Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
Mary C. Thomas
October 20, 2022
Mary C. Thomas, 92, of Rockford, passed away on October 20, 2022. She was born on August 30, 1930, in Chicago, the daughter of James E. and Catherine M. (Furlong) Davy. She graduated from Trinity High School, class of 1948, then attended Mundelein College earning her bachelor’s degree in Speech. She married John F. Thomas in Berwyn, IL, on June...
Lyle A. Bleile
October 20, 2022
Lyle A. Bleile, 89, of Rockford, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2022.
Lyle was born in Balltown, Iowa on July 23, 1933, son of Alfred N. and Lucille M. (Mesch) Bleile. He married Valia M. (Pro) Bleile on January 12, 1957. Lyle was employed for Amerock cabinet hardware manufacturing for 51 years until his retirement. He was very dedicated to...
Donald E. Wallgren
October 18, 2022
Donald Elmer Wallgren, 91, died Tuesday, Oct. 18, with family at his side.
He was born January 26, 1931, in Rockford to C. Elmer and Anna Wallgren. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, and eventually attended Rock Valley College, earning a two-year degree in electrical engineering. He married Maryella (Elsie) Wallgren on December 26, 1954.
Don repaired household...
James K. Buchanan
October 17, 2022
James K. Buchanan passed away Monday, October 17, 2022, in Rockford. Born December 7, 1935, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to James D. Buchanan and Mary Helen King Buchanan. Jim joined the United State Airforce serving 4 years active duty and 4 as a reservist. He attended Purdue University majoring in Electrical Engineering. Jim married Judith (Hampton) Buchanan on July 2, 1960....
Pauline "Polly" Cicero
October 17, 2022
PAULINE (PHILIPPI) CICERO 1925 - 2022
Pauline "Polly" Cicero, 97, passed away peacefully at home on October 17, 2022. Born June 11, 1925 in Casey, IL, the daughter of Charles and Lydia (Short) Philippi. She was Valedictorian of her high school class of '43 and earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1947. Also in 1947,...
Virginia "Ginny" M. Adams
October 17, 2022
Virginia M. Adams (Ginny) 1934—2022
Virginia M. Adams, 88, of Rockton, passed away October 17, 2022. Born March 29, 1934, in Rockford Illinois; the daughter of John and Emelia Rinaldi. Survivors include her son Michael Adams (Kathleen), grandchildren Brett Adams (Alyssia Snow); Jennifer Aulet (Jericho); and great-granddaughters; sisters-in-law, Francis Rinaldi, Nancy Rinaldi; and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents;...
Helen M. Burns
October 16, 2022
Helen M. Burns, 80, of Rockford, IL, passed away on October 16, 2022, at her home. She was born on September 23, 1942, in Rockford, Illinois to William J. and Antoinette A. (Chmieleski) Burns.
Helen was a lifelong devout Catholic, member of St. Peter's Cathedral, who enjoyed attending Mass at many different Parishes in the Rockford area. As a 1960 graduate...
Elisabeth Lange
October 15, 2022
Elisabeth Lange, 89 (January 2, 1933), passed away on October 15, 2022. Born in Bayreuth, Germany daughter to Johann and Frieda (Braunling) Brendel.
Elisabeth met the love of her life, Heinz, in her hometown of Bayreuth. Their courtship was spent on the village dance floors in Obern and Unternschreez. Heinz immigrated to Racine Wisconsin in 1952 to set up a home...
Reverend James L. Kragness
October 14, 2022
Reverend James “Jim” Lewis Kragness, 86, passed away peacefully in his bed at Wesley Willows Nursing Home in Rockford, Illinois, on Friday, October 14, 2022.
Jim was born in Marshall, Minnesota, on December 29, 1935. He graduated from Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD; 1957) and Luther Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN; 1961). Pastor Jim was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran...
Edna V. Gustafson
October 14, 2022
Edna Violet Gustafson, 97, of Belvidere, Illinois entered her eternal life on October 14, 2022, peacefully in her home surrounded by family.
Edna was born in Rockford, Illinois by a midwife on September 13, 1925. She grew up on a ten-acre rural farm on Michigan Ave. She was the first sibling of her family to learn to drive the Fordson tractor....
Floyd Roger Kindstrom
October 13, 2022
Floyd Roger Kindstrom, 89, Rockford, passed away Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Cedarhurst of Rockford, IL. He was born November 10, 1932, in Rockford, the son of Floyd and Martha (Morris) Kindstrom. Roger was a veteran of the Army serving during the Korean War. He married Janice Griffey in Rockford on May 12, 1953. Roger worked at Landmark Printing Company...
Michael A. Moriarity
October 13, 2022
Michael A. Moriarity, 35, passed away on October 13, 2022 in Rockford, Illinois. He was born on January 23, 1987 in Rockford, Illinois son to Darlene Moriarity. They moved to California for a short time and came back to Rockford when Michael was fairly young. Michael was currently employed by Prairie Farms.
He is survived by his brother, Ryan (Francesca); significant...
John J. Rzeszotko
October 12, 2022
John J. Rzeszotko passed away peacefully at the age 88 on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, in Rockford, IL. Born on September 24, 1934 in Rockford, Illinois to John and Rose (Victor) Rzeszotko. John attended St. Thomas High School and enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict. John returned from Korea, graduated high school and...
Richard P. Ellena
October 11, 2022
Richard “Dick” P. Ellena, 91, of Rockford, IL passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2022. He was born November 20, 1930, in Rockford, IL the son of Beatrice (Brocheau) and Peter Ellena. Richard attended Rockford West High School, graduating in 1948. Richard married Charlotte Heflin on September 19, 1974. He worked as a telephone repairman for Illinois Bell until his retirement,...
Carolyn Minh Do
October 11, 2022
Carolyn Minh Do, 87, Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Vietnam on April 16, 1935, the daughter of Do Viet Man and Ta Thi Dap. Carolyn worked as a final inspector in the automotive division of Elco Industries for many years.
Survived by her son Lee (Teresa Thu)...
Gregory J. Heidel
October 10, 2022
Gregory Jay “Hawger” Heidel – July 28th, 1967 – October 10th, 2022
“The Man Behind the Bar”
After a weary day you stop at a place where people gather. As you grab your stool and settle in, you are greeted by a man: the man behind the bar. He greets you warmly, as if you were his longtime friend. As he takes...
Dr. Mitchell "Mitch" Martin Olson
October 9, 2022
Dr. Mitchell “Mitch” Martin Olson, 62, Rockford, passed away suddenly from natural causes on Sunday, October 9, 2022. He was born August 7, 1960, in Rockford, the son of Roger and Jeanne (Floody) Olson.
Mitch received his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College with a double major in Organ and Christian Education. He served in several Rockford area churches, including Director of...
Kevin J. Maher
October 9, 2022
Kevin J. Maher, 47, died on Sunday, October 9, 2022 in his home. Born January 10, 1975 in Silver Spring, MD, son of John J. Maher and Peggi A. Dixon Maher. Graduated from Guilford High School and attended the University of Illinois and Kansas University. Kevin was a workaholic who had been employed by NAPA Auto Parts Distributors for many...
Dr. Jane E. Pearson
October 8, 2022
Dr. Jane E. Pearson, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.E.P., dedicated wife, mother and grandmother passed peacefully on October 8, 2022 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, IL after a courageous battle with ALS at the age of 62. Jane was born on July 1, 1960 to William and Shirley Scott of Arlington Heights, IL.
Jane graduated from University of Illinois and earned her...
John Michael Derocher
October 8, 2022
John Michael DeRocher, 72, passed away on October 8, 2022 in his home town of Rockford, Illinois. He was born on April 16, 1950 son to Firmin “Sam” and Dorothy (Christian) DeRocher. John graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in 1968 and attended Rock Valley College. He worked for Ingersoll for 45 years before retiring in 2015. Until the passing...
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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.
