Calvin E. Ferguson

Calvin E. Cal Ferguson, 88, Rockford, died Friday, October 16, 2009, in Rockford Memorial Hospital. He was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the son of Calvin and Bessie Fry Ferguson. Cal lived most of his life in Rockford. He married Sophia M. Pocewicz in Belvidere on September 7, 1946. She predeceased him February 15, 1990. He was a WWII Army veteran serving in the Pacific Theater. Cal farmed most of his life and owned Agricultural Spray Supplies Company thru the 1960s. He was a government grain bin supervisor through the Department for Agriculture for many years. He was the Owen Township Tax Accessor for 43 years, serving as the longest elected official in Winnebago County. Cal was a volunteer firefighter in the Northwest Fire Protection District, past member and president of the Pleasant View School District Board, helped form and was the first president of the Winnebago County Tax Payers Association. Cal always respected the Native American traditions and culture. He lived by the rule, you can not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.



Survived by his daughter, Ann (Robert) Wong of Sonora, CA, sons, Reid and Ray (Charlotte) Ferguson, both of Rockford; grandchildren, Valerie, Trent and Dana Ferguson; many nieces and nephews; and longtime special friend, Bobbie Lightfoot of CA. Predeceased by his parents and wife, Sophia.



Funeral service will be at 11:30 AM, Friday, October 23, 2009, in Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Rockton Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Av, Rockford, IL 61103. Burial in Owen Township Cemetery. Visitation from 5PM until 7PM, Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the funeral home and on Friday from 10:30AM until time of service. Memorials may be made to the family for the Salvation Armyor Roscoe Animal Retreat or Macktown Living History. To express condolences online please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com