Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
Jean E. Babcock
Nov 21, 2023
Jean E. Babcock, 96, of Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. She was born on September 9, 1927, in Waterman, Illinois, one of three daughters to Leon and Marian (Wentch) Foiles. She went on to obtain a degree from a business college and later, on August 23, 1947, she married the love of her life, Robert Babcock in...
Joyce G. Pennow
Nov 19, 2023
Joyce Grace Pennow, 95, of Rockford, IL died on Sunday, November 19, 2023. She was born on March 3, 1928, in Rockford, IL, to Anthony and Grace (Evans) Kruit.
Joyce was a long-time member of Second First Church. She worked for Woodward Governor, retiring after 13 years of service. Joyce then married her loving husband and travel companion of 55 years,...
Tani C. Schelling
Nov 19, 2023
Tani C. Schelling, 84, Rockford, died on Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Generations at Neighbors in Byron. Born June 10, 1939 in Rockford, daughter of George and Mary Gullo Russo. Graduated from Muldoon High School in 1957 and was a lifelong member of St. Anthony of Padua Church. Married Harry G. Schelling, Jr. on August 29, 1959. He died July...
Steven "Steve" Laharne
Nov 18, 2023
Steven “Steve” Andrew Laharne, 73, of South Beloit, passed away on November 18, 2023. He was born on January 15, 1950, in Rockford, the son of John and Doris (Keene) Laharne. He served proudly in the United States Army from 1970 – 1972, serving in the Vietnam War. He married Melodee Steele on January 15, 1992, in Rockford. Steve worked...
Jane E. Phelps
Nov 17, 2023
Jane Nelson Phelps, 67, of Loves Park, Illinois passed away peacefully at home hospice on November 17. At her side was her husband Jim, her best friend Andrea Enderle, and her husband Dan.
Jane was the daughter of Kenneth Nelson, and Lucille (Bergland) Nelson of Leaf River Illinois. Jane graduated with a degree in education from Carthage College, and a masters...
Genevieve “Geva” S. Thompson
Nov 15, 2023
Genevieve “Geva” S. Thompson, 78, Rockford, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Marshfield, WI, the daughter of Chester Oliver and Sophronia LaValle (Moore) Breit. She married her high school sweetheart, Arnold Raymond Thompson on May 22, 1965, and they were blessed with 3 children and 23 years...
Julia Lopez
Nov 15, 2023
Julia Lopez, 89, Rockford, passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. She was born on May 25, 1934, in Mexico. She is the daughter of Aurelio and Antonia (Cano) Corral. Julia married Miguel Lopez in 1968.
She is survived by her children, Lilia Corral, David (Rosalinda) Lopez, and Saul (Misty) Lopez; eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren ; two brothers and...
Gail P. Francik
Nov 14, 2023
Gail P. Francik, 80, Rockford, died on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 being lovingly cared for by her family and the staff at Anam Glen Memory Care. Born February 12, 1943 in Oak Park, daughter of Karl F. and Myrtle Perfect Dittberner. Graduated from Proviso West High School in Hillside and Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago....
Kenneth "Ken" E. Olson
Nov 12, 2023
Kenneth “Ken” E. Olson, 96, Cherry Valley, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2023, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Waseca, MN, the son of Thorvald and Helen (Norem) Olson. He was an Army veteran serving during the Korean War. Ken married Maria “Betty” Awe in Rockford on November 16, 1968. He held various jobs...
Eugene "Gene" John Kasowicz
Nov 12, 2023
Eugene “Gene” John Kasowicz, 79, Cherry Valley, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2023. He was born in Chicago, the son of Eugene and Violet (Brezina) Kasowicz. Gene was a veteran serving in the Air Force. He married Andrea Trojan in Chicago on May 20, 1967. Gene was a salesman for printing companies in the Chicago area.
Survived by his loving wife...
Lanita J. Smith Brown
Nov 12, 2023
Lanita Jo Runyon Smith Brown, 84, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Sunday, November 12, 2023, surrounded by those who loved her most. She was born on November 11, 1939, in Pikeville, KY the daughter of Joe and Georgia (Clark) Runyon. She was retired from Bishop Buffet and a member of First Baptist Church of Machesney Park. Lanita enjoyed time...
Esther C. Mortensen
Nov 12, 2023
Esther Caroline Mortensen, age 73, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
Esther was born on June 21, 1950, in Hamtramck, MI, the daughter of Felix and Caroline (Lasiuta) Koncyk. She graduated from Cass Tech High School in Detroit and later attended Marygrove College. Esther married James Roy Mortensen on June 5, 1971, in Detroit, MI. She worked...
Gary N. Foster
Nov 11, 2023
On November 11, 2023, Gary passed away peacefully surrounded by his children. Gary was born on August 21, 1945 in Northcote, Minnesota to Nick and Mabel Foster. Northcote is near the Canadian border and Gary spent the winters of his childhood skating and playing hockey. It was so cold that the rivers would freeze over, allowing Gary and his friends...
Mary L. Messina
Nov 11, 2023
Mary L. (Peters) Messina, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Saturday, November 11th at the age of 95.
She was born on March 19th, 1928, in Rockford, the daughter of Harold J. Peters and Jennie E. (Johnson) Peters. Mary was a graduate of Rockford East High School, class of 1945. Mary and her best friend, Jean (Gillis) Messina, married...
Bonnie Lou Cash
Nov 9, 2023
Bonnie Lou Cash, 68, of Rockford, passed away on November 9, 2023. She was born on April 15, 1955, in Rockford, the oldest daughter of Fred and Viola (Lichte) Johnson. She married Dennis Cash on October 22, 1994. Bonnie worked as a receptionist for Van Matre for many years.
She is survived by her sister, Julie (Tom) Beck; nephew, Collin (Courtney)...
Gary M. Kaufman
Nov 9, 2023
Gary Martin Kaufman, 86, passed away in Rockford, Illinois on November 9, 2023. Born on October 23, 1937, in Heartwell, Nebraska, son to Martin L. and Ruth (Boone) Kaufman. His first accomplishment was to become an eagle scout. He then went on to graduate with a B.A. from Hastings College and advanced his education with a PhD from Ohio State...
Dean J. Elsbecker
Nov 6, 2023
Dean Elsbecker, 63, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on November 6th, 2023. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1960, the son of Donald and Helen Elsbecker. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1978. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was honorably discharged after serving his country for 4 years. He then...
Terry Lee Gano
Nov 6, 2023
Terry Lee Gano of Rockford, Illinois passed away on November 6 at the age of 75, surrounded by those he loved.
Born in Chicago, his parents Betty Kopp and Robert Lee Gano, and brother Dennis later moved to Skokie. As a young man, he protested for issues he supported, served as a roadie for the 60s band, Iron Butterfly, and knew...
Marjorie "Marge" G. Elliot
Nov 5, 2023
Marjorie “Marge” G. Elliot, 86, Rockford, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023. She was born on March 8, 1937, in Oak Park, the daughter of Emil and Kathryn (Demeranville) Anderson. She grew up in Park Ridge, graduating from Maine Township High School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI. Marge married Charles (Chuck) Elliot in December of 1959,...
John L. Shepherd
Nov 4, 2023
John L. Shepherd died on November 4, 2023, in Rockford, Illinois. He spent his final days with his family and was holding the hand of his wife, Suzanne, when he died. John was many things to many people, but most importantly, he was a dad. A dad who coached T-ball, soccer, was in the audience at school events and front...
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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.
