The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 9

1 1. THE PANTAGRAPH Saturday, September 2, 2000 AS OBITUARIES Central Illinois May Karling Ash STREATOR May Karling Ash, 92, a resident of Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Streator, formerly of Punta Gorda, died at 12:33 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 30, 2000) at St. Mary's Hospital, Streator.

Her private memorial service will be today at Elias Funeral Home, Streator. Mrs. Ash was born March 10, 1908, in Wakefield, the daughter of Zachary and Susanna Lohikoski Karling. She married Maurice L. Ash Jr.

on Aug. 22, 1934. He died May 29, 1984. Survivors include one son, Michael E. (Marta) Ash, Lexington, three daughters, Helen (A.

Timothy) Mogill, Towanda; Susan (Alan) Goddard, Streator; and Jenny Melvin, Savoy; two sisters, Emma Leppala, Bellingham, and Ruth Aho, Muskegon, nine grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Five brothers and four sisters preceded her in death. William Coffman McLEAN William Leonard Coffman, 42, formerly of McLean, a resident of Houston, Texas, for the past 20 years, died as a result of a traffic accident Tuesday (Aug. 29, 2000) in Houston. His remains will be interred in Houston.

Mr. Coffman was born Dec. 19, 1957, in Bloomington, the son of Thomas and Barbara Baremore Coffman. Survivors include his parents, Huffman, Texas; a brother, Lon Coffman, Towanda; and two sisters, LaVon Coffman, Houston, and Lorinda Coffman, Crosby, Texas. He was employed in Houston by an international oil well supply company as an E-Commerce 1 Developer Designer.

Esther Donnan LINCOLN The funeral of Esther Donnan, 77, of Macomb, formerly of Lincoln, will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Holy Family Church, Lincoln. The Rev. Steven Bird will officiate. Burial will be in Laenna Cemetery, Chestnut.

Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service today at the church. Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln, is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Donnan died Monday (Aug. 28, 2000) at her sister's home in Macomb, Mich.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Hospice. She was born Sept. 15, 1922, at Casco Township, a daughter of George and Laura Zimmerman Riedel. She married Alvin L.

Donnan on April 23, 1949, at Detroit, Mich. He died June 10, 1998. Survivors include five sisters, Mary (Ted) Kitchen, Mancelona, Doris (Bob) Schuler, Cheboygan, Ruth Ann (Stan) Bobula, Harrisburg, Joyce (Harold) Dean, Copac, and Donna (Roger) Gardella, Macomb, Mich. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. John F.

Hall Sr. GIBSON CITY John F. Hall 82, of Gibson City died at 6:30 a.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Gibson City.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Lamb Funeral Home, Gibson City, the Rev. Randall Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Saybrook. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Gibson Area Hospital Building Fund. Mr. Hall was born March 31, 1918, at Colfax, a son of Thomas J. and Bessie Loveless Hall. He married Lillian Ann Linscoff in 1942 at Colfax.

She died March 23, 1999. Survivors include three sons, John F. (Kathy) Hall Portland, and Thomas J. (Jan) Hall and Donald E. (Cathy) Hall, both of Gibson City; one daughter, Anna Marie (Fred) Rhodes, El Paso; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great children.

His parents, one brother and two sisters preceded him in death. Mr. Hall was a member of the United Methodist Church of Gibson City. He retired from Gear Company in Gibson City. He lived in the Colfax and Gibson City area all of his life.

Mr. Hall was an avid fisherman and loved the outdoors. Wilhelm Martin GRIDLEY Wilhelm Martin, 84, of rural Gridley died at 3:20 p.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, El Paso.

Arrangements are pending at Froelich Memorial Home, Gridley. John J. McCall TOLUCA John J. Mc- Call, 80, of Oshkosh, formerly of Tolu- FUNERALS TODAY September 2, 2000 Clark, Viola 11 a.m. at Melvin United Methodist Church, Melvin.

Burial in Melvin Cemetery, Melvin. Lab Funeral Home, Gibson City, is in charge of arrangements. McCain, B. Bernice, 10 a.m. at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Burial in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington. Turner, Janet 2:30 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Bloomington. Burial at Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington.

Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements. Paid Notices ca, died Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) in Oshkosh, following a brief illness. His Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oshkosh, The Rev.

James Feely officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oshkosh. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Poklasny Funeral Home, 870 W. South Park Oshkosh, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oshkosh Animal Humane Society or the Oshkosh Salvation Army Food Pantry. Mr. McCall was born Aug. 23, 1920, in Toluca, the son of William and Agnes Rolinski McCall. He married Mary K.

Pfister June 6, 1953, in El Paso. She survives. Other survivors include two brothers, Bill (Gladys) McCall, Toluca, and Bob (Bonnie) McCall, Platteville, Wis. Also surviving are three nephews, Gary (Andrea) McCall, Pinecliffe, Jack (Alice) McCall, Atlanta, and Tom (Chris) McCall, Platteville; seven great nephews; and one great niece. His parents and one sister, Ann McCall, preceded him in death.

John completed his undergraduate work at Bradley University, Peoria, and was awarded a doctorate at Florida State University, Tallahassee. He taught at Bradley University; SIU at Carbondale; University of Tennessee at Martin; and University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. He retired from the English Department as emeritus pro fessor in 1984. John was a World War II Army Corps veteran and was stationed in the South Pacific at war's end. Evelyn McCutcheon RANSOM Evelyn F.

McCutcheon, 76, of 111 S. Wallace, Ransom, died Thursday morning (Aug. 31, 2000) at her home. Her funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Elias Funeral Home, Streator, the Rev.

Phillip Peterson officiating. Burial will be in Allen Cemetery, Ransom. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Mrs.

McCutcheon was born Sept. 10, 1924, in Silver Creek, N.Y., to Walter and Clara (Moeller) Fritz. She married Dr. Bruce McCutcheon on Dec. 23, 1946.

He survives. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Dr. LeRoy Fritz, and two sisters, Marian Farrow and Dr. Geraldine Madden. Shirley Payne HARTSBURG -Shirley H.

Payne, 82, of Hartsburg died at 2:55 a.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at St. John's Hospice North, Springfield. His funeral will be 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday at Hartsburg Christian Church. The Rev. Allan Payne, nephew of the deceased, will officiate. Burial will be in Hartsburg Union Cemetery, Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Holland Barry Funeral Home, Lincoln.

Memorials can be made to the Hartsburg Rescue Squad. Mr. Payne was born Oct. 20, 1917, at Hartsburg, to Samuel Noah and Mamie Shirley Payne. He married Ruth Virginia Brunner on Feb.

18, 1944, at Taylorville. She preceded him in death May 22, 1982. He married Ruby Stone on July 7, 1988, in Indiana. She also preceded him in death. He married Charlene Johnson in 1995 at Emden.

She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Les Payne and John Kevin Payne, both of Atlanta; one daughter, Shirley Kavanaugh, Hartsburg; five grandchildren; and one great He was preceded in death by his parents, his first and second wives, and two brothers, Everett and Earl Payne. Mr. Payne worked at Stetson China, Lincoln, and later at Caterpillar Peoria, until his retirement. He also farmed in Hartsburg and raised Polled Hereford cattle.

He served in the National Guard during World War II. He was a member of the Polled Hereford Association, Caterpillar Retirees Club and served on the Board of the Oasis in Lincoln for a number of years. Martha Robison WASHINGTON Martha Simmons Robison, 83, of Washington died at 4 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 31, 2000) at Proctor Hospital, Peoria.

Her funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at MasonWhite Funeral Home, Washington, the Rev. Michael McCoskey officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memory Gardens, Morton. Martha be for one hour Robison prior to the service today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Robison was born Jan. 9, 1917, in Russellville, the daughter of Hosea and Cora Reaps Suddith. She married Robert M. Simmons in August 1939, in Tuscumbia, Ala.

He died May 6, 1975. She later married Nelson Robison in July 1985, in Wickliffe, Ky. He also preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Thomas (Maureen) Simmons, West Peoria, and Steve Simmons, Washington; one brother, Don Suddith, Russellville; two sisters, Mayme (Ralph) Patton, Gadsden, and Betty (Bill) Respress, Land Of Lakes, three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. One son, Jerry, and several brothers and sisters preceded her in death.

Martin 'Leo' Ruddy STREATOR Martin "Leo" Ruddy, 83, of 1118 N. Park, Streator, died at 4:25 a.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at St. Mary's Hospital, Streator.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Church, Streator, the Rev. Deo Gratias Mutefunya officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Streator.

Military rites will be conducted by Streator Leslie G. Woods American Legion Post 217 and Streator Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1492. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at Solon Baker Funeral Home, Streator. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or St.

Mary's Adult Day Care Center, both in Streator. Mr. Ruddy was born May 22, 1917, in Sunbury Township, the son of Matthew and Anna Lynch Ruddy. Surviving locally is a niece, Kathy Friede, Streator. His parents and two brothers, Alvin R.

Ruddy and John Ruddy, preceded him in death. Allen Vissering FLANAGAN Allen Vissering, 87, of Flanagan died at 9:33 a.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at the Good Samaritan Home, Flanagan. His funeral service will be at 11 a.m.

Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Flanagan, the Rev. George Hunt officiating. Burial will be at Center Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m.

Sunday at Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan, and one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Memorials can be made to St. John's Lutheran Church Roof Fund or the Good Samaritan Home. He was born July 4, 1913, in Flanagan, to Peter J. and Phoebe Barth Vissering.

He married Erma Gaspardo on Oct. 11, 1940. She survives. Other survivors include three daughters, Marian (Otis) Ruff, Streator; Arlene (John) Martin, Flanagan; and Judy (Jeff) Wahls, Chenoa; two sisters, Ethel Otto, Gridley, and Evelyn Rients, Flanagan; and three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.

Mr. Vissering was a lifelong farmer in the Flanagan area, retiring in 1982. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he served on the church board, the parsonage building committee, was a charter member of the Good Samaritan Home Board, and also the Building and Farm Committee of the home. Sara Waxler PAXTON Sara Waxler, 88, of Hot Springs, S.D., formerly of Paxton, died Wednesday (Aug.

30, 2000) at Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, S.D. Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at Isburg-McColley's Chapels of the Hills, Hot Springs, the Rev. Gary Warren officiating. Her graveside service will be at 10 a.m.

Tuesday at Glen Cemetery Mausoleum, Paxton, the Rev. Chet Travis officiating. Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, is in charge of local arrangements. A memorial fund has been established in her memory to the Hot Springs Library Fund. Mrs.

Waxler was born Oct. 14, 1911, in Decherd, to Alonzo and Bettie Marcell Watson. She married Dr. W.R. Waxler Dec.

23, 1933, in Akron, Ohio. He died in Oc- tober 1965. Survivors include three sons, William (Mary Sue) Waxler, Custer, S.D.; George (Colleen) Waxler, Hot Springs; and Fred (Julie) Waxler, Pierre, S.D.; one sister, Jessie Jehle, Montgomery, five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Louise Wolpert LINCOLN Louise C. Wolpert, 89, of Lincoln died at 2:25 p.m.

Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln. Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln, Terry Davis officiating. Burial will be in Richmond Grove Cemetery, New Holland.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Friendship Manor, both in Lincoln. She was born April 16, 1911, at Hedrick, Iowa, a daughter of Harry and Matilda Miller Koester. She married Marion Charles "Satch" Wolpert on Nov.

30, 1933, at Lincoln. He died Nov. 19, 1995. Survivors include four sons, Charles (Ruth Ann) Wolpert, and Donnie (Shirley) Wolpert, both of Lincoln; Kenny (Marie) Wolpert, Beason; Robert (Karen Wolpert, Mount Pulaski; two daughters, Marilyn (Bob) Greathouse, Lawndale; and Joan (Bob) Pillar, Oswego; one brother, Harold Koester, New Holland; one sister, Mildred Johnson, Lincoln; 18 grandchildren; 5 stepgrandchildren; 21 greatgrandchildren; and one stepgreatgrandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sons, one daughter, two brothers, two sisters, and one great daughter.

Bloomington-Normal Ira Jamison Jr. Ira "Bud" Turner Jamison 82, of rural Tuscola, father of a Bloomington resident, died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 31, 2000) at his residence. His funeral will be at 10 a.m.

Monday Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 S. Main, Tuscola, the Rev. Clyde Snyder officiating. Burial will be in GAR Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m.

Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Tuscola United Methodist Church Building Fund, 401 E. Sale Tuscola, IL 61953; or Hospice of Lincolnland, 5837 Park Drive, Ste. 4, Charleston, IL 61920-9933; or Lions Club. Mr.

Jamison was born Aug. 15, 1918, in Homer, the son of Ira and Lavina Clark Jamison. He married Ruth Smith on June 9, 1945, in Decatur. She survives. The local survivor is a son, Jan Philip (Kim) Jamison of Bloomington.

Also surviving are another son, Gregory Neal (Julie) Jamison, Princeton; and five grandchildren, Jiliane, Nick, Jon, Turner and Austin. His parents and one sister preceded him in death. Mr. Jamison retired from a lifelong business in livestock, having stockyards located in Homer, Kansas, Pana and Tuscola. He was a member of the Tuscola United Methodist Church; Homer Masonic Lodge 199, AF AM; and the Danville Consistory.

He appreciated music and enjoyed the big band era. He was a lifelong baseball aficionado and an avid Chicago Cubs fan. B. Bernice McCain funeral of B. Bernice Kahle McCain, 78, of 1704 Braden Drive, Normal, will be at 10 a.m.

today at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington. The Rev. Jeff Van Goethem will officiate. Burial will be in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington. Mrs.

McCain died at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 29, 2000) at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Memorials may be made to Meadows Mennonite Home; B. Bernice McCain American Diabetes Association; or a charity of the donor's choice.

She was born May 20, 1922, in Gridley, the daughter of L.D. and Rose Jones Kahle. She married Homer "Mike" McCain Dec. 18, 1946, in Harrison, Ark. He survives.

Other survivors include four daughters, Rose Ann (Brad) Olson and Elizabeth "Betty" McCain, both of Normal; Susan (Arlen) Sieg and Marsha (Rick) Beard, both of Shirley; four sons, Michael (Bar- Obituaries now online at www.pantagraph.com bara) McCain, Lincoln; and Jeffrey (Vicki) McCain, Lynn McCain and Mark (Brenda) McCain, all of Bloomington; one sister, Roslyn (James) Gerlach, Morton; and two brothers, Glenn (Bobby) Kahle, Normal, and John (Helen) Kahle, Forrest, Va. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Katy, Jenny and Molly McCain; Mark, Chris, Brian and Joshua Straukas; Jake and Luke McCain; Amy, Sara and Lisa Sieg; and Cole and Murphy McCain; and one sister-in-law, Pat Kahle. Her parents and two brothers, Paul Kahle and Ralph Kahle, preceded her in death. Mrs. McCain worked beside her husband and sons at the family owned business of A.B.

Hatchery Garden Center, Bloomington. She had attended Brown's Business College. Mrs. McCain was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be missed dearly by all.

Mrs. McCain enjoyed bowling, gardening, knitting and needlework, and reading. She also enjoyed spending time and fishing at their cabin in Minnesota. George Means George Robert Means, 93, of Greenwood, formerly of Bloomington, died at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday (Aug.

30, 2000) at Greenwood Village South Pavilion, Greenwood. Arrangements are pending at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington. Harold J. Miller Harold J. Miller, 86, father of a Normal resident, died Aug.

26, 2000, in Peoples Memorial Long Term Care Center, Independence, Iowa, following a short illness. His funeral was Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Walker, Iowa. Burial was in the church's cemetery. The area survivor is a daughter, Phyllis (Stephen) Sproull of Normal. Also surviving are four more daughters, Patricia (John) Wendling, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Janice (Ray) Kamin, Masonville, Iowa; JoAnn (Don) Neumeyer, Urbandale, Iowa; and Marlene (Neil) Carver, Center Point, Iowa; a son, Bud (Connie) Miller, Walker; a brother, Raymond (Kathryn) Miller, Independence; two sisters, Josephine Harks and Mildred Michels; 31 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Elizabeth Sand Miller; his wife, Esther Homan Miller; a son, Robert Miller; and a brother, Roy Miller. Vera Sanders Vera Sanders, 79, of 1202 Crescent Lane, Normal, died at 5:57 p.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at McLean County Nursing Home, Normal. Arrangements are pending at Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington.

Hazel Stubblefield Hazel Stubblefield, 80, of 502 S. State, Bloomington, died at 5:55 p.m. Friday (Sept. 1, 2000) at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. Arrangements are pending at Metzler-Froelich Memorial Home, Bloomington.

GRADUATES Western Illinois University Eight area residents were among more than 400 students who earned degrees after the Summer 2000 session at Western Illinois University, Macomb. Area degree recipients include: Dwight Emily R. Tjelle, Bachelor of Science. Eureka Katrina Marie Meares, Master of Science; and Jason A. Williamson, Bachelor of Arts.

Graymont Brian E. Studnicki, Bachelor of Science. Heyworth Paul D. Williams, Bachelor of Science. Mahomet Christopher J.

Fowler, Bachelor of Science. Pontiac Michael' R. McCabe, Bachelor of Business. Tremont Sherry L. Clymer, Bachelor of Arts.

Firefighters battle house fire, heat By PETE FALCONE Regional news editor GIBSON CITY Firefighters had to work in 15-minute shifts Friday to battle the heat and the flames of a house fire that overcame one volunteer. Even though volunteers from two departments, Gibson City and Sullivant Township, were able to contain the fire to the upper floor, the house cannot be salvaged. For the past 20 years Ed Barnes has lived in the house, which sustained more damage than its $46,000 value, said Gibson City Fire Chief Jeff Volker. "The guys did a great job of saving his possessions downstairs, but when we got there only 7 minutes after the call came in (about 11:30 a.m.), flames were already shooting through the roof and out a window. It was very hot," he said of the fire and the weather.

Crews were able to save some of Barnes' personal possessions such as pictures from the lower floor. Because of the extreme heat, fire fighters worked in shorter-thanusual shifts. "I ferried them in about every 15 minutes," Volker said. It wasn't enough though to prevent Sullivant Fire Protection District volunteer Jeremy Green from being overcome by a combination of heat, exhaustion and smoke, Volker said. Green was treated and released from Gibson Area Hospital, officials there said.

The Gibson Area Ambulance service was present to rehabilitate the fire fighters and no other injuries were reported. While the initial fire was put out in about 15 minutes, Volker said crews were called back in the late afternoon to "knock down some hot spots." He did not have any information on a cause. Barnes, Volkers said, was not covered by renters insur-' ance and the chief didn't know who" the owner is. Labor Day parade set for downtown By Pantagraph staff Labor Day is the traditional start of the presidential campaign season, so this year the theme for, Bloomington's Labor Day parade will be "Building Our Future Register, Vote, Participate." "Our parade theme encourages everyone to get informed, get involved and be sure their voice is heard in the political process," said Ronn Morehead, president of the Bloomington and Normal Trades. and Labor Assembly.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Front and Center streets in downtown Bloomington. From there it will proceed west on Front Street to Lee Street, where it will turn south on Lee to Wood Street, then turn west on Wood to Miller Park. The parade will feature local unions, high school bands, community groups, antique vehicles, construction equipment, elected officials and political candidates. Along the parade route, the Bloomington-Normal Fraternal Order of Clubs will be collecting nonperishable food and household, items for area food pantries.

Mem-; bers will walk the route ahead of the parade to collect the items. Donated items also can be dropped off at the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 454 or the Elks, Eagles and Moose clubs through Labor Day. Bomb threat brings evacuation A Normal entertainment store was shut down for about two hours; Friday afternoon due to a bomb threat, but nothing was found. Normal firefighters were called to Hastings Books Music Video, 1700 E. College at 2:32 p.m., where they stood by in the parking lot; police already had cordoned off an area near the store.

No estimate of how many were; evacuated was available. Do you suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis? We are currently seeking volunteers 18 years of age or older with RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS to participate in a research study involving an investigational medication. If you have a history of RHEUMATOIDARTHRITIS and are willing to make 6 visits during this 13-week study, you may qualify to participate. If you qualify, you will receive a study- related physical examination, electrocardiogram, laboratory tests and study- medication free of charge. You may also be eligible for compensation.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please call: 309-452-7464 or 877-208-9189. FICSL 1300 Normal, Franklin Illinois Avenue, 61761 Suite 180 Clinical Studies www.clinicalstudies.net.