Charles L. Thum

Charles L. Thum age 74, of Greenfield, TN, passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

A Memorial Service for  Charles will be held Thursday April 23rd at 1 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield. Visitation will begin at 12 noon and go until time his service at the funeral home. The family is planning a celebration of life in Fulton County at a later date. 

Chuck was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, his father, Charles H Thum, mother Lois Fidler Thum Hess, stepfather Alfred Hess, and brother Edward Ray Thum. 

 

Chuck is survived by his 2 sons, Jedidiah and Jacob Thum, and daughter Tara Stone , 6 Grandchildren Lukas, Andrew, Samuel and Sadie Thum, Devon Vestal, Riley Todd, 3 siblings,  Joe (Holly) Thum of Smithfield IL,  Penny (David) Grady of Lee’s Summit, Mo, Aaron (Veanna) Thum , Canton, IL. One Sister-in-law Gretchen Thum, Smithfield IL. and numerous niece’s and nephews. 

 

Chuck proudly served in the United States Navy for 6 years during 1970-1976 attaining the rank of E5.

 

Chuck worked as an Electrician for Illinois Power for several years, then later took a position working for TVA for 30 + years, retiring as an Electrical Maintenance Manager.  

 

     Chuck loved to hunt turkeys in Nebraska and Missouri with all of his brothers and bears in Michigan with his brother Ray. He made an annual trip to Illinois to deer hunt with his brother Aaron. He always wanted to go on a safari but never realized that goal. 

 

     Chuck had a hand in raising some of his grandsons and in getting them into trade school where they are starting successful careers. 

 A Celebration of Life will be taking place at the Red Brick School in Smithfield on Saturday, June 20^th from 2-4.

Rose M. Davis

Rose Marie Davis, 71, of Havana, passed away at her home on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 6:07 a.m. She was born on September 15, 1954 in Alexandria, Virginia to Wayne and Gladys (Carpenter) Davis.

Rose is survived by her daughter, Tonya (Dan) Patton of Claremont, New Hampshire; grandchildren, Novalea Negley and Liam Patton; several great-grandchildren; and long-time companion, Dale Everett Lane. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Randy Monroe in 1981; and siblings, Bruce, Barbara, and Donnie Watkins.
Rose worked for many years at Hornsby’s. She enjoyed talking on her CB radio.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Hurley Funeral Home in Havana, with a visitation one hour prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Havana.
Memorial donations can be made in Rose’s name to T.A.P.S. in Pekin. Online condolences can be left for her family at www.hurleyfh.com.
Hurley Funeral Home in Havana is in charge of arrangements.

Wilmer L. Gale

Wilmer Lee Gale, age 93, of Astoria, Illinois, passed away on June 15, 2026. He was born on November 24, 1932, in a partially log-cabin house west of Astoria that he later helped build, to Mylo and Wanda (Prather) Gale.

Wilmer dearly loved his family and is survived by his trophy wife, Linda Westlake Gale, with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. They were married on March 19, 1963, in Pocahontas, Arkansas. He is also survived by two children - one wonderful and one so-so - Lori Lee (Tim) Wendt and Robert “Snap” Preston Gale ; his grandson, Dylan “Little Snap” (Madison) Gale; two great-grandsons, Hawthorne “Hawk” Meilike and Finnegan Gale; and his great-granddaughter, Adalai Goins. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; too many to mention, and some of whom may not want the notoriety.

Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Bette (Ghlee) Calhoun; and his granddaughter, Sarah “Bug” Meilike.

Wilmer was hardworking, lived a colorful life, and possessed a great sense of humor. He enjoyed shooting guns, fishing, cutting wood, and riding Harleys. He also had a soft spot for animals, until he didn’t.

He landed his first job at age 13, helping out in an auto repair shop, and later went to work at Curly’s Auto Repair. He spent many years at Skiles Fertilizer before opening his own garage in 1979. Wilmer possessed exceptional mechanical and fabrication skills. Some people claimed he could diagnose a car simply by laying a hand on it.

However, Wilmer was best known for drag racing and making big-block Chevys scream. He built a drag car called True Grit from a 1967 Camaro and became famous throughout the Midwest. He won numerous races and wheelie contests, earning a large and loyal fan base. In 2019, Central Illinois Dragway honored him as Grand Marshal during its 50th Anniversary Celebration, where he made a pass in True Grit at the age of 86.

Wilmer was a hard man to love, but we loved him anyway. . .

Services will be held at 11 am on Friday, June 19, 2026 at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria. His children will be present for a visitation at the funeral home from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, June 18, 2026. A visitation hour will also be held with the entire family present from 10 to 11 am before the service on June 19th. Interment will be in the Astoria Cemetery. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Astoria Volunteer Fire Department, 101 E. State St., Astoria, IL 61501.

Donald E. "Doc" Edwards

Donald “Doc” Edwards, 92, of Canton, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2026.

Don was born on May 20, 1934, in Banner, Illinois, to Dewey and Marguerite (Rosa) Edwards of Monterey, Illinois.

On June 26, 1955, Don married the love of his life, Shirley (Whitmore) Edwards, in Canton. They were preparing to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary together. Shirley survives.

Also surviving are his daughter, Betsy (Dan) Taylor of Canton; his son, Bruce (Jean) Edwards of Canton; his brother, Bill (Beverly) Edwards of Bloomington, Illinois; and his sister, Nancy Lingenfelter of Chillicothe, Illinois. He also leaves behind six grandchildren: Erin (Scott) Slack, Jason (Sarah) Anderson, Cari (Kenny) Miller, Tyler (Stacey) Edwards, Katie (Kyle) James, and Maggie (Jake) Chenoweth; and twelve great-grandchildren: Logan (Tori) Anderson, Nolan, Casey, Chloe, Glen, Maeve, Haddon, Micah, Noah, Cooper, and twins Sophie and Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Teresa Anderson; his son-in-law, Donnie Anderson; his sisters, Vivian Thesfield and Norma Watkins; and his brothers, Price Edwards, Dewey Edwards Jr., and Richard Edwards.

Following high school, Don briefly worked at Caterpillar and Little Sister Coal Mine before earning his barber’s license in the early 1960s. He worked at White Court Barber Shop in Canton and later purchased the business, serving the community as a barber for 57 years before retiring at the age of 81.

Don dedicated much of his life to public service. From 1968 to 1978, he served as alderman for Canton’s Fourth Ward. In 1981, he was elected Mayor of Canton and was re-elected four consecutive times, serving a total of five terms and 20 years as mayor.

During his tenure, Don and the City Council guided Canton through significant economic challenges, including the closure of the International Harvester plant and the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs, the closing of several area mines, and major layoffs by Caterpillar and other employers. Through these difficult times, they worked tirelessly to keep Canton moving forward by maintaining city streets, strengthening the police and fire departments, improving water and sewer systems, continuing municipal trash collection, and overseeing numerous other city improvements.

In 1989, Don and his staff partnered with the State of Illinois and Governor “Big” Jim Thompson to attract new businesses to the area, including the Illinois River Correctional Center, which initially employed 400 people. He also led the efforts to construct the gazebo and iconic clock tower in Jones Park and played a key role in the cleanup of the former International Harvester site following the devastating 1997 fire.

Don loved Canton deeply and devoted his life to serving its citizens.

Outside of his public service, Don enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends, his son, son-in-law, and grandchildren. He was an avid mushroom hunter and enjoyed the occasional deer hunt. He loved cheering on the Chicago Bears and treasured spending time with family and friends. One of his greatest joys was spending Saturday evenings with Shirley and their friends at the Canton Moose, where they enjoyed dancing together.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Kenneth Krock and his staff, the wonderful caregivers in the Graham Hospital Emergency Department, and the nurses from Spoon River Home Health Service and Willow Ridge Hospice for their compassionate care.

The family also wishes to especially thank Betsy, Bruce, Jean, Dan, Maggie, Erin, Jason, and Sarah for their “Project Main Street” care rotation for both Don and Shirley, which allowed them to remain in their home together for so many years.

A private funeral service will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to South Park Methodist Church.

Don’s family will forever cherish his love, wisdom, devotion, and the many memories he leaves behind. His legacy of service, kindness, and dedication to his family and community will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.

Jack E. Walker

Jack E. Walker, 99, of Canton, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, June 4, 2026. He was born to Earl W. and Mildred (Miller) Walker on November 24, 1926 in Canton, IL. He was two years old when his mother passed in 1928, and his grandparents Charles and Anna Miller helped raise him.

Jack had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and started working at the neighborhood meat market in 8th grade. His first business, the Tasty Chip Company, in which he produced and delivered chips to 33 neighborhood stores in Canton and numerous stores in Fulton County.

While delivering his potato chips to a store in Lewistown, IL, in 1952, Jack spotted his future wife Ruth through the window and knew he had to meet her. Jack and Ruth were married January 31, 1954 and remained so until Ruth passed December 19th, 2022. In 1959, Jack bought Ruth the house of her dreams, and they spent their lives turning it into a showcase. Jack co-owned Jack & Bill's Apparel Inc with his best friend and business partner Bill Ritchey from 1954 until 1986, and they remained best friends until Bill's passing in 2013.

Jack was a WWII Navy Veteran and was on the Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2005. He was a member of the Shriners, Masons, and Elks. He was also a member of the American Legion, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Wesley United Methodist Church, and Canton and Wee-Ma-Tuk Country Clubs. Jack earned his pilot license in 1959 and enjoyed many years of exciting flights in the 60's and 70's. He was honored to be the Friendship Festival Parade Marshall in 2025. He was one of the many who got the IH whistle to blow again.

Jack had numerous hobbies including tennis, golf, yard work, playing pitch, snowmobiling, listening to live music, telling stories and hanging out with his grandkids. He spent many hours on the golf course with his grandchildren David and Ashley. Jack loved to seek knowledge and share it with others. He enjoyed being entertained by the neighbor boys Walker and Ford Brown.

Jack is survived by his two children, Mitchell (Samantha) Walker of Geneva, la, and Shelley (Dave) Henderson of Lenexa, Ks, six grandchildren, Robert, Liam, Krisstofer and Margaret Walker, Ashley (Aaron) Berkley, David Henderson, and one great grandchild, Lennon Grace Berkley.

A visitation will be held at 10 am on Friday July 3, 2026 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Canton, IL. Masonic services will be held at 11 AM followed by the Memorial Service. Military rites will be accorded at the church. Reverend Dr Shalom Renner will officiate. Burial of ashes will be held at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Canton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St Jude Children's Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children. Online condolences may be made at www. sedgwickfuneralhomes.com.

Allan Lee Ludlum

]Allan Ludlum, 82, of Canton, passed away on June 14, 2026 at Renaissance Care Center in Canton. He was born on August 9, 1943 in Canton to Ira and Imo (Walton) Ludlum. Allan married Cynthia Ossman on October 12, 1963. She preceded him in death on November 6, 2023. Also preceding him in death were his parents, daughter Susan Renee Ludlum three brothers and three sisters.

Surviving are two children; Jennifer (Bryan) Taylor of St. David and Brian (Angela) Ludlum of Brownsburg, IN, four grandchildren; Austin, Devin, Gabriel and Georgia and one great-grandson Luca.

Allan retired from Caterpillar after 30 + years as an electrician. He enjoyed going camping and fishing.

Allan was a US Army veteran serving during the Vietnam War.

Cremation rites will be accorded with Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton. Graveside services will be 2 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026 at White Chapel Memory Gardens. Memorials can made to either the Alzheimer’s Association or Fulton County Humane Society.

To make online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Jacqueline “Jackie” Lee Christensen

Jacqueline Lee “Jackie” Christensen, 95, of Manito, passed away at Carle Methodist Hospital, in Peoria, at 3:55 p.m., on Friday, June 12, 2026. She was born December 26, 1930, in Pekin, Illinois, to Emma Gent. She married Richard Irwin Thomas and had three children, Roger, Rhonda, and Kevin. She later married Donald Keith Christensen on June 17, 1977, in Manito. He preceded her in death on September 11, 2018.

Mrs. Christensen is survived by two children: Roger (Karen) Thomas, and Rhonda (Kirk) Woiwode, both of Manito; nine grandchildren: Cortney (Shauna), Cuyler (Bree), Cain (Alexis), Aaron (Kristen), Jared (Sara), Heather (John), Amanda (Andrew), Rusty (Emily), Leah (Derrick); five step-grandchildren: Tara, Sara (Alan), Nathan (Kara), Andrew, and Heidi; thirty great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Patricia Meyer-Hedrick; as well as step-son-in-law, Mike Bushong. She was preceded in death by her mother, husband, son: Kevin Dean Thomas; step-son: Scott Christensen; and step-daughter: Christy Bushong.
Mrs. Christensen was a member of Manito Community United Methodist Church. She enjoyed playing bridge and other card games. She was a member of the Red Hat Society. Her hobbies were bowling, fine dining, camping, and traveling to Florida. Along with her husband, she enjoyed dancing at the Elks Lodge, in Pekin.
Visitation will be held at Manito Community United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the services. Burial will follow the services at Glendal Memorial Gardens, in Pekin. Rev. Steve Oaks will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Manito Community United Methodist Church. Online memorial messages may be left for the family at www.hurleyfh.com.
Maas-Hurley Funeral Home, in Manito, is in charge of arrangements.