Willis Cremeenes          Send a link to a friend

LINCOLN -- Willis Cremeenes, 80, of Lincoln died Dec. 23, 2005, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Holland and Barry Funeral Home in Lincoln. Visitation will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

Burial, with military rites, will be in Zion Cemetery.

Mr. Cremeenes was a plumber-steamfitter with union Local 137 in Springfield for over 50 years. He was also employed at the Clinton Power Plant for several years.

He served his country in the Army during World War II.

He was born May 12, 1925, in Delavan to Carson and Rispah Peddicore Cremeenes. He married Ruth Cochran on Sept. 8, 1946, in McLean County. She died May 22, 2000.

He is survived by three daughters, Sandra Brown, Patricia Mann and Ruth McCain, all of Lincoln; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by two brothers.

He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lincoln.

For his military service he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, a Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, two Overseas Service Bars, a Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Unit Award.

Memorial donations may be made to an organization of donor's choice.

Mary Turner

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LINCOLN -- Mary Catherine "Kay" Turner, 68, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2005, at her home in Payson, Ariz.

Her remains lie in dignified repose at Messinger Funeral Home in Payson, Ariz., and are awaiting cremation. At her request, her ashes will be lovingly placed in an appropriate eternal resting place in the White Mountains of Arizona.

The apartment complex where she lived was a cornucopia for her, filled with many dear and irreplaceable friends. Her wonderful friends are planning a memorial service in her honor at this complex near the end of December.

She was born Nov. 13, 1937, in Lincoln to Henry A. and Evelyn M. Young Kirk.

She is survived by her children, Perry Harris of Lincoln, Dawn Bland (and Bob) of Bloomington, Shelly Gubler (and Jim) of Republic, Wash., Crystal Brewer of Phoenix, Ariz., and Scott Turner of Glendale, Ariz.; four brothers, John Kirk of Springfield, Howard Kirk (and Barbara) of Lincoln, Franklin Kirk of Minneapolis, Minn., and James Kirk of Lincoln; one sister; Joan Lewis (and Todd) of Lincoln; and nine grandchildren, Shane, Crystal, Dani, JJ, Connor, Kaila, Amber, Tristen and Tessika.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Evelyn; and an infant son, Howard.

She loved her children and grandchildren immensely and longed for her children and grandchildren living apart from her. In her final days, this doting grandmother baked multiple trays of cookies for her eagerly anticipated Christmas visits with her grandchildren.

She had an infectious laugh and warmed quickly to all she met. She gave of herself completely to those in need. Her generosity knew no bounds.

She forgave with abandon those who trespassed against her. In the highest compliment possible that can be paid to her, she exemplified the grace of Christ.

The profound depth of sorrow wrought in her passing is owed to the soaring height of love felt for her.

It is inadequate by magnitudes to say that she will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace.

Evan Wilham          Send a link to a friend

NEW HOLLAND -- Evan Jay Wilham, infant son of Jason Wilham and Tara Bree, died Dec. 22, 2005, at 11:50 a.m. at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

A private graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Zion Cemetery, Lincoln. Tony Shuff will officiate.

Peasley Funeral Home in Lincoln is handling arrangements.

Evan is survived by his parents; three brothers, Keaton Letterle, Dustin Wilham and Myles Letterle; maternal great-grandparents John Overby of Lincoln and Doris White of Lincoln; paternal great-grandparents Alice Petro of Lincoln and Norm Wilham Sr. of Mount Pulaski; maternal grandparents Shirley (and Roger) Alberts of Lincoln and Ronald Bree of Lincoln; and paternal grandparents Joyce Wilham of Middletown and Norm (and Lori) Wilham of Lincoln.

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Helmuth 'Smiley' Kiliman

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LINCOLN -- Helmuth G. "Smiley" Kiliman, 82, of Lincoln died Dec. 22, 2005, at 6:30 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

A graveside service was Thursday morning at New Union Cemetery.

Holland and Barry Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Mr. Kiliman worked at Pillsbury in Springfield for 43 years as a computer operator and farmed in Beason for over 30 years.

He proudly served his country in the Army from December 1948 to February 1953.

He was born May 3, 1923, in East Prussia, Germany, to John and Martha Bieber Kiliman.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna "Dee Dee" Kiliman of Lincoln, and five stepchildren, Jesse Henson of Phoenix, Ariz., Danny Henson of Baltimore, Md., Michael Wheelock of Lincoln, Nahani Skelton of Lincoln and Merickia Wheelock of Springfield.

One stepson, Charlie Henson, preceded him in death.

He was of the Protestant faith.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038.

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