Frances Ryerson

Frances M. Ryerson, 90, of Graymont, IL passed away at 9 a.m. Friday, September 15, 2017 at Martin Healthcare Center, Bloomington, IL
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Flanagan with Fr. Adam Cesarek officiating. Burial will follow at Rooks Creek Cemetery rural Graymont. Visitation will be 9 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Frances was born May 7, 1927 in Adams, MA the daughter of Lawrence and Ella (Kahler) Bradshaw. She married Claire A. Ryerson on January 20, 1954 in Pontiac, IL. He died October 31, 1996.
Surviving are eight children Glen Ryerson of Assumption, Lee Ryerson of Graymont, Mary (Larry) Mester of Bloomington, Carl Ryerson of Pontiac, Jean (Richard) Hubbard of St. Augustine, FL, Ray Ryerson of Homer, Amy Ryerson of Normal, and Sue (Mark) Sterr of Clinton; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers John and Lawrence.
Frances was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Flanagan. She was a retired cook from the Graymont Grade School. Frances was an avid reader, loved to sing, and write poetry.

Russell Klendworth

Russell G. Klendworth, 89 of Flanagan passed away at 3:49 AM Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at OSF St. James John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

Cremation rites have been accorded and inurnment will be in Dana Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Flanagan – Graymont Fire Department.

Calvert – Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan is assisting the family with arrangements.

Russell was born July 11, 1928 in Dana, the son of Lee and Elsie Powell Klendworth. He married Lorna M. Robertson on March 26, 1949 in Minonk. She survives.

Also surviving is a son, Ronald (Laura) Klendworth of Greensboro, NC; a brother, Carl (Madonna) Klendworth of Dana; extended family, Judy and Stephen Herron; several nieces and nephews; and many good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Danny and Rusty; a sister, Maxine Moritz; and three brothers, Burdette, Roy and Don.

Russell was of the Methodist faith. He was a lifelong farmer and a mechanic for Richard Engle.

Mary Beth Garretson

Mary Beth Garretson, 62, of Flanagan, passed away Monday September 25, 2017, 8:41 am at her home in Flanagan.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A private family graveside service will be held Saturday September 30, 2017, 11:00 am at the Cornell Cemetery. Rev. Sharon Garretson, will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Livingston County Humane Society.
Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan, is in charge of arrangements.
Beth was born November 19, 1954 in Pontiac, IL to La Verne and Ruth (Baker) Garretson.
Surviving are her siblings, Gary Lee (Sharon) Garretson, of Pontiac, Carolyn Kay Garretson, of Flanagan, Richard Eugene (Shirley) Garretson, of Cornell and Larry Joe Garretson, of Streator.
Her parents and her longtime companion, Oakley “Barney” Smith, preceded her in death.
Beth was employed at Ruff Brother’s Grain for over 44 years. She was of the Methodist faith.

Marlene Rooker

Marlene A. Rooker, 79, of Flanagan, IL passed away at 3:26 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at Reflections Memory Care in Washington, IL.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at St. Petri Lutheran Church 18079 N. 100 East Road, Flanagan with Rev. Paul Lellilid officiating. Burial will follow at St. Petri Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the church or the Alzheimer’s Association 612 W. Glen Avenue, Peoria, IL 61614.

Marlene was born October 18, 1937 in Flanagan, IL the daughter of Jerry and Lucile Gaspardo Weichman. She married Charles W. Rooker on September 2, 1956 in Flanagan. He died October 12, 1998. She was preceded by her parents, one son Doug, and many relatives.

Surviving are one daughter Debra (Perry) Willman of Metamora; one daughter-in-law Jodie Rooker of Normal; four grandchildren Jason (Beth) Rooker of Normal, Jake (Brianna) Rooker of Ft. Collins, CO, Laura (Bryan) Moore of East Peoria, and Nick (Emily) Willman of Sioux Falls, SD; three great grandchildren Wesley and Jameson Rooker and Bennett Moore; one sister-in-law Mary Plunkett of Florida and several nieces and nephews.

Marlene was a member of St. Petri Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for many years. She worked as a secretary at Flanagan High School for 42 years. Marlene loved spending time with her grandkids watching them grow up and get married. She also enjoyed being with her great grandkids. Marlene enjoyed playing cards, eating out with friends, and socializing with people on the Flanagan State Bank trips. She will be greatly missed by everyone that loved her. The family would like to thank the staff at Morningside and Reflections in Washington for taking care of Mom for the last 3 years.

Oakley “Barney” Smith

Oakley C. “Barney” Smith, 91, of Flanagan, passed away Wednesday September 6, 2017, 7:10 pm at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.
Visitation will be Monday September 11, 2017 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 pm. The Rev. Dana Jumper will officiate. Burial will follow at Dana Cemetery, where full military rites will be accorded by the Flanagan American Legion. Memorials may be made to Futures Unlimited, Pontiac or Relay for Life, Livingston County.
It is requested that everyone please wear Cubs clothing for the services.
Barney was born May 26, 1926 in Dana, IL to John and Tillie (Hecht) Smith. He had married Betty Rients. They were later divorced.
Surviving are his children, Barbara (Mark) Ragle and Lisa (Paul) Krieghauser, both of Pontiac.
Also surviving is his longtime companion, Beth Garretson. Barney has four grandchildren, Jacob and Angela Ragle, John and Marissa Krieghauser and two great-grandchildren.
His parents, one daughter, Jeanette Smith, four brothers, Arthur, William, Edward and George, one sister, Velma Klendworth, preceded him in death.
Barney had served his country in the United States Army and Army Air Corp during WW II. He was very proud to be a veteran.
He was a member of the Flanagan American Legion and the Pontiac VFW. He had been a long time farmer in the Flanagan area. He was of the Lutheran Faith.
He enjoyed his farming, being outdoors, and his family. Barney was a very big Chicago Cubs fan. Barney so enjoyed watching them win the Worlds Series.

Delite M. Stucky

Delite M. Stucky, 88 of Flanagan, went peacefully to be with her savior at 2:50 PM Tuesday, September 5, 2017 in the Flanagan Rehabilitation and Health Care in Flanagan.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Calvert – Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday with visitation an hour prior to services at Salem Church, 4925 E 1250 North Road, Gridley. Her pastor, Rev. Stuart Rex will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mt. Zion Cemetery near Flanagan.

She was a lifetime member of Salem Church, where memorials may be made to her church, the Mennonite College of Nursing or to the donor’s choice.

Delite was born in the farm home near Flanagan to Peter and Laura Zimmerman Stucky on January 15, 1928. She is survived by one nephew, Dallas Stucky of Flanagan, several cousins and a close friend, Lois Klein of Gridley.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Jerald (Betty) and Leland.

Delite walked to the one room Friendship School for her elementary education. She graduated in 1945 from Flanagan High School and from Mennonite School of Nursing three year registered nurse program in 1956.

She was a medical surgery floor nurse at Mennonite Hospital, an office nurse for Dr. Wellmerling for eleven years and a surgical nurse at Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington. She moved back to Flanagan in 1974 to care for her Dad and worked twenty years in surgery in the old St. James Hospital in Pontiac. She retired to doing part time until the hospital moved to the new hospital.

With AORN (American Operating Room Nurses) she attended their world conferences taking her to Russia, Hungary, Austria, British Columbia, Holland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, China, Canada, Alaska, New York City and her favorite, Australia.

She enjoyed several hobbies. From her travels she has a huge salt & pepper and thimble collection. Family and friends enjoyed the many creations she made from her cook book collection. She played the organ, was good at crafts and a seamstress. She even made the wedding dress for her roommate. She did her daily crossword puzzles until two weeks ago.

She attained her private pilot’s license in 1974. She loved adventure, white water rafting in Alaska, riding a camel and driving Route 66 to California in 1961. She has enjoyed the beauties of our 50 States.

Douglas Knight

Douglas J. Knight, 56, of Pontiac, passed away Tuesday August 22, 2017, 11:11 am at his home in Pontiac.
Doug requested that cremation rites be accorded. A private family service will he held. Memorials may be made to St. Petri Lutheran Church, Flanagan.
Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan, is in charge of arrangements.
Doug was born December 12, 1960 at St. James Hospital, Pontiac, IL to Thomas L. and Rosetta (Weichman) Knight. His father preceded him in death. Rosetta later married Jerry Slagell. He also precedes.
Doug had married Pauline Earp. She preceded him in death.
Surviving are his mother, Rosetta Slagell, of Flanagan, his brothers, Scott (Cindy) Knight, of Flanagan and Timothy (Michelle) Knight, of Tomahawk, WI and a sister Pamela Smith, of Naperville, five nieces and six nephews.
Doug had served in the United State Navy Reserves. He has worked as a laborer.