Dr. Monico Low, MD of Granger, Indiana and former resident and long time Physician in Newton, Illinois passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010. 

Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, IL with Fr. Al Kemme celebrating mass.  The family will greet friends 1 hour before the mass in the church.  Local arrangements are under the care of the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL. 

J. Bernard Street, 88, of rural Newton, Illinois passed away at 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 1, 2010 at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, IL.

Arrangements are incomplete at the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL.

William E. Grove, 59, of Fairfield, Illinois passed away at 1:07 a.m., Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital in Fairfield.

Cremation rites will be accorded and no formal funeral plans have been scheduled. Arrangements are under the care of the Stasi-Grove Funeral Home, Olney.

William was born September 12, 1950 in Richland County, Illinois the son of Dewey Grove, Jr. and Ruby (King) Grove. William worked in the oil fields as a driller and was a member of the Sons of the American Legion Fairfield Post. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.

Robert L. Chapman, 77, of Hidalgo, Illinois passed away at 10:45 p.m. on February 24, 2010 at Newton Rest Haven Nursing Center.
   
Graveside funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday February 27, 2010 at Yale Cemetery. Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup is assisting the family.

Robert was born in Hidalgo, IL on October 13, 1932 the son Lowell M. and Edna Faye (Dulgar) Chapman. He married Romona Jane James on May 3, 1958 in Hidalgo, IL. Bob was a farmer, and raised livestock, welder and engineer; he also operated Chapman Tractor service, which did bulldozing for area farmers. Bob was member of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, and was US Army Veteran. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Assoc.

Gertrude E. (Kistner) King, 86, of Euless, Texas and formerly of Jasper County, Illinois passed away at 11:15 a.m., Thursday, February 24, 2010 at Harris Methodist Hospital in Bedford, TX.


Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 1, 2010 at the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, IL with Fr. Al Kemme celebrating mass.  Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Newton, IL.  Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., Sunday, February 28, 2010 at the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL. 

Mary Jean Huss, 86, of Ste. Marie, Illinois passed away at 11:15 a.m., Thursday, February 18, 2010 at her home. 

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, IL with Fr. Al Kemme celebrating mass.  Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Ste. Marie, IL.  Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 PM - Monday, February 22, 2010 at the church and 1⁄2 hour before the mass at the church. Arrangements are under the care of the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL.  

Mary Jean was born on February 15, 1924 in Jasper County, IL the daughter of Perry and Florence (Stifle) Ping.  She married Chester James Huss on November 18, 1964; he preceded her in death on July 5, 1982. Mary Jean was a 1941 graduate of the Willow Hill High School and was valedictorian of her class.  Mary Jean retired in January of 2009 after 62 years of service at the Ste. Marie State Bank.

Mrs. Alene C. Fear, 95, of Newton, Illinois passed away at 6:25 a.m., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham, IL. 

Funeral services celebrating Alene's life were held Monday, February 22, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Newton, IL with Rev. Stephen Willis and Bro. Rick Britton officiating.  Burial was in the Westlawn Cemetery in Newton, IL. Arrangements are under the care of the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL.

Alene was born on April 8, 1914 in Newton, IL the daughter of Clay H. and Lulu A. (Miller) Byrom.  She married George E. Fear on April 18, 1932; he preceded her in death on March 25, 1972.

Paul R. Gowin, 90, of Mattoon, Illinois, formerly of Ft. Wayne, IN and Mountain Home, AR, passed away at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 19, 2010 in Gowin Parc in Mattoon, IL.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ste. Marie with Reverend Father Al officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Ste. Marie, IL. Full military rites were conducted by the Ste. Marie Veterans. Visitation from 9:00 a.m. till service time at the church. Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Olney, is in charge of the arrangements.

Paul was born December 10, 1919 in Jasper County, Illinois, the son of Thomas and Katherine (Yager) Gowin. He married Amelia Dorothy Frohning September 10, 1946; she preceded him in death May 23, 2003. Paul was a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mattoon. Paul was a U.S. Navy Veteran and a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion and VFW.

Paul Birch, Jr., 67, of Mattoon, Illinois passed away at 8:15 a.m., Monday, February 1, 2010 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services honoring Paul's life were held Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at Broadway Christian Church with the Rev. Greg Sexton and the Rev. Kevin Wolfe officiating. Burial was in the Ingraham Cemetery, south of Dieterich. Schilling Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mr. Birch was born January 9, 1943 in Flora, the son of Paul and L. Maxine (McGee) Birch Sr. He married L. Karen Workman on January 31, 1963. Mr. Birch earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois and a master's degree from Northwestern University. Mr. Birch was a member of Ingraham and Broadway Christian Churches. He taught at Mattoon Junior High for 30 years. He was later employed as a quality control engineer for Howell Asphalt. Mr. Birch loved travel, reading and collecting antique books. He enjoyed raising cattle on the centennial family farm, cutting and selling firewood, and raising Indian corn in his large garden.

Corinna L. Dodge, 20, of Flora, Illinois passed away at 9:00 a.m., Monday, February 15, 2010 in rural Edwards County, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora, Illinois with Pastor Cindy Keck officiating. Burial will be in the Rusk Cemetery, Flora. Visitation will be held after 6 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2010 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home, Flora.

Corinna was born January 17, 1990 in Effingham, Illinois the daughter of Robert & Mary Jane (Richards) Dodge. She is a 2008 graduate of Flora High School where her activities included the Harstan Staff, J.I.I., G., co-op student at Flora Savings Bank her junior & senior year and National Honor Society member. She was an honor student graduate of O.C.C. in Olney, IL, participated in Relay For Life, was on the Student Activity Board at the University of Evansville, and also worked at U of E Counseling Center and Victoria Secret. She enjoyed shopping, scrapbooking, painting and her pets.

Clarence J. "Sam" Ochs, 92, of West Liberty, Illinois passed away at 12:34 p.m., Sunday, February 7, 2010 at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, IL. 

Services were held Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL with military flag presentation by the Ste. Marie Post # 932 American Legion.  

Clarence better know as Sam was born on September 18, 1917 in rural Ste. Marie, IL the son of John and Louisa (Zuber) Ochs.  He married Lois Miller in February 1969; she survives. Sam served his country in the United States Army during WW II and was a lifelong farmer.

Mrs. Mildred Laverne Mendenhall, 88 of rural Oblong, Illinois passed away at 1:10 a.m., Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson, IL. 

Funeral services celebrating Mildred's life were held Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at the Blake-Buchanan Funeral Home in Newton, IL. Private burial to be held at Westlawn Cemetery in Newton, IL.

Mildred was born on June 15, 1921 near Ste. Marie in Jasper County, IL the daughter of John and Etta (Kirts) Hanson.  She married Othel V. Mendenhall on February 13, 1940 and he preceded her in death on May 25, 1983. Mildred was a homemaker and loving mother and grandmother and great grandmother.  She was a member of the South Bend Congregational Church.

Anna L. Volk, 96, of Wendelin, Illinois passed away at 6:25 p.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

Funeral services were held Monday, February 15, 2010 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Wendlin, IL with Monsignor Marvin Volk. Burial was in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Wendlin. Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Olney, is in charge of arrangements.

Anna was born August 5, 1913 in Jasper County, Illinois the daughter of Leo and Margaret (Ament) Fehrenbacher. She married Edmund Joseph Volk April 17, 1934; he preceded her in death March 14, 1989. Anna was a homemaker. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Wendelin and the Ladies Sodality of Holy Cross Church and Knights of Columbus Auxiliary.

Gene O. Cunningham, 87 of Robinson, Illinois, died at 10:25 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2010 at his residence.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 5, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Robinson with Rev. William Overmann officiating.  Burial will be in the Oblong Cemetery with military services conducted by the Am Vets Post #33, V. F. W. Post #4549, American Legion Post #69, and American Legion Post #132. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Goodwine Funeral Home, Robinson with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Ellen Nadine Ledbetter, 80, of Greenup, Illinois went to live with the Lord at 1:03 p.m., Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the Cumberland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Greenup, IL.

Funeral services were held Thursday, January 4, 2010 at the Bishop Funeral Home in Greenup, IL with Brooke Davis officiating.  Burial was in the Jack Oak Cemetery. 

Nadine was born on June 17, 1929 in Benton, IL the daughter of Roy and Fultie (Nunn) Thurmond. She married Randall Ledbetter on January 29, 1952. Nadine was a homemaker, loving mother and grandmother.