Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
Bruce Roy Ketcher
Dec 19, 2024
Bruce Roy Ketcher passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford, IL, at the age of 77 years.
Bruce was born on June 30, 1947, to Roy and Verna (Schwalbe) Ketcher in Watertown, MN. He was baptized on July 27, 1947, at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran, Watertown, MN, and confirmed on April 30, 1961, at...
Steve Kretsinger
Dec 17, 2024
Stephen “Steve” Kretsinger, 79, of Loves Park, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Steve was born in Rockford, IL on July 28th of 1945 to Donald and Elizabeth (Fulton) Kretsinger. He married the love of his life, Kathy, on October 23, 1965, at Holy Family Catholic Church here in Rockford. Steve was a proud union member...
Joyce Kniess
Dec 17, 2024
Joyce Kniess, 74, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2024 in Dubuque, Iowa, following a two-year battle with cancer.
Joyce was born on August 9, 1950 in Rockford, IL, daughter of Algot ‘Baker’ and Lila (Hokanson) Skogsberg, and granddaughter of Mauritz and Valborg Hokanson, all members of the International Order of Good Templars (IOGT), Rockford Chapter #40, Vega Lodge.
Joyce graduated from...
Thomas H. Bederka
Dec 17, 2024
Thomas H. Bederka, 67, passed away unexpectedly on December 17, 2024. He and his twin brother Robert were born on September 15, 1957, in Dearborn, Michigan, sons to Paul and Alice (Tavzelj) Bederka. At a young age they moved to Rockford, and he graduated from Jefferson High School in 1975. Tom started working for Sandray Precision Grinding Inc., when he...
Gordon W. Hoffman
Dec 17, 2024
Gordon "Gordy" W. Hoffman, 89, of Cherry Valley, passed away on December 17, 2024. He was born on June 9, 1935, in Rockford, the son of Homer and Lucille (Mechling) Hoffman. He graduated from West High School and attended Rockford Business College where he met the love of his life, Jan, and later attended some classes at Rock Valley College....
Gordon Allen Smith
Dec 16, 2024
Gordon Allen Smith, age 93, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Gordon was born in Chicago, IL on September 28, 1931, the son of Henry and Helen (Goranson) Smith. He graduated from Lane Tech High School and immediately enlisted and proudly served in the U.S. Navy. Gordon married Margaret E. (Grady) Smith on October 30, 1954, in Franklin Park, IL....
Kay Marie Loftus
Dec 15, 2024
Kay Marie Loftus, age 77, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois. She was born in Davenport, Iowa to William D. Smyser and Mary E. Jones on January 27, 1947, and was the oldest of six children. She graduated from Assumption High School in Davenport in 1965.
She worked as a legal secretary at the Rock Island Arsenal...
Sandra Kathleen Norgart
Dec 14, 2024
Sandra "Sandy" Kathleen Norgart, 81, of Rockford, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 14, 2024.
Sandy was born on February 22, 1943, daughter of Donald and Darleen (Sowl) Simonds. She graduated from Beloit High School, Class of 1961. Sandy then went on to complete the dental hygienist program in Milwaukee, WI. She married James Lee Norgart on February 4,...
Lucille R. Westbrook
Dec 14, 2024
Lucille R. (Blair) Westbrook, 90 of Rockford, Illinois passed away Saturday December 14, 2024 after a long illness in the care of family and hospice. Born January 12, 1934. The daughter of Donald and Clara (Cook) Blair. Graduated from Monroe Center High School and SwedishAmerican School of Nursing. Married George L. Westbrook on January 15, 1955. She was a pediatric...
Jeffrey Dreisbach
Dec 11, 2024
Jeffrey A Dreisbach, 60, of Montgomery, passed away in Rockford on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Born on June 8th of 1964 to Raymond and Donna (Kubica) Dreisbach in Chicago, Illinois, Jeffrey was a truck driver for many years. He was well known by friends and family for his great sense of humor, his strong work ethic, and his unending dedication...
Mary Ann Hirsch
Dec 11, 2024
Mary Ann Hirsch, 88, Rockford, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. She was born on October 11, 1936, in Wapella, IL to Lawrence and Mary (O’Rourke) Toohill. She graduated from Wapella High School in 1954 then St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1957, where she received her degree in nursing. She married Frank J. Hirsch on November 15, 1958,...
Michael Battista
Dec 11, 2024
Michael Battista, 95, of Rockford, passed away on December 11, 2024, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on July 15, 1929, in Triggiano, Italy, to Joseph and Maria (Pompilio) Battista. A U.S. Navy veteran, he served aboard the U.S.S. Melvin during the Korean War. On August 22, 1955, he married Pasqua Grisanzio in Italy, and together they...
Linda Gail Miller
Dec 9, 2024
Linda Gail Miller, 68, of Rockford, passed away at home on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Linda was born July 22, 1956, in Louisville, Kentucky, daughter of Leslie and Zadie (Oliver) Shively. She graduated from Graham High School and later worked in the healthcare industry for many years. Linda married Steve Joe Miller on October 11, 1987, at Jefferson Heights Baptist Church....
Vanessa A. Meyers
Dec 8, 2024
Vanessa A. Meyers, 70, of Rockford, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Born in Rockford, Illinois, to Alex and Violet (Lundgren) Smith on March 2, 1954. She married Wayne L. Meyers on May 13, 2005. Vanessa worked as a paraprofessional at East High School up until her retirement in 2018. She enjoyed crocheting and road tripping with Wayne, visiting...
Karin Ann Kullberg
Dec 8, 2024
Karin Ann (Eklund) Kullberg, 86, born August 9th, 1938, in Rockford, IL to Henry and Kerstin Eklund passed away peacefully on December 8th, 2024, in hospice care at The Radcliff in Wood Dale, Illinois.
Karin was a 1956 graduate of East High School, attended Augustana College, received her bachelor’s degree from Rockford College and then later went on to get her...
Janet S. Keating
Dec 8, 2024
Janet Sarah (Pittenger) Keating, 77, born December 10, 1946, in Rockford, IL to Anita (Kissel) Pittenger and Kenneth Davis Pittenger. She died December 8, 2024, in hospice care at OSF St. Anthony’s.
She attended Rockford Public Schools: Montague, Lincoln MS, graduating from Rockford East High School in 1964. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1968 in sociology.
She...
Sergio P. Petti
Dec 7, 2024
Sergio Paes Petti, 74, of Rockford, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 7, 2024, surrounded by love. Born on June 11, 1950, in São Paulo, Brazil, Sergio was the cherished son of Orlando and Celita (Paes) Petti.
In 1980, Sergio married the love of his life, Hilevi Cristina Yamaki, in Brazil. Together, they built a beautiful life over 44...
Lori A Rother
Dec 7, 2024
Lori A. Rother, 62, passed away on December 7, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois. As her life gracefully unfurled, Lori's unwavering strength shone brightly. She faced the closing chapter of her life with serene dignity, passing peacefully in her home, surrounded by the presence of her devoted daughter, a final embrace of love. Lori was born on December 8, 1961, daughter...
Jean Marie Harezlak
Dec 5, 2024
Jean Marie Harezlak, known for her love, friendship, and strength, passed away surrounded by family on December 5, 2024. She lived a life encouraging others to pursue their dreams, championing education and beauty in her community, and seeking opportunities to celebrate life's joys. She was an extraordinary mother and partner.
Born and raised into a loving family in Rockford, IL, on...
Elsie Louise Knack
Dec 5, 2024
Elsie Louise Knack, 102, Rockford, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 5, 2024, with her loving family by her side. She was born on October 22, 1922, in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Martin and Elsie (Irion) Karasek. Elsie was a graduate of Afton High School. She married John Knack in St. Louis, MO on May 21, 1955. John...
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Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. offers a collection of obituaries for Rockford, IL & Winnebago County. With services throughout Illinois that are updated regularly. Find local Rockford, Illinois obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies.
