Springfield High School Illinois Alumni Obituaries

Dr. William H. Rauckhorst 85 professor emeritus at Miami University died peacefully on December 28 at The Knolls in Oxford Ohio. The Oxford community and Miami University were a beloved home for Bill and his wife Elaine for four decades. Born in Covington Kentucky Bill discovered his academic talent...

Edward Dillon Thompson was born on November 11 1939 in Liberty Mississippi to the late Joseph and Lillie T. Thompson one of six children. Edward was raised in Liberty Missionary Baptist Church and accepted Christ at an early age. After completing high school He attended Southern University in Baton ...

Stanley Lee Brown age 71 of Springfield Missouri passed away peacefully at home on January 7 2026. He was born on October 14 1954 in Washington Missouri to Clyde and Anna Mae Creason Brown and grew up in Carthage Illinois. A gifted athlete Stanley excelled in all sports and earned AllState honors in...

Charles B. Atwater was born in Springfield MO to Joseph and Florence Atwater. He graduated in from Central High School in Springfield Missouri in 1957. He obtained a bachelors degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1960 and he obtained a masters degree in Chemistry from the University of...

Dale Francis Witte 79 passed away unexpectedly on Sunday January 11 2026 after being ill for several months. He was the son of Carl J. Witte and Agnes Weishaar Witte of Wentzville MO and Yorkville IL. They preceded him in death as did his only brother Vernon Witte of Naperville IL. Dale leaves behin...

Elaine Baker, 99, Carthage, Missouri, passed away Monday, January 12, 2026, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, Missouri. Elaine was born on October 5, 1926, in St. Michael, Nebraska. She was the middle daughter of Vera Mae Wilks and Orville Harvey Timm. She graduated from Carthage High School and the...

DURHAM Beverly G. Reynolds passed away on March 8 2017 at the Freeport Nursing Home in Freeport Maine. She was born in Winslow Maine on September 15 1929 the daughter of William and Anocia Huard Glidden. She graduated from Winslow High School the class of 1947. Beverly was an accomplished pianist a...

Gail Michelle Lynch was born on September 6, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, where she was raised by her mother, Bertha Beasley, and her grandmother, Josephine “Aunt Joe” Mercer. From Bertha and Aunt Joe, Gail learned many of the virtues that shaped who she would eventually become: a strong, fiercely i...

Phyllis Ann Barr age 94 of Ashland passed away on December 27 2025 at Belmont Tower in Brethren Care Village in Ashland Ohio. Born in Chicago Illinois on August 26 1931 the daughter of Erwin and Anna Consoer Koeritz. She had been a resident of Ashland County since the 1980s. She graduated from high ...

SPRINGFIELD Albert Schober Jr. 95 passed away Wednesday November 19 2025 at Villas East in Sherman. He was born August 21 1930 to Albert and Johanna Aubel Schober. He married Barbara Ann Smith on October 12 1951 in Springfield. She preceded him in death on August 13 2025. He was also preceded in de...

She was born on September 11 1948 in Springfield Illinois to Donald and Yvonne Blake the oldest of five siblings. Karen graduated from Lanphier High School in 1966 she then went on to attend LLCC. Karen lived a life defined by creativity intention and style. Decorating was not just a hobby for her ...

Esther Imogene Jean Briggs 93 of Springfield Illinois died Friday December 5 2025. She was born August 3 1932 in Benville Illinois to Markie Glen and Mabel Alice Davis Newton. She married Robert Lyle Briggs on March 1 1953 who preceded her in death. Jean is survived by her sons Rick Briggs Sharon of...

Marian S. Beck 74 of Springfield IL passed away Saturday November 1 2025 at The Grove in Jacksonville. She was born October 31 1951 in Jacksonville the daughter of Wayne and Margaret Patterson Bracewell and they preceded her in death. She married Donald Beck on May 18 1996 in Springfield. She is sur...

Charles T. Tom Taylor 91 of Jacksonville Illinois died December 3 2025 Surrounded by his family at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. Tom was born in Champaign on April 15 1934 the son of Harold L. and Audrey Dodds Taylor. He graduated from Champaign High School in 1952. Tom married Marilyn Ruth Shaw o...

Sherrol Kay Sherri Gregory 71 of Concord IL passed away November 4 2025 at Memorial Hospital in Springfield Illinois. She was born August 2 1954 the daughter of Ramon N. and Annette Morgan Shaver. On January 1 2000 she married David Gregory and he survives. She is also survived by two children Justi...

Judith Elaine Judy Scott Woolfolk 81 of Franklin Illinois died Thursday November 27 2025 at her home. She was born June 16 1944 in Jacksonville the daughter of Edward and Inez Houston Scott. Judy married Michael L. Mick Woolfolk on September 25 1966 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Jackso...

Norman John Bryant 93 of Ashland Illinois passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday November 11 2025 at Sunny Acres Nursing Home near his hometown of Petersburg. Norman was surrounded by loved ones and had just received military honors as it was Veterans Day. Norman was born April 25 1932 ...

Steven D. Esslinger 74 of Jacksonville Illinois died Friday December 5 2025 at Springfield Memorial Hospital. He was born May 4 1951 in Mattoon the son of William Fritz and Mary Barbara Schaumburg Esslinger. Steven married Mary Jane Gilbert on September 19 1970 at Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonvil...

Jeffrey Ray Darnell 68 of Ashland Illinois died Sunday November 23 2025 at Cass County Senior Living and Rehabilitation in Virginia. He was born March 29 1957 in Springfield the son of J.R. and Eva Jean Willis Darnell. Jeff married Karen Coy on September 22 1973 and she survives in Ashland. He is al...

He was born on August 6 1947 the son of Paul and Minerva Harr Laich. He married Sheri Lanham in Jacksonville and she survives. Paul is also survived by his stepchildren Jennifer Brad Baptist of Jacksonville Benjamin Michelle Reese of Ashland and Dane Bonnie Dorsey of Norman Oklahoma twelve stepgrand...

Geraldine K. Phillips was born June 9 1976 to James Mitchell and Linda Phillips in Chicago Illinois. Geri grew up in Altgeld Gardens Community and attended George Washington Carver Elementary School. As a member of the Altgeld Gardens All Stars Drum Corp. She marched as a Flag Girl for several years...

JACQUELINE DEAN HARMON 81 known as Jackie by many passed away peacefully at her home on December 30 2025 in Springfield Illinois. Jacqueline was born on June 28 1944 in Springfield Illinois to Bernadine NewmanWheatley and was lovingly raised by Clifford Wheatley as his daughter. Jackie was the oldes...

Ms. Carol Sue Barbour was born on August 23 1946 in Boonville Missouri in Cooper County. She moved to Springfield Illinois as an infant where she was raised and later graduated from Feitshans High School. Carol dedicated many years of service to the State of Illinois where she worked faithfully unti...

Nancy L. Wessel age 84 of Pittsfield IL passed away Tuesday January 6 2026 at Barry Healthcare and Senior Living in Barry IL. She was born July 20 1941 in Canton IL to Earnest and Hattie Barrett Henry. Nancy married Robert Leroy Pete Wessel December 14 1962 at the First Christian Church in Chandlerv...

Jim Phalen was born on June 25, 1935, in Jacksonville, Illinois, the son of August F. and Birdie E. Stricklin Phalen. He was married to Mary Theresa Evans on June 16, 1962, in Beardstown, IL.He is survived by his wife and two children, Amy Sue Phalen-Staudenmaier (m. Rob Staudenmaier) of Auburn, IL...

Richard VanMeter, 68, of White Hall, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026. He was born November 20, 1957, in White Hall, the son of Pearl (Jackson) VanMeter and Rollin VanMeter, both of whom preceded him in death.Richard was a devoted father and grandfather who deeply valued his fami...

Leonard Charles Pinney went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 3, 2026.Born on December 4, 1933, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the beloved son of Edwin Earl Pinney and Marian Sellers Pinney.Rev. Pinney's formative years were spent in various states as his...

He was born September 7 1952 in Weatherford Texas the son of J. Lee and Harriet J. Burdette Bevard. He married Connie Baldwin and together they had a son Christopher. He later married Patricia L. Groff on August 8 1992 in Galesburg. He is survived by his wife of over 33 years Pat his son Christopher...

Lillian was born in Glen Carbon Illinois on October 5 1928 she graduated from Edwardsville High School class of 1947. She married Karl F. Hendricks of Farmersville on December 10 1950 and resided in Farmerville since then. She is preceded in death by her mother and father Peter and Blanche Perry of ...

L. Deon Butler 85 of Pawnee passed away Tuesday January 13 2026 at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield. Deon married Billie Sue Clements on September 22 1961 and she preceded him in death on January 14 2023. Also preceded in death by a son Ryan Butler two brothers Deneen Butler and Leon Butler. He wor...