Obituaries Posted by Horner-Merritt Funeral Home

Mar 18, 2025

Eugene "Gene" Politsch, 89, passed away on March 18, 2025, just two days shy of his 90th birthday at OSF St. Paul, surrounded by his family.

Gene was born in Mendota on March 20, 1935, to Fred and Ruth (Hurst) Politsch. He married the love of his life, Carolyn (Taylor) on June 21, 1959. Gene and Carolyn...

Mar 10, 2025

Ruth C. Delhotal, 90, of Mendota, passed away Monday, March 10, 2025, at Allure of Mendota surrounded by her loving family. She was born May 9, 1934, in Mendota, the daughter of Homer and Edith (Martin) Schmidt. She was raised by her aunt, Eunice (Virgil) Gorrell

Ruth is survived by her children, Edie (Bob Dellinger) Thompson, Kelly...

Mar 8, 2025

Pamela Sue Yost-Herrera, 74, of Mendota, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in her home on Saturday March 8th, 2025 in Mendota, Illinois.

Pamela was born in Mendota on December 16th, 1950, to Ralph and Helen Yost. She grew up in Mendota and graduated from Mendota High School in 1969. Pamela proudly worked for Y.O.U....

Mar 1, 2025

Barbara R. Christopher, 90, of Mendota, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Allure of Peru. Barbara was born December 12, 1934, to Edward and Ruth (Clement) Geil of Troy Grove. She married Everett J. Christopher on May 4, 1957, in the Waltham Presbyterian Church.

Barbara attended Troy Grove Grade School and graduated from Mendota High School...

Feb 22, 2025

Marian E. Neal, 78, of Shabbona, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Prairie Crossing Healthcare and Rehab after a long battle with illness. Marian was born July 24, 1946, in Mendota, IL the daughter of Edward and Hilda (Winter) Hoelzer.

Marian lived the majority of her life in Compton. She worked at Swensen Spreader in Lindenwood...

Feb 21, 2025

Harold "Punk" Nurnberg, Jr., age 88 of Mendota, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. Harold was born in Mendota, IL to Harold, Sr. and Marie (Kaufman) Nurnberg and had five siblings.

He grew up helping his dad on the farm just north of Mendota. After graduating from  Mendota High School in 1955, Harold joined the U.S....

Feb 18, 2025

Jeremy John Donnelly, 43, of Mendota, passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Jeremy was born November 28, 1981, in Ottawa, the son of Glen and Lisa (Rosenfelder) Donnelly. He married Lisa Peterson on June 3, 2017, at his father's home in Oglesby.

Jeremy graduated from LaMoille High School in 2000. He worked as an operator for Operating...

Feb 17, 2025

Helen Joyce (Dierwechter) Burright, 99, passed into eternal rest on February 17, 2025, at Stonecroft Village.

Joyce was born December 19, 1925 on the family farm near Troy Grove to parents Henry A. and Helen (Stewart) Dierwechter. She graduated from Mendota High School in 1943 and from Iowa State University in 1947 with a degree in Dietetics....

Feb 15, 2025

Dora R. Planthaber, 80, passed away on February 15, 2025, in Spring Valley, Illinois. Born on June 15, 1944, in Ottawa, Illinois, she lived a life filled with love, faith, and devotion to her family.

Dora was a woman of deep faith and unwavering kindness. A lifelong Christian, she found great joy in prayer and gospel music,...

Feb 14, 2025

Margaret M. Buckley, 76, of Troy Grove, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota. Margaret was born on March 13, 1948, in Grand Ridge, IL to William and Mary (Collins) Buckley.

She is survived by longtime friends, Candice Given, Trina Given, and James McCully; her sisters-in-law, Marcella Buckley of...

Feb 12, 2025

Betty Dufour died peacefully in her home on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Mendota with Pastor Elise Rothfusz officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral in the church.

Betty...

Feb 4, 2025

Jonathan A. Ross, 80, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday February 4th 2025, at Allure of Mendota. He was born May 4th 1944 in Princeton, Illinois to Clyde and Harriet (Jacobson) Ross.

After graduating high school, Jon joined the U.S. Army serving in South Korea from 65-67. Jon was the owner and operator of New Cycle Fire...

Feb 3, 2025

David John Sprung, 39, of La Moille, IL, passed away Monday, February 3, 2025, at home surrounded by his loving family after a valiant four year battle with cancer, surprising his doctors again and again. David was born in Council Bluffs, IA on a beautiful sunny day July 2, 1985, to Michael and Lori (Lockwood) Sprung. He was the...

Feb 1, 2025

Bernard L. Engels, 74, of Mendota, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, at OSF St. Katherine Medical Center in Dixon. He was born March 23, 1950, in LaSalle, the son of Leo and Margaret (Funfsinn) Engels. He married Vicki Althaus on April 16, 1982.

Bernie grew up in Peterstown, graduating from Peterstown Grade School before attending St....

Jan 30, 2025

Tim Selquist, 57, of Triumph, passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025, at his home. He was born August 22, 1967, the son of Donald and Susan (Martin) Selquist.

Tim worked at the Triumph elevator for many years. He worked for the railroad terminal right behind the elevator for years after that until his illness no longer allowed...

Jan 30, 2025

Donna "Slim" Hilmes, 77, of Mendota, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Thursday, January 30, 2025. She was born May 22, 1947, in Princeton, IL, the daughter of Richard and Grace (Petersen) Stanard. She married Larry "Bud" Hilmes Jr. on March 22, 1967, in Kasbeer, IL.

Donna worked for 35 years at Harper-Wyman in...

Jan 26, 2025

Steven "Gib" Glaser, 71, of Mendota passed away on January 26th, 2025 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center of Peoria, IL with his wife and friends by his side. Steve was born October 14, 1953, in Mendota to Gilbert "Gib" and Gloria Jean (Dyas) Glaser.  Steve graduated from Mendota High School in 1971.  He spent most of his career...

Jan 24, 2025

William J. Kuczek, 56, of Toluca, IL, formerly of Mendota, passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 at St. Anthony Medical center in Rockford, IL after a lengthy illness.  He was born in Chicago, IL on Jan. 8, 1969 to Edward and Jane (Bukala) Kuczek.  He was a member of Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Peterstown, IL.  ...

Jan 21, 2025

Eileen Mae Dancey, 89, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 at her home in LaSalle, IL.  Eileen was born on April 1, 1935 in Milan, Missouri the daughter of John and Nellie (Chapman) Henry.

Eileen is survived by her son Paul (Kathy) Bierwirth of Mendota, IL and her daughter Brenda (Cheryl Hazelton) Bierwirth of Weslaco, Texas.   Eileen...

Jan 10, 2025

Emery 'Kirb' Kirby Jr., age 85 of Mendota passed away at 10:30am on Friday, January 10th, 2025 at Goldwater Care in Princeton, where he had been a resident for the past few years. He was born on August 8th, 1939 in Champaign, IL to Emery Kirby, Sr. and Beatrice Jane Strater.

In 1962, Emery married his high...