Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Kenneth L. Alfrey

Kenneth L. Alfrey

August 31, 2023

Kenneth L. Alfrey, 73, started on his next and greatest adventure after his passing on August 31, 2023. He was born in Rockford, Illinois on September 24, 1949, son to Jay Oliver and Elsie (Johnson) Alfrey. A 1967 graduate of Guilford High School, Ken went on to join the U.S. Army in 1970 during the Vietnam War. Five months later,...

Carroll L. Dahl

Carroll L. Dahl

August 30, 2023

Carroll L. Dahl, 88, of Winnebago, IL, passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at home with his family and loved ones. 

Caroll was born on February 1, 1935, in Gale, Wisconsin. The son of Erwin and Myrtle (Olson) Dahl. He married Darlene M. Ellingson on June 8, 1957, in Northfield, Wisconsin. They went on to have three children. Carroll...

Robert "Bob" Forest Masters

Robert "Bob" Forest Masters

August 29, 2023

Robert “Bob” Forest Masters, 83, of Rockford, passed away on August 29, 2023. He was born on August 7, 1940, in Buffalo, Missouri, the son of Roy and Bessie (Kirk) Masters. He was employed as a truck driver and served in the U.S. Navy. He married Sandra Larson on June 9, 1962, in Robinson, Illinois.

Bob loved his family, joking with...

Michael J. Howley

Michael J. Howley

August 29, 2023

Michael Joseph Howley passed peacefully after a long illness on August 29, 2023.

Michael was born near Mullingar, Ireland on August 1, 1959. After starting life in one of Ireland’s now notorious mother and baby homes, Michael had the extraordinary good fortune to be adopted by his loving parents, George and Mary (Lynch) Howley, Irish ex-pats who brought him to be...

Christopher M.  Brown

Christopher M. Brown

August 29, 2023

Christopher Michael Brown, 50, of the Chicago area, passed away on Tuesday, August 29. He was born on Sunday, July 29, 1973 in Columbia City, Indiana to Gary and Ann Brown, who now live in Winnebago.

Chris graduated from Keystone High School, Knox, Pennsylvania in 1991 and from North Park University, Chicago in 1995. He loved sports and participated in high...

Earl A.  Smith

Earl A. Smith

August 28, 2023

Earl A. Smith, 92, Rockford, passed away on Monday, August 28, 2023, at OSF ST. Antony Medical Center. He was born May 21, 1931, in Boone County, the son of Floyd and Margaret (Jergens) Smith. He was a veteran serving in the Army. Earl married Frances L. Olson in Jefferson Prairie, WI on November 23, 1951. She passed away on...

Eileen E. Meier

Eileen E. Meier

August 27, 2023

Eileen E. Meier, 79, Rockford, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at SwedishAmerican Hospital. She was born in Rockford on August 12, 1944, the daughter of LaVerne and Margaret (Hoglund) Weyburg. Eileen graduated from Rockford East High School in 1962. She went on to attend Rock Valley College where she received a nursing...

Mildred "Millie" A. Ferguson

Mildred "Millie" A. Ferguson

August 26, 2023

Mildred "Millie" A. Ferguson, 95, passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2023. 

Millie was born November 28, 1927 to Robert and Alline Bambush in Columbus, Georgia. Shortly after World War Two she relocated to Rockford, Illinois to raise her family. Millie was known for her work ethic, many times working two jobs to provide for her family. She worked for...

Judith "Judy" A. Jones

Judith "Judy" A. Jones

August 25, 2023

Judith “Judy” A. Jones, 81, of Rockford, passed away on August 25, 2023. She was born on December 23, 1941, in Chicago, the daughter of Harry and Grace (Klemmendson) Patterson. Judy graduated from West High School, class of 1959. She worked in food service at Rockford Memorial Hospital.

She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family. Judy was known...

Patricia  A. Rush

Patricia A. Rush

August 23, 2023

Patricia A. Rush, 86, passed away Wednesday August 23, 2023 . 

She was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Louise (Bernier) Morin. Born October 19, 1936 in Hamel, MN, she was Valedictorian, graduating from Rockford High School in Rockford, MN. She married Robert Rush on November 24, 1956 in Corcoran, MN. Patricia always wanted to be a nurse and...

Jimmie E. Free

Jimmie E. Free

August 21, 2023

Jimmie (Jim) Eldon Free, 86 of Rockford, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2023.

Jim was born on November 27, 1936, the son of J. Emery and Helen J. (Bullard) Free. He grew up and went to school in Mystic, Iowa where he met, in kindergarten, the love of his life Nyla Kay Seddon. Jim and Nyla were married on November...

Robert "Brad" Bradford Smith

Robert "Brad" Bradford Smith

August 21, 2023

Robert Bradford “Brad” Smith, 74, of Rockford, passed away on August 21, 2023. Born on November 25, 1948, in Mattoon, IL, the son of Robert and Martha (Tabor) Smith. He graduated from MacArthur High School, Decatur IL, class of 1966. Brad enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a corpsman with the Marines during the Vietnam War. He married...

Bounheng Boutchannha

Bounheng Boutchannha

August 20, 2023

Bounheng Boutchannha of Rockford, IL, passed away on Sunday, August 20th, 2023 with his children by his side.

He was born in Pakse, Laos, son to Oui and Deng Boutchannha.

Bounheng was an officer with the Lao Police Academy before marrying the love of his life, Manivone. They moved to the US to be with family and once settled, he worked as...

Brian Clarke

Brian Clarke

August 19, 2023

On August 19th, 2023, Brian Clarke passed away at home, surrounded by his family, at the age of 86.

Brian was born in Belfast, North Ireland on January 24th, 1937, son of John and May (Wilson) Clarke. He moved to the United States in 1969 and worked for 41 years for the Lloyd Hearing Aid Corp. Brian married Margaret (Luke) Clarke...

Michael F.  Johnson

Michael F. Johnson

August 18, 2023

Michael F. Johnson, 78, went to be with Jesus after a long battle with cancer on Friday, August 18, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. Mike was born to Marie Kent and Robert Johnson on October 9, 1944, in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. He was raised in Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan. As a young man, he attended the University of...

Morgan "Morey" Weiss

Morgan "Morey" Weiss

August 17, 2023

Morgan “Morey” R. Weiss, 69, of Rockford, passed away on August 17, 2023. He was born on June 2, 1954, the son of William and Irene Weiss of Ryebrook, New York. He married Linda Crain on November 8, 2003, in Rockford. He was a member of the American Legion in Rockford, and Amvets in Leesburg, Florida. Morey and Linda spent...

Scott Rheingans

Scott Rheingans

August 17, 2023

Scott C. Rheingans, 73, passed away in Madison, Wisconsin on August 17, 2023. Born in Rockford, Illinois son of Jack and Pat (Ramsey) Rheingans. He attended East High School before graduating from Pecatonica High School in 1968. During that time, he enjoyed playing all kinds of sports and was a proud Eagle Scout. Upon graduation he immediately enlisted in the...

Barbara Ann Bartholomee

Barbara Ann Bartholomee

August 17, 2023

Barbara Bartholomee , 74, of Rockford passed away at 5:13 p.m. Thursday, August 17 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. 

She was born December 23,1948, to Shirley (Smith) and Lemuel E. Bartholomee. She is a 1966 graduate of Guilford High School and a 1970 graduate of Maranatha Baptist University. After a career in Columbus, OH, she returned to Rockford to...

Kenneth "Ken" James Muehlfelder

Kenneth "Ken" James Muehlfelder

August 16, 2023

Kenneth “Ken” James Muehlfelder, 72, Freeport, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 6, 1951, in Chicago, the son of Fred and Nerieda (Rieker) Muehlfelder. He was a graduate of Grant Community High School, class of 1969 and attended the College of Lake County as part of the...

Donna Marie Cartwright

Donna Marie Cartwright

August 15, 2023

Donna Marie Cartwright, 68, was born in Nassau, New York, to Genevieve and Arthur Overton on September 18, 1954. She passed away in Aurora, Illinois, on August 15, 2023. Much of Donna’s youth was spent in New York, where she loved to swim, fish, ice skate, and go clamming with family. In early adulthood she moved with her parents to...