Obituaries

John Pilbeam

Published by admin on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 1:42pm

DAPHNE, AL—John Pilbeam, 79, of Daphne, AL passed away peacefully on May 30, 2026. He was born on March 8, 1947 in Blue Island, IL, the son of Edward Pilbeam and Marion (Quinn) Pilbeam. John always had an interest in planes. He was proud and also a hard worker. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1970 during the Vietnam War. Later on he pursued his pilot license in the Kankakee area flying Cessna planes. In the late 1990s he retired from the ACME Steel plant on the south side of Chicago after 30+ years.

Fred L. Hausman

Published by admin on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 9:21am

COAL CITY—Fred L. Hausman, 89, of Coal City, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in LaSalle.

Ruby Girot

Published by admin on Fri, 06/26/2026 - 9:13am

BRAIDWOOD—Ruby Jean Girot “Jean," 97 of Braidwood, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Arc at Dwight. Born on Sept. 22, 1928, in Custer Township, IL, to Lyle and Wilma (née Patterson) Crater. She attended school in the Custer Park School District and was a graduate of the Mary Roberts Beauty Culture School in Chicago in 1945. On Oct. 15, 1946, she married Lawrence James Girot at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in South Wilmington. She was employed by Joliet Army Ammunition (APSA) for 17 years and then at the Social Security office in Kankakee for 13 years. She was a member of St.

Kathy Wilkey

Published by admin on Thu, 06/18/2026 - 12:06pm

BRACEVILLE—Kathy M. Wilkey, 73 of Braceville, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL.
Born June 23, 1952 in Aurora, IL, Kathy Mae was the daughter of Edward M. and Marion (Vago) Olson. She was raised and educated in Plattville, IL and Braceville, where she graduated from Gardner South Wilmington High School with the Class of 1970. On July 18, 1981, Kathy married Herbert Stanley Wilkey at the Braceville United Methodist Church, and together they made their home in Braceville and raised their family.

Betty Lemke

Published by admin on Thu, 06/18/2026 - 10:30am

BELLINGHAM, WA—Betty Jean Lemke passed away peacefully May 18, 2026 in Bellingham, WA. She was born in Leitchfield, KY leaving behind a legacy of creativity, advocacy, friendship, and love. Betty raised her family of five children in Resthaven in Wilmington, IL, where many cherished summers were spent along the Kankakee River. She took great pride in her family’s business, Lemke’s Plaster Paradise and Ceramics, where she shared her passion for art by teaching oil painting classes. Painting remained one of her greatest joys throughout her life.

Bob Harrington

Published by admin on Thu, 06/18/2026 - 10:11am

MORRIS—Bob "Boomer" Harrington, 86 of Morris, passed away peacefully Monday, June 15, 2026 at Churchill Place Memory Care Community in Glen Ellyn, IL. Born June 18, 1939 in Morris, Robert Francis Harrington was the son of Harry H. and Mabel G. (Patton) Harrington. A lifelong Morris resident, he graduated from Morris Community High School in 1957. He honorably served his country in the US Army Reserves. On Aug. 22, 1964, he married Carol Jean Manning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kinsman, IL. Together they built a loving home in Morris and raised their two sons.

Marie Rodawold

Published by admin on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 9:46am

WILMINGTON-Marie Teresa (Borschnack) Rodawold, 94, of Wilmington, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at home surrounded by her loving family.
Marie was born on Jan. 10, 1932, in a country home near Herscher, IL, the daughter of Fred and Teresa (McLaughlin) Borschnack of Wilmington, formerly of Cabrey.

Patricia Tucker

Published by admin on Fri, 06/12/2026 - 8:56am

DIAMOND—Patricia Ann Tucker, 93 of Diamond, and formerly of Carbon Hill and Coal City, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, June 7, 2026, at Alden Estates of Shorewood.
Born on Sept. 3, 1932, in Joliet, Patricia Ann was the daughter of William and Ann (Korelc) Perry. She was raised and educated in Coal City and graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1950.

William Weaver

Published by admin on Thu, 06/11/2026 - 10:15am

COAL CITY—William L. Weaver, 77, of Coal City, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet.
He was born on May 2, 1949 in Morgan County, AL to William and Wilda (nee Brown) Weaver. He was educated at Falkville High School with the class of 1967. Bill married Marsha K. Hockings on July 22nd, 1994 in Coal City. He worked at Halliburton and was former part owner of EZ Living RV. Bill was a rider in the rodeo for many years. He had a love of cars. A natural born salesman, Bill never met a stranger. He was born with the gift of gab.

Derek Tjelle

Published by admin on Wed, 06/10/2026 - 11:08am

COAL CITY—Derek "DT" Tjelle, 56, of Coal City, passed away on June 5, 2026.
Born on May 7, 1970, in Streator, IL, he was raised and educated in Dwight, and graduated from Dwight High School with the class of 1988.