Thomas Aaron
Thomas Harold Aaron, 82, Fairbury passed away at 9:40 a.m. Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Evenglow Inn, Pontiac in the presence of his family. He was born September 28, 1934 in Strawn, Ill. the son of George and Izetta (Hickey) Aaron. Tom married Estella L. Schove on April 16, 1955 and they were married for 40 years. He then married Marge Bryant in 1997 she survives in Alvin, Tx.
Tom is survived by three sons, Doug (Charlene), Fairbury; Roger (Sue), Etowah, Tenn.; and Terry, one daughter, Jill Brown (Derrin Kerrins) both of Fairbury; Stepsons, Scot (Michael Ann) Bryant, Stepdaughter, Debbie (Carl) Bottoms, both of Alvin, Tex.; Anita (April) Gill, Pearland, Tex; Linda (Kenny) Carter, Alvin, Tex.; and Lisa (Donnie) Byerley, Pearland, Tex.. Tom also leaves behind five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and ten step-great-grandchildren. Also very special to Tom were Marge Bryant and family, Alvin, Texas and Jim and Martha Cottrell, Fairbury.
Tom was preceded in death by wife Estella Aaron, five sisters, Rita Belle Aaron, Jean Roger, Elizabeth (Betty) Harms, Francis Kammerman, Helen Martin.
Tom graduated from Strawn High School in 1953. He served his country in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea for active duty from 1954-1956. Tom had a 30 year career at Pittsburg International, Fairbury and was also the owner of Aaron Disc Sharpening Service for 35 years before retirement, as son Terry took over the business.
Tom served in the V.F.W. Post 9789, Fairbury as Commander and Past President of the Fairbury Sportsman’s Club and was a longtime member of the Fairbury Fire Department.
The visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 pm Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017 also at the memorial home. Burial will follow in Strawn Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded by the Fairbury VFW and American legion posts. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Brian J. Munz Safety Complex or the Fairbury Fire Department.
The Aaron family would like to thank the staff at Evenglow Inn for the exceptional care Tom received.
An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Anthony Burgess
Michael Anthony “Tony” Burgess, 59 of Chenoa, formerly of Pontiac, passed away at 4:11 a.m., Sunday, May 21, 2017 at OSF St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Bloomington.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2017 at River of Life Outreach, Chenoa; with Pastor David Heath officiating. Burial will follow at Chenoa Twp. Cemetery, Chenoa.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the family of Tony Burgess.
Tony was born April 24, 1958 in Bloomington the son of Robert Snow and Sue Lyons. His parents and one brother, Bobby Burgess preceded him in death. He married Kandy Bee on May 1, 1982. His wife Kandy survives in Chenoa.
Other survivors include one daughter, Kathy (Tim) Barlow of Chenoa; one son, Michael (Hannah Pace) Burgess of Pontiac; one sister, Debbie (Larry) Hatfield of Owensboro, KY; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles.
Tony was employed at Pontiac Healthcare and Rehab. He loved to fish, working on his show cars and making people laugh. Tony never knew a stranger and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Online condolences left for the family and a guest registry are available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Jerome “Jerry” Dowling
Jerome Joseph “Jerry” Dowling, 82, resident of 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, S.C.; husband of Janet Kay Johnson Dowling, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born July 18, 1934, in Piper City, Ill., he was a son of the late Joseph Murray Dowling and Leona Josephine Egges Dowling. He graduated Piper City High School in 1952, and Illinois Commercial College in Champaign, Ill., in 1954, and served in the US Army at Colorado Springs. Mr. Dowling started his working career with Honeggers’ & Company in Fairbury, Ill., as an accountant, then in the credit department and finally as the controller for the company. He worked from 1980 to 1995, with Fairbury Federal Savings & Loan as a financial analyst.
A longtime resident of Fairbury, he and Janet moved to Sun City Hilton Head, SC, in 1999, and then to Wesley Commons in Greenwood in 2014. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Greenwood, SC.
Surviving in addition to his wife of 60 years, are two daughters, Deb and husband Barry Shultz of Aiken, S.C., and Lori and husband Brian Kleppinger of Bethlehem, Pa.; and three grandchildren, Cassie Kleppinger and Chad Kleppinger, both of the Bethlehem area, and Erin Shultz of Atlanta. He was predeceased by his sister, Teresa Dowling.
A memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 26, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Chenoa with Fr. Carl LoPresti officiating. Inurnment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Chenoa with full military rites accorded by the Fairbury VFW and American Legion Posts.
Visitation to celebrate Jerry’s life will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wesley Commons, 1110 Marshall Road, Greenwood, S.C. 29646.
An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Jeanne Seitz
Jeanne R. Seitz, 89, of Normal, passed away at 10:05 a.m., Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Heritage Healthcare in Normal.
Her funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Rev. Eric Powell officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be directed to Epiphany Catholic Church and School, Normal.
Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Jeanne was born November 28, 1927 in Chicago, the daughter of Walter and Helen Robbins. She married Kenneth Seitz on May 19, 1973 in Elmhurst, Ill. Kenneth preceded her in death on April 1, 2003.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Mary (James) Becker of Rochester Hills, Michigan; step-grandchildren, Anne (Michael) Hall, Kansas; David (Kristeen) Becker, Michigan; John (Luanne) Becker, Michigan; Stephen (Rachel) Becker, Georgia and nine great grandchildren; step-nieces, including Margaret Ninness of Normal and family.
Jeanne was a graduate of Illinois State University and a caring 3rd grade teacher for 10 years in Elmhurst. She also taught at an American Air Force base in Japan for several years. Her hobbies included photography and genealogy and she also enjoyed traveling the world.
She will always be lovingly remembered by family, friends, and all who knew her.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Sherry Taylor
Sherry Taylor, 46, of Neoga, formerly of Fairbury, passed away at 11:24 a.m., Friday, May 19, 2017, at Sarah Bush Hospital, Mattoon.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 27, 2017, at First Baptist Church of Fairbury. Pastor Daryl Evans will be officiating.
Friends may greet the family at 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family.
Duffy-Pils Memorial home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Sherry was born October 27, 1970, in Fairbury, the daughter of Harold and Sherryl Bingham Martin.She married Karl Taylor on January 12, 1991. He survives in Neoga. Also surviving are her mother Sherryl Martin of Neoga; children, Samantha Taylor of Neoga, Eligah Taylor of N.Y., and Masa Taylor of Neoga; five grandchildren; sister, Jennifer (Doug) Bazzell of SC; brother, Jason Martin of Bloomington. She was preceded in death by her father.
An online registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
