Obituaries

Orangeville

Wendy Lee Broge, 61

Wendy Lee Broge, age 61, of Orangeville, IL passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, October 30, 2023, at SSM St. Mary’s in Madison, WI. She was born on August 19, 1962, in Freeport, IL to Paul and Bonnie (Smythe) Viel. She was a 1980 graduate of Lena-Winslow High School where she participated in various activities and had numerous awards such as French Club, Art, Math Contests, Prom Committee, SAE, SACC, Health Occupations Student Organization President and Outstanding student for Health Care, and Panthera Staff.

Wendy met the love of her life, Dale Broge, her Senior year, much to the dismay of her mother and teachers they dated. They went on to get married August 14, 1982, at St. Ann’s in Warren, IL. After they got married, they spent the next few years traveling and living life together. In 1987 they had started their own little family with the birth of their first son Kyle Matthew in Monroe, WI. They completed their family with son Jacob Cole in November 1990.

Wendy loved cooking and trying new recipes for friends and family to taste test. If you knew her, you know Wendy would never deviate from the recipe. She would often come home from work with new recipes to try. On Sundays she would bake goodies for her family and Pomps family to enjoy for the following week. Everyone would look forward to the delicious goodies. When she wasn’t cooking or baking you would find her in front of the TV either watching her beloved Denver Broncos, crime dramas, Judge Judy, and health care dramas or taking care of, cuddling with, walking, and spoiling their little face-licker, Muffy.

She is survived by her husband Dale Broge; two children- Kyle (Shrea Saha) Broge of Denver, Jacob (Nicole) Broge of Oakland, FL; 4 grandchildren- Elyas and Nathan, Cecilia, and Ava; mother- Bonnie Smythe; Aunt- Gloria (Kevin) Harms; Uncle- Roger (Barb) Viel; numerous cousins, in-laws, extended family, and friends.

Wendy is preceded in death by her father-Paul Viel; brother-Scott Viel; stepmother- Judy Viel and stepfather- David Smythe.

A visitation will take place on Wednesday November 8, 2023, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Leamons Funeral Home in Lena. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquanis Church in Freeport. Father Peter Snieg will be officiating the services. Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask for donations to be made to the food pantry that Wendy loved giving to, Freeport Area Church Cooperative at facc-freeport.org

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

Freeport

Monna Mae (Stubby) Shippy, 90

Monna Mae (Stubbe) Shippy, 90, of Freeport, IL passed away peacefully Friday, October 27, 2023, at Manor Court after a lengthy battle with cancer. Monna Mae was born on the Winslow family farm August 10, 1933, to Evelyn (Jonas) Stubbe and Carl H. Stubbe. Monna attended country school and graduated from Winslow High School in 1951. She met the love of her life, George Shippy, while attending a dance with her parents in Monroe, Wisconsin. Their early married years were spent raising their four children on the Stubbe family farm near Winslow. In 1965 they purchased a farm at Orangeville. In later years, the farm was sold, and they moved into their final home in Orangeville. After George’s passing in 2012, Monna moved to Freeport and lived her last four years at Liberty Estates.

Monna worked many years in Freeport for Security Life Insurance Company and Economy Fire and Casualty Insurance Company. She was a member of Orangeville United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She helped with the many church bazaars, luncheon committees, taught Bible School, and always a willing worker whenever needed. When her husband was active in the Orangeville Fire Department, she was a member of the Women’s Firemen’s Auxiliary and contributed many hours to the Orangeville Firemen’s Festival.

Monna was preceded in death by her husband, George, Parents, stepson, Stephen, great grandson, Deacon Eberle, and brother, Theodore Stubbe. She is survived by daughters, Shirley (James) Obert, Cathy (Terry) Eberle, and Sandra (Chris Zimmerman) Murrell, grandchildren, Jessica (Darin) Stykel, Joshua (Amy) Obert, Stephanie McMeekan, Ross (Cathy) Eberle, Julianne (Scott) Stewart, Melissa Rackow, and Sarah (Jeff) Siler, great grandchildren, Cole and Ty Stykel, Jemma, Jameson, and Jones Obert, Cayden Stewart, Bristol and Rorie Siler, Sister-in-law, Jean Meinert, and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 25 at the Orangeville United Methodist Church from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am with Rev. Roger Bronkema officiating. Burial will be at Afolkey Cemetery. Cremation rites have been accorded.

A memorial has been established in her name. Private condolences and online guestbook https://www.schwarzfh.com/obituary/monna-shippy

Lena

Joanne Strobehn, 82

Joanne Strobehn, age 82 of Lena, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Joanne was born on April 26, 1941, in Chicago, IL, to George and Grace (Werdell) Schreier.

She married George Strobehn on January 23, 1960, in Chicago, IL. George and Joanne moved to Simi Valley, CA where Joanne raised her family and was a carrier supervisor for the Enterprise newspaper for many years. After retirement they moved to Lena in 2006. She had a love for both cats and dogs and rescued Golden Retrievers for many years. Her hobbies included both quilting and sewing and she was an avid Chicago Cubs Fan. Making Christmas cookies was always one of her favorite family traditions. Her great-grandchildren were the most special to her.

Joanne is survived by her daughter Gale Strobehn of Lena; son Dan (Karen) Strobehn of Garden Grove, CA; 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; sister- Georgette Schreier of Winslow, IL; 3 sisters-in-law- Pat Polizzi, Diane (Bob) Schutz, and Janet (Dave) Balenski.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George; son Timothy; sister Teresa Schreier; 2 brothers-in-law - Tom and John Strobehn; 2 sisters-in-law - Joanne Beam and Carol Lara.

A Private Family Celebration of Life to be held. Interment will take place at the Lena Burial Park.

A memorial has been established in her name. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com

Merton G. Holland, 82

Merton G. Holland age 82, of Lena passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at SSM Health Monroe Hospital. He was born on October 7, 1941, in Jo Daviess County, the son of Paul and Lola (Bunker) Holland. Shortly after graduating High School, he got a job with Gantts where he met Sharon Koch. Sharon and Merton were married on August 12, 1962, at Lena United Methodist Church. Merton was employed at Kelly Springfield for 37 years, where he held various positions throughout his time there.

In his younger years, Mert enjoyed bowling and going out dancing with his wife Sharon. He also enjoyed camping and traveling with his family and friends. Motorcycling was something him and Sharon did together and with friends also. In retirement years they enjoyed summers at Apple Canyon Lake camping, boating and fishing and winters in Florida with his brothers. Most of all Mert loved spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his two children Robert Holland of Freeport, IL, and Barbara (Heath) Harbach of Warren, IL; seven grandchildren- Kaylene (Zach) Borgmann, Chase (Johanna) Holland, Blake Holland, Shane (Sarah) Harbach, Cody (Danesa) Harbach, Chelsea (Melissa Goodwin) Harbach, Analiesa Harbach; ten great-grandchildren with two more on the way; two siblings- Haldean (Lyn) Holland and Malinda Bolen; numerous nieces and nephews.

Merton was preceded in death by his parents; wife Sharon; three siblings- Roumaine Holland, Waynette (Jim) Costello, and Madalene in infancy.

A private family service will be held. Burial will take place at Lena Burial Park.

A memorial has been established in his name. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.Leamonfh.com

Stockton

Heinz Albert Zueger, 91

Heinz Albert Zueger, age 91, of Stockton, IL passed away Saturday, October 28, 2023, at home. He was born in Haggenschwil, Switzerland on October 18, 1932, to the late Anton and Paula Sager Zueger. He was the second eldest of ten children. Heinz came to the United States on October 1, 1953, not knowing a word of English to see what America had to offer.

Heinz was a butcher by trade and soon went to work at a butcher shop in Juda, WI. It didn’t take long for Heinz to find that America had much to offer, he met his one true love, Irma Anita Jenatsch on September 10, 1955, at Cheese Days in Monroe, WI. It was a quick love affair, and they were married on January 12, 1956, in Haggenschwil, Switzerland.

After returning from their honeymoon, Heinz and Irma settled in Stockton, IL where he purchased the Stockton Processing Plant. Over the next several years, this business empire on the southside of Stockton grew to include a carwash, the “infamous” Zueger chicken house, a family home on the hill that he and Irma lived in for over 50 years. Heinz purchased a farm south of Stockton; this farm over the years would have dairy cows, hogs and then finally beef cattle. At the same time, Heinz sold seed corn and fertilizer for Rath Feed in a small building on their property which was later expanded when Heinz went into the egg business and Apple Canyon Egg Farm was formed. In the early 90’s, the egg plant was converted from a grading egg operation to breaking eggs which lasted for 20 years. Heinz had become quite the entrepreneur.

Heinz served a term on the Stockton Village Board; he had been a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church for over 60 years and was a member of Rath Feed Bowling Team for several years. Heinz found a passion with race horses and purchased two, naming them Heinz’s Baby and the second Zueggy Zoo. In his retirement years he enjoyed following the stock market.

Together Heinz and Irma raised their five children. Once their children were grown, Irma and Heinz spent over 20 years wintering in Palm Springs, CA and traveling to Switzerland each year to visit family and friends. They loved to dance and belonged to Ballroom dance club in Rockford for many years. During their retirement, they enjoyed travels to Australia, St. Petersburg, Russia, Italy, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, as well as many destinations around the U.S.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life Irma, his parents and three brothers. He is survived by two daughters Susanne (Dennis) Young of Stockton, Cynthia Broshous of Waukee, IA, three sons William (Dixie) of Stockton, Daniel (Becky) Davis, IL, Timothy (Lori) of Stockton IL, nine grandchildren Erika, Andy, Emily, Myles, Melissa, Kenzie, Alex, Hilary, Krista, 18 great grandchildren with a 19th due to arrive in February 2024, very special cousin Erwin (Laurie) Zueger of Stockton, two brothers and four sisters all of Switzerland. The family would also like to express a special thank you to his caregivers, Diane, Alma, Dovile, and Jurgita.

The Christian burial service was held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. lunch followed at the church hall. A visitation was at the church on Friday, November 3, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Memorial funds have been established with FHN Hospice and Stockton Ambulance Service. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com

Warren

Jason Lee Severson, 45

Jason Lee Severson age 45, of Warren, IL passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 in Darlington, WI. He was born on June 5, 1978 in Freeport, IL and shortly after adopted by Edner and June (Vance) Severson. He attended Freeport School when he was younger but graduated Warren High School in 1997.

Jason was an avid sports fan. He would cheer on the Packers, Badgers, Brewers, Bulls and White Sox and loved watching wrestling matches. He enjoyed playing poker with friends and family and spending time outside. He attended Crossroads Community Church for many years and recently started watching services online. He had a deep love for his family.

He is survived by four siblings: Bonnie Wolff of Rochester, MN; Mark (Peggy) Severson of Apple River, IL; Anita Dauen of Warren, IL; Chris (Rick) Vick of Orangeville, IL; 14 nieces and nephews; 23 great nieces and nephews; numerous aunts and uncles as well as some special friends and caregivers- Stephanie McKinstrey, Sandy Bemus, and Connie Maupin.

Jason is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and several aunts and uncles. Sports team apparel is welcome to wear per Jason’s request.

A funeral was held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Bartell- Leamon Funeral Home in Warren IL, with a visitation held from 11:00 am until time of service. A luncheon was held after the service at the Warren Community building. Pastor Dennis Perger officiated the services. Cremation rites to be accorded. Burial will take place at a later date.

A memorial has been established in his memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com