Virginia Hadley Newell

Virginia Hadley Newell

Born March 22, 1918 Chicago, Illinois

Died November 6, 2015

Parents: Bryant E. Hadley and Ruth Hancock Hadley

Virginia Hadley Newell passed away on Nov 6 in Rockford Illinois at the age of 97.  Virginia was born in Chicago on March 22, 1918, the daughter of Bryant and Ruth Hadley.  She moved to Springfield as a youngster and lived there for 39 years, attending Springfield High School and Illinois State University.  In 1938 she married Springfield resident Robert Newell.

In Springfield Virginia was active in many sports, especially golf, tennis and swimming.  She was also active in the YWCA, and was a charter member of the Springfield Jayshees.  She was also supportive of many family activities.

The Newells moved to Rockford in 1967 and remained there for the rest of their lives. They had many good friends in Rockford and were active in Westminster Presbyterian Church, golf, tennis and volunteer work with Rockford Memorial Hospital, where Virginia died on February 6.

Her life was long and full. Her unfailing support for her family, adventurous spirt, and persistence in good times and challenging times were a model for all.

Virginia was preceded in death by her lifelong love, husband Robert in 1995. She is survived by two sons, Robert Jr and Bruce, six grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

Arrangements include a visitation and Fitzgerald & Associates, 3910 North Rockton Avenue on M and visitation and graveside service at Boardman Funeral Chapel, 800 South Grand Avenue, Springfield, Illinois, and Roselawn Cemetery, Springfield on Wed. November 11.

Harold Barbee

ALMA, AR - Harold E. Barbee, 74, died August 24, 2015, in his home.

He was born November 21, 1940, in Springfield, Ill. He attended Dubois Grade School and Springfield High School, graduating in 1958. He was retired from Central Illinois Light Company and was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne Heissinger Barbee of the home, two daughters, DeAnna Derr and husband, David, of Childress, Texas, Victoria Kockler and husband, Curtis, of Minnestrista, Minn.; two sons, Mark Barbee and wife, Laurie, of Gilbert, Ariz., Brian Barbee and wife, Melissa, of Rochester, Wash.; one brother, Charles Barbee and wife, Margaret, of Chanhassen, Minn., one sister, Debra Johnson and husband, Jeff, of Springfield, Ill.; ten grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

Family-held Memorial Service will be at Merle’s Steak House at 215 W. Fork Street, Alma, AR, Friday, August 28, at 2 p.m. Please join us for a taste of Harold's favorite meal and we invite you to share your favorite memories.

Cremation is under the direction of Lewis-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Fort Smith.

To place an online tribute, go to www.lewisfuneralchapel.net

Published in The State Journal-Register from Aug. 27 to Aug. 28, 2015

Edwin Weiskopf Jr.

Edwin Weiskopf, Jr., 74, of Springfield, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at his home. He was born Aug. 7, 1940, in Springfield, the son of the late Edwin F. and Dorabel L. (Ritter) Weiskopf, Sr.

Mr. Weiskopf graduated from Springfield High School in 1958. He went through the IBEW Apprenticeship Program and became a journeyman wireman, and worked for several electrical companies including Hunter Electric, Anderson Electric, and Mansfield Electric. He retired from the City of Springfield in August of 2002, serving as the City Electrical Inspector. He was a member of IBEW Local #193, Lake Press Club, the NRA, the Elks Club, and he also served as a Hunter Safety Clinic instructor. He was also a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Springfield.

He is survived by four children: Michele (husband, Ed) Smith of Rochester, Ill., Edwin (wife, Cindy) Weiskopf III of Springfield, Daniel Weiskopf of Springfield, and Jeramie (fiancé, Tarnah Worrall) Weiskopf of Rochester, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several cousins.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter.

Services are under the direction of Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen, Springfield, IL where a memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, June 23, 2015, from 5 p.m. until time of the memorial service at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Ladd Sonnenberg officiating. Per his wishes, cremation rites were accorded.

Memorials may be made to: The A.P.L. (Animal Protective League), 1001 Taintor Rd., Springfield, IL 62702, or The Wounded Warrior Project Fund, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

Please visit the online "Life Remembered Story" at bischandsonfuneralhome.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.

Published in The State Journal-Register from June 20 to June 21, 2015

Barbara Edmiston Mitchell

Barbara J. Mitchell, 74, of Franklin Hill, PA passed away, Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center, Forest City, PA. Born May 24, 1940 in Clinton, IL, she was the daughter of the late Merle and Dorothy C. [McBride] Edmiston.

Barbara attended Hay-Edwards grade school and Springfield High School in Springfield, IL, and Monticello Preparatory School & College, Godfrey, IL and graduated in 1958. She attended the University of Maine, the Douglass College of Rutgers University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in history from RU in May of 1982.

On May 17, 1978, she married her best friend and soulmate, David W. Mitchell. The inseparable couple loved their home on Franklin Hill that they have called home for over 20 years. She enjoyed nature, wildlife, flowers and animals. She and her husband were avid basketball fans, attending many Binghamton University basketball events. She was a beautiful soul, an amazing woman, who was intelligent, compassionate, kind, and a devoted wife with unwavering strength.

Throughout her life, she wrote and published two books, O’ Fairest Monticello, a book about Monticello Preparatory School and being a student there and How to Cope with Headaches, a book of compilations of weekly articles from online magazines. She was an editor for Business Digest in Waterbury, CT, a reporter with newspapers in Cheshire, CT and Montrose, PA, a columnist with The Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, IL and wrote numerous magazine articles and several op-ed pieces for various newspapers. Barbara even had her own blog called Views from the Country, freedomacres/blogspot.com where she wrote many book reviews on the books she read.

In 2006, Barbara retired from Southern Tier Imaging in Johnson City, NY as a medical transcriptionist. Graveside Services: Monday, April, 27, 2015 at 10AM at Franklin Hill Cemetery, 400 Franklin Hill Road, Hallstead, PA, 18822 with Rev. H. Chase Page officiating. Services are being entrusted to the Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, Inc., Montrose, PA.

Sandra Pence Nugent

URBANA – Sandra Lee Nugent (nee Pence) of Urbana passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening (March 11, 2015) at Illini Heritage nursing home. She had been struggling with kidney failure for 14 years. There will be no services. She donated her whole body to research in memory of her nursing friends, Lois and Laura.

Sandy was born Dec. 13, 1939, in Decatur, to Clyde Alvin Pence and Hazel Fern (Joseph) Pence [Dickinson]. She attended Springfield High School and graduated in 1958. She married Charles Stigers in 1960 and Sterling Glenn Nugent in 1967.

She was preceded in death by a brother, her parents, her second husband and her son-in-law, Russell Cler. She is survived by her son, Timothy (Theresa) Stigers; her daughters, Robin Cler and Antoinette (Michael) Novak; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a sister.

She worked at A1 Alarm Service for more than 20 years and was an active member of the Friends of the Urbana Free Library.

"Nothing is better than a rainy day, a comfy chair, a good book, and a cat on my lap." Rest in peace. Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy, is in charge of arrangements.

James E. Duncan

James E. "Jim" Duncan, 74, of Lancaster and formerly of Elizabethtown, entered life eternal on Monday, February 17, 2014 with his loving wife, Yvonne, by his side, at Homestead Village, Lancaster. 

Born in Waukegan, IL, he was the son of the late Edward and Elva (Osborne) Duncan. He was a graduate of Springfield High School in Illinois and Tarkio College in Missouri. Jim was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, and was awarded the Bronze Star and attained the rank of Major after serving 15 years in the United States Air Force. 

Upon leaving the military, Jim was employed by M&M Mars of Elizabethtown and retired in 1997. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church of Elizabethtown, was an active volunteer at Homestead Village of Lancaster, and enjoyed singing. Jim loved to travel, spend time with family, and work on wood and leaded glass ­projects. He will be missed by many for his caring ways and willingness to help others.

Jim is survived by Yvonne M. (Copenhaver), his wife of 50 years; aunt Hope Dallman,WA; cousin Concie Luna, WA; three sisters-in-law, Joy Lehman (Jay), Elizabethtown, Jean Ferguson, Lancaster, Jennie Copenhaver, CA; and a brother-in-law, John Copenhaver, TX.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service at Christ Lutheran Church, 125 E. High St., Elizabethtown on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. There will be a time of visitation with the family on Saturday at the church from 10:00-11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim's memory may be sent to Christ Lutheran Church, 125 E. High St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 or The Sebastian Foundation for animal rescue, 121 Ridgewood Court, Columbia, PA 17512.

Elizabeth Krueger James

Elizabeth Krueger James, known as Liz or Lizzie to friends and family, passed away in the early hours of March 3, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center. She was 74 years old A lifelong resident of Springfield, Liz was born on October, 4, 1940 to William and Alma (Horn) Krueger. She was the eldest of two children.

She attended Trinity Lutheran School, and later Springfield High School. In her early 20s, one of her friends convinced her to work for Illinois Bell, where she worked for the next 30 plus years, making many friends along the way.

While working there, Liz enjoyed volunteering in the Telephone Pioneers of America. Up until a few months before her passing, she still gave her time to help repair Talking Books. She also volunteered with the Senior Center and Memorial Medical Center.

She retired from the telephone company at 51, but retirement didn't suit her for long. She joined the staff of Springfield High School as an attendance secretary in 1996. She worked 10 enjoyable years there before retiring permanently to enjoy life

.

She was also a devoted mother, raising her daughter all by herself. She worked hard, but never missed a game or recital.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her son, Ronald James.

Liz is survived by her daughter, Carrie L. James of Queens, NY; her sister, Carolyn (Robert) Viste; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and her beloved dog, Mollie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations in Liz's memory to one of the following charities: Animal Protective League, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, or The Telephone Pioneers Shoe Program.

Memorial Gathering and Service: 9:30 a.m. until the time of a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2015, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Inurnment will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Published in The State Journal-Register on Mar. 6, 2015