Obituaries

Lena

Jack Rausch, 85

Jack Rausch, 85, of Lena, IL passed away at his home with his family by his side on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. He was born October 11, 1938 to Harry and Doris (Zorzi) Rausch in Livingston, IL. He married Sara Bradley in 1960 in Hammond, IN. Jack proudly served in the United States Army from 1961-1963 with the 1st Armored Division during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a graduate of Purdue University.

Jack spent 40 years with Union Carbide and Viskase Corporation until his retirement. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and Lena Lions Club. In his free time, Jack loved watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals and going golfing. Overall, Jack loved his family and was a man of honesty, kindness, and equality for all.

Jack is survived by his wife Sara of Lena, IL; sons- Brian Rausch of Houston, TX and Mitchell (Carolyn) Rausch of Minooka, IL; grandsons- Brandon Rausch and Drew (Grace) Rausch, USMC; step grandchildren- Ryan (Hannah) Johnson, Marisa (Jim) Bosonetta, and Kylie (Ulises) Carreno; niece- Sherry (Chuck) Demars, and nephew- Dave (Tammy) Mercer.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Jill (Bob) Mercer.

Per Jack’s requests no services will be held. A private family burial will be held at a later date at the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Schererville, IN. Cremation rites have been accorded.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity or organization in Jack’s memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.leamonfh.com

Woodbine

Frederick John Mehl, 96

Frederick John Mehl, age 96, of Woodbine, IL passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2024. He was born in Chicago, IL on March 5, 1928 to the late John and Janet (Miller) Mehl. Fred married Barbara Jeanne Turner on October 16, 1949 in Chicago, IL. Barbara passed away August 28, 2013.

Fred was a 1946 graduate of Hirsch High School and went on to attend Wilson Junior College. He then served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the WWII era and the Army National Guard. After his service, he went on to graduate from Loyola University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business and DePaul University with a Master’s in Education Counseling. Fred was a longtime Methodist and always active in the church. He was a member of Natural Area Guardians, Jo Daviess County Conservation Foundation, and Telephone Pioneers of America. Fred had worked as a lineman for AT&T and moved into HR Management. He retired early and formed his own consulting company, Continental Business Management. He had done consulting work with United Way, IBM, and Drake, Beam and Morin. After retirement, he fulfilled his dream of owning a farm and moved from the city to Woodbine, IL. He was always active in Boy Scouts. He was an Eagle Scout and in leadership he received the distinguished Silver Beaver Award. He loved music, especially big band and gospel. He also loved history and traveling, including Route 66. Fred was active in charitable work throughout his life.

He is survived by his daughters, Kathy (Matt) Mehl-McNellis and Mary Wille; his sons, David (Judy), John (Ellen), Mark, and Matthew (Megan); his six grandchildren, Christopher Mehl, Meghan (Anthony) Vai, Gregory (Autumn) Mehl, Gelsey Weinstock Mehl, Colleen McNellis, and Alexandra (Holden) Thompson; his 8 great grandchildren; his cousin, Jeff (Cheryl) Mehl; and his two nieces, Barbara (Rick) Livingston, Sheryl (Ken) Spires, and one nephew, Burke (Paula) Mandable. He is preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents; and his wife, Barbara.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at Calvary Church of Stockton at 11:00 a.m. There will be a visitation on Friday, July 19, 2024 at Hermann Funeral Home in Stockton from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at Woodbine Cemetery at a later date. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Lanark

Arnold E. Dampman, 83

Arnold E. Dampman, age 83, of Lanark, IL, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2024 at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford, IL. A funeral service was held Wednesday, July 3, at Lanark Church of the Brethren, at 11 a.m. Visitation took place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, as well as one hour prior to the service. Burial followed at Lanark Cemetery.

Arnold was born August 8, 1940, in Sterling, IL, the son of Max and Carrie (Schilling) Dampman. He graduated from Lanark High School with the class of 1958 and immediately went to work full time on the family farm alongside his father and brother. Looking to make his way in the world, the best he could, Arnold also began working nights at Kraft Foods in Milledgeville, but it wasn’t long before his brother, Don, was drafted into the armed forces.

This was an extremely difficult period in Arnold’s life. He had already lost a brother in childhood, and now his lone surviving brother was being shipped out to serve in Vietnam. Combine that with the prospect of working two jobs, one of which (farming) was now a man down, and one could see how much pressure Arnold must have felt. But growing up on the farm prepared him for the challenges of life, and he made his family (and years later, his future family) proud during those years. They helped to shape him into the hard worker and family leader he would become, in the decades to follow.

It was God’s will that Don returned safely, and eventually Arnold and his brother took over the family farm from their father. They tended to various crops and livestock for many years.

On September 15, 1973, Arnold married Helen Krum in Brookville, IL. They had a son, Mark, and Arnold and Helen began passing on the values of hard work and love for family to their son, and eventually grandchildren.

Arnold was quite the fan of John Deere tractors; collecting them and working on them, regularly throughout his life. In fact, he rarely left the house without a John Deere belt buckle. He, Helen, and their son attended numerous antique tractor shows over the years.

One of Arnold’s simple pleasures in life was going out to eat. In his working years he would drive to the Highway Café, in Lanark, every morning to have his bowl of oatmeal alongside his local farmer friends. They spent each morning solving all the world’s problems before heading off to the day’s work. Once the chores were done, Arnold loved taking his bride out to restaurants, as well.

As he settled into the twilight years of his life, Arnold found joy in time spent with his grandchildren, and relaxing with a classic western playing on the TV.

Arnold will be dearly missed by his wife of nearly 50 years, Helen; son, Mark (Kristy) Dampman, of Pearl City; grandchildren, Dylan Holland, Aiden Dampman, Anna Dampman, Mason Dampman, and Maxx Dampman; brother, Don (Judy) Dampman, of Lanark; and brother-in-law, Danny (Linda Truckenmiller) Krum. Arnold is preceded in death by his parents, Max and Carrie; brother, Bennett Dampman; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry and Marie Krum.

Stockton

Albert Walter Cook, 63

Albert Walter Cook, age 63, of Stockton, IL, formerly of Schuylerville, NY, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024 at home. He was born in Saratoga, NY on September 17, 1960 to the late Albert James and Shirley (Hoag) Cook. Albert married Kristine Dyson on April 13, 1981.

He was a 1978 graduate of Schuylerville High School. Albert went on to serve in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Petty Officer 1st Class after 20 years of service. He had worked with T&R Construction and was a custodian for the Stockton School District. His heart was in farming “God’s Country”. He enjoyed reading, especially war books, toy tractor collecting, video gaming with his grandchildren, telling stories, and tractor pulling with his siblings.

Albert is survived by his wife, Kristine Cook of Stockton; his daughters, Lori Ann Montalvo of Stockton and Brandy Lee Cook of Stockton; his son, Albert James (Liz) Cook of Tomahawk, WI; his grandchildren, Shirley, Bencho, Izzy, Justin, Briar and Silus; his sisters, Nelle (John) Hammersmith of PA, Brenda Cook of NY, Laurie (Garth) Kenyon of NY, and Heather (Rob) Goodspeed of NY; his brother, Joseph (Kim Doten) Cook of Stockton; his brother-in-law, John Dyson of AL; and his good friends, Lori Mercer and Tom Rillie. He was preceded in death by his parents and good friend, Keith Mercer.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Hermann Funeral Home in Stockton. There was a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A memorial fund has been established. Condolences may be shared at http://www.hermannfuneralhome.com.

Warren

Mary E. Yenney, 92

Mary E. Yenney, age 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Big Meadows Nursing Home in Savanna, Illinois. Born on February 13, 1932, in Warren, IL, she was a beloved daughter of Robert Isaac and Shirley (Payne) Barker.

Mary attended Warren Schools and graduated from Warren High School in 1950. Mary spent much of her life living in Apple River, Illinois raising her four children. On March 12, 1988, she married Marvin Yenney at the Savanna Presbyterian Church, celebrating 23 years of marriage until Marvin's passing in 2014. Together, they built a life filled with love and cherished memories.

Throughout her life, Mary dedicated herself to caregiving, finding joy and purpose in helping others. She was a beacon of love and support for her family and friends. Mary particularly adored her grandchildren and took great pleasure in assisting with their upbringing. In her leisure time, Mary was an avid seamstress, enjoying sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Her creations brought warmth and comfort to those she loved. Above all else music was always a part of her life performing for many functions including those of the Eastern Star of which she was a member for many years.

Mary will be dearly missed by three sons, Stanley (Diane) Bonjour of Benton, WI, Robert (Angela) Bonjour of Pekin, IL, and Chuck (Debbie Weber) Bonjour of Monroe, WI; one daughter, Karen (Jeff) Johnson of Rising Fawn, GA; five step-children, Claudette (Ben) Alexander of South Carolina, Tommy Yenney of Texas, Randy Yenney of Iowa, Brenda Legel of Illinois, and Teresa Yenney of Iowa; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Shirley; four brothers, Robert, Douglas, Laurence, James, and five sisters, Margaret, Shirley, Dorothy, Marge, and Nancy. She is also preceded in death by her first husband Faye M. Bonjour and second husband Marvin Yenney.

William “Billy” David Jr, 56

William "Billy" David, Jr., born on July 11, 1967, in Anaheim, CA, left this world on July 3, 2024, in Warren, IL, after a battle with cancer. He was a beloved brother to Denise (Tim) Brinkmeier and a cherished uncle to Jared (Sam) Brinkmeier, Lindsey Brinkmeier & Nik Brinkmeier. His great niece Leighton and great nephew Levi Brinkmeier brought him immeasurable joy.

Billy's life was marked by service and dedication. He served with honor in the United States Air Force, before embarking on a successful career as a Project Designer with Mid-States Concrete Industries in South Beloit, IL. His commitment to his work was unwavering. Cancer was not going to stop him from going into the office. He continued to work full time until Hospice had to step in.

A man of unique tastes and unwavering principles; Billy had an undying passion for the Chicago Bears & Saturday Night Live and could recite useless movie trivia like no other. His dry wit brought smiles to those around him even during the toughest times. He despised potlucks & buffets - anything with a sneeze guard was a hard no for him! His strong opinions were never hidden, but always delivered with humor.

In addition to these details about Billy's personal preferences are countless stories of laughter shared among friends & family who knew him best – tales that speak volumes about the depth of his character beyond what can be captured here. A loyal Chicago Bears fan through thick and thin, Billy’s passion for football ran deep. In honor of his unwavering support for the team, attendees are encouraged to wear their Bears or favorite football attire to the service.

Although he wished to go out like a Viking warrior set ablaze at sea or buried beneath the earth surrounded by treasures; Billy will have to settle for a simple service instead, at Law Jones Funeral Home followed by social drinks at Manny’s Pizza, as we bid farewell to this remarkable soul.

Billy is survived by his sister, Denise (Tim) Brinkmeier; his two nephews, Jared (Sam) Brinkmeier & Nik Brinkmeier; niece, Lindsey Brinkmeier; great niece, Leighton; and great-nephew, Levi Brinkmeier, all of Warren; uncle, Rob (Kristie) David, of Fulton, IL; and aunt, Barbel Ernst of Biebrich Germany. Preceding Billy in death are his parents, Bill & Heidi David; aunt, Karen David; uncle, Karl Ernst; and grandparents, Hartzel & Etta David and Werner & Ilsa Schlegel.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Savanna. Visitation will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Hanover

Nora (Ballein) Murphy, 89

Nora (Ballein) Murphy, age 89, of Hanover, IL, passed away June 28, 2024, at Mercy Medical Center, in Dubuque, IA. A funeral Mass was held Monday, July 1, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Hanover, at 11 a.m. Visitation took place at the church from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., before Mass. Burial followed at Evergreen Cemetery, in Hanover.

Nora was born on June 15, 1935 in Savanna, IL, the daughter of Henry “Earl” and Cecil (Sullivan) Ballein. She lost her father at the age of 5 and her mother at the age of 12 and then was welcomed into the loving arms of her uncle Roger and aunt Joan Sullivan, and their growing family.

Nora lived most of her life in Hanover, save for a short stint at Marquette University and a job at the Marshall Fields flagship store in Chicago, IL. It was during a visit home to Hanover from Chicago, that Nora started dating Bert Murphy. She moved back home shortly thereafter, and they married on June 12, 1956. The marriage lasted 53 years until Bert passed away in 2009. From the day she was married until her death, Nora never took off her wedding ring. Nora had a 20 year career as a draftsperson at the Savanna Army Depot where she excelled in her job and retired as a department supervisor. She loved gardening, reading, puzzles and was unapologetically permissive when her grandchildren would visit – thus ensuring her status as “favorite grandma.”

Nora was a devout Catholic and active in her church – St. John The Evangelist.

Nora had a special way of making everyone in her life feel loved, listened to and respected. She was truly a loving mother, not only to her own children, but to their friends as well! Nora had the most amazing trait of always choosing kindness and patience, when faced with challenges.

Nora is preceded in death by her husband Bert Murphy; her parents, Earl and Cecil Ballein; sister Patricia Cottral; and Roger and Joan Sullivan.

Nora is survived by her four children, daughter, Erin Murphy, of Hanover, sons, Michael (Beth) Murphy, of Galena, IL, Sean Murphy of Hanover, and Kevin (Raquel) Murphy, of Evanston IL; along with five grandchildren, Matt (Laila), Karen, Luke, Cillian and Cara.

Donations/memorials will be used to support Jo Daviess Workshop, Inc. and other charities that were special to Nora.