Obituaries

Charles Calhoun

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 2:55pm

WILMINGTON—Charles “Butch” Calhoun, 60, of Wilmington, passed away Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Born Jan. 22, 1959 in Joliet, Charles Allen was the son of Raymond and Della (nee Warriner) Calhoun. He was raised and educated in Wilmington and married Julie Wallace on Aug. 2, 1997. Butch enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing, and collecting knives.

Paul J. Avelis

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 12:10pm

GODLEY—Paul J. Avelis, 55, of Godley and formerly of the Matteson and Crete area, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 at his home.
Born Jan. 24, 1964 in Chicago, Paul Julian was a son of Julian and Shirley Ann (Matokar) Avelis. He was a graduate of Crete-Monee High School and went on to attend the University of Illinois.
He was a veteran of the United States Army, and honorably served from 1982 until 1985.

Donald Henke

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:59am

TENNESSEE—Donald Lee Henke, 81, formerly of Wilmington, passed away Aug. 23, 2019 in Tennessee where he has resided since retiring from Caterpillar Tractor in Joliet in 1990.
Born April 29, 1938, he was the son of Annabelle (Hutton) and Leroy Henke. He loved skeet shooting and participating in turkey shoots, as well as watching auto racing and dog and horse track racing. He was also an avid deer hunter and enjoyed bingo.

Charles T. Vedder Sr.

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:57am

WILMINGTON—Charles T. Vedder Sr., “Chuck, ”96, of Wilmington, passed away Monday, Aug. 26, 2019 at his home.
Born April 25, 1923 in Beardstown, IL, Charles Thomas was a son of George and Mae (nee Kirchner) Vedder. He was raised and educated in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School. Chuck proudly served in the United States Navy, and after a two year stint in the Chicago White Sox organization, he became a plumber with Local Union 130 and was a 50 year member. He also served for several years as a fireman with Uniroyal.

Thomas J. Markle

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:56am

WILMINGTON—Thomas J. Markle, 93, of Wilmington, passed away Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at Aperion Care in Wilmington.
He was born Aug. 7, 1926 in Williston, TN. Thomas Jackson was a Veteran of the United States Army, who served during World War II. He married Minnie Elizabeth Privette on Oct. 27, 1945 in Mississippi; was a member of Island City Baptist Church in Wilmington, and retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company, following 30 years of service. In his free time, Tom enjoyed carpentry work and spending time with his buddies at Burger King.

Marilyn J. Friebele

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:54am

JOLIET—Marilyn J. Friebele, “Smiley,” 88, of Joliet, passed away Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019 at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County in Joliet.
Born April 4, 1931 in Joliet, Marilyn Jeanette was a daughter of Harold and Margaret (nee Zinser) DeZee. She was raised and educated in Joliet, graduated from Joliet Central High School, and received her nursing degree from Silver Cross School of Nursing. On July 7, 1951, Marilyn married Joseph C. Friebele in Oshkosh, WI.

Jerry Klein

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:53am

MINOOKA—Jerry Klein, 80, of Minooka, passed away Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at his home.

Clarence E. Mansfield

Published by admin on Tue, 08/27/2019 - 11:50am

KANKAKEE—Clarence E. Mansfield, "Gene," 67, of Kankakee, formerly of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019 at Green Tree of Bradley Rehabilitation Center.
Born April 23, 1952 in Joliet, Clarence Eugene was a son of William and Eva (nee Eaton) Mansfield. He began employment at Diamond International Paper Mill at the age of 18, and worked there until its closure. Gene also volunteered for many years at Gift of God Street Church in Kankakee.

Gayle Ann Reavis

Published by admin on Mon, 08/26/2019 - 12:24pm

CRESCENT CITY—Gayle Ann Reavis, 57, of Crescent City passed away Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.
Born Oct. 29, 1961 in Joliet, Gayle was the daughter of Robert and Juanita (nee Allott) Reavis.
Survivors include her brother, Dennis (Grace) Reavis, of Diamond; her aunt, Delores Allott, of Chillicothe; her niece and nephew, Gregory (Kayla) Reavis, of Troy, MO and Daphne (Dustin) Hughes, of Springfield, IL; her great-niece, Kendall Reavis and numerous cousins.

Betty Haldorson

Published by admin on Mon, 08/26/2019 - 10:55am

ELWOOD—Betty Haldorson (nee Petersen), 94, a longtime Elwood resident, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home. Betty was born April 1, 1925 to Edith (Johnston) and Edward Petersen.