All Obituaries

Margaret Fay Ashcraft, 78, of Rockford passed away Friday, January 18, 2019. Born September 11, 1940 to Kenneth and Louisa (Wright) Alexander. Married Ernest Ashcraft. Survivors include children, Louann (David) Pastirik, Virginia (Jeff) Ashley, Ernest Ashcraft, Janet (Mike Johnson) Ashcraft; and several grandchildren; brothers; and sisters. Predeceased by husband; and children, Gene and Paula. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, 2019 in Honquest Family Funeral...

Mary Messerschmidt, 87, of Rockford, went to be with her Heavenly Father on the January 17, 2019, while at Mercy Health Hospital.  Born July 3, 1931, in Terre Haute, IN. Mary was a devout Christian, prayer warrior, Reverend, and hospital Chaplain. A severe burn victim in her youth, Mary especially felt compelled to witness to the victims in the burn unit. Mary worked for many years in the Loves Park area as a dental receptionist and was an active member of Open Bible...

John E. Van Scoy, 86, of Rockford, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019. He was born January 16, 1933 in Clarksburg, West Virginia to Charles and Stella (Powell) Van Scoy. John was a veteran of the United States Army and a former Pastor.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at First Free Church, 2223 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford, Illinois 61107. 

Edward “Ed” Gratz, 55, of Roscoe passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2019 after a long battle with a glioblastoma (brain cancer).  He was surrounded by his family.  He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; daughter, Cheyanne; son, Noah; father Lowell; mother, Betty; brother, Dean McCaleb; along with many aunts; uncles; cousins; nieces; and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond Gratz.  Since his diagnosis Ed and his family were able to enjoy several...

Linda Lee Gruner, 71, of Roscoe passed away Monday, January 14, 2019. Born May 24, 1947 in Rockford to Leo and Marianne (Davidson) Viney. Married Richard L. Gruner on November 28, 1964 in Rockford. Employed as a special needs bowling instructor for Park Lanes. Linda also was a Girl Scout Leader, Scout Master and past president of BVRH Riding for the Handicapped. She also was an avid bowler, enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending time with her grandchildren and...

Howard Stanley Weyburg, 85, of Rockford, passed away January 14, 2019 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born September 8, 1933 in Rockford; the son of C. Stanley and Dorothy Weyburg he was a graduate of East High class of ’55 and Northwestern University in 1955 where he met Carolyn, his wife of 59 years and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He later received an MBA from the Northwestern School of Business. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Carolyn and his...

Harold Charles Strotz, 75, of Rockton passed away Saturday, January 12, 2019. Born February 2, 1943 in Seattle, WA to Charles and Jean (Leech) Strotz. Retired as a salesman from Goodyear. Harold enjoyed fishing, football, politics, history, dancing, and football, especially the Chicago Bears. Survivors include daughters, Janice (Jarrod) Strotz-Grace, Deborah Jean Strotz; granddaughter, Brianna Grace; and great-granddaughter, Madison Grace. Predeceased by brothers, Kirk, Ronny; and...

Donna Jean Smith, 86, of Byron, IL formerly of Sycamore, IL Aurora, IL and Ozark, MO passed away Friday, January 11, 2019. Born July 18, 1932 in Sycamore, IL to Cecil and Inez (Matteson) Kays. Married Richard Charles Smith on May 27, 1951 in Sycamore, IL; he predeceased her in May 2001. Her favorite job was being a nursery school teacher. Donna was a member of Cornerstone Family Church, Ogle County Seniors and Byron Women’s Club. She loved to cook, sew, travel and most of all spend...

Connie Louise Aldrich, 74, of Freeport, Illinois, died peacefully on January 10, 2019 in Rockford. Born June 7, 1945 to John and Elaine (Stocker) Klever in Freeport. She married the love of her life, Clifford Aldrich Jr., in Kansas City, Missouri. Connie attended and graduated from KU Medical School. Connie worked for many different hospitals in Kansas City, MO as a RN Nurse. She enjoyed reading, watching movies with her beloved husband, playing UNO with her grandchildren (with...

It is with great sadness that the family of Cynthia J. Fry, 56, of Loves Park, announces her passing following a courageous battle with cancer, on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Born April 30, 1962, in Whittier, CA, to Henry and Gloria (Smalley) Lessner. Cynthia was a loving and devoted mother of three children, Bradley, Thomas and David. Employed as a Senior Telecommunications Analyst with Landstar Systems, Cynthia enjoyed a lengthy and fulfilling career spanning nearly thirty...