Obituaries Posted by Horner-Merritt Funeral Home

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...

Jan 8, 2025

Johnathan Edgar Aden, 54, of DePue, passed away January 8, 2025 at OSF Medical Center, Peoria.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at Community United Methodist, LaMoille with Rev. David Jungnickel officiating. Cremation rites will follow. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until the time of services in the church. Please visit...

Jan 1, 2025

Diane M. Musgrove, 78, of Mendota, passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at her home. Diane was born May 7, 1946 in Mendota, the daughter of Harold and Mildred (Delaney) Mathesius. She married Vernon L. Musgrove on September 24, 1967, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton, IL.

In her younger years, Diane was a member of FFA...

Dec 31, 2024

Ann Elizabeth Brockwell-Althaus, 81, of Amboy, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Prairie Crossing Living and Rehab in Shabbona. She was born January 12, 1943, in Mendota, IL, the daughter of Wilfred and Dorothy (Wise) Ehlbeck. She married Robert Althaus. Ann worked as a distributor for Safeguard Business Systems for many years until her retirement in 2016. Ann...

Dec 30, 2024

Romona Schweiger, 87, of Mendota, a former long time resident of Earlville, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024, at OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota. She was born July 19, 1937, in Earlville, IL, the daughter of Roy and Margret (Wilcoxen) Johnson.

Romona retired from the U.S. Post Office after working many years as a...