Wilmer Birk     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 29, 2004

LINCOLN -- Wilmer R. "Willy" Birk, 67, of Lincoln died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at noon at his home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln. Masonic rites will follow at 7 p.m.

A celebration of life service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Jefferson Street Christian Church, with Craig Smith officiating.

Burial, with military rites, will be in New Union Cemetery.

Mr. Birk retired in 1996 from state employment at Lincoln Developmental Center, where he was a stationary engineer.

He was a U.S. Army veteran.

He was born June 28, 1937, at Olney to Wilmer L. and Jessie Pearl Dufrain Birk. He married Patricia Adams on July 21, 1957, in Lincoln.

He is survived by his wife; one son, Tony Birk of Lincoln; one daughter, Shelly (and Rodney) Conley of Lincoln; four grandchildren, Brian (and Coralee) Stoltzenburg, Amber Conley, Cory Stoltzenburg and Devan Conley, all of Lincoln; two great-grandchildren, Seth Evans and Emma Rose Stoltzenburg of Lincoln; one sister, Dorothea Schmidt of Lincoln; and one brother, Bernard (and Eileen) of Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, William Sparling.

He was a member of Jefferson Street Christian Church; American Legion Post 263; Lincoln Lodge 210, in which he served as worshipful master in 1985; Lincoln York Rite Bodies; and Scottish Rite Valley of Springfield, in which he served as thrice potent master from 1995 to 1997 and treasurer from 1997 to 1998. He was coronated as an honorary member of the Supreme Council 33rd Degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in 1996 in Boston, Mass. He was an appointed Grand Lodge officer, serving as grand steward and grand historian from 1992 to 1998. He was also a member of Ansar Shrine in Springfield, in which he served as director of the ceremonial cast for many years, and of St. Edwards Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in Springfield.

Memorials may be made to Special Olympics of Lincoln, in care of Pat Caveny, or to Lincoln Masonic Foundation.

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Bradley Brown     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 29, 2004

LINCOLN -- Bradley Charles Brown, 44, of Lincoln died Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

A celebration of life service will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Faith Lutheran Church.

A worship service will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church, with Pastor Mark Peters and the Rev. Robert Henderson officiating.

Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Zion Cemetery.

Mr. Brown worked at Logan-Mason Rehab Center.

He was born Aug. 13, 1960, in Bloomington.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Irene Ketcham Walker and William "Bill" Walker; two brothers, Bruce (and Rita) Brown of Anna and Brent Brown of Lincoln; two sisters, Brenda (and Dan) Underwood of Lincoln and Bridget (and Bruce) Carroll of Hannibal, Mo.; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and a special uncle, John Ketcham of Castleton, Vt.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Brown.

He attended Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln.

He graduated from Raymond School in Bloomington in 1980.

Memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation or to the Faith Lutheran Sunday School Fund.

Irene Strunk     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 28, 2004

LINCOLN -- Irene Gladys Reece Strunk, 72, of Linn Creek, Mo., formerly of Lincoln, died Monday, Sept. 27, 2004, at 2:03 p.m. at Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital, Osage Beach, Mo.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at New Union Cemetery, Lincoln, with the Rev. Larry Maffett officiating.

There is no visitation.

Arrangements are being handled by Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.

Mrs. Strunk was a cook at local nursing homes before she retired.

She was born Feb. 16, 1932, to Frank and Bobbie Carrie Street Kinton. She married Jim Strunk on Nov. 20, 2000, in Lincoln, and he died Nov. 11, 2001.

She is survived by one daughter, Carol (and Bill) Troxel of Linn Creek, Mo.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

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Hazel Bastin     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 28, 2004

MOUNT PULASKI -- Hazel J. Bastin, 90, of Mount Pulaski died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at 9:30 p.m. at her home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Bill Shanle officiating.

Burial will be in Steenbergen Cemetery.

Mrs. Bastin was a homemaker.

She was born April 8, 1914, at Pittwood to Albert and Cynthia Beck Wilham. She married Earl Bastin in Tennessee on Dec. 24, 1937. He died July 1, 1986.

She is survived by one son, Davy (and Jacquie) Creager of Mount Pulaski; six grandchildren, Vicki Bastin of Mount Pulaski, Dana (and Beth) Turner of St. Louis, Mo., Rhonda Turner of Springfield, Jess (and Joni) Turner of Waynesville, Paula Creager of Springfield and Caryn Martin of Athens; three great-grandchildren; Jamie (and Dale) Ballenger of Clinton; J.D. Turner of St. Louis, Mo., and Deidre Turner of St. Louis, Mo.; two great-great-grandchildren, Josie and Ashton Ballenger of Clinton; and one sister, Delores Scott of Riverton.

She was also preceded in death by three daughters, Shirley Turner, Jeanette Creager and Diane Creager; one great-grandson, Justin Turner; six brothers; and six sisters.

She was a member of the Copeland Christian Church of Mount Pulaski and the VFW Post 777 Ladies Auxiliary.

Memorials may be made to Mount Pulaski Ambulance.

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Betty Hopkins     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 28, 2004

McLEAN -- Betty Louise Burcham Hopkins, 82, of McLean, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at 3:42 p.m. at Manorcare Health Services, Normal.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the McLean Christian Church.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, with Tony Billingsley and Robert Twist officiating.

Burial will be in Maroa Cemetery, with a committal service at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Quiram Funeral Home of Atlanta is handling arrangements.

She was born Jan. 18, 1922, at Lake City to Joe and Edith Van Sickle Burcham. She married Raymon Hopkins. He died in 1983.

Mrs. Hopkins is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Yvonne and Ron Fitchhorn of McLean; two grandsons, Mike (and Gloria) Fitchhorn of McLean and Randy Fitchhorn of Sunrise, Fla.; four grandchildren, Renda, Shawna, Amanda and Victor Fitchhorn; four great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Henry Burcham of Sullivan, Jack Burcham of Decatur and Fred Burcham of Lewiston, Idaho.

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

She was a member of McLean Christian Church.

Her time of suffering had ended and she rests in peace with her Savior.

Memorials may be made to her church or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Victor Dringenberg     Send a link to a friend

Archived Sept. 28, 2004

LATHAM -- Victor Dringenberg, 71, of Latham died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at 12:04 a.m. at Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur.

Cremation rites have been accorded.

A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mount Pulaski, with Bill Shanle officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Dringenberg was employed by Caterpillar in Spring Bay as a special mechanic. He retired in 1985.

He was born Oct. 7, 1932, at Colfax to Ameil and Lena Dringenberg. He married Joyce Hendricks on Aug. 30, 1958, in Bloomington.

He is survived by his wife; one son, Victor L. (and Sandra) Dringenberg Jr. of Latham; two daughters, Tammy (and Victor) Williams of Mason City and Cindy (and Joe) Brownfield of Pekin; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Emma Harpter of East Peoria.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.

He was of the Lutheran faith.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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