Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Raymond C. Kellermann

Raymond C. Kellermann

July 7, 2020

Raymond C. Kellermann, 81, passed away on July 7, 2020. Born on July 13, 1938 in Detroit MI, he was son of W. Blythe and Jenett (Furniss) Kellermann. A graduate of Bay City Junior College, Ray moved to Rockford, Illinois and joined Centennial United Methodist Church in 1959 where he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Reeves. They...

Johnnie L Thomas

Johnnie L Thomas

July 6, 2020

Johnnie L. Thomas, 79, of Rockford, passed away July 6, 2020 at Swedish American Hospital. Born September 27, 1940 in Mount Holly, Ark, the son of Matthew & Tommy (L. (Chitman) Thomas. He own and operated Thomas Auto Polish for many years. Married India Sims, and have been together for over 47 years. He has a passion for cars, and...

Evajean Erickson

Evajean Erickson

July 5, 2020

Evajean Erickson, 89, lifelong Rockford resident, died on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Born September 6, 1930, daughter of John W. and Esther Rounce Fridly. Graduated from West High School in 1949. Married the true love of her life, Wayne G. Erickson on March 23, 1950. Employed earlier in her life as a secretary for Rockford Life Insurance Co. and W.F....

Fred Bliss

Fred Bliss

July 4, 2020

Fred Bliss, 84, died suddenly July 4th, 2020. Born September 23rd, 1935 in Rockford, and was raised and lived in Durand, Illinois for many years. Born to Raymond E. and Gladys (Ziegler) Bliss, both deceased. He graduated from Durand High School in 1953. Married Paula (Cascio) Vince in Rockton on October 30th, 1982. A life-time member of NRA, he was...

Stephen P. Thorne

Stephen P. Thorne

July 4, 2020

Stephen “Steve” Paul Thorne, 80, of Rockford IL, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, 4 July 2020. Steve was born on 10 January 1940 in Ottumwa, IA, to James Paul Thorne and Doris Evelyn Rodden Thorne. The family moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, and then to Moline, IL, in his high school years. Steve was active playing football and...

Alex S. Heaney

Alex S. Heaney

July 3, 2020

Alexander “Alex” S. Heaney, 27, of Machesney Park, IL passed away suddenly Friday, July 3, 2020. He was born January 27, 1993 in Rockford, IL the son to Anthony and Danita (Garner). Alex attended Harlem High School graduating in 2011. He enjoyed BMX bikes, video games and animals, especially cats. He loved Disney World, amusement parks, zoos, and spending time...

Wilbert "Bill" L. Kapfer

Wilbert "Bill" L. Kapfer

July 3, 2020

Wilbert “Bill” LeRoy Kapfer, 90, of Rockford, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2020. Bill was born on March 5, 1930 in Barton, WI, son of Lee and Elsie (Shultz) Kapfer. He married Betty Jean Woodford on September 5, 1949. She passed away in 1990. Bill later married Josephine Quist on October 19, 1991. She passed away in 2009. Bill...

Patricia "Pat"  A. Lovett

Patricia "Pat" A. Lovett

July 3, 2020

Patricia A. (Pat) Lovett died July 3 in Rockford at age 96, due to complications from a fall. Born Patricia Holland in 1923, she grew up on a farm in Milton, Iowa, riding horses, rounding up dairy cattle, and playing basketball and baseball in high school. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1945 with a degree in English,...

June Rose Brophy

June Rose Brophy

July 3, 2020

June Rose Brophy passed away peacefully on July 3, 2020 at the age of 96. She was born on February 18, 1924 in Escanaba, Michigan, the daughter of Edward and Rose (Nantelle) Olson. She graduated from Escanaba High School. She moved to Rockford after graduation and was employed as a secretary at the Ingersoll Milling Machine Company where she met...

Mary A. Graham

Mary A. Graham

July 1, 2020

Mary A. Graham, 86, of Rockford, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2020. She was born February 14, 1934, the daughter of Raymond and Clara (Watson) James. She married her sweetheart, James D. Graham, on June 14, 1958. She was a passionate teacher, including physical education and business education, and she was a librarian. She held a Master’s Degree from...

Gerald O. Lofquist

Gerald O. Lofquist

July 1, 2020

Gerald Oliver Lofquist (Jerry), 83, Cherry Valley, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at Heritage Woods of Rockford. He was born April 14, 1937, in Kensington, MN, the son of Walter E. and Myrtle Irene (Forsberg) Lofquist. The family lived in Pierpont, SD before moving to Rockford, IL. Jerry attended East High and finished at Harlem High, class...

Tomasa Alvarez

Tomasa Alvarez

June 30, 2020

Tomasa Alvarez de 52, Fallecio contra una batalla con el cancer el 30 de junio del 2020 en Rockford, Illinois rodeada de su amorosa familia. Nacida en San Luis Potosí, México hija de Carmelo and Margarita (Hernandez) Alvarez. Ella era una mujer trabajadora, fuerte y muy valiente que entrego su vida al señor jesuchristo. Era miembro de la congregacion RCOG...

Lois C. Riggs

Lois C. Riggs

June 30, 2020

Lois C. Riggs, 93, Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 10, 1926, in Teaneck, NJ, the daughter of Charles and Otillia “Tillie” (Yunker) Schroers. The family lived in Rochelle Park, NJ just across the Hudson River from New York City. Upon graduating from high school,...

Edwin "Ralph" Schnepper

Edwin "Ralph" Schnepper

June 29, 2020

Edwin “Ralph” Schnepper, 87, of Rockford, IL passed away Monday, June 29, 2020. He was born November 18, 1932 in Bridgeport, IL the son of Edwin C. and Dorothy (Bellas) Schnepper. Ralph attended East High School graduating in 1950. He married the love of his life, Darlene (Barr) on October 1, 1955. Ralph worked at Sundstrand Aerospace as a mechanical...

Ricardo Viveros

Ricardo Viveros

June 29, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving father, Ricardo Viveros Diaz, 88, on June 29th, 2020. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family, at his home in Richmond, Texas. Ricardo was born on April 7th, 1932 in Chiconcuac, Mexico to Ricardo Viveros & Petra Diaz Olea and later raised in San...

Frances L. Smith

Frances L. Smith

June 27, 2020

Frances Lillian Smith, 88, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Frances was born in northern Boone County on March 30, 1932, daughter of Carl and Inga (Johnson) Olson. She graduated from North Boone High School in Capron, where she met her husband, Earl A. Smith, at the age of 14. Frances married Earl on November 23,...

Georgia D. Tussing

Georgia D. Tussing

June 27, 2020

Georgia D. Tussing, 77, of Rockford, passed away on June 27, 2020. She was born in Rockford, IL, on February 2, 1943, the daughter of Gerald Walter and Catherine Magdalene (Cannell) Becker. Georgia was a 1961 graduate of Muldoon High School, and the old St. Patrick grade school on Royal Avenue. She was united in marriage on April 27, 1968...

Larry S. Henning

Larry S. Henning

June 26, 2020

Larry S. Hennning, 67, Rockford, Illinois, passed away at 8:20 p.m, Friday, June 26, 2020, in Saint Anthony Medical Center due to complications from the COVID-19.Born on November 25, 1952 in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Homer S. Henning and Donna E. (Magnuson) Holets. Graduated from Pecatonica High School. As a proud Veteran, he served honorably in the Army during...

Leo J. Brokish

Leo J. Brokish

June 26, 2020

Leo John Brokish died June 26 at Amberwood Care Center after a long illness. Born June 4, 1937 to Frank & Mayme (Dodge) Brokish in Dodgeville, Wi. He graduated from Dodgeville High in 1954 and joined the Marines in February, 1957. Leo spent his time in the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Ca. After being honorably discharged in 1959, he moved...