Darlene Hammer
ANCHOR – Darlene L. Hammer, 85, Anchor, passed away at 4:38 p.m., Friday, June 15, 2018 at Heartland Healthcare Center, Normal.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor with Pastor Jim Davis officiating. Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Anchor.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax and one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Hammer was born December 3, 1932 in rural Gibson City, the daughter of Ferdinand A. and Edna Friday Landau. She married Donald T. Hammer on November 6, 1955 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor. He survives in Anchor.
Also surviving are two daughters, Susan (Robert) Mizell, Colfax and Sandra (Michael) Fay, Normal; two granddaughters, Amanda (Eric) Leslie, Las Vegas, Nev., and Amy (Lawson) Cassels, Normal; three great-grandchildren, Henry and Lillian Leslie and Wilson Cassels; one sister, Betty Barth, Chesterfield, Mo.; one brother, Robert (Shirley) Landau, Fairbury.
Darlene was a member of the first graduating class of Octavia High School. Throughout her life, she worked for State Farm, M&W Gear Company in Anchor, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, and Warsaw Chevrolet in Colfax.
She was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Anchor. She enjoyed time with her family and loved them dearly.
A guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Everett Kuntz
Everett Leo Kuntz, 86, of Normal, passed away at 3:24 p.m., Friday, June 15, 2018 after a bried illness at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal. He was surrounded by family.
A Mass to celebrate his life will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bloomington. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Everett was born April 27, 1932 in Cropsey, IL, the son of Albert Joseph and Agnes Irene Sutter Kuntz. He married Carolyn Anna Schenk on June 5, 1954 at St. Mary’s Church in Bloomington.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Carolyn; three sons, Joseph (Diana) Kuntz of Batavia, John (Peg) Kuntz of Bloomington and James (Mark Earle) Kuntz of Owensboro, Ky.; five daughters, Marie (Terry) Dawson of Carlock, Cheryl Kuntz of Normal, Martha Raube of Camdenton, Mo., Theresa (Mark) Kotte of Hudson and Barbara (Ken) Reece of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Michelle Kuntz of San Diego, Cal.; Sandra (Alan) Fedden of Hudson, who was loved as a daughter. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, Samantha (Jonathan) Fuchs, Jen (Lynn Hernbrott) Dawson, Nikki (Stacy Hinshaw) Dizon, Robin (Brian) Fisher, Angela (Brian) DeJaynes, Ashley Kuntz, Dillon (Taylor Joy) Raube, Kristin (Shane) Handley, Michele Kotte, Lynne Kotte, Jessica Reece, Jake (Elizabeth) Reece, Allie (Andy) Mlyniec, Andrew, Robby and Maggie Kuntz, James Nemechek and Katie (Ethan) Glasford; a step-granddaughter, Lindsey Green; 11 great-grandchildren, Alexander and Anderson Fuchs, Alexa, Keaton and Sienna Fisher, Ana, Roman, Grant and Jackson DeJaynes, Blake and Avryl Raube, Addison, Cooper, Aribelle and Connor Handley, Gabriella and Aiden Reece, River Reece, Addalyn and Emily Glasford and Graham and Bennett Mlyniec; three step great-grandchildren, Taylor Pichon, Angelica and Michael Green; two brothers, Louis (Beverly) Kuntz of Roswell, Ga. and Albert Kuntz of Quincy; a brother-in-law, Wilbur (Helen) Schenk and 3 sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kuntz, Rose Schenk, and Letty Schenk; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael Kuntz, six siblings, Loretta Carter, Russell, Patricia Stone, Donald and twins, Joseph and Mary; two granddaughters, Amy and Mary Grace Kuntz; a daughter-in-law, Karen Kuntz; a son-in-law, Tim Raube; five brothers-in-law, Leo Carter, W.E. Stone, Bill and Edgar Schenk and Robert Norton; a sister-in-law, Leona Norton and his step-mother, Blanche Kuntz.
Everett attended Towanda High School for three years and graduated from Normal Community High School in 1949. He was a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, serving in the Korean Conflict from Feb. 1952 to Sept. 1953. Everett farmed in the Bloomington-Normal area from childhood until 1970. He had also worked for State Farm Insurance Co., the City of Bloomington, Northern Illinois Gas Co. and Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Dairy Queen/Dairy Delight at 1109 S. Main Street in Bloomington where he and his wife, Carolyn were owner/operators from 1973-1979. He also worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation from June 1985 until his retirement on January 31, 1999.
Everett was a member of John H. Kraus VFW Post #454, Bloomington, Fr. John D. Ring Knights of Columbus Council #574 in Bloomington where he was a 3rd Degree Knight and was a 4th Degree Knight for Assembly #213. Everett enjoyed farming, auto and mechanical repair, reading and visiting with family. He was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bloomington.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Ruth Steele
BLOOMINGTON – Ruth Holbert Steele, 99, of Normal passed away on Friday, March 30, 2018 at Luther Oaks, Bloomington.
There was a private burial and a celebration of life service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 23, at 11 a.m. A light lunch will follow at the church. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home will be handling the arrangements.
Ruthie was known for her brisk daily walks on Constitution Trail, a practice that delighted her into her nineties. Also, in her nineties, she was featured in a nationwide Mitsubishi television commercial.
She was born February 20, 1919, in Normal, to Dr. J. R. and Bertha Holbert. She married Leon Steele in 1941.
Survivors include a son Denny (Linda) and daughter Nancy (Tom), both of Bloomington; grandchildren Stephen Brokaw, Chicago; Katie Brokaw, Merced, California; Angie Steele (Scott Edenfield) Oak Park; and Ben Steele (Jen) Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and great grandchildren Elise Steele Edenfield and Ian Steele Edenfield, Oak Park.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Bob and son David.
She was a graduate of Normal Community High School and Illinois Wesleyan University, where she majored in theatre.
Ruth’s favorite expression was, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” She had a big smile and kept it to the end.
She was a longtime supporter of Illinois Wesleyan University, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Prairie Fire Theatre and Second Presbyterian Church. Memorials can be made to these or other organizations.
The family would like to thank the staff at Luther Oaks for the wonderful and loving care they gave our mother over the last five years.
Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
