Mary Agnes Donovan Haas

Mary Agnes Donovan Haas, 82, of Normal passed away on Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. Her courageous 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s is over, her soul is at peace.

Her funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Monsignor Eric Powell officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Sunday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home in Bloomington with the rosary recited at 6:45 p.m.and from 9:30-10 a.m. Monday prior to the mass at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Catholic High School or Birthright of McLean County.

Mary was born July 16, 1930 in Ashkum, Ill., a daughter to James and Agnes Donovan.

Survivors include her loving family; her husband Allan Haas, one daughter Diane (Eric) Smith, four sons, Marty (Lisa), Steve (Cathy), John and Mike (Melissa) Haas; twin sister Anne Schopp, sisters Rose Gildner, and Aggie Yeakle, and a brother, John Donovan. Eighteen grandchildren, Jennifer (Jason) Tiner, David Philpott, Donovan Haas; JT (Sarah) and Steve (Carrie) Haas, Molly (Tony) Uhren, Colleen (Jeremy) Zeitler and Anne (Preston) Holdren; Max and Louie Haas; Leslie (Michael) Ruffing, Michael (Suzanne), Christopher, and Anna Smith; Derek, Doug and Wesley Haas; and twelve beautiful great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Mary met her husband of 62 years, Al, at the McLean County Fair. He composed a letter of love and after receiving it, the two were inseparable. Mary and Al began their loving and full marriage at St. Joseph Church, Chenoa, and soon after made their home on a farm in rural Towanda where they raised their five children.

Mary had many long friendships during her life. She enjoyed reading, writing, playing bridge and travelling with Al, which was always an adventure! They often joined up with Leonard and Rosie Haas as well as John and Paula Cunningham. Her favorite destination without a doubt was Ireland, as Mary revelled in her Irish heritage.

Mary thoroughly enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow and flourish, attending many baptisms, First Communions, graduations and weddings. Besides her family, her other passion in life was her volunteerism. She devoted many selfless hours to St. Joseph Hospital and its auxiliary. Volunteering her time at Birthright was extremely close to her heart as well. She was a devoted member of St. Patrick’s Church of Merna and then Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal.

Mary’s heart was as full as her smile was wide. Her sparkling Irish eyes will never be forgotten.

“These things, I warmly wish for you- Someone to love, some work to do, A bit o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer. And a guardian angel always near.”

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Marvin Henry Bender

Marvin Henry Bender, 90, of Fairbury died at 3:53 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community in Fairbury.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Apostolic Christian Church in Fairbury with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Fairbury and 9-9:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to Fairview Haven Retirement Community.

Mr. Bender was born Feb. 23, 1922 in Forrest, Ill., the son of Jacob and Martha Bachtold Bender. He married Clara E. Kilgus on March 6, 1960 in Fairbury. She preceded him in death on April 11, 2003.

Surviving are three sisters, Florence (Donald) Rinkenberger, Fairbury; Alice Teubel, Meadows; E. Mae (Charles) Arnold, Mansfield, Ohio; three sisters-in-law, Bernice Bender, Fairbury; Edith Bender, Paxton, Ill.; Dorothy Dahlke, Edgar, Wis. and many nieces and nephews.

He is also preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.

Mr. Bender was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, Fairbury. An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.

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Louis Paul Martens

Louis Paul Martens, 92, of rural Heyworth died Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 at Heartland Health Care in Normal.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington with Rev. Amanda Richards officiating. Visitation will be 4–7 p.m. Thursday at the memorial home. Memorials can be made out to Home Sweet Home Mission in Bloomington.

Louie was born Feb. 29, 1920 in rural Randolph, Ill. to William Carl and Augusta Marie Krueger Martens. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Stucker on Jan. 18, 1948 in Normal. She died May 9, 1983.

Surviving children include four daughters, Melody Heitzman, Heyworth, Nancy (George) Fry, Louisville, Ky., April Martens and Sunny Portree, both of Heyworth. He had three grandchildren, Erin (Chris) Lerner, Caitlin (Timothy) Stroud and Robert Louis (Stacy) Fry, all of Louisville and five great grandchildren, Brodie Stroud, Torin Marten Stroud, Lillian Stroud, Robert Lerner and Stanislaus George Lerner.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Virgil and two in infancy and two sisters, Hazel Martens and Ruth Sakemiller

Louie was a life long farmer in Randolph Township and lived his entire life in the house where he was born. He had a deep reverence for nature and all of God’s creation and lived his life as a steward of the earth.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Normal, the McLean County Farm Bureau and served on the Heyworth Unit District No. 4 school board during the 1960s.

Louie was known for his sense of personal integrity, honesty, selflessness and quiet sense of humor, qualities he kept until the end of his life. He dearly loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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Frances "Eileen" Perry

Frances “Eileen” Perry, 93, of Bloomington passed away at 5:22 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 at the home of her son, Dave.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Private inurnment will be in Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. The family suggests memorials be made to Advocate Bromenn Hospice or to a charity of the donor’s choosing. Cremation services provided by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Eileen was born May 23, 1919 in Saybrook, Ill.. the daughter of Guy and Nora Fae Arnett Dixon. She married J. Richard Perry on Dec. 4, 1938 in Bloomington, IL. He passed away February 25, 1950.

Surviving include four children, Duane (Patricia) Perry, Aledo, Texas, Roger (Nancy) Perry, Carrollton, Ohio, Patricia (Michael) Daubs, Lone Rock, Wis. and Dave Perry, Bloomington; ten grandchildren, Scott Perry, Michelle (Tom) Callan, TiyiEndea (Gabriel) Dell Erba, Jeffrey Perry, Stuart (Nancy) Perry, Natalie (David) Heise, Stephen (Olga) Daubs, Brian (Kristina) Daubs, LaNae (Brandt) Creamean, Michael Perry
18 Great Grandchildren, 3 Great Great Grandchildren and a brother,
Al (Caryl) Marshall, Green Cove Springs, Fla.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and daughter-in-law, Margaret Perry.

Eileen worked as a framing consultant at Wonderlin Galleries, Bloomington for many years. She had retired from Casey’s Garden Shop at the age of 85. Eileen was a beloved and devoted mother, grandmother and Christian woman. She was a longtime member of Centennial Christian Church, Bloomington.

Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.

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Betty Jean Wince

Betty Jean Wince, 88, of Forrest, Ill. died at 7:39 p.m.Friday, Dec. 27, 2012 at her residence.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Fairbury. Burial will be in Patty Cemetery in Pontiac. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Saturday also at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Forrest Fire Department or the donor’s choice of charity.

Betty was born June 27, 1924 in Hume, Ill., the daughter of Clarence and Martha (Cox) Wooten. She married Chester R. Wince on Oct. 23, 1942 in St. Louis. He survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Rick (Linda) Wince of Bloomington and Jerry Wince of Lake Bloomington; daughter-in-law Judy Wince of Lake Bloomington; sister, Ella Rose (Ken) Niccum of Berry; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Billy Wince and six sisters, Opal Brewer, Wanda Frantz, Helen Stevenson, Janey White, Thelma Hicks and JoAnn Reum.

Betty enjoyed getting together with family and friends. She had a great sense of humor. She could always come up with a good joke or comment that would have everyone laughing out loud. She had always enjoyed her time as a member of the TOPS club in Fairbury.

Betty and Chet loved to play cards, especially poker. Even after they quit playing at relatives' homes on a routine basis, they would sit at their kitchen table and play with whomever would pull up a chair. She also enjoyed playing solitaire while sitting in her lazy boy.

Mom was a special person to all that knew her. The family would like to offer a special thank you to Leona Hoover, who has been a lot more than a caregiver to Mom for the past 3 and a half years.

Condolences and tributes may be made to the family at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.

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