Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
Rev. Rodney B. Dillinger
March 30, 2026
Rev. Rodney B. Dillinger, 93, Rockford, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Rockford. He was born on October 22, 1932, in Souderton, Pennsylvania, the son of Chauncey and Emma (Price) Dillinger. He married Phyllis (Thorburn) Dillinger on June 9, 1956, in New Jersey.
He left home at a very young age to serve his country in Germany, where he...
Noma Kay Weidner
March 30, 2026
Noma K. Weidner, 88, of Rockford passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026.
She was born November 28, 1937, in Mystic, Iowa, the daughter of Willis and Georgetta (Hunt) Warnick. Noma grew up on the family farm in Mystic and after graduating from high school, moved to Rockford, Illinois.
In Rockford, she worked as a bank teller at First Federal where she...
Brenda K. Mehlbaum
March 29, 2026
Brenda Kay (Cantwell) Mehlbaum, 74, of Rockford, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Brenda was born in Rockford on November 26, 1951, the daughter of Elmo and Melsant (Robins) Cantwell. She was proud to be a lifetime resident of Rockford, Illinois. Brenda married John R. Mehlbaum on September 30, 1978. John passed away on January 31, 2020.
Brenda was very talented...
Donald "Don" R. Beckman
March 28, 2026
Donald “Don” Raymond Beckman, 88, of Rockford, passed away peacefully at home on March 28, 2026. He was born on November 29, 1937, in Alton, Illinois, the son of Raymond and Martha (Politte) Beckman. He married Ruby Downing on December 26, 1959, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They spent 64 wonderful years together until her passing on May 20, 2024. Don...
Walter Rakuc
March 27, 2026
Wladimir (Walter) Rakuc, aka “Dzed,” age 93, passed away from congestive heart failure on March 27, 2026, at his home in Rockford, IL, surrounded by family.
Born on May 15, 1932, in Sosnówka, Poland (Belarus), Walter was son to Peter and Helena (Kot) Rakuc and stepson to Jadwiga Rakuc. After five years in post-WWII refugee camps in Germany, his family immigrated...
Lois K. Winters
March 26, 2026
Lois K. Winters passed away on March 26, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois, just shy of her 94th birthday. Born on April 3, 1932, in Monroe, Wisconsin, Lois was one of two daughters to Edward and Kathryn (McDonald) Brandt. She would grow up to be a person with a vibrant soul, marked with warmth, generosity, and a relentless zest for living....
Antoinette T. Gulotta
March 26, 2026
Antoinette T. “Toni” (Grespan) Gulotta, 91, of Roscoe, IL, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, March 26, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Toni was born June 12, 1934, in Rockford, IL, to Nemo and Theresa (Cooling) Grespan. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, Ellis Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from East High School in 1952. After briefly attending...
Robert M. Beck
March 24, 2026
Robert "Bob" M. Beck, 76, of Rockford, passed away on March 24, 2026.
No services will be held at this time.
Aliza M. Tomlinson
March 23, 2026
Aliza Marie Tomlinson (Pro)
February 8, 1968 – March 23, 2026
Aliza Marie Tomlinson, 58, of Collinsville, Oklahoma, passed away on March 23, 2026.
She was born on February 8, 1968, in Rockford, Illinois, to Gary Pro and Julie Pro (Veroni).
Aliza built a meaningful and impactful career with Johnson & Johnson from 1994 to 2017. Aliza was an avid volunteer for the National...
Jane E. Vavruska
March 21, 2026
Jane E. Vavruska, 95, Rockford, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Rockford, IL. She was born on July 10, 1930, in Cleveland, OH, the daughter of James and Helen (Hogue) Janoch.
For over three decades, Jane embraced the role of a housewife. Later, she utilized her keen intellect and analytical skills as a Russian organized crime research analyst for...
Janice L. Niedzwiecki
March 19, 2026
Janice L. Niedzwiecki, 78, of Rockford, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Jan was born October 7, 1947, in LaSalle, Illinois, the daughter of Stanley and Sophie Rose (Peterlin) Wallis. She married Terry W. Niedzwiecki on June 22, 1968, at St. Valentine’s Catholic Church in Peru, Illinois.
Jan received her secretarial major associate’s degree from Midstate College...
John Adam Ciburk
March 18, 2026
John Adam Ciburk, Sr. of Rockford, Illinois passed away on Wednesday, March 18th at the age of 97 years. Beloved husband of Mary Jane (Learmont), son of the late Mary and Charles P. Ciburk. John was proud to be 100% Lithuanian and first generation as well.
Born on July 30, 1928, John married the love of his life, Mary Jane Learmont,...
Steven "Steve" D. Hoskinson
March 17, 2026
Steven “Steve” D. Hoskinson, 75, of Loves Park, IL passed away March 17, 2026. Steve was born on January 30, 1951, in Gorin Missouri, the son of Paul and Sue (Shibley) Hoskinson. Steve attended Freeport High School, graduating in 1970. It is here that he met the love of his life, Sally Ferguson. They were married for 56 years. Steve...
Terrance R. Bennett
March 16, 2026
Terrance “Terry” Raymond Bennett, 78, of Rockford, passed away on March 16, 2026. He was born on May 18, 1947, in Rockford, the son of Hubert and Mary (Iverson) Bennett. Terry graduated from Boylan High School and then proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He married Carolyn Bielefeldt on May 15, 1971, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church. He worked...
Jack J. Kranish
March 15, 2026
JACK: “GOD IS GRACIOUS”
Classic masculine name, signifying strength, vitality, and common man.
Jack’s family described him as goofy protective, kind, hard-working, patient, loving, lighthearted, adventuresome, and indefatigable.
He bowled in a senior bowling league at Cherry Bowl until his death, bowling his last game January 6, 2026, bowling a 218. He enjoyed playing cards, especially euchre and pitch and Uno with the...
Barbara Jean Lutzow
March 15, 2026
Barbara Jean (Flood) Lutzow, 88, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Rockford IL after a short battle with cancer at home with her family by her side. She was born in Rockford on December 10, 1937, the daughter of W. Clifford and Evelyn W. (Larson) Flood. She married Maynard E. Lutzow on May 7, 1955, where they remained...
William H. Atwood
March 15, 2026
William H. Atwood, age 53, of Machesney Park, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
William was born in Rockford, IL, on July 16, 1972, the son of Henry and Barbara (DeWane) Atwood. He graduated from Belvidere High School and went on to earn a degree in Police Science from Rock Valley College. William proudly served his...
Thomas Battaglini
March 12, 2026
Thomas D. Battaglini, 82, passed away on March 12, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois. He was born on April 7, 1943, in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, to Anthony and Mary Ann (Korcovich) Battaglini.
Thomas spent his early years in Pennsylvania before moving with his family to Yuma, Arizona, where he graduated from Yuma High School. Shortly after, he was drafted into the United...
Donna Anderson
March 12, 2026
Donna Royce Anderson, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on March 12, 2026 after a brave and hard-fought fight with pancreatic cancer, at age 79. Donna was born in Rockford, IL on June 20, 1946, to Roy and Alice Stone.
Donna is survived by her husband of 36 years, Raymond Hodowanic; her son, Eric Anderson (Erin) and stepson, Mark Hodowanic (Amy Cotter);...
Lorraine A. Johnson
March 10, 2026
Lorraine A. Johnson, 87, passed away March 10, 2026, surrounded by her family after her courageous battle with cancer. Born on July 21, 1938, at the family home in Belvidere, Illinois. On July 20, 1959, she wed Paul “Red” Johnson. Their shared “love story” spanned six decades until his passing in 2019.
Lorraine was a devoted wife and mom. Her pride...
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Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. offers a collection of obituaries for Rockford, IL & Winnebago County. With services throughout Illinois that are updated regularly. Find local Rockford, Illinois obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies.
