M. Jane Poertner          Send a link to a friend

Archived March 2, 2005

LINCOLN -- M. Jane Poertner, 64, of Lincoln died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at 8:50 a.m. at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Holland and Barry Funeral Home.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln. Pastor Phillip Blackburn will officiate.

Private burial will be in Chenoa Cemetery.

Ms. Poertner was the executive director at Central Illinois Economic Development Corp. of Lincoln for 29 years.

She was born June 27, 1940, in Lincoln to George Arthur and Thelma Caroline Moschel Browne. She married John Poertner.

She is survived by her children, Eric Lee Poertner of Lincoln, Raun Suzanne (and Rick) Brobeck of Valparaiso, Ind., and a foster daughter, Deb Dvorak of Lincoln; and one grandson, David Lee (and Stacy) Dvorak of Lincoln.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln.

Her recent professional affiliations were with the Family Self-sufficiency Advisory Council of the Energy Policy Advisory Council for the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Workforce Investment Board, Illinois Ventures for Community Action, Illinois Community Action Agency, National Association of Community Action Agencies, advisory board for SPIRIT Outreach Truancy Program, Rural Partners and Illinois Rural Community Assistance Program.

She graduated from Lincoln Community High School, earned an associate in arts degree from Lincoln College in 1960, a bachelor's degree in education from Northern Illinois Unversity, DeKalb, in 1962, and a master's degree from Illinois State University, Normal, in 1968.

She taught high school social studies at San Jose from 1963 to 1966.

Memorials may be made to CIEDC of Lincoln.

Geraldine Freehill          Send a link to a friend

Archived March 1, 2005

ATLANTA -- Geraldine Freehill, 73, of Normal, formerly of Atlanta, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at 11:47 p.m. at Heritage Manor, El Paso.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Quiram Funeral Home, Atlanta, with a rosary service at 7 p.m.

Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Church, Atlanta, with the Rev. Patrick O'Neal officiating.

Burial will be in Atlanta Cemetery.

Mrs. Freehill retired from State Farm Insurance Company, Bloomington, where she was employed for 34 years.

She was born Sept. 5, 1931, at Atlanta to Charles L. and Margaret Bethman Lamb. She married Leo A. Freehill on Dec. 27, 1952, at Lincoln. He died Feb. 26, 1998.

She is survived by four children, Kaye (and Ron) Coit of Farmer City, Phil (and Linda) Freehill of Atlanta, Julie Williamson of Le Roy and Brian Freehill of Atlanta; and 10 grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Atlanta, where she served as an organist, and was a member of the former Atlanta VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

She was an accomplished musician and had a lifelong love of music. She also enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family.

Memorial contributions may be made to OSF Hospice, Bloomington.

Lura Curry          Send a link to a friend

Archived Feb. 28, 2005

LINCOLN -- Lura Inez Curry, 81, formerly of Pekin, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at 3:50 a.m. at St. Clara's Manor.

Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hurley Funeral Home in Mason City.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin.

Mrs. Curry was a homemaker.

She was born Dec. 20, 1923, in Mississippi to Troy and Odella Laird Lowrance.  She married Edward Lee Simer, and he preceded her in death. She married Charles M. Curry in 1969, and he died in 1985.

She is survived by one son, Forrest E. Simer of Mason City; one daughter, Phyllis (and Jeff) Copeland of Greentown, Ind.; one grandchild; 12 great-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Luella Brown of Bolivar, Tenn., and Deborah Howell of Pocahontas, Tenn.

She was also preceded in death by one sister and one daughter, Eva (wife of Bill) Harrison.

She was a member of the General Baptist Church in South Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Maple Ridge Retirement Center or American Diabetes Association.

Earl Robinson          Send a link to a friend

Archived March 1, 2005

LINCOLN -- Earl D. Robinson, 80, of Lincoln, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Holland and Barry Funeral Home.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Holland and Barry, with Tom Gerdts officiating.

Burial will be in New Union Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 263.

Mr. Robinson retired from PPG Industries in 1983.

He was a combat engineer with the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was born Aug. 5, 1924, in Lincoln to Harry W. and Luella Sutton Robinson. He married Violet M. Last on May 29, 1948, in Lincoln.

He is survived by his wife; one son, Kenneth E. (and Debra K.) Robinson of Decatur; one daughter, Sue Huskins (and companion Larry Casey) of Decatur; four grandchildren, Brook and B.J. Huskins, both of Lincoln, and Jeremy and Dee Dee Robinson, both of Decatur; one great-granddaughter, Baylee Young of Lincoln; one brother, Roy (and Joy) Robinson of Florida; and two sisters, Shirley Smith of Iowa and Florence Beaver of Clinton.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, Marion, Edward, Donald, Charles and Fred; and four sisters, Ruth Faith, Helen Robinson, Dorothy Lee and Edith Hoag.

He was a member of Lincoln Christian Church.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude's.

Lorene Tackman          Send a link to a friend

Archived Feb. 28, 2005

MASON CITY -- Lorene Tackman, 84, of Mason City died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at 9:52 a.m. at her home.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mason City Cemetery, with Nash Shawgo officiating.

There will be no visitation.

Hurley Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mrs. Tackman was a nurse's aide in Lincoln, first at the state school and then at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

She was born Jan. 3, 1921, in rural Greenview to Herman Henry and Elizabeth Schaub Brinkmeyer. She married Carl Lewis Tackman on May 12, 1945, He died Sept. 27, 1972.

She is survived by two sons, Carl "Bud" Tackman and Ronald Tackman, both of Mason City; four daughters, Janet Simmons of Greenview, Bonnie Pierson of Mason City, and Linda Allen and Sharon Williams, both of Damascus, Ark.; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Dorothy Wark of Middletown and Lucille Lee of Lincoln.

She was also preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.