Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Roger K. Becknell

Roger K. Becknell

Jan 3, 2021

Roger Keith Becknell, 75, of Rockford, IL died January 3, 2021 in his home. Roger was born August 18, 1945 in Rockford, where he was a life-long resident. He was a graduate of Rockford West High School and went on to graduate from Rock Valley College and Northern Illinois University. A veteran of the United States Navy, he served aboard...

Ralph "Red" N. Platt

Ralph "Red" N. Platt

Jan 2, 2021

Ralph “Red” N. Platt, 101, of Winnebago, IL passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021. He was born December, 6, 1919 in Manchester, MI the son to Fred G. and Coral B. (Gray) Platt. Ralph proudly served in WWII in the United States Army Air Corps, receiving the Bronze Battle Star. He married the love of his life, Florence (Miller) on...

Kristen M. Garza

Kristen M. Garza

Jan 1, 2021

Kristen M. Garza, 54, of Rockford, IL passed away Friday, January 1, 2021. She was born on April 14, 1966 in Pontiac, MI the daughter to Carl and Dorothy Pfalzgraf. Kristen graduated from Auburn High School in 1984 and went on to attend Rockford College. She married Oscar Garza II on October 27, 1989. Kristen was a woman of God...

Joyce Marie Nimocks

Joyce Marie Nimocks

Jan 1, 2021

Joyce Marie (Dobratz) Nimocks, 93, of Independence Village in Rockford, Illinois, passed away on January 1, 2021 after recent complications of a long battle with congestive heart failure and chronic kidney failure. Joyce was born on December 16, 1927 to Richard William Edward Dobratz and Hedwig “Hattie” Erna (Schiller) Bain in Rockford Township, Illinois. Growing up she often helped her...

Larry Laverne Miller

Larry Laverne Miller

Dec 31, 2020

Larry LaVerne Miller, 79, Rockford, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2020, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born November 22, 1941, in Loren, IL the son of Melvin and Margaret (Walters) Miller. He was graduate of Dakota High School class of 1959, where he played basketball and football. Larry married Michelle “Micky” Wahler on July 20, 1963, which...

Dennis L. Mullins

Dennis L. Mullins

Dec 31, 2020

Dennis L. Mullins, 83, of Rockford went to heaven on December 31, 2020. Dennis was born June 21, 1937 in Chicago to Harley W. and Vera Hanson Mullins. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Wendy (William) Kessenich; son Scott (Laura) Mullins; step-daughters Tammy (Peter) Newbery, and Trish (Joel) Hefel; sister...

Edward P. Cullen

Edward P. Cullen

Dec 31, 2020

Edward Patrick Cullen, 77, of Machesney Park, IL, passed away peacefully at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle, Illinois after a long battle with the effects of exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Ed was born in Manhattan, NY, New York, on December 30, 1943, the son of Eleanor (Torpey) Cullen, and...

Shirley Joann Edith Falkenstein

Shirley Joann Edith Falkenstein

Dec 30, 2020

Shirley Joann Edith (Luckow) Falkenstein, 90, of Belvidere passed away on December 30, 2020 at Cherryvale Place, Rockford, IL from Covid19. Shirley was born in Belvidere, IL to Henry and Edith Luckow on September 12, 1930. She graduated from Belvidere High School where she met and married Harold (Bob) Falkenstein on January 28, 1951. She and Bob spent their lives...

Eugenie Hafeli

Eugenie Hafeli

Dec 29, 2020

Eugenie Hafeli, age 91, of Rockford, Illinois peacefully went home to Heaven to be with her Savior and reunited with family on Tuesday morning, December 29, 2020. She was a faithful wife, beloved mother, and loving grandmother and great-grandmother. Her love for Jesus was genuine and evidenced by many years of faithful service in various ministries in her local church....

Harry J. Doherty

Harry J. Doherty

Dec 29, 2020

Harry J. Doherty, 88, of Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. Harry was born February 21, 1932 in Rockford, IL, son of Leon and Anna (VonDerVellen) Doherty. He married Charlene M. Catalani on June 6, 1959 in Rockford. Harry was a proud United States Army Veteran, having served our country in the Korean War. He was employed with...

Garnet Ackerman

Garnet Ackerman

Dec 29, 2020

Garnet Ackerman, 96, died on December 29, 2020 in FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, IL. She was born October 26, 1924; to Herman and Emilie (Bethke) Conell on a farm near Thayer, NE. She attended Lutheran Grade School, and graduated as valedictorian of Thayer High School. She also received a scholarship to York College but was unable to attend due...

Robert D. Brady

Robert D. Brady

Dec 28, 2020

Robert D Brady, 89, was called home December 28, 2020. He was born May 11, 1931 to Casper and Berniece (Lynch) Brady in Rockford Illinois. Robert married the love of his life, Dorothy A Kromholz on September 22, 1951, and together they raised eight children. As a young man, Robert enjoyed photography, music, swimming, track, tennis, and kayaking. He played...

Helen J. Zahorik

Helen J. Zahorik

Dec 28, 2020

Helen J. Zahorik, 94, of Rockford, IL, went to her heavenly home, Monday, December 28, 2020. She was born September 1, 1926 in Rockford, IL the daughter to Jacob and Hattie Williams. Helen attended West High School graduating in 1944. Helen married Edwin “Ed” Zahorik on August 19, 1956. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where she...

Thomas "Tom" John Rakuc

Thomas "Tom" John Rakuc

Dec 26, 2020

Thomas “Tom” John Rakuc, 59, of Byron, IL was born on October 5, 1961, in Rockford, IL, to Walter and Lidia (Litwinchuk) Rakuc. Tom married Lynn Brandon on September 6,1986 at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Rockford, IL. He passed away on December 26, 2020 surrounded by his family. Tom was the ultimate craftsman and loved to work with...

Thomas J. Furseth

Thomas J. Furseth

Dec 26, 2020

Thomas “Tom” James Furseth, 65, died a shocking and senseless death on December 26, 2020. Born July 8th, 1955 in Rockford, Illinois Tom grew up on the Rock River, the second oldest of six children to James and Maxine (Stout) Furseth. After he graduated from Harlem High School, he moved to Machesney Park and began his career working for Chrysler...

Dennis D. Steinhoff

Dennis D. Steinhoff

Dec 26, 2020

Dennis D. Steinhoff, 73, Rockford, died a tragic and senseless death on Saturday, December 26, 2020. Born July 26, 1947 in Cuba City, WI, son of Clifford and Dorothy Johns Steinhoff. Graduated from Cuba City High School in 1966. Married Laura Lesperance in Cuba City on June 19, 1971. Veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Viet Nam. Employed...

Stella Szmydt Brewer

Stella Szmydt Brewer

Dec 26, 2020

Stella Szmydt Brewer, 92, Rockford, passed away December 26, 2020. Stella was born, in Rockford, on August 23, 1928, the daughter of Walter and Mary Szmydt. She married Harold Brewer in 1970. He passed away in 1983. Stella worked at National Lock in Rockford for more than 30 years as a machine operator making hardware. She belonged to the Blackhawk...

Peggy A. Leon

Peggy A. Leon

Dec 26, 2020

Peggy A. Leon, 89, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2020, of covid-related complications. She joins her husband of 65 years Blase, who predeceased her by 5 weeks, also of covid-related complications. She was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on March 25, 1931, daughter of Joseph F. and Margaret C. (Welsh) VanCura. She graduated from Muldoon High School...

Richard C. Arnold

Richard C. Arnold

Dec 25, 2020

Richard C. Arnold, 70, passed away on December 25th, 2020. Born on February 9th, 1950 in Chicago Illinois. He was son to Eugene and Alice (Wolf) Arnold. A 1969 graduate of Schurz High School, Richard went on to spend some time working for the Chicago Police Department, marrying his wife Anita Vince on April 22nd 1982, in Dallas Texas then...

Walter John Pennow Jr.

Walter John Pennow Jr.

Dec 25, 2020

Walter J. Pennow, 89, of Rockford, IL died on December 25, 2020. He was born on May 23, 1931, in Oconomowoc, WI to Walter J. and Mildred (Ellison) Pennow Sr. Walter was a long-time member of Second First Church. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After graduating from Rockford College, he worked as an...

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