All Obituaries

Valerie Kaye Hortenstine-Sheldon, age 39, of Hillsboro passed away on May 16, 2019 as a result of a traffic accident near Raymond. She was born on June 25, 1979 in Vandalia, Illinois the daughter of Jacob and Teresa Sergent Hortenstine.  She married Timothy Sheldon on July 25, 1998, which later ended in divorce. Val was a graduate of Ramsey High School and had attended Lake Land College, She had completed several Law Enforcement training classes at area agencies. Chief Sheldon had...

Samantha Kate La Pradd 23 of Hillsboro formerly of Litchfield passed away May 16, 2019. She was born In Hanau Germany on November 28, 1995. She was a 2014 graduate of Belleville High School and was currently a medical student at MTI in Springfield IL and was scheduled to graduate in two weeks. She is survived by her significant other Austin Milanos of Hillsboro her son Carter Joseph William Milanos of Hillsboro, Mother Cisy (Jeff) Thielemann of Litchfield, father David (Jody) La Pradd of...

Austin Anthony Krager, age 18, of Farmersville, passed away of an auto accident on May 9, 8:39 pm at Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville IL. Austin was born January 26, 2001 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield the son of Mark and Jill Welsh Krager. Austin was a member of the Senior Class of 2019 at Lincolnwood High School. While at Lincolnwood he was a member of the Lincolnwood Lancer Basketball Team and FFA.  He was a recipient of the 2019 FFA State Degree and...

Allan M. Comer 84 of Hillsboro passed away May 1, 2019 at Memorial Medical center in Springfield. He was born April 19, 1935 in Hillsboro to Kenneth and Roberta (Dukes) Comer. He was a graduate of Hillsboro High School. He was a veteran in the US Army serving from 1957-1959. He worked at Propellex Corp., in Donnellson and retired as a certified Coal Mine Examiner. He was a member of St. James Baptist Church in Hillsboro, where he helped with Vacation Bible School and building bird houses...

Mariam M. Bircher 87 of Hillsboro passed away April 28, 2019 at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born June 19, 1931 in Collinsville IL to Joseph and Agnes (Etchills) McCain. She married Glenn Bircher on Jan 28, 1950 in St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Highland. Together, in 1960s they founded WINU-AM radio station in Highland, which they operated until their retirement in1991; she was a Cub and Boy Scout leader, delivered meals on wheels and was a member of the...

Kenneth L. Elmore (Keck), age 99, of Waggoner passed away on Friday, April 26 on the family farm just two weeks shy of his 100thbirthday. Kenneth joined his wife of 76 years Virginia A. Elmore who passed away on April 11th.  The only time they had been apart for an extended period of time was when Keck served his country during World War II in the South Pacific with the Army Air Corp. Keck was born May, 11 1919 in rural Coffeen, the son of Ernest and Mary Eva (Harvey)...

Verda Hahnenkamp 87 of Springfield passed away April 24, 2019 at Hillsboro Rehabilitation. She was born May 9, 1931 in Litchfield IL to Louis and Alma (Heyen) Hahnenkamp. She was a graduate of Litchfield High school, was a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Springfield and she enjoyed playing cards. She was an insurance secretary in Pana and at Horace Mann in Springfield. She is survived by two sisters Ruth Benning of Raymond and Erma Hartke of Collinsville....

  Harold W. “Bill” Niehaus 88 of Hillsboro formerly of Raymond passed away April 23, 2019 at his residence. He was born in Raymond IL on July 1, 1930 to Cecil and Beulah (Nettleship) Niehaus. He was a lifelong farmer and worked at Hough Funeral home for Bob Hough. He served in the US Marines H Co. 1st Marine Division during the Korean War; he was injured on Oct. 4, 1952 and received a purple heart. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Hillsboro, DAV and...

Ashley C Weffenstette, age 48 of Farmersville passed away April 21, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.    She was born on September 25, 1970 in Garland, Texas the daughter of John L. and Linda Douglas Weffenstette.   She worked a Truck Driver and was a US Navy Veteran.   Her mother, Linda D. Rogers and brother, John Weffenstette both of Farmersville, survive her. Her companion, Bernadette Lindsey of Farmersville also survives her. Services will be...

Dalbert James Janssen of Hillsboro formally Raymond and Harvel, passed away on April 19, 2019 at his home. He was born on August 8, 1962 in Pana Illinois the son of Paul and Gwen Beatty Janssen. He married Ginger Hartman on March 21, 1986 and later divorced. He drove a truck for a number of local trucking companies and owned and operated DMC trucking, before retiring. He was a strong supporter of the 2ndamendment and the NRA. He enjoyed shooting and reloading ammo. He was a supporter of...