71, 1041 Northwood Drive, Lake Bracken, Galesburg, IL, died at 1:55 PM Monday, April 23, 2007 at home.
He was born November 25, 1935 in Galesburg, the son of L. Russell and Ethel Wedell Watson. He married Barbara McVey on June 21, 1958 in Galesburg. She preceded him in death on May 23, 2003.
He is survived by a son, Dusti (and Julie) Watson, Galesburg, a daughter, Cindi (and Jamie) Scott, Greenwood, IN, a brother, Don Watson, Los Angeles, CA, and 2 grandchildren.
He worked for the former Admiral Corporation in Galesburg from 1952 to 1960. In 1960, he started working for his father with the Watson Pipe Organ Company. He later became the owner of the business and continued working until selling to his son and retiring in 2006.
He was a member of the Lake Bracken Country Club and had lived there since 1940. He had served in various capacities, including as a board member at many different times over the years. He had won the club golf championship several times. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1953. He was a member of Covenant Church in Galesburg and had maintained their organ.
He has donated his body to science. A memorial service will be at noon Saturday in the Covenant Church. The Rev. Tom Ek will officiate. Visitation will be 10 AM to noon Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Covenant Church or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

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95, formerly of 1644 Indiana Drive, Galesburg, died at 7:08 AM Wednesday, April 25, 2007 in Galesburg Cottage Hospital.
She was born April 2, 1912 in Abingdon, IL, the daughter of Leroy and Mayme Kearns Holmes. She married Joseph W. Spellman on April 17, 1930 in Princeton, IL. He preceded her in death on April 25, 1972.
She is survived by a son, Larry J. (and Jolene) Spellman, Pewaukee, WI, 2 daughters, Joan Moorehouse, Morton, IL and Linda (and Gary) Hunter, Knoxville, IL, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother and 2 sisters.
She was a homemaker. She was born and raised in Abingdon and attended Abingdon High School. She had lived in Galesburg since 1931. She was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and its Altar and Rosary Society. She was a member and volunteer for New Horizon’s Senior Center in Galesburg.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 AM Saturday in Corpus Christi Catholic Church. The Rev. Joseph Presley will officiate. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church or New Horizon’s Senior Center. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com. Arrangements are by Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel.

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age 57 of 1233 N. Kellogg St., Galesburg, IL, died at 5:35 AM Tuesday April 24, 2007 at her home.
She was born July 27, 1949 in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, the daughter of Kenjun and Yaeko Nadoyoma. She married James Loveland in 1975 and later married Cyril W. “Bill” Butts, Jr. in 1999.
She is survived by her husband Bill of Galesburg, two daughters, Kristine (and J.R.) Korenberg, Muscatine, IA and Katherine J. (and Gustavo Guavin) Loveland, Ashburn, VA, one grandson, Andrew J. Korenberg, Muscatine, IA, two step sons, Cyril William Butts, III, Galesburg and Brian D. Butts, Galesburg, one step daughter, Anna K. Butts, Chicago, IL, two brothers, Kensho Nadoyama and Osamu Nadoyama, one sister, Tomoko Odo, all of Naha, Okinawa, Japan, and several nieces and nephews.
She graduated from Okinawa University in Naha Okinawa, Japan with a degree in education and later graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, IA with a degree in engineering. She worked for UNISYS in Clear Lake, IA and later was an engineer for Butler Manufacturing Company in Galesburg for many years, retiring in 2003. She loved cooking, gardening and was very devoted to her family.
Cremation will be accorded. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 PM Saturday April 28, 2007 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with Rev. Joseph Presley officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM Friday evening at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. The family will receive friends from 12 to 5 PM Sunday at 1233 N. Kellogg St. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Project Life Saver, or Prairieland Hospice Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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79 of 301 S. East St., Lot 69 died at 8:10 am Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at the Care Center of Abingdon.
He was born on September 27, 1927 near Plymouth, IL to Ira and Jennie Woods Hitz. He married Nancy Jane Miller on September 9, 1950 in Denver, IL. She preceded him in death on April 30, 2004.
Surviving are three daughters, Kathy (and George) Kilburn of Abingdon, Syrita Reed of Galesburg and Connie (and Everett) White of Table Grove; three sons, Melvin (and Barb) Hitz of Monmouth, Gene (and Dee) Hitz of Abingdon and Allan (and Kathy) Hitz of Roberts, IL; a sister, Marie Clark of Carthage; 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Sharon Carpenter, one granddaughter, one brother and one sister.
He was a farmer. He also worked for White Implement in Avon for 30 years. He had lived in Abingdon since 1994.
He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed the Chicago Bears football team and the Miami Heat basketball team.
Graveside service will be at 11:30 am Saturday, April 28, 2007 at the Abingdon Cemetery. Eleanor Landon will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am Saturday at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the family.

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91, formerly of 1605 Monroe St., Galesburg, died at 12:30 PM Monday, April 23, 2007 in Rosewood Care Center.
He was born January 19, 1916 in Maquon, IL, the son of John W. and G. Marie McCallister Davis. He married Berneice A. Wagher on April 6, 1941 in Davenport, IA. She survives.
Also surviving are 3 daughters, Linda O’Dean, Galesburg, Kim Davis, Madison, WI, and Karen (and Ron) Hamilton, La Crosse, WI, 8 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John F. Davis on June 2, 1992, a granddaughter, Kelly O’Dean, a grandson, Todd Davis, and a sister.
He was a foreman and later a method engineer at the former Gale Products Division of Outboard Marine Corporation in Galesburg for 36 years. He retired in 1978.
He graduated from Gilson High School in 1934. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, a member of the Hilltoppers and the building and maintenance committee, and was a Sunday school teacher for 5th and 7th graders.
He was a member of the Knox County Workshop, the Viking Club in Moline, the Gale Retiree’s Club, and was a past president of the PTA of the former Henderson Grove School.
He served in the United States Navy for 2 years during WWII and was stationed in Guam.
Funeral will be 10:30 AM Friday in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. The Revs. Lee Johnson and Kirk Kendall will officiate. Visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 AM Friday at the chapel. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. Military rites will be accorded by Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post 285. Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church or Community Hospices of America. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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76, 790 N. Cedar St., Galesburg, died at 8:40 PM Sunday, April 22, 2007 in Marigold Health Care Center.
He was born May 10, 1930 in Galesburg, the son of Edward and Golda Mae Hall Asplund.
He is survived by a special friend, Diane Carlson of Galesburg. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Ronald Asplund and Herman Asplund.
He worked at the former Gale Products Division of Outboard Marine Corporation in Galesburg. He also delivered the Chicago Tribune for many years. He graduated from Galesburg High School and lived most of his life here. He served in the United States Air Force.
A private graveside service is scheduled for Friday in Oakwood Cemetery, Macomb, IL. No visitation is planned. Memorials can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Hinchliff-Pearson-West is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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90, passed away on Saturday (April 21, 2007) at 11:24 a.m. in OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, IL.
She was born Marie Bernice Johnson on August 3, 1916 in Galesburg, IL. She was the second daughter of Swan and Emma Johnson.
Bernice grew up in Rio and attended Rio schools until her senior year when she transferred to Galesburg High School, graduating in 1934. She received a degree in home economics from Western Illinois State Teachers College and taught three years at the one-room Hannam School in Sparta Township between Wataga and Oneida and was an instructor in home economics and homemaking at Wyanet High School.
She met Arthur Vincent Holmes in 1939 at choir practice at Faith Lutheran Church in Wataga where she had come with Ruth Olson since it was important as a school teacher that she participate in community activities. They were married on her birthday, August 3, 1941, in North Henderson.
They farmed together north of Oneida until 1948 and then moved to “Rosymorn Farm” between Galesburg and Wataga. Bernice and Vincent farmed in this location for 42 years raising corn and beans and milking dairy cattle until Vincent passed away in 1990. Bernice remained on the farm after Vincent’s death.
Bernice is survived by two daughters, Rose Marie Holmes of Wataga, and Beverly Holmes of Monmouth. She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister, Ruth Johnson Hallberg.
In December ’56, Vincent and Bernice started the Holmes Family Christmas light display that grew from a small santa, sleigh and reindeer on the front porch roof to a display of 17 scenes and more than 10,000 lightbulbs. The display was viewed by tens of thousands of people each year and received national attention in Woman’s Day and Farm Wife News magazines and on WGN “U.S. Farm Report” with Orion Samuelson. While Vincent spent six weeks each year assuring that the display was up each year, Bernice was frequently the creative inspiration of the “new item” each year. She continued the display for nine years following Vincent’s death.
She was a 67-year member of Faith Lutheran Church, Wataga, where she was a Sunday School teacher and was a member and served in various offices of WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America). She was a member of the Galesburg Women’s Club, the Sparta unit of Knox County Association for Home and Community Education, Knox County Home Economists, Knox County Farm Bureau, and was an honorary member of the Knox-Lombard Fifty Year Club. She taught nutrition classes for the American Heart Association and served on a community panel that reviewed possible consolidation of Galesburg’s two hospitals.
Bernice was proud of the many flower gardens around “Rosymorn Farm” and raised chickens and sold eggs for 20 years. She loved to can and freeze each year’s fruit and vegetable harvest from her garden. She was an avid antique shopper and was in demand by family and friends for her flair in setting the perfect party table.
Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hinchliff Pearson West Galesburg Chapel. Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Wataga with burial at Oneida Cemetery. A lunch will be served at the church following the burial service. Friends and family are invited.
Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or Guardian Angels Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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39 of Galesburg, died at 12:25 pm Thursday, April 19, 2007 at her home where she resided with her boyfriend, Chandler Anderson and her daughter Kirsten Erwin and her son Quinton Simmons.
She was born on April 26, 1967 in Galesburg.
Surviving are her children,, Kaylin D. (and Brad Mecum) Erwin-Rogers of Peoria, Justin Lyle Swank of Stuart, FL, Kirsten Erwin and Quinton Simmons both at home in Galesburg; a grandson, Braeden Mecum; her mother, Leota Hensley of Stuart, FL; her stepfather, James R. Hensley, Sr. of Abingdon; her siblings, Larry (and Kena) Erwin of Galesburg, Jeff (and Dawn) Erwin of Stuart, FL, Deanna (and Jeff) McMurtry of Palm City, FL and James R. (and Shelly) Hensley, Jr. of Abingdon; 10 nieces and 3 nephews; aunts, uncles and cousins.
She grew up in Abingdon and graduated from Abingdon High School in 1985. She had lived in Galesburg the past five years. She last worked in housekeeping at Best Western Prairie Inn in Galesburg.
She enjoyed bingo, playing cards, dancing and spending time with her family.
Graveside service will be at 2:30 pm Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens in Galesburg. Eleanor Landon will officiate. Visitation will be from Noon until 2:00 pm Tuesday at the Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel.

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50, of 275 E. Carl Sandburg Dr. Galesburg, IL (formerly of Victoria) died 12:10 PM Saturday April 21, 2007 at Marigold Health Care Center, Galesburg.
She was born August 22, 1956 in Chicago, IL to George W. and Kaye Palmer Toft.
Surviving are her father and step-mother George and Irene Toft of Cambridge, IL; an adopted son – Travis Quinn of Galesburg, 6 daughters – Nellie Kay Thorne of Cedar City, UT, Cari Jo Anderson of Galesburg, IL, Kerrie Jo Thorne of Victoria, IL, Stephanie (husband Scott) Davis of Virginia, IL, Sarah Alexandria Mettler of Washington, IL and Elizabeth Griffith of Galesburg and 9 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother
She worked for the Hospitality House in Victoria, IL for 15 years. She was a member of the Victoria United Methodist Church. She was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. She was an avid reader, loved to cook and a Chicago Bears fan.
Cremation will be accorded with a memorial service at 6:00 PM Tuesday at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with the Rev. Marty Briney officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 PM Tuesday at the chapel. Memorials can be made to OSF Hospice or Marigold Health Care Center.

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51, 680 Home Blvd., Galesburg, died at 8:20 PM Monday, August 20, 2007 in OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
She was born March 29, 1956 in East Orange, NJ, the daughter of Harold Charles and Kathleen Mildred Capps Groel, Sr.
She is survived by a daughter, Amanda Nicole Johnson, Galesburg, 2 brothers, John Charles Groel and Harold Charles Groel, Jr., both of Creve Coeur, IL, 2 sisters, Robin Lee Allen and Kathy Ann Brown, both of Gainesboro, TN, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.
She worked for Hollander Home Fashions in computer programming, at Scripps-Howard Publishing, and at Meadowlands Horse Track, all in New Jersey. Most recently she worked as a home daycare provider.
She had lived in Galesburg since 1993. She attended Carl Sandburg College and was a member of Prairieland Baptist Church.
Graveside service will be 2 PM Friday in East Linwood Cemetery. The Rev. Gary Bane will officiate. Visitation will be 12:30 to 1:30 PM Friday at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

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