All Obituaries

Ms. Barbara G. Gustavus, 72, of Galesburg, Illinois died at 6:35 a.m. Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at her home with her family by her side. She was born March 14, 1946 in San Bernadino, California to John and Katy Hansen Shellnut.  She married Kenneth Neal in Galesburg.  She then married Jimmie Gray in Galesburg.  Later she married Ronald Gustavus in Galesburg.  Surviving are her two daughters, Tracy Lynn Neal-Stone of Kissimmee, Florida and Teddy Jean (and Dale)...

Mr. Remley “Rex” Darmer, age 95 of Abingdon, passed away peacefully at 5:13 p.m. Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at his home surrounded by family. Cremation will be accorded.  A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Abingdon Christian Church.  Military rites will be conducted by the Harry E. Wiles American Legion Post #381.  The family will receive friends at a luncheon in the church fellowship area following the...

On September 22, 2018, Lois G. Swanson, age 97, of Galesburg, went home to be with her Savior Jesus Christ, who she accepted into her heart in 1952.  She was born October 6, 1920 at Cottage Hospital to Delos W. and Etta May Cook.  Delos Cook was a machinist and co-inventor of the Gale automobile.  She married Robert C. Swanson November 2, 1941 who preceded her in death November 29, 2011.  Except for a period during World War II, when she lived in New York, she lived in...

Bertha M. “Bea” Swartz, 96, of Galesburg, died at 7:18 a.m. Sunday, October 14, 2018 in Rosewood Care Center. She was born March 3, 1922, in Danville, Indiana, the daughter of Albert and Eva (Hampton) Stanley.  She married Robert Swartz February 1, 1947.  He preceded her in death in 1998. She is survived by five children, Eric Swartz, Douglas Swartz, Donald Swartz, Roger Swartz, and Lucille Wilmoth; 10 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; two great-great...

Mrs. Margaret Viola Reedy, 92 of Galesburg, passed away at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, October 14, 2018 at the Rosewood Care Center of Galesburg with her loving family at her side. She was born September 18, 1926 in the family home near Adair, the daughter of Ralph Dewey and Lora Mildred (Phillips) Foster.  She married Earl E. Reedy on July 28, 1945 in Adair and they made their home in rural Table Grove.  Earl preceded her in death on June 15, 1988.  She was also preceded in death...

Helen Downey “Mern” Smallwood, 100, of Galesburg, died at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville. She was born November 5, 1917, in Galesburg, the daughter of Thomas H. and Lena M. (Roberts) Downey.  She married George Jackson in 1935, in Macomb.  She later married Kenneth McGill in 1969, in Galesburg, and Rulif C. Smallwood in 1987, in Galesburg.  All three of her husbands preceded her in death. She is survived by two...

Barbara Jean (West) Johnson, 97, a resident of Rock Island, Illinois since the mid 1970’s and previously of Galesburg and Knoxville, Illinois, died October 4, 2018, in Rock Island. She was born August 9, 1921, in Galesburg, the only child of Maude (Ely) and William E. West.  She married Robert L. Johnson, of Galesburg, in Kahoka, Missouri, January 16, 1943. She is survived by sons, William R. (Linda Lee Peterson) Johnson of Morton, Illinois and Barrie L. Johnson of San...

Mr. James H. “Chief” Frakes, 88, of Galesburg, Illinois died 9:03 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2018 at the Hawthorne Inn Assisted Living Center in Galesburg.  He was born May 25, 1930 in Galesburg, to Edgar H “Harry” and Mildred M. Patterson Frakes.  He married Cleo C. Campbell March 16, 1952 in Galesburg.  She preceded him in death January 12, 1990. Surviving is his son, Douglas J. (and Karen) Frakes of Dahinda, Illinois, his daughter, Pamela (and...

Helen Mathilda Miller, 99, a resident of Galesburg since 1991, died in her home on October 9, 2018. Helen was born in Newberry, Michigan, on September 6, 1919, the second oldest daughter of John Werner Kero and Sandra Kero (Lathi).  She is survived by her brother, Clifford Kero of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her older sister, Eleanor Stamm; her younger sister, Inez Dean; and her younger brother, Charles Kero. During the Depression,...

Paul L. Johnson Jr., 72 of Abingdon, passed away at 12:08 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at his home, surrounded by the love of his family. He was born July 10, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Paul L. and Dovie Jean (Sharp) Johnson, Sr.  He married Deborah Harding Akers on August 3, 2002 in Abingdon. Paul is survived by his wife Deborah; his children, Tyson (and Devon) Johnson of Galesburg, Derek Johnson of Galva, Brandon (and Sara Miklavcic) Johnson of Cambridge, and Laura...