Obituaries

George W. Jones Jr.

Published by admin on Mon, 09/25/2023 - 11:29am

VILLA GROVE, IL— George W. Jones Jr., 82, of Villa Grove, IL, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at his home. He was born to George and Phebe (Huffman) Jones Sr. on Nov. 28, 1940 in Vermillion County, IN. He married Sonja Evans on Aug. 7, 1965 in Villa Grove. George enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1958 and proudly served until 1962. He then went to work for Caterpillar in Joliet for 30 years before he retired in 1995. He was a member and served as president of the Coal City Lions Club for several years and was a member of the Coal City Baptist Church.

Ruth Watson

Published by admin on Mon, 09/25/2023 - 11:25am

WILMINGTON—Ruth Jane Watson, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at the age of 87. She was born Nov. 20, 1935.
Passed away peacefully on Thursday September 21, 2023 at the age of 87.
She loved gardening, watching Judge Judy, collecting cookbooks, baking, and napping with her fur baby Tucker. She loved spending time with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Ruth Ann Nielsen

Published by admin on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 1:35pm

BRAIDWOOD—Ruth Ann Nielsen, 85, of Braidwood, formerly of Wilmington and Decatur, IL, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at Salem Village Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Joliet.
Born April 4, 1938 in Princeton, IN Ruth was a daughter of Donald and Lena (Beckwith) Griffin. She was raised and educated in Princeton, and relocated to Illinois. Ruth had a great appreciation for genealogy and learning about her family’s past, giving her a greater connection to family and sharing her love with them.

Philip Middleton

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 12:58pm

COAL CITY—Philip "Leo" Middleton, 68, of Coal City, passed away at The Pearl of Joliet on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.
Born March 4, 1955 in Joliet, Leo was a son of Philip C. Middleton and Elaine Zambon. He was raised in and was a life long resident of Coal City. He graduated from Coal City High School in 1973. On Oct. 21, 1978, Leo married Pamie Smith at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Coal City and together they made a home and raised a family.

Catherine McClure

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 12:05pm

CHICAGO—Catherine McClure, 56, of Chicago, passed away Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Catherine was born Jan. 20, 1967 in Los Angeles, CA, and was raised and educated in Kankakee and Bradley, IL. She graduated from Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School with the class of 1985, and furthered her education by completing a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a master's degree in operations & systems management at the University of Southern California.

Lorraine Popovich

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 10:27am

WILMINGTON—Lorraine (Egan) Popovich, 87, of Wilmington, passed away Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 with her loving family by her side at home.
Born Sept. 3, 1936 in Joliet, Lorraine Lyola was a daughter of William and Lyola Julia Fox-Egan. On Feb. 9, 1957 Lorraine married Robert Charles Popovich in Crown Point, IN, and together they would share 66 years of marriage.

Shirley Hubbell

Published by admin on Tue, 09/12/2023 - 10:02am

WILMINGTON—Shirley Mae Hubbell, 98, of Wilmington, passed away Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 at River Crossing of Joliet.
Born Dec. 10, 1924 in Mokena, IL, Shirley Mae was a daughter of Morenous “Mose” and Nellie (Neil) Van Duyne. She was raised in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School with the class of 1942. In her younger years, Shirley played the accordion in the “Then and Nows” both on the radio and at The Mar Theater. She was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, was an accomplished seamstress, enjoyed quilting and took pleasure in painting.

Margaret A. Wise-Hudgins

Published by admin on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 11:30am

SHOREWOOD—Margaret A. Wise-Hudgins, 75, of Shorewood, formerly of Braidwood, passed away Aug. 12, 2023 in Joliet.

Belinda M. Filbrandt

Published by admin on Mon, 09/11/2023 - 11:28am

MCNAB, IL—Belinda M. Filbrandt (nee Alderson), 71, of McNab, IL, formerly of Braidwood, passed away peacefully Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 at Cabin Living Senior Care in Hennepin, IL.

Daniel Dillon

Published by admin on Thu, 09/07/2023 - 8:24am

ESSEX—Daniel Steven Dillon, 30, of Essex, formerly of Braidwood, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 following a long and arduous battle with addiction and substance abuse.
He was born Nov. 2, 1992 in Palos Heights, IL. Danny was educated in Reed-Custer Schools in Braidwood, graduating with the class of 2011. He was a union carpenter by trade.