Lyle Curtis

Lyle Dean Curtis, 88, of Canton, Illinois, died August 20 in Peoria. He was born November 4, 1936 in Avon, Illinois, to William and Jessie (Henderson) Curtis. He married Audrey (Evans) Curtis November 8, 1959. She survives.

Also surviving are his children Evan Curtis of Phoenix, Arizona; Todd (and Debbie) Curtis of Bloomington, Illinois, and Alicia (and Marsha Hausser) Curtis of Germantown Hills, Illinois. He is also survived by his grandson Zac, sister Ruth Estes and bonus daughter Jyl Churchill Barnard. He was preceded in death by his brother Bill.

Lyle was best known in Canton as the long-time owner of Stereo Village, which he operated for more than 30 years before retiring in 1999. He prided himself on providing excellent customer service and believed it distinguished his business from chain stores that eventually came to the area.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church of Canton, the Canton Lions Club and also served in the U.S. Army Reserve rising to the rank of Sergeant.

Lyle was a classic car enthusiast and spent hours restoring a variety of vehicles, including a 1957 Rebel Rambler and a 1964 Metropolitan. He and Audrey displayed their cars throughout Central Illinois in car shows and they were a member of the Gear Jammers of Canton.

A special thanks to the staff at Accolade Healthcare of Peoria, who cared for Lyle over the last three months, and VITAS Hospice.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 4-6 pm with a funeral service to follow at 6pm at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home, 1601 East Chestnut, Canton. Cremation rites will follow services and a graveside burial of the ashes will be held on Thursday at 11 am at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Canton.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church at www.cantonwesley.org.

To view Lyle’s video tribute or to leave online condolences please visit oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Katherine J. Hawk

Monmouth- Katherine J. Hawk, 65, of Galesburg and formerly of Monmouth passed away at 8:00 PM Tuesday August 19, 2025 at the Marigold Rehabilitation & Heath Care Center in Galesburg.

She was born September 19, 1959 in Chicago the daughter of Elmer and Barbara (Howard) Hawk. She was preceded in death by her parents. Surviving is her stepmother, Marybeth Hawk of Roseville, four siblings, Karen Hawk of Champaign, IL; David (Tonya) Hawk of Bushnell, IL; Nathan (Blaine Nelson) Hawk of Moorhead, MN; and Leah Hawk of Roseville, IL; one niece, Isabella Fields, two nephews, Sylis and Braxten Hawk, and her good friends, Deanna Reno of Abingdon, IL; and Mary Ward of Monmouth, IL.

Katherine attended Warren Achievement School and received her GED. Katherine had worked at the Warren County Library and then at Warren Achievement Industries. Her great achievement was traveling to California. She got to put her feet in the Pacific Ocean, and to see her niece when she was born. Katherine loved being around people, she had a great sense of humor, a big heart, generous, stubborn, and would help out kids when she could.

Cremation will be accorded. There will be no services.

Francis Theodore “Ted” Lambasio

Francis Theodore “Ted” Lambasio was called home to the Lord on August 18, 2025. 

Ted was born July 9, 1940, in Abingdon, Illinois to Francis Frank Lambiaso (from New Castle, PA) and Darlene Hazel Katherine (Freeburg) Lambiaso, (from Bushnell, IL).  

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Carl Lindon Taylor and Frank Eugene Lambiaso, sister Julia Mae Taylor, sister-in-law Judy Lambiaso, and brother-in-law, Junior Taylor.  

Surviving is his wife, Lovina E. Lambasio, sons, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, sisters Marlene Lambiaso of Winter Springs, FL and Darlene Crites (Daryl) of Clarksville, TN, sister-in-law, Betty Taylor of Galesburg, IL, and nieces and nephews.  

Ted was raised in Abingdon, IL and graduated in 1958 from Abingdon High School. After graduation he enlisted and served in the US Air Force for 30 years. During his time in the Air Force, he earned his pilot’s license, and his passion for flying would last his lifetime. Before beginning his career at the Canton Airport in 1997, Ted worked as a mail carrier in Abingdon, filling station attendant, loading dock at Butlers, as a draftsman for an engineer, and Admirals. Ted began working as a flying instructor in 1975 at the Tri County Airport and Galesburg Airport. Ted and Lovina started their own business located at the Canton Airport, TWL, where he was a flight instructor, IA mechanic, and fixed based operator. Ted loved flying and loved teaching others how to fly. Some of his favorite students being his sons, granddaughter, and grandson. During his years of flight instruction, he helped 138 students get their own pilot’s license. Ted was a member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) in Monmouth and Canton. As much as he loved to fly airplanes, he also enjoyed making model airplanes, decorative airplane propellers and Aircraft propellers, and showing all of his grandchildren how to make paper airplanes.  

Ted loved God and his family more than anything. He was an active member and Deacon of the Calvary Baptist Church in Canton, IL. He was a man whose life was rooted in his faith. He built a firm foundation of faith for his family to grow on. He spent each day studying his Bible and praying with his wife. 

Ted married his wife, Lovina Emaline (Mack) Lambasio on January 1, 1961, at the Methodist Church in Abingdon, IL. Ted and Lovina loved celebrating their love for one another with gifts, special dinners, and plane rides over their favorite places. Ted and Lovina have four children, Lovina Mae (Kevin Kane) Kirkpatrick of Antelope, CA, Theodore Eugene Lambasio (Julie Ann) of Gilson, IL, Christel Suzanne Lambasio (Beau Justin Anderson) of Abingdon, IL, and Samual Guy Lambasio (Brandi Noelle) of Galesburg, IL. Ted has 11 grandchildren, 22 and one on the way great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.  

Ted will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He will be missed by many, but his legacy of serving the Lord, serving our country, and soaring the skies will live on in all who were touched by his life.  

The visitation will be Sunday, August 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Abingdon Chapel. The funeral will take place Monday, August 25th at 10:00 a.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church in Canton with a graveside service following at the Abingdon Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by the Abingdon American Legion Honor Guard. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Calvary Baptist Church in Canton, IL.  A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date at the Ingersol Airport in Canton. 

Sandra Sweet

Sandra Sweet, 82, of Glasford, passed away, Monday, August 18, 2025, at OSF Richard L. Ownes Hospice Home in Peoria.

She was born in her home in Borton Illinois, on January 3, 1943, to Alva Francis, and Ureta (Bitner) Eskew. They preceded her in death.

Sandy married David Lee Sweet on June 8, 1961 in Bartonville. He preceded her in death on January 17, 2024.

She is survived by two sons, David W. (Judith) Sweet and Brian Sweet both of Glasford, four siblings, Shirley, Mike, Sharon, and Candy, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Sandy worked for 20 years at the Glasford State Bank. She was a member of the Faith Missionary Church in Bartonville. She enjoyed camping and fishing at Giant Goose Ranch in Canton, and traveling, especially to Disney World. Most of all Sandy loved spoiling her grandchildren.

Cremation rites will be accorded with Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton.

Gary Lynn Hoeft

Gary Lynn Hoeft, 75 of Manito, IL passed away at 4:52am Sunday August 17, 2025 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home after a brief battle with cancer.

Gary was born on September 10, 1949 to Eugene and Bernice (Sloter) Hoeft. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara Shore, and son Marc Hoeft.

Surviving are his daughter, Alicia (Scott) Arnold of Danville, KY, son Mason Hoeft of Manito, IL, grandchildren Paxtyn and Journi, and his faithful pup, Marley.

Gary farmed in Springlake for the first half of his life, he then went to work for Talbott’s, CaseIH, and then became owner/operator of Gary Hoeft Trucking. He was a true outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish and always grew the best gardens.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Meadowlawn Cemetery, in Manito. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at Maas-Hurley Funeral Home, in Manito. Burial will be in Meadow Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com.


Special thanks to Melanie Hoeft and the hospice nurses for taking care of him these past couple of months.

Maas-Hurley Funeral Home, in Manito, is in charge of arrangements.