Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Marguerite "Margie" Elias Wagner

Marguerite "Margie" Elias Wagner

October 1, 2024

Marguerite Elias Wagner, 96, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on October 1, 2024, in the compassionate care of Wesley Willows in Rockford, Illinois. Born on April 21, 1928, in Duluth, Minnesota, Margie lived a life of dedication, grace, and civic engagement.

After graduating from Ward-Belmont Finishing School, Margie attended both the University of Minnesota and the University of Colorado...

James M. Newell Sr.

James M. Newell Sr.

September 30, 2024

James “Jim” M. Newell Sr., 78, of Rockford, passed away at home on Monday, September 30, 2024.

Jim was born in Rockford, Illinois on March 14, 1946, the son of Edward and Agnes (Kurkerewicz) Newell. He graduated from Auburn High School. Jim worked for Bishop’s Printing of Rockford for many years until starting his own successful business, Jim’s Home Repair. He...

James D. Barton

James D. Barton

September 30, 2024

James “Jim” David Barton, 76, of Winnebago, passed away on September 30, 2024. He was born on April 15, 1948, in Freeport, Illinois, the son of John P. and Leila E. (Thomasson) Barton Sr. He graduated from Boylan High School, class of 1966. He married Christa M. Chaney on November 30, 1974, at St. James Catholic Church in Rockford, and...

Joseph "Joe" E. Capone

Joseph "Joe" E. Capone

September 29, 2024

Joseph “Joe” E. Capone, 91, Rockford, passed away on Sunday September 29, 2024, at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital with his loving family surrounding him. He was born on December 20, 1932, in Peoria, IL, the son of Joseph and Katherine (Becker) Capone. Joe was raised in Freeport, IL before moving to Rockford in 1945. Joe attended catholic schools, then graduated...

Katherine J McWilliams

Katherine J McWilliams

September 27, 2024

Katherine J. McWilliams, “Kay,” 88, passed away in her residing town of Rockford, Illinois on Friday, September 27, 2024. She was born on November 21, 1935, daughter to Walter and Anna (Miller) Burris (predeceased). Kay married the love of her life, Robert,“Bob” McWilliams in Kentucky on May 12, 1951. They were happily married until 2013 when Bob passed away. She...

Stephen Carl Hotlen

Stephen Carl Hotlen

September 26, 2024

Stephen Carl Hotlen passed away in his home surrounded by family in the early hours of Thursday, September 26, 2024. He was 83 years old. Born March 26, 1941, in the southside of Chicago at Michael Reese Hospital to Ruth (née Redd) and Auburn “Jack” Hotlen, Stephen was a lifelong White Sox fan. He graduated from Hononegah High School in...

Debra Leigh Giesler

Debra Leigh Giesler

September 26, 2024

Debra Leigh Giesler, 68, known to family and friends as Debi, passed away on September 26, 2024, in her hometown of Rockford, Illinois. She fought hard and ultimately lost her battle with Leukemia. Born on November 27, 1955, daughter to James and Josephine (LaMarca) Reiland. A proud graduate of Boylan Catholic High School in 1973 Debi embarked on a remarkable...

Maria Mullen

Maria Mullen

September 24, 2024

Maria Mullen, 66, passed away at home surrounded by her loved ones on September 24, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois. Born in Roccamena, Sicily on March 7, 1958, daughter to Gaspare and Francesca (Fasullo) Artale. At a very young age Maria and her family moved to Rockford, Illinois where she attended St. Anthony Grade School and Boylan Catholic High School, graduating...

William Bondick

William Bondick

September 22, 2024

William James Bondick, 74, a lifelong resident of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2024, surrounded by his family at home. Born on June 20, 1950, to Julian and Antonia Bondick. William, or Bill as he was known, lived a life dedicated to his family, interests and community.

Bill spent 37 years working for the Rockford Department of Public...

Walter H. "Red" Bainbridge Jr.

Walter H. "Red" Bainbridge Jr.

September 22, 2024

Walter H. “Red” Bainbridge, Jr.

Red Bainbridge, 94, was called to eternal life on September 22, 2024, after a courageous seven-month battle with declining health. The only child of Walter H. and Willie Bainbridge, Red was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on May 3, 1930, and began ice skating in California at age six. A competitive figure skater in the singles,...

Robert A. Reitsch

Robert A. Reitsch

September 21, 2024

Robert A. Reitsch, 90 passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 21st. Bob was born February 26th, 1934, to Robert and Marion Armstrong Reitsch in Champaign, Illinois. He was raised along with his sister Jeanne in Rockford, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois, where he met and married his first wife Jaci Grear of Pinckneyville, Illinois....

Joseph F. Walker

Joseph F. Walker

September 19, 2024

Joseph F. Walker, 80, of Rockford, passed away at home on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Joe was born in Rome, Georgia on January 20, 1944, the son of Raymond Walker and Barbara Rubin. He graduated from West High School, Class of 1961, and went on to complete the law enforcement academy to become a police officer. Joe proudly served his country...

Kathleen Kline

Kathleen Kline

September 19, 2024

Kathleen Kline, 70, Rockford, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Rockford on March 29, 1954, the daughter of Robert and Florence (Martorana) Kline. Kathleen married Andrea Severson in Rockford on February 5, 2014. She was a real estate agent and broker in the Rockford area for many...

Billy Gene Kinder

Billy Gene Kinder

September 18, 2024

Billy Gene Kinder, 79, Rockford, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. He was born in Swifton, Arkansas, the son of Carl and Imogene (Jones) Kinder. Billy married Darlene Lorenz and she passed away in July of 2014. He worked as a machinist for Advanced Machine and Engineering for many years. After his retirement he worked as a delivery driver...

Nereo Casas Villegas

Nereo Casas Villegas

September 17, 2024

Nereo Casas Villegas, 52 of Rockford passed away unexpectedly on September 17,2024 surrounded by his family. Born on September 21, 1971 in Zacatecas, Mexico, the son of Nereo Casas Trujillo and Juana Villegas Nuñez.

A strong, hard working, charismatic and loved man who worked endlessly his entire life. He dedicated his life to his family and was a cowboy at heart...

Concetta Furiani

Concetta Furiani

September 16, 2024

Concetta “Connie” Furiani, 92, of Rockford, passed away on September 16, 2024. She was born on March 9, 1932, in Italy, the daughter of Raffaele and Petronilla (Scarafoni) Alessandrini. She married Renato Furiani in February of 1955, and he preceded her in death on March 19, 1997. She was devoted to her faith, a lifelong member of St. Anthony Catholic...

Roger Kenneth Myers

Roger Kenneth Myers

September 16, 2024

 

Roger Kenneth Myers, 92, Rockford, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 11, 1932, in Rockford to Howard and Helene (Pollage) Myers, who died in 1934, after the birth of Roger’s brother, Jerry. Roger was raised in a loving home by his dad and Jeannette (Reichenbach) on farms...

Larry E. Hood

Larry E. Hood

September 15, 2024

Larry E. Hood, 81, of Cherry Valley, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

Larry was born in Monroe, Michigan on January 3, 1943, the son of Lloyd and Rosemary (Nadeau) Hood. He graduated from Airport High School and went on to complete his 4-year apprenticeship for tool and die maker. Larry was employed for 38.5 dedicated years with General Motors...

William T. Sachs

William T. Sachs

September 15, 2024

William Sachs, 90, of Rockford, passed away at home on Sunday, September 15, 2024, surrounded by his family. Born in Madison, Wisconsin on May 17, 1934, to John Matthew and Frances Cecelia (Connolly) Sachs. Bill graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science and went on to become a pharmacist. He was proud of his family and his faith...