Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Pauline T Knitter

Pauline T Knitter

July 7, 2015

Pauline T. Knitter, 74 Rockford- Pauline T. Knitter, 74, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015 in her home, surrounding by her loving family. Born September 19, 1940 in Sparkman, Arkansas, the daughter of Herschel & Dennis (Harrison) Thrower. Pauline worked for Warner Lambert for 30 years. She married her love Joseph A. Knitter on November 30, 1989, he predeceased her...

Harold W Melles

Harold W Melles

July 5, 2015

Roscoe -Harold W. Melles took the Lord’s hand in Swedish American Hospital, Sunday, July 5. He was born in Sheldon, Iowa, to John and Pearl Melles, June 9, 1935. Harold grew up in Orange City, Iowa, and married Ruth Steinbron in Jesup, Iowa , June 20, 1958. He was a graduate of South Dakota University in Mechanical Engineering, and his...

Janet Rae Murray

Janet Rae Murray

July 5, 2015

Janet Rae Murray, 74, of Rockford passed away Sunday, July 5, 2015, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Janet was born in Rockford on June 13, 1941, the daughter of Raymond and Helen (Newman) Conley. She was a 1959 graduate of Muldoon High School, and attended the University of Illinois and Rockford University. Janet worked at Illinois National...

Roger  P. Himstedt

Roger P. Himstedt

July 3, 2015

Rockford-Roger P. Himstedt, 85, formally of Eddyville, Ky, passed away peacefully Friday, July 3, 2015 with his loving wife of 64 years, Winona, and his family at his side. He was born August 9, 1929 in Harristown Township, Il, the son of Raymond and Lucille (Pollard) Himstedt. He married Winona J. Walton, in Niantic, Il on January 6, 1951. He...

Nelson G. "Bergy" Bergdorf

Nelson G. "Bergy" Bergdorf

July 2, 2015

Nelson “Bergy” Garfield Bergdorf Nelson Bergdorf, 81, of Roscoe, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on July 2, 2015 at home with his loving wife at his side. Bergy was born on January 15, 1934 in Akron, Ohio, the son of Glenn and Nellie Bergdorf. After graduation from high school he worked at Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in...

William "Bill" E. Milanos

William "Bill" E. Milanos

July 2, 2015

William “Bill” E. Milanos The Scale Man William “Bill” E. Milanos, 77, of Rockford passed away Thursday, July 2, 2015 at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Born October 27, 1937, in Hillsboro, Illinois, the son of Angelos and Rachel (Reichert) Milanos. Bill married the love of his life, Mary Stiles on October 12, 1957 in Rockford. Bill was a veteran serving in...

Joan "Jonie" P. Zanocco

Joan "Jonie" P. Zanocco

June 30, 2015

Joan “Jonie” P. Zanocco, 63 Loving, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Friend Rockford—Joan “Jonie” P. Zanocco, 63 of Rockford died Wednesday June 30, 2015 at home with her family near her side. Born July, 21, 1951 in Freeport, Illinois to Romaine and Helen (Untersee) Dietmeier. Moved to Lancaster, Wisconsin in 1959 after living in Chadwick and Sterling, Illinois as well...

Palma M Henry

Palma M Henry

June 28, 2015

Palma M. Henry, 95, of Rockford, went to her heavenly home, on Sunday, June 28, 2015. She was born on July 29, 1919, in Rockford; to parents Marcello and Maria (Borgo) DalPra. She married her loving husband, Carl K. Henry on October 16, 1948. Palma worked for 30 years at Sundstrand Corporation, retiring in 1982. She was a devout member...

Pastor Billy M.  Robertson

Pastor Billy M. Robertson

June 28, 2015

Pastor Billy M. Robertson, 82, of Rockford, IL went to be with his Lord and Savior, Sunday, June 28, 2015. Born Sept. 21, 1932 in Ramer, TN the son of Cletes and Nola Robertson. Served in the US Navy during the Korean War and married his first wife LaVern James in 1957, she preceded him in death in 1961. He...

Clifford L. "Kip" Gaunt

Clifford L. "Kip" Gaunt

June 27, 2015

Clifford L. “Kip” Gaunt, 79, Rockford, passed away Saturday, June 27, 2015, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born March 1, 1936, in Manlius, IL, the son of Dale and Josephine (Wiggim) Gaunt. Kip was a veteran of the Army serving as a decoder in the security agency stationed at Herzo Base in Germany. He married Mary Ann...

Richard T. Hughes

Richard T. Hughes

June 26, 2015

Richard T. Hughes 68 of Rockford passed away Friday June 26, 2015 at the VA Hospital in Madison. He was born June 6, 1947 in Rock Island. The son of James and Joy Hughes. He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He married Cindy Berman in Tempe, AZ on October 20, 1971. Richard was the...

William  E Gibson, Sr

William E Gibson, Sr

June 26, 2015

William E. Gibson Sr.-83 Cherry Valley William E. Gibson Sr., 83, passed away in his Cherry Valley home, surrounded by family, on Friday June 26, 2015. Born in Rockford on June 10, 1932 to Rudolph M. Gibson and Marie J. (Deutsch) Gibson. William served his country in the Army during the Korean Conflict. Later, William married his true love, Marilyn...

William Selmo

William Selmo

June 26, 2015

William Selmo, 89, of Rockford died Friday, June 26, 2015 at Swedish American Hospital. Born Oct. 14, 1925 in Caspian, MI the son of Joseph and Dominica Selmo. Served in the US Navy during WWII on an LST in South Pacific. Married his loving wife Dorothy Wagberg on May 27, 1950 in Michigan and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and...

Mary Kortendick

Mary Kortendick

June 25, 2015

Mary Kortendick, 91, a resident of Wesley Willows in Rockford, passed away on Thursday, June 25th, 2015. Mary was born on May 27th, 1924, to Stephen and Josephine (Kusick) Odorski, graduated from West High School and lived in Rockford all of her life. On June 16th, 1951, Mary married John Kortendick, of Pecatonica, Illinois. Mary and John raised their children...

Edith  Mccauley

Edith Mccauley

June 25, 2015

Edith McCauley, 87, of Rockford passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Wesley Willows. Born April 26, 1928, in Freeport, the daughter of Floyd and Nellie (Lincoln) Corl. Edith earned her Master’s Degree from Rockford College and was a teacher with the Rockford Public School District for 35 years, teaching at Montague, Swan Hillman and Martin Luther King Schools. She...

Robert "Bob" James  Crouse

Robert "Bob" James Crouse

June 24, 2015

Robert “Bob” James Crouse, 92, Rockford, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at Presence Cor Mariae Center. He was born January 26, 1923, in Rockford, the son of Harry and Alice (McCoy) Crouse. Bob married Anne Margaret Montana in Rockford on August 31, 1946. She passed away in Rockford on January 25, 2008. Bob was a veteran of the Army...

Robert Deacon

Robert Deacon

June 24, 2015

Robert Deacon died at home on June 24, 2015 after a courageous battle with ALS, with his family at his side. Born March 16, 1938, he was quietly proud of his Irish heritage, noting his father immigrated to this country as a 20 year old from Wexford County, Ireland, along with his two brothers. Bob was a former Marine, serving...

Dr. Michael John Beierle

Dr. Michael John Beierle

June 23, 2015

Dr. Michael John Beierle of Rockford passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015 after living nearly 3 years with cancer. He was in his home surrounded by his family. Michael was born on October 24, 1945 in Chicago, IL. He was the son of Michael and Helen (Grichen) Beierle. He received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Yale University. He...

Robin A. Hinerichsen

Robin A. Hinerichsen

June 22, 2015

Robin A. Hinerichsen, 46, of Machensey Park died Monday, June 22, 2015 at home. Born January 25, 1969 in Rockford the daughter of Nathan and Theresa Rogers. Served in the United State Marine Corps for 4 years and tended to the Presidential Helicopter Detail. Married her loving husband, Kent Hinerichsen on July 21, 1990. She was honorably discharged and began...

Thomas J Leick

Thomas J Leick

June 22, 2015

Thomas J. Leick, 65 Rockford- Thomas J. Leick, 65, passed away Monday, June 22, 2015 at Swedish American Hospital. Born August 8, 1949, in Aurora, IL, the son of Henry & Eva (Kartheiser) Leick. Married Karen McGilvery on June 18, 1983 in Naperville. Graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and served in the US Army Reserves. Thomas was...