Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

John R.  Mehlbaum

John R. Mehlbaum

January 31, 2020

John R. Mehlbaum, 71, of Rockford, IL passed away Friday, January 31, 2020. He was born April 23, 1948 in Augusta, Georgia the son of James and Mary (Mooney) Mehlbaum. John married Brenda Cantwell on September 30, 1978. He worked at Sundstrand, retiring after thirty five years. John was an avid sports fan, cheering on Notre Dame, the Steelers and...

Marlene M. Cammelot

Marlene M. Cammelot

January 30, 2020

Marlene M. Cammelot, 83, of Rockford, IL, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Thursday, January 30, 2020. She was born in Elgin, IL on September 22, 1936, daughter of Samuel and Eleanor (Bodenschatz) Graf. Marlene lived and worked there her whole life before retiring in Rockford. She also attended Maywood Church for several years in Rockford. Those left...

James P. Drager

James P. Drager

January 28, 2020

James P. Drager, 83, of Sarasota, Florida died on January 28, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. Born on February 26, 1936, the only son of Merle and Helen Drager in Rockford, Illinois. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Jim was a 28-year veteran of the Rockford Fire Department followed by a 13-year stint as an Illinois...

Angelo Joseph Salvi

Angelo Joseph Salvi

January 28, 2020

Angelo Joseph Salvi Brother, Uncle and Radio Icon “Angelo Giuseppi Salvucci”, aka Joe Salvi, or Papa Joe, 98, died peacefully on January 28, 2020 at his home at WLUV radio station. Born May 18, 1921 to Italian immigrants, Peter and Caroline (Accorsi) Salvucci in Russlleton, PA. Lived most of his life in Rockford. Graduated from Rockford Central in 1939 and...

Robert Mack Carr

Robert Mack Carr

January 26, 2020

Robert Mack Carr, 68, of Rockford Died on January 26, 2020 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on December 15, 1951, the son of Mack Carr and Veva Farver. Graduate of West High School where he met his future wife Jeanne Watson. He was a four year starter for the Mankato State University football team. Robert was...

Wendy Jo Ruthe

Wendy Jo Ruthe

January 26, 2020

Wendy Jo Ruthe, age 69, passed away peacefully in her home January 26, 2020 at P.A. Peterson @ The Citadel, 1311 Parkview Ave, Rockford, Illinois after a long battle with ill health due to liver disease. Wendy was born in Urbana Illinois, lived on a farm near Table Grove Illinois until age 11, and was a 1968 Harlem High School,...

Cynthia A. Fogarty

Cynthia A. Fogarty

January 24, 2020

Cynthia Fogarty, 64, passed away Friday January 24, 2020 at her home in Benton, Kentucky. Visitation will be at Fitzgerald Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Ave. on Sunday, February 2, 2020 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 3, 2020 at St. Peter Church in...

Margaret Jean Burns

Margaret Jean Burns

January 24, 2020

Margaret “Jean” (Malone) Burns died on January 24, 2020. Born in Cleveland Ohio on August 16, 1927, she moved to the Rockford area in 1952 after marrying Ned Martin Burns. She is survived by her five children (Shannon M Burns of Warrenville, IL, Ned M Burns Jr, Kerry C King, Patrick M Burns, and James J “Jim” Burns, all of...

Claramae "Clara" E. Jackson

Claramae "Clara" E. Jackson

January 23, 2020

Claramae “Clara” E. Jackson, 86, of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Clara was born in Ferryville, WI on April 8, 1933, daughter of Morris and Dorothy (Scribbins) Allen. She graduated from Seneca High School in Wisconsin. Clara worked for Barbara Coleman for 10 years and later had part time jobs at several places. She married...

Gayle M. Swanson

Gayle M. Swanson

January 23, 2020

Gayle M. Swanson, 64, passed away January 23, 2020 in her home with her loving family. She was born November 20, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois daughter of George Harhen and Carol Werner. A 1972 graduate of Wheeling High School she went on to meet the love of her life and married David Swanson on March 4, 1978. With the love...

Michael D. Banta

Michael D. Banta

January 22, 2020

Michael D. Banta, 68, of Rockford, passed away January 22, 2020 in his home, surrounded by his loving family, after his courageous battle with cancer. Born January 8, 1952 in Hutchinson KS to Jack & Jackie (Gaylord) Banta. Mike met the love of his life, Yvette Nichols, shortly after graduating Hutchinson High School and they married March 26, 1972. Mike...

Bernita Elaine Glasser

Bernita Elaine Glasser

January 22, 2020

Bernita Elaine Glasser, 90, Rockford, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at SwedishAmerican Hospital. She was born May 15, 1929, in Chicago, the daughter of Orville and Bessie (Grotts) Rowe. Bernita grew up in Warsaw, Nebraska and attended college at Wayne State University pursuing a degree in teaching. She married Lloyd Anthony Glasser and at the time of...

Helen C. Rager

Helen C. Rager

January 22, 2020

Helen C. Rager, 90, of Rockford, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020. Helen was born in Rockford on May 6, 1929, daughter of Owen and Julia (Proska) Forbes. She graduated from Muldoon High School. Helen married Robert T. Rager in Tempe, AZ on January 25. 1947. He passed away April 27, 1975. Helen was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic...

Bruce D. Ewald

Bruce D. Ewald

January 22, 2020

Bruce D. Ewald, 71 of Rockford died Wednesday, January 22, 2020. Born February 28, 1948, in Rockford, Illinois to David John and Bettie Lucille (Lagerstrom) Ewald. He married Carol Connor on June 7, 1969, in Glidden Iowa. Bruce was a graduate of the Drake University College of Pharmacy, and worked as a pharmacist for 45 plus years. He was a...

Lawrence "Larry" James Coogan

Lawrence "Larry" James Coogan

January 21, 2020

Lawrence “Larry” James Coogan, 66, was called home to the lord on January 21, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at his home in Rockford, Illinois, surrounded by his beloved wife and caregiver Barb, and family. Larry was born on October 26, 1953, the son of James “Bill” William and Velma “Chick” (Munson) Coogan. He...

Marcella P. Cacciatore

Marcella P. Cacciatore

January 19, 2020

Marcella P. Cacciatore, 93, of Rockford, IL passed away Sunday, January 19, 2020. She was born August 1, 1926 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Joseph and Edith (Barconi) Alonzo. When Marcella Cacciatore walked into any room, it lit up. She was truly a light for everyone who was blessed to have met her. Her laugh, her youthful vitality, her...

Violet Dillenburg

Violet Dillenburg

January 19, 2020

Violet Dillenburg, 96, Rockford went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, January 19, 2020, with her family by her side. She was born September 2, 1923, in Diagonal, Iowa, the daughter of Ora and Clara Reynolds. Violet graduated from Diagonal High School in 1940, and married her high school sweetheart, Donald Dillenburg on July 30, 1942, in...

Stanley "Stan" G. Gillenwater

Stanley "Stan" G. Gillenwater

January 19, 2020

Stanley “Stan” G. Gillenwater, 61, of Rockford, passed away Sunday, January 19, 2020 at OSF S. Anthony Medical. Born March 9, 1958 in Elmhurst, IL, the son of Stanley G. & Joan (Wagner) Gillenwater. Graduated from York Community High School, class of 1976. He then later graduated from Illinois Benedictine College. Married Susan Reilly, in Rockford at Holy Family Church,...

John W. Lane

John W. Lane

January 19, 2020

John William Lane, 72, passed away peacefully at North Woods Health Centre, Belvidere, Illinois on Sunday, January 19 from multiple medical issues. He was born to Perry William Lane and Eva P. Lane (Starnes) on November 14, 1947 in Rockford, Illinois. He worked as a flooring installer for over thirty years as Lane’s Carpet Service. He was a big Ford...