LDN - Obituaries

LINCOLN -- Donald Eugene Meredith, 72, of Lincoln died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006, at 2:30 a.m. at Maple Ridge Care Centre.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln, with the Rev. Julie Azbell officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

He was born Nov. 26, 1933, in Lincoln to Gordon Harrison and Norma Louise Donnan Meredith

He is survived by one daughter, Ann Meredith of Lincoln, and three grandchildren, Bryant Watkins, Heather McCarty and Faith McCarty.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lincoln and American Legion Post 263.

Memorials may be made to American Legion Post 263 or the American Stroke Association.

MOUNT PULASKI -- Neil Pope, 53, of Madison, Wis., formerly of Mount Pulaski, died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006, at his home.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Latham United Methodist Church, Latham.

He is survived by his father and his stepmother, Mary Pope, of Mount Pulaski; one brother, Nolan Pope of Madison, Wis.; one stepbrother, Jack Gasaway of Mount Pulaski; and two stepsisters, Mary Ann Radtke and Jean Davis, both of Mount Pulaski.

LINCOLN -- Eugene A. Donath, 77, of Lincoln died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, at 2:20 a.m. at St. Clara's Manor.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln, following a prayer service at 3:30 p.m.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Church, with the Rev. R. Anthony Lee officiating.

Mr. Donath retired in 1989 after 42 years with MII Industries, where he was an estimator.

He was born March 24, 1928, in Lincoln to Henry and Marie Eimer Donath. He married Joanne Wolf in Lincoln on May 31, 1949.

He is survived by his wife, of Lincoln; one son, Steve (and Susan) Donath of Cisne; one daughter, Janet (and Marion) Olson of Glen Ellyn; two brothers, Robert Donath of Springfield and Leo (and Audrey) Donath of Bradley; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Karyn Olson and Calley Donath.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wilfred; and an infant son, Joseph.

He was a member of Holy Family Church, Lincoln Elks Lodge 914 and American Legion Post 263. He was an honorary member of Knights of Columbus Council 1250, 3rd and 4th degree, grand knight and faithful navigator.

ELKHART -- Joseph E. Ginter, 73, of Elkhart died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, at 8:15 p.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

Visitation at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln was on Tuesday, along with an Illinois State Police walk-through and a prayer service.

Another visitation was on Wednesday at Martin-Burke Funeral Home in Cullom, along with an Illinois State Police walk-through and a prayer service.

His funeral was Thursday morning at St. John's Catholic Church, Cullom, with Father Thomas Shaw officiating.

He was born Sept. 9, 1932, in Ford County to Lester Joseph and Sarah Diebel Ginter. He married Mary Eileen Cox in 1959.

He is survived by his wife, of Elkhart; one daughter, Kathy Ginter of Mooresville, N.C.; two sons, Dan (and Sara) Ginter of Elkhart and Mark (and Diane) Ginter of Ferdinand, Ind.; two sisters, Mary Arletta Dohery of Joliet and Margaret Ann Van Alstyne of Cullom; and nine grandchildren.

He was an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhart, where he served as trustee, religious education teacher, lector and usher. He was also a member of American Legion Post 122 in Cullom.

Memorials may be made to the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation or the Joe E. Ginter Grandchildren College Education Fund. Both funds are established at the Illinois State Police Federal Credit Union. Memorials will be accepted at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home and Martin-Burke Funeral Home.

On the passing of a friend

Knowing that heaven awaits on the other side, I am often driven to fervent prayer on behalf of those I cherish, because I want to keep them with us for but a short while longer.

I found myself thinking these thoughts recently when I was told that my friend Joe Ginter was in the hospital struggling for his life.

The battle was won last weekend when Joe passed from this life into the arms of Christ, who awaited him.

Joe Ginter was one of the most loyal friends I have ever had. If you were Joe's friend, all Joe's other friends knew of your qualities because Joe wasn't shy about publicly praising those he befriended.

For all the time I knew him, he was always a very outgoing and kind person, always lifting up and praising his wife, Mary, his soul mate. On days that I found Joe and Mary together, I always came away recharged because of the strength of their relationship.

Joe was the kind of person who just wanted to lift up your day. He regularly sent out humorous e-mails to a large e-mail list, attempting to keep in touch, attempting to bring a smile and trying to make sure that his friends knew how much he valued them.

Joe was a very colorful character. I really enjoyed the stories he told. He laughed a lot. And he was as honest as the day is long.

His children have testified about the depth of his love, the strength of his spirit and his remarkable devotion.

Joe, thanks for being my friend. I miss you already.

[Jim Youngquist]

ATLANTA -- Beverly Jean Cruz, 55, of Elgin, formerly of Atlanta, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, at 3:45 p.m. at her home.

Visitation in Elgin was on Monday and Tuesday at Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St.

Local visitation was on Wednesday at the Eminence Christian Church, rural Atlanta. Her funeral is at noon Thursday at the church, with Andy Glass officiating.

She was born May 24, 1950, at Lincoln to Everett Leon and Margaret Van Hoorn Renfrow. She married Ron Cruz on July 27, 1990.

She is survived by her husband; two sons, Jeff Doss of Streator and Joel Doss of Farmer City; one daughter, Jeanene Cheek of Mansfield; one stepdaughter, Paulette (and husband Jim) Goodrum of Zion; two stepsons, Ronald (and wife Chie) Cruz of Elgin and Mikie Cruz of Elgin; two sisters, Connie (and Tom) Wertheim of Atlanta and Linda (and husband Kim) Shepherd of Normal; five grandchildren; and 12 stepgrandchildren.