Bernice A. Wright

Name: Bernice A. Wright Age: 78      Address:   Rushville, IL

Date of Death: Wednesday, December 4, 2019        Time:  5:26 am    

Place:  Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville, IL

Date of Birth: June 20, 1941    Place:  Woodland Twp, Fulton County, IL

Parents:  Allen Cyrus and Nelda Aletha (Kessler) Bucher

Survivors:  Daughter- Susie (and John) Williams of Birdsboro, PA
Daughter-In-Law- Angela Wright of Vermont, IL
6 Grandchildren- Kodee (and Jason) Wood, Dakota (and Peter) McGoldrick, Laramee (and Cory Smith) Wright, Logan Wright, Lucas (and Ali Weaver) Williams, and Adam Williams.
Sister- Irene Shaw of Rushville, IL
Sister- Nedra Bollinger of Browning, IL
Brother- Dayle (and Patricia) Bucher of Bedford, IA

Preceded by:  her son, Billie Wright, 3 brothers, Art, Beverly, and Maynard Bucher, and 4 sisters, Ramona Mae Bucher, Virginia Maxine Cox, Leta Bella Bucher, and Doris Baker.

Occupation:  worked at Mayall Grocery in Ipava, Astoria Gardens and Kessler’s Meat Locker in Astoria.

Memberships:  Woodland Church of the Brethren. She enjoyed word search puzzles, BINGO, and was an avid reader.

Services:  Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will take place at 11 am on Monday, December 9, 2019.

Place:  Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, IL

Officiating:  Pastor Kevin Kessler

Visitation:  1 hour prior to the service on Monday.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bernice Wright Memorial Fund.

Services By:  Shawgo Memorial Home, Astoria, IL. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.shawgomemorialhome.org

Juanita M. Rosich

Juanita M. Rosich, 95, of Canton, passed away at 6:43 pm Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at the Graham Hospital in Canton.  Arrangements pending Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton.

Vernon H. Kapala

Canton – Vernon H. Kapala, 90, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Unity Point Methodist in Peoria.

He was born on March 10, 1929 in Rockford, IL to Andrew and Thelma (Holt) Kapala.  They preceded him in death.

He married Winona M. Ball on October 13, 1950 in Canton.  She preceded him in death on March 25, 2003.

Surviving are his children, Valerie (Gary) Page of Canton, Dan (Robin) Kapala of Canton, three grandchildren, Nicholee (Michael) Nietch of TX, Nick Kapala of FL, Garrett (Danielle) Page of FL, six grandchildren, Trevor, Aila, Tobin, Alexia, Cheyenne and Weston, one brother Ronnie Lust of FL and one sister, Nancy Lust of WI.

Also preceding him in death are three sisters, Delores Monaco, Norma Robbins, Marilyn Dempsey and his step father, Glenn Lust.

Vernon served in the U.S. Army for 22 years retiring in 1968.  He served during the Occupation of Japan, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.  At one point he served on the staff of the Inspector General under the command of General Westmoreland.  He later worked for Caterpillar for 22 years retiring in 1989.  He was the owner and operator of Canton Coin Exchange.  He was a member of the Fulton County Democrats and served as an Election Judge.  Vernon enjoyed coin collecting, fishing and gardening.

 Funeral Services will be at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton, on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at 11 am with a visitation one hour prior at the funeral home.

Burial will be held at White Chapel Memory Gardens in Canton where military rites will be accorded.

Memorials may be made to the Canton Salvation Army or the Fulton County Humane Society.

To view his video tribute or to leave online condolences, please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com

Barbara E. Gruber

Name: Barbara E. Gruber Age: 87 Address:      Farmington, IL

Date of Death: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Time:  3:47 am    

Place: Unity Point Health Methodist in Peoria, IL

Date of Birth: December 12, 1931 Place: Ipava, IL

Parents: Lloyd and Mettie Pearl (Groff) Shawgo

Married: Gerald Gruber on April 13, 1952 in Norfolk, VA. He preceded her in death on May 3, 2014. 

Survivors: Son- Roger (and Cynthia) Gruber of Galveston, TX
Son- Larry Gruber of Hanna City, IL
Daughter- Amy Middleton of Louisville, KY
Daughter- Susie Spackman of St. Charles, IL
9 grandchildren: Curtis Gruber, Cinnamon (and William) Belinski, Corey (and Jason) Strunk,
Cassidy (and Jake) Crow, Paige Middleton, Allyson Middleton, Madison Middleton,
Sarah Pearl Spackman and Jack Spackman
11 great-grandchildren
Sister- Faith Foster of Springfield, IL

Preceded by:    2 sons, Timothy and Thomas Gruber, 4 brothers, Bernard, Everett, Dwayne,   and Paul, and her sister, Freida Endres

Occupation: homemaker 

Memberships: Barbara was a member of the Farmington United Methodist Church, where she was
active in the food pantry and church bazaars. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, cooking and reading.
She made holidays and birthdays very special for her family. She always attended activities that her
children and grandchildren participated in.

Services:   12 noon on Friday, December 6, 2019

Place:   Farmington United Methodist Church

Officiating: Pastor Jason Gilmore and Pastor Wally Carlson

Visitation:  10 am to 12 noon on Friday at the church prior to services.

Interment:  Astoria, Cemetery in Astoria, IL

Memorials:   Farmington United Methodist Church

Services By:  Shawgo Memorial Home, Astoria, IL. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.shawgomemorialhome.org

Virginia L. Hauk

Virginia L. Hauk, 85, of Canton, passed away Monday, December 2, 2019 at Sunset Manor in Canton. Cremation rites will be accorded with Oaks-Hines Funeral Home and Crematory in Canton

Marcheta Joy (Harris) Ellsworth

Marcheta Joy (Harris) Ellsworth, 75 peacefully passed away at her home in St. Louis, Mo on Friday, November 8th at 12:15pm.

Marcheta was born on September 4, 1944, in Canton, to Ralph and Rossie (Williams) Harris. She married Don E. Ellsworth on March 29, 1976. He proceeded her in death on November 10, 2018.

She is also proceeded in death by two sisters who passed in infancy, Shelby and Sandra, as well as a grandson, Peyton Ellsworth.

She is survived by 4 children, Doug Ellsworth of Urbana, IL, Brad (Melanie) Ellsworth of Austin, TX, Angel Venegoni of St. Louis, MO and Tiffany (Jeramy) Ellsworth of Normal, IL, 4 grandchildren (Ryan (Tamra), Marisa, Brandon and Drew), and one great granddaughter (Henleigh). Also surviving are two brothers, Monte and Max Harris, both of Banner, IL as well as many close cousins, nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Timber Tigers High School in Glasford, IL in 1962, she went on to obtain her teaching degree from Northeast Missouri State Teachers college in Kirksville, Missouri in 1967. She taught at several schools within Fulton County, but the majority of her career was spent as a 3rd grade teacher at Westview Elementary. After teaching in Canton District 66 for 25 years, she retired in 2000. But she wasn’t ready to let it go entirely and continued to teach in Camdenton, Mo for a few more years. Her devotion to her students and their success proves that teaching was one of her greatest passions in life. She not only taught students the curriculum, she encouraged and inspired countless individuals as an educator.

Marcheta started dancing at a young age and traveled with her mom’s troop of the “Little Sister’s Square Dancers” to perform statewide. As an adult, she opened her own dance studio, choreographed her own productions, plays and pageants. Dancing brought her much happiness and she never hesitated to be the first on the dance floor if the music hit her!

She also enjoyed traveling. After retiring from teaching, she worked as a tour bus guide in Sun City West, AZ. It combined her love for learning, teaching and experiencing new places.

Many moments and memories were made on the water and just having fun. She loved spending time with her family and friends and her laughter and smile will be greatly missed.

2 years ago, Marcheta was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Her family would like to thank the countless members of the staff at Siteman Cancer Center for their continued compassion and support. In her memory, the family requests contributions be made to the Siteman Cancer Center, MSC 1204-414-2300, 7425 Forsyth Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105 or online at siteman.wustl.edu/tribute. Please indicate the gift is in memory of Marcheta by writing a memo on your check.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Sedgwick Funeral Homes & Crematory in Canton. A visitation will be held from 11:00 – 2:00 PM. Rev. K Bruce Rushing will officiate. A burial of ashes will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Canton, IL. To make online condolences you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com

Ralph “Buddy” Linn Paul

Canton – Ralph “Buddy” Linn Paul, 92, of Canton, passed away at 11:38 AM on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Graham Medical Group. He was born on September 13, 1927 in Canton to John W. and Sadie (Brush) Paul. He married Marian Grace Gillette on October 7, 1950 at the First Baptist Church in Canton. She survives.

 Also surviving are four children, James E. (Annegret) Paul of Kalamazoo, MI, Ralph W. (Patricia) Paul of Normal, IL, Jeffrey L. (Tina) Paul of Macomb, IL, and Kathleen A. (Michael) Luker of Canton, IL; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, John W. Paul Jr. of Escondido, CA. Also, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

 Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Herschel and Robert Virgil Paul, and six sisters, Ethel Pfieffer, Mabel Miller, Opal Averill, Waneta Whitaker, Gertrude Melz, and Emma Everlen, and one great-grandson, Nathan Paul Hickman.

 Ralph joined the Army in 1946 serving in WWII, spending over two years in Italy, two years with the Korean conflict, and a total of five years in the service. In his youth he worked at Al’s Shoe Repair, The IHC Canton Plant, and Norm Zeurcher’s Auto Care. He began carrying mail in Christmas ’52 and worked at the Canton Post Office for 32 years. He retired in 1984 to work maintaining his properties and enjoying his friends and family. He was a cubmaster for Boy Scouts of America and co-president of Kellogg PTA during the 60’s. He was also a member of National Association of Letter Carriers and a member of the First Baptist Church of Canton where he often ushered.

 A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Cremation rites will be accorded with Sedgwick Funeral Homes & Crematory in Canton, IL. Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry in Canton or Love, Inc. in Canton. To make online condolences you may go to www.sedgwickfuneralhomes.com