Gail Rosenow Ripka, 74, a voracious reader and avid gardener, died in Peoria, Illinois on May 4, 2024 at the Richard L. Owens Hospice Home surrounded by her family. Born in Morrison, Illinois on November 10, 1949, the daughter of Clarence Rosenow and Jana (Clementz) Rosenow, Gail grew up in Galva, Illinois.  She graduated from Galva High School in 1967 and then went on to earn her LPN at Black Hawk East, Associates Degree in Nursing at Sauk Valley College, BSN at the University of...

Tyler L. Bliss, 31, of Buda, died at 11:11 p.m., Friday, May 3 in the emergency room at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee from injuries sustained from a single car accident. Arrangements are pending at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee.

Mary Lynn (Kuster) Shoemaker was born on January 26, 1951 to Rosemary and Donald Kuster, in Kewanee, IL. Growing up on the family farm, Mary Lynn developed a love of animals, which led her to pursue a veterinary degree at Colby College in Kansas. After completing her studies, she returned to Illinois, where she met and married Dan Shoemaker. They raised their three children - Matthew, Ann, and Mark - in Monmouth, IL. After a spiritual rebirth in her forties, Mary Lynn quit smoking, returned...

Lesley Eileen Case, age 75, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. She was born on September 9, 1948, in Kewanee, Illinois to Glenn and Hallie Case (nee Bell). Lesley was an avid swimmer and swam for the YMCA swimming team during her childhood and teenage years. After graduating from Kewanee High School in 1966, she attended and graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in 1970. Lesley joined the Peace Corps and served in...

KEWANEE – Karen E. Bennett, 81, of Kewanee, died at 6:06 a.m., Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Apostolic Christian Skylines in Peoria. She was born January 19, 1943 in Peoria, the daughter of Dale and Harriet (Field) Stafford. She married Sherman “Sherm” Bennett on April 21, 1963 and just celebrated 61 years of marriage. Survivors include her husband of Kewanee, her son, Brett (Kristina) Bennett of Kewanee, her daughter, Kimber (Mark) Rose of Kewanee, two...

WILLIAMSFIELD – Curtis John “Curt” Campbell, 29, of Williamsfield, died at 3:23 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2024 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria from injuries sustained in utility vehicle accident. He was born May 14, 1994 in Galesburg, the son of Mark and Peggy (Filson) Campbell. Survivors include his parents of Elmwood, his son, Dean Patrick, fiancée, Katie Hiebert of Williamsfield, his sister, Kimberly (John) Forney of Elmwood and two nieces, Dawsyn and...

ELMWOOD – Steven M. Whaley, 70, of Elmwood, died at 6:02 a.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Marigold Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Galesburg. He was born April 25, 1953 in Kewanee, the son of Irv and Lois (Huber) Whaley. He married Sherri A. Beauprez on May 5, 2007 in Elmwood. Survivors include his wife of Elmwood, a stepson, Bradley Briggs of Kewanee and his sister, Becky Riley of Atkinson. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Lee Floy. Steven graduated...

Cheryl Lynn Wyant was born on December 10, 1953 and passed peacefully on April 23, 2024. Cheryl was artistically gifted, highly creative, energetic, and fun-loving. She enjoyed a good DIY project and ran circles around most people half her age. She saw the good in everyone and was always willing to help and serve others. She’d talk you through anything you needed to work through. Anytime… day or night. Although her life presented many unique challenges throughout, most would...

NEWTON, IA – Edward Eugene Bowman, 65, of Newton, IA, formerly of Williamsfield, IL, died at 6:32 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at his home. He was born April 16, 1959 in Galesburg, the son of Richard and Betty (Murphy) Bowman. He married Hiltraud “Hilly” Lilienthal on October 26, 1984 in Germany. Survivors include his wife of Newton, IA, his three children; James (Tamie) Wright of Lincoln, IL and Jennifer Bowman of Newton, IA and Christine (Christopher) Cornell, of...

MACOMB – Jeanne Cecelia (Willits) Larson, 89, of Macomb, died at 11:05 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at The Lamoine Assisted Living and Memory Care in Macomb. She was born October 11, 1934 to Charles and Frances (Pierpont) Willits in Galva. She attended elementary and secondary schools in Galva graduating from Galva High School in 1952 and then attended Western Illinois University in Macomb. Jeanne married Willard Larson in 1955 and they later divorced. Survivors include two...