Hans Bucklitzsch
Hans H. Bucklitzsch, 83, of Bloomington, died at 8:07 p.m. on Dec. 24 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.
Military honors will be performed by the American Legion Honor Guard of Bloomington-Normal at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, where a memorial visitation will immediately follow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. Cremation rites have been accorded. Naval burial at sea will be held at a later date.
He was born Jan. 24, 1932 in Triebes, Germany, son of Hermann and Erna Wermig Bucklitzsch. He married Victoria Swafford on Dec. 7, 1963.
Surviving are his wife, Victoria, of Bloomington; son, Erik Bucklitzsch and daughter, Carla “Jessie” Bucklitzsch, both of Avondale, Ariz. and one sister, Annerosa Schlorke of Germany.
In November of 1955, Hans immigrated to the United States from Germany and in April 1956, enlisted in the US Navy. He gained his US Citizenship in three years and was honorably discharged in 1962. He later joined the US Army Reserves Unit in Bloomington and was a member until retirement in 1995.
Hans worked for General Electric in Bloomington until enrolling in barber college. He was a co-owner and operator of the United Barber Shop for 30 years. In 1982, he worked with the Multi-Peace Keeping Force in the Sinai and in 1989 was employed in the Security Department of the American Embassy, Warsaw, Poland. He retired from there in 1995.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Gary Sinise Foundation (www.garysinisefoundation.org). To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Carolyn Reynolds
Carolyn M. Reynolds, 90, of Meadows, formerly of Downs, passed away at 6:07 a.m. on Jan. 11 at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community in Meadows.
Her funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Thomas Wirsing officiating. Visitation will be from 9-11:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church prior to the service. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran School.
Carolyn was born on Oct. 18, 1925 in Downs, a daughter of Carl and Elsie Goodlick Graning. She married Elmer Wayne Reynolds on April 6, 1947 in Bloomington. He preceded her in death on Dec. 21, 2000.
Surviving are two sons, Kenneth (Judy) Reynolds of Table Grove, Roger (Valerie) Reynolds of Middletown; four daughters, Linda (Paul) Zimmermann of Willowbrook, Susan (Mark) Thoennes of Bloomington, Nancy (Randy) Finfrock of Aurora, and Sharon (Thomas) Gerth of El Paso; 15 grandchildren, Faron (Heather) Reynolds, Travis (Valerie) Reynolds, Alison Pharis, Chet (Morrisa) Reynolds, Jerrod (Anna) Reynolds, Amanda Zimmermann, Laura (Jake) Govorchin, Nicole (Mark) Thoennes-Scearce, Ryan (Beth) Thoennes, Ashley (Brody) Burmaster, Zach (Ashley) Finfrock, Luke Finfrock, Ben Finfrock, Carrie (Jake) Soliday, and Erica (Ryan) Kelly; 16 great grandchildren and 4 expected later this year. She is also survived by one half sister, Connie Graning, LeRoy.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Carl Graning Jr. and Harold Graning. Carolyn was born and raised in Downs, where she and her husband Wayne were life-long farmers. She was a 4-H leader for many years, a member of the Downs Home Extension Association, and a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was also an accomplished seamstress, having proudly sewn all of the dresses for her daughters’ weddings. While raising her farm family, she also enjoyed quilting, gardening, canning, and baking. She generously shared her many talents with her children and passed them on to her grandchildren, as well. She was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Carolyn’s family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community for the kind and compassionate care shown to her during her short stay with them.
Online condolences and memories of Carolyn may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.
