Obituaries: Bahler

Ralph Bahler

Ralph A. Bahler, 83, of Fairbury, passed away at 2:44 p.m., Feb. 12 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

His funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday at the Apostolic Christian Church, Fairbury. Ministers of the Church will be officiating.

Burial will be in South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation will be held from 2-7:00 p.m., Sunday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9-9:45 a.m., at the church on Monday.

Memorials may be made to Fairview Haven Retirement Community.

Mr. Bahler was born May 6, 1931 in Cropsey the son of Emil and Ida Steffen Bahler.

He married Jeannette Kelson on Jan. 20, 1952 in Fairbury. She survives.

Also surviving are one son Daniel Bahler; daughter, Bethany (Doug) Brucker of Cropsey; brothers, Marvin (Jane) Bahler and Arthur (Suzanne) Bahler both of Fairbury; sister, Verla Davis of Fairbury; six grandchildren and two great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Helen Frye.

Mr. Bahler was a veteran of the United States Army.

He was a lifelong livestock farmer and a member of the Apostolic Christian Church, Fairbury.

He was a loving Husband, Father and Grandfather.

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

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…