Dean T. Koch
Jul 7, 2026
Dean T. Koch, age 80 of Rock City, IL, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at UW Madison Hospital in Madison, WI. He was born October 25, 1945 in Pearl City, IL; the son of the late Harold and Emma (Otte) Koch. He attended Pearl City High School and graduated from Dakota High School. Dean married Bonnie Baumgartner on...
Beverly Merkle
Jul 6, 2026
Beverly Merkle, age 89 of Freeport Illinois passed away peacefully on July 6th 2026
Beverly was born May 12 1937 to Raymond Paul and Bernice (Fox) Paul Griffin.
For 58 years she was married to the love of her life Robert Merkle. He left her side January 20th 2026
Beverly was our beauty queen some even referred to her as Miss Hollywood. She...
Patricia A. Hollister
Jul 4, 2026
July 4, 2026
Patricia Ann Hollister, age 79 of Freeport, IL, was reunited with her husband and parents when she passed peacefully on July 4, 2026. She was born in Freeport on March 31, 1947 to William Johann Frederick Schult and Isabel Marie (Richolson) Schult. Pat spent many years as a member of the Girl Scouts of America and later graduated...
Betty Jane Huenefeld
Jul 3, 2026
Adeline – Betty Jane Huenefeld, 102 of Adeline received her wings on July 3, 2026 at 12:18pm surrounded by family. She was born February 16, 1924 in Freeport to William and Elizabeth (Heckelsmiller) Gerloff. She married Frederick Huenefeld on January 18, 1947 in Freeport. He passed on September 22, 1994.
She worked at Burgess Battery and Stephenson Nursing Center. Betty loved...
Anita R. Hottmann
Jul 3, 2026
Anita R. Hottmann, age 64 of Freeport, IL, passed away at home on Friday, July 3, 2026. She was born on October 27, 1961 in Freeport; the daughter of the late Marlyn and Rose Boomgarden. Anita graduated from Freeport High School and went on to receive her Bachelor’s from Columbia University. She married Ralf Hottmann on August 20, 1980.
Anita worked...
Joan Clair Schulz
Jul 2, 2026
On the evening of July 2nd 2026, Joan Clair Schulz went to live with her parents in heaven. She was born on August 10, 1945, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the second daughter of Martha and Harold Anderson. As a young girl, and continuing through high school, she studied dance, in all its forms. She attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa,...
Lynn Clark Schwandt
Jun 30, 2026
Lynn Clark Schwandt, age 95 of Freeport, IL, passed away at WinnPrairie Assisted Living and Memory Care on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Born on December 23, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI, the son of Gustave and Madeline (Clark) Schwandt. He attended Earlville IA schools and received degrees from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA and University of Northern Iowa in Cedar...
Eugene C. Barthel
Jun 30, 2026
Eugene "Gene" Charles Barthel, 76, of Freeport, Illinois, graduated to Heaven on June 30, 2026. Born on January 22, 1950, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, Gene lived a life centered on faith, family, and helping others.
Faith was the foundation of Gene's life. A devoted follower of Christ, he made it his mission to share Jesus' love with everyone he met—right up...
Betty May Williams
Jun 30, 2026
Betty May (Thruman) Williams, age 99 of Freeport, IL, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. She was born January 24, 1927 in Freeport; the daughter of the late George and Edith (Gerloff) Thruman. She was raised by her step-father, Arthur “Elmo” Myers.
Betty worked in the FHN surgical sterilization department for more than 20 years until retirement. She was a...
Ronald K. Samuelson
Jun 21, 2026
Ronald “Ron” Karl Samuelson
Ronald “Ron” Karl Samuelson, 75, retired Sergeant Major (SGM), passed away on Father’s Day, June 21, 2026. He was born on January 22, 1951, at Deaconess Hospital in Freeport, Illinois, to Floyd and Almeda Samuelson.
Ron dedicated much of his life to service through his careers in the U.S. Army and at the Bexar County Courthouse. After seeing...
Leon D. Wilhelms
Jun 10, 2026
Leon D. Wilhelms, age 83, of Freeport, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Freeport.
Leon was born on May 16, 1943, in Freeport, the son of the late John and Helen (Moss) Wilhelms. He graduated from Freeport High School in 1961. Leon married Maureen Smith in 1962 at St. Catherine's, and they shared...
Kirk L. Minkie
Jun 9, 2026
Kirk Minkie, 63, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after fighting with the long-term side effects in his battle with cancer that started in 1996… He was a true warrior that never gave up even though he was faced with many health challenges along the way.
Kirk was born in Freeport to Roger and Trudy Minkie, on July 21, 1962....
Phyllis J. Hostetter
Jun 8, 2026
Phyllis June Hostetter, age 73, of Freeport passed away at Freeport Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois on June 8th, 2026. She was born on October 26th, 1952 in Canton, Illinois to Pauline Helen Ford and Earl William Gray (deceased).
Phyllis attended Canton, Illinois High School. Phyllis was a woman of many talents and trades, she held jobs as a Walmart Associate...
Dolores Ann Weber
Jun 8, 2026
Dolores Ann (Freund) Weber, age 84 of Freeport, IL, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026 from cancer at her residence. She was born January 19, 1942 in McHenry, IL; the daughter of Herbert and Florence (Huff) Freund. Dolores graduated from McHenry High School in 1960.
She married the love of her life, Daniel Weber on June 18, 1960. She then...
Marjorie A. Best
May 29, 2026
Ashland, WI – Marjorie A. Best, 95, formerly of Lake Summerset, IL, died on May 29, 2026 in Ashland, WI at Tamarack Hospital following a brief illness, with her daughters holding her hands, while listening to her favorite spiritual music. She lived with her daughter Denise and son-in-law Craig Mutchler in Brule WI after selling her home at Lake Summerset...
Remington A. Ertmer
May 29, 2026
Remington Alexzander “Baby Dude” Ertmer
April 26, 2009 – May 29, 2026
Remington Alexzander Ertmer — known to those who loved him best as “Baby Dude” — came into this world on April 26, 2009, in Monroe, Wisconsin, loud and full of life, and he never once stopped being exactly that. He was 17 years old when he became eternally perfect on...
Annette Donker
May 24, 2026
Annette Donker, 61, of Copperas Cove, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 24, 2026, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer.
Born on August 15, 1964, at Freeport Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois, to Melvin and Eldora Welch, Annette grew up in Red Oak, Illinois, and graduated...
Beverly Joyce Keim
May 23, 2026
Freeport – Beverly Joyce Keim, 86, formerly of Mt. Carroll passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026 at Manor Court in Freeport. She was born on August 22, 1939 in Chicago, Il to Olaf and Clementine (Keller) Groff. After high school she completed a semester of college at the University of Colorado before moving back to Illinois where she graduated...
Sheila Hooper
May 22, 2026
Sheila (Bach) Hooper passed away on May 22, 2026. She was born in Freeport, IL on September 27, 1939, to Joseph and Alfreda Bach. She attended Aquin High School and graduated in 1957. Sheila attended Rosary College for one year before returning to Freeport. She then attended Rockford College, obtaining an undergraduate degree and Master of Arts in Teaching in...
