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Obituaries

Apple River

Karen L. Barth, 69

Karen L. Barth, age 69, of Apple River, IL passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, in Freeport, IL.

She was born on January 1, 1953, in Belvidere, IL to Paul and Luella (Krupke) Barth. She loved helping others and did so by becoming an RN and serving on the Warren ambulance crew.

Karen enjoyed traveling, she took a trip to Switzerland and Ireland as well as many trips to the east coast to see her cousins. She loved her pets, enjoyed reading, watching movies, and visiting with her family.

She is survived by her 3 nieces- Kimberlee (Randy) Vehrs, Micki (Tom) Lipnisky, and Nicolle (Brian) Stratton and sister-in-law Sharon Barth, many cousins, great-nieces and nephews and special friends- Connie Maupin and Deb Eberly.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Barth and many aunts and uncles.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the Bartell-Leamon Funeral Home in Warren, IL. With a visitation being held from 11:00 a.m. until time of service. Officiating the service was Pastor Kevin Cernek. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery in Warren, IL.

A memorial has been established in her memory to local area animal shelter. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com

Lanark

Eva Marie Delp, 95

Eva Maria Delp, age 95, passed away Monday, January 31, 2022 at Oakley Court Assisted Living Center, Freeport. A funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Law-Jones Eastland in Lanark. Burial will be in the Lanark Cemetery. Visitation was held 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2022 at the funeral home, prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Mt. Carroll First Baptist and Oakley Court in Freeport.

Eva Maria Lorenz was born June 29, 1926 in Breslau, Germany which today is Wroclaw, Poland. She attended school in Breslau. In January, 1945 when the Russian invasion was near, Eva and her mother fled to Berchtesgaden, Germany with nothing but a change of clothes. They had no photos, jewelry or school diploma. They could not go back after the war to get anything out of their house.

In Berchtesgaden, Eva worked in a newsstand selling papers and magazines to the United States’ troops. Eva met Earl Delp, Jr and they were married in Berchtesgaden on September 4, 1948. On October 12, 1948 Eva left by herself to New York by plane and then on to Lanark by train. When Earl returned from war, they farmed in Carroll County until Earl’s retirement in 1987 when they moved to Mt. Carroll.

Eva was a homemaker and also worked at the Extension Office and as a program assistant for the Carroll County ASCS office. Eva and Earl were active in Lanark Lions and Lions International and held state offices in Illinois. Eva was a member of the Mt. Carroll Baptist Church, the Baptist Christians Circle, the Mount Carroll Community Club and Home Education Extension Units for whom she gave lessons and held offices.

Eva and Earl have two sons, James (Roberta) Delp of Darlington, Wisconsin and Richard (Debra) Delp of Mount Carroll. Her memory will also be cherished by her four grandchildren, Michael Delp of Madison, WI, Elizabeth (Joshua) Graham of Bernard, Iowa, Sara (Asa) Burbank of Mount Carroll and Benjamen Delp of Mount Carroll; three great-grandchildren, Lily, Gabriel and Harper Graham; and her sister, Marianna Lange in Stuttgart, Germany.

Eva Maria is preceded in death by her husband Earl in 2015; both parents, Herbert and Anna Maria (Kapitschke) Lorenz; and her in-laws, Earl and Edna Delp.

Elizabeth

Donald W. Thoren, 91

Donald W. Thoren, age 91, of Elizabeth, IL, passed away Tuesday, January 25th at Finley Hospital in Dubuque, IA. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in honor of Don. Currently, the family invites all to share in his life and countless memories at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

He was born October 9, 1930, in Freeport, IL to Emmert and Alice (Daacon) Thoren. He attended Stockton schools, graduating from Stockton High School with the class of 1949. During his school years Don was an active member in both the local 4H club and FFA chapter. Once graduated, Don immediately went to work for a local farmer, officially beginning his career that would serve him well for many decades to come.

Donald and Luella (Randecker) Thoren married on June 5, 1955, at Derinda Trinity Lutheran Church. The young couple began their lives farming on shares with a local farmer in the Derinda area. In 1966, they purchased their property in Massbach where they built their forever home and farm. Don was born to be a farmer and poured everything he had into his family, his land and his livestock. He raised hogs and Polled Hereford beef cattle, as well as always had a deep appreciation for Mother Nature and all of God’s creatures.

Don was an active member in this community, serving as a township road commissioner, on Derinda church council and the Jo Daviess County Soil and Water Board. He received the State Conservation Farm Family of the Year Award in 1973. In his younger years Don enjoyed playing fast pitch softball, bowling, fishing and hunting. A favorite of Don’s was his trip to Hawaii and visiting Pearl Harbor. He loved restoring John Deere two cylinders, tinkering in his shop, wood working, welding, was an avid sports fan, enjoyed history and reading to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, brothers John and Robert Huisinga, and sister, Sarah Ilgen. He is forever loved and dearly missed by his wife, Luella, three sons Michael (Brenda), Greg (Janis) and Kelly (Michele). Grandchildren Julia (Ben) Blair, Neil Thoren, Chris (Mollie) Thoren and Jen Thoren. Great-grandchildren Anna Blair, Camille and Madeline Thoren.

Shannon

Vera M. Peterson, 105

Vera Marie Peterson was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Born August 23, 1916 to Carl and Marie (Hart) Toepfer at Massbach in JoDaviess, Co. She attended country school near Pleasant Valley. She worked as a caretaker for Johnnie’s mother and later she worked for a family in Freeport at which time she and John started dating. Vera married John Peterson on September 28, 1939 in Des Moines, IA. Vera was a farm wife and homemaker while raising her seven children. She worked as an aide at Ortez Nursing Home in Lena and later worked at the Villas of Shannon Nursing Home for 22 years as a nurse’s aide. After retiring, she volunteered at Villas of Shannon and helped care for people in their Shannon homes.

In 1986, Vera and John moved to Shannon, remaining there for almost 27 years. They then enjoyed independent living in Freeport Liberty Village before moving to Winn Prairie in 2017 where both Vera and John formed more friendships and received care from thoughtful staff. Vera’s widely-known hobby was quilting. She made quilts for all of her family and for a host of people from the area. Vera was active in the Shannon Woman’s Club, served in various capacities at Ebenezer United Church of Christ, such as Ladies Guild, church board, and as a Sunday School teacher. She has been a member of that church since 1940. Vera and John enjoyed traveling with family and later going on bus tours with friends. Mom was always eager to play card games or scrabble, even if it meant playing scrabble by herself. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles and rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune. Vera’s wit and humor was evident until the very end of her 105 years in this ever-changing world. She continued to challenge her mind in many ways and kept connected with her family even when a pandemic kept visits to virtual chats on the Facebook Portal.

Next to family, Mom’s church was the most important thing to her. Her main focus that she voiced recently was that she hoped that all generations of her family would know Christ as their Saviour. She always had her morning devotions, attended Bible Study, and attended services as long as she was able. Later, she listened to TV ministries and attended virtual church serves. Mom was a Christian example for family and friends.

Vera is survived by her children, Randall (Joyce), Richard (Janet), Ryan (Debbie), Reggie (Linda), Rodney (Nancy), Rita (Randy) Brinkmeier, and Ramona Cruse. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband John of 76 years who died in 2018; a brother Virgil Toepfer; sisters Rosella Quillen, and Marie Brenner; and son-in-law Jerry Cruse.

Funeral service was held at Ebenezer United Church of Christ on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 10am by Pastor Jim Brown. Visitation for family and friends was at Hermann Funeral Home in Pearl City on Sunday, February 6, 2022 from 2pm – 4pm. Memorials in Vera’s name can be made to FHN Hospice. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

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