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Obituaries

  • February 24, 2016 | People
    Theodore Van Winkle 1925-2016

    Theodore Van Winkle, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at home.

    He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Gail (Summers) Van Winkle; his daughter, Cynthia G. Thomas and husband, Steve, of Mount Vernon; his son, James L. Van Winkle and his wife, Lois, of Dahlgren; his daughter, Theodora Ann Barenholtz and her husband, Jan, of Fairfield, Connecticut; six grandchildren, Adrienne E. Van Winkle and her fiancé, Seth T. Bridge of Washington D.C., Jonathan L. Van Winkle of Dahlgren, Michael J. Bassi, of Covington, Kentucky, Daniel Barenholtz of Fairfield, Connecticut, Lt. David Barenholtz and his wife, Claire, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Jonathan Thomas of Mount Vernon; and one great-granddaughter, Kori Thomas. He is also survived by his younger brother, Phil J. Van Winkle and his wife, Nancy, of Orlando, Florida; and their children, Philip R. Van Winkle, James Michael Van Winkle and Sherry Allen.

  • February 24, 2016 | People
    William Stiehl 1925 - 2016

    U.S. District Judge William D. Stiehl, born Dec. 3, 1925, in Belleville, Ill., passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2016.

    Judge Stiehl was married for 69 years to his wife, Celeste Stiehl, nee Sullivan, whom he married on June 6, 1947. Judge Stiehl also will be missed by his son, William D. (Mary) Stiehl Jr., and daughter, Susan M. (Bruce) Guthrie; grandchildren, Kathryn (Clay) Frauenfelder, Christina Stiehl (John Austin), William Guthrie and Andrew Guthrie; and great-granddaughter, Gretchen Frauenfelder.

  • February 22, 2016 | People
    Jerome A. Frazel 1926-2016

    Jerome A. Frazel, 89, of Beverly, died Feb. 6.

    Born in 1926, after graduating from St. Teresa’s Catholic School in Coral Gables, Fla., in a class of ten students, Frazel entered the University of Notre Dame. He then matriculated at Georgia Tech in Atlanta after entering the U.S. Navy.

    After his military service, he attended law school at Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, he met his future wife of 65 years, Joanne K. Hickey, who was studying at St. Mary’s College.

  • February 22, 2016 | People
    Katherine Pargellis Bowe 1930-2016

    Kathie Bowe, 85, loving mother of Anthony (Nancy), Alexander (Candida), Charley (June), Robert (Daisy) and grandmother of Kate, Gus, Nick, Melissa, Jamie, Alice, Julia, Molly and Eliza died peacefully on February 5. Born in Boston, Kathie moved at the age of 12 to Chicago where her father Stanley Pargellis was the Head Librarian of the Newberry Library. She graduated from Francis W. Parker School and then from Wellesley College in 1952. She married John E. Bowe, who later became a Judge in Cook County, and they were living together in Boston when John died in 1997. They raised their family on the North side of Chicago and then in Winnetka, IL. Kathie served as President of the League of Women Voters of Winnetka and was a volunteer at Citizens Information Service. Kathie had a lifelong love for her family summer retreat in Cape Porpoise, Maine and spent some meaningful portion of all but one summer of her life on the seashore there. 

  • February 22, 2016 | People
    ISBA Laureate Thomas S. Johnson 1942-2016

    Thomas S. Johnson, 73 of Rockford, senior partner of one of Rockford's oldest and largest law firms, died unexpectedly at home on February 15, 2016.

    Born May 21, 1942, in Rockford, son of Fred C. Johnson and Pauline Ross Johnson. He graduated from East High School in 1960 where he excelled in debate and received the Oratorical Contest award. He graduated from Rockford College in 1964 and then received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1967.

    He served in the U.S. Army from 196870, where he received the Meritorious Service Medal. Tom then returned to Rockford to join the law firm founded by his mentors, Karl Williams and John C. McCarthy, and began a distinguished legal career that lasted 46 years. He concentrated his practice in trust and estate law and received the highest recognition in his specialty by being named as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

    He was instrumental in the growth and success of WilliamsMcCarthy LLP and was President of the law firm from 1987 to 2002. Tom possessed a brilliant mind, a sharp wit, and was unwavering in his support of the firm, his colleagues, his community and the legal profession. In the tradition of Daniel Burnham, his motto was "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood."

  • February 18, 2016 | People
    John C. Prehn Jr. 1956-2016

    John C. Prehn Jr., age 59, passed away peacefully at his home February 2, 2016 surrounded by his family. 

    He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia; brother, Steven; and grandparents, Frederick and Bertha Prehn. 

    He is survived by his father, John "Jack" Prehn Sr.; and wife of 28 years, Gayle (nee Bordewisch) Prehn. Devoted father to Emily Hadley (Justin) Invergo, Michael (Diana) Hadley, John Prehn III, and Sarah (Jorge Valdez) Prehn. Proud grandfather to Ava, Rhys, and Isla Invergo, Keira and Christian Haldey, and Enrique Valdez. Loving brother to Kathie (Randy) Verhulst, Bob (Julie) Prehn, Laura (Craig) O'Brien, Michael Prehn, Margaret "Peggy" (Brian) Washko and numerous nieces, nephews and "adopted" children. 

  • February 18, 2016 | People
    Sharon Pulsifer 1943-2016

    Sharon L Pulsifer, 72, well-known Moline, Illinois, attorney, died Wednesday, January 27, 2016, in Silvis, Illinois.

    Sharon was born April, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1963 she married Harrison Pulsifer with whom she had four children. She graduated from St. Ambrose University before earning her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois in 1979.

  • February 17, 2016 | People
    Edward Durree 1949-2016

    Edward R. Durree, 66, of Peoria passed away at 5:12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, at UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria after an ongoing fight with cancer, surrounded by his loving family, including his two children, two sisters, his ex-wife, best friends and his beloved dog, Cloe.

    Ed was born on June 2, 1949, in Streator, Ill., to John Reynold and Gladys Lucille (Birtwell) Durree.

    Surviving are his two children, Sara Elizabeth Durree and Benjamin Ray (Kristina) Durree, both of Peoria; one grandchild; and his two sisters, Rebecca Manigold and Jane Briner. Also surviving are his cherished nieces and nephews, whom he loved very much.

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  • February 10, 2016 | People
    William C. (Bill) Prather 1921-2016

    William C. (Bill) Prather, 94, of Toledo, Illinois died on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016 while recuperating at Cumberland Rehab & Health Care, Greenup, Illinois. Respecting the wishes of William C. Prather, no funeral nor memorial service is scheduled. 

    Bill Prather was born February 20, 1921 in Toledo, the only child of Hollie Cartmill Prather and Effie Ferne (Deppen) Prather. He is survived by several cousins and many friends. 

    Bill was a 1938 graduate of Casey High School, Casey, IL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1942 where, with Betty Stiglitz, he was Co-President of the Student Government Association. Bill received his Juris Doctorate degree, also from the University of Illinois, in 1947 and was admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court that same year. Bill was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1978. 

  • February 10, 2016 | People
    Theodore 'Ted' Spak 1932-2016

    Theodore ("Ted") Spak, 83, passed away January 20, 2016. An attorney, CPA, businessman, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Ted was a diamond life master and certified bridge teacher, as well as a devoted philanthropist.

    Ted was born in Chicago, and attended Northwestern University, graduating with an accounting degree in 1953 and from the law school in 1956. After practicing law from 1956-62, he established Theodore Spak & Associates, a public insurance adjusting firm, where he served as President until his retirement. He relocated to Miami, Florida in 1976.