barber of Madison, Mississippi. Esther is preceded in death by her husband, parents, daughter Glenda, and two sisters, Thelma and Bernice.

Lena

Linda Lou Pitts, 71

Linda Lou Pitts, age 71 of Lena, IL passed away Monday, August 17, 2020.

She was born on April 5, 1949 in Sterling, IL to the late George and Hilda (Mackenbach) Hines. Linda married Larry Pitts on February 25, 1967.

She was a graduate of Milledgeville High School. Linda was a member of the Eagles Club and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. She had worked as a clerk for the Stephenson County Jail for 18 years. She had also worked for Economy Insurance, K-Mart, the Sale Barn in Winslow and most recently as a clerk for Pitts Drywall. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. Linda enjoyed shopping, hunting, fishing, traveling and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Pitts of Lena; her daughter, Lynette (Jeffrey) Jordan of Freeport; her son, Leonard (Jennifer) Pitts of Pearl City; her grandchildren, Ashley (Mike) McKinney, Dana Jordan, Madison Pitts and Cody Pitts; her great granddaughter, Everly McKinney; her sisters, Nancy (Mike) Schmidt of Milledgeville and Cindy (Bill) Nicholson of Mt. Morris; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The funeral service was held on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Hermann Funeral Home in Pearl City. There was a visitation before the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will take place at a later date at Highland Cemetery in Pearl City. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Hanover

Michael A. Fobber, 53

Michael A. Fobber, age 53, of Hanover, IL passed away in his home, Monday, August 17, 2020. A memorial service was held Saturday, August, 22, 2020 at 3pm, at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Hanover. Visitation took place from 2pm until 3pm. Family and friends are invited to share in Michael’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Michael was born April 24, 1967, in Freeport, IL, the son of G. Scott and Mary (Zeal) Fobber. He attended Hanover schools, graduating from Hanover High School with the class of 1986. After high school, Michael had a brief stint in the Marines, then worked multiple factory jobs over the years. More recently, Michael found his calling. His passion for helping those with mental disabilities was put to good use at Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa, Inc., Dubuque Mission Services, where he worked as a caregiver.

Michael was a private man who mostly kept to himself, but he enjoyed sports and travelling when he had the opportunity. One of the happiest periods of his life was a three-week trip, travelling the western United States, most notably, the Rocky Mountains.

Michael is survived by his mother, Mary (Betty Kundert) Fobber, of Hanover, IL; three stepsons, Marcelo Diaz, Kaeshawn Diaz, and Joseph Diaz; two sisters, Connie (Alvin) Robertson, of Brighton, MI, and Lisa (Todd) Bonar, of Summerville, SC; as well as many extended family members. Michael is preceded in death by his father, G. Scott Fobber, and grandparents, Harley and Eileen Zeal, Jesse and Jane Fobber, and Ivalene Barker.

Alfred Patrick “Pat” Wild, 78

Alfred Patrick “Pat” Wild, and his unforgettable mustache, of Hanover, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2020 peacefully at home in the care of his loving family. A Funeral Mass was held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hanover. Visitation was one hour prior to the Mass from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Hanover. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery with full military rites. Family and friends are invited to share in Pat’s life at http://www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Pat was born March 17, 1942, in Stockton, Illinois, the son of Hans and Margaret (Barron) Wild. He attended Hanover Schools and grew up working on the family farm. He enlisted in the US Army in 1961, serving at Fort Carson, Colorado where he enjoyed hunting in his spare time. On December 3, 1966, Pat married DeeAnna Bettcher. They raised a daughter near Hanover and celebrated 53 years of marriage.

As a young man, Pat worked on the Railroad in Clinton, Iowa with his brothers. He was a farmer, drove a truck, worked several years as a carpenter, and a heavy equipment operator for Local 150. He loved landscaping with his bulldozer. Pat enjoyed Euchre Club and working on old tractors. He was proud of building his own home.

Pat appreciated the “old way of doing things” and the good friendships he made as he helped organize thresher shows near Hanover. Pat’s “wild” side showed as he liked hunting rattlesnakes in South Dakota with his nephews, and racing motorcycles in younger years. He was an adventurer, whether he was on the Mississippi or riding in a rodeo. He was the type of person that when you met him, you would never forget him. You might find Pat repeating his favorite John Wayne quote, or even listening to classical music like Pavarotti.

Pat will be dearly missed by his wife DeeAnna Wild of Hanover; his daughter, Dina (fiancé Charlie Henkins) Wild of Hanover; one granddaughter, Shaylee Wild; his brother Herman Wild of Hanover; three sisters, Alberta Wild, Nellie (Nick) Bainbridge, and Donna Eadie, all of Hanover; four sisters-in-law, Lynn Wild and Bev Paisley, both of Stockton, Mary Wild of Hanover and Carol Palmer of South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews. Pat is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Fred, William, Michael, Tom, and John (Sally) Wild; two sisters, Mary Wild and Margaret (Dale) Service; and two other brothers-in-law, Lynn Eadie and Jerry Palmer.