Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Judith A. Danca

Judith A. Danca

November 13, 2021

Judith Ann (Dornfeld) Danca passed away Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Judy was born June 4, 1940 in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of Elmer and Gertrude (Heyde) Dornfeld. She graduated from Madison West High School in 1958 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1962 where she began her lifetime involvement with Alpha Phi Sorority. Judy met...

James M. Sparks

James M. Sparks

November 13, 2021

James M. Sparks, 79, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on November 13, 2021. He was born in Worthington, Missouri on March 4, 1942, the son of Orville and Lois (Ledford) Sparks. Like many families in the 1950s, Jim’s parents migrated to Rockford in search of economic opportunities. With hard work and grit, they established a life in their new city...

Gerald D. Lindmark

Gerald D. Lindmark

November 12, 2021

Gerald D. Lindmark, 82, Loves Park, passed away Friday, November 12, 2021, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born January 16, 1939, in Beloit, WI, the son of Howard and Shirley (Baker) Lindmark. He is a graduate of Rockford East High School, class of 1957. Gerald married Lisa Zacharia in Rockford in 1959. He worked as the sales...

Norma Jean Trojan

Norma Jean Trojan

November 11, 2021

Norma Jean Trojan, 80, passed away on November 11, 2021 peacefully in her home. Born on October 3, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois one of two daughters to Joseph and Stephanie (Lizik) Matella. Norma led an active life. When she and Bob got married, she worked at Illinois Bell in Champaign while he attended U of I. Her working earned her...

Jean Delores Celner

Jean Delores Celner

November 11, 2021

Jean Delores Celner passed away on November 11, 2021, in her home surrounded by her loving family. Jean was born to Matthew and Ida (Filippi) Zordan on May 27, 1935 in Rockford, IL. Jean worked as a secretary for the Rockford Board of Education for many years. She loved working with kids and volunteered in various schools. Jean enjoyed sewing...

Valencia Jean Castegnaro

Valencia Jean Castegnaro

November 11, 2021

Valencia “Val” Jean Castegnaro passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 11, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 95. Born October 30, 1926 to Amedeo and Rosa Bellotti DeMarco. Val attended St. Anthony grade school and was a graduate of West High School in Rockford, IL. There she held the title of President of the Dramatics Club...

Richard Swanson

Richard Swanson

November 10, 2021

Richard Kenneth Swanson (73) unexpectedly went home to sleep with the angels on November 10th, 2021 after a sudden cardiac arrest. When his generous heart of gold stopped beating, our hearts broke. He was truly one of a kind and adored by all who knew him. In his life, he was a man of high integrity, honest, patient, self-sacrificing, and...

Janelle Melinda Hagaman

Janelle Melinda Hagaman

November 8, 2021

Janelle Melinda Hagaman, 66, passed away on November 8, 2021. She was born to Elmer and Mildred (Ronk) Bea on November 8, 1955 in Rockford, IL. Janelle was a very happy child, and was the delight of her parents as the youngest of 12 children. She was a lover of family; she loved all her brothers and sisters. Janelle always...

Nancy Helen Chadwick

Nancy Helen Chadwick

November 7, 2021

Nancy Helen (Couch) Chadwick, 79, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021. She was born on September 14, 1942 in McDougal, AR to Albert and Mildred (Bogle) Couch. On July 1, 1961, Nancy Married James “Pat” Chadwick in McDougal, AR. They moved to Rockford, IL in 1964 and Nancy worked for G.E. for several years. Nancy also...

Thomas "Tom" L. Schingoethe

Thomas "Tom" L. Schingoethe

November 7, 2021

Thomas (Tom) L. Schingoethe, 74, of Rockford died on November 7, 2021. He was born on July 23, 1947 to John and Helen Schingoethe in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Tom, along with his two brothers David and Richard, were raised on a dairy farm and early on learned the value of hard work. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science from...

Dorothy A. Brady

Dorothy A. Brady

November 7, 2021

Dorothy A. Brady, 88 years old, was called home to our Lord on November 7, 2021. After a longstanding deterioration in her health, she was enjoying the presence of family as she took her final breath. Dorothy was the cherished wife of Robert D. Brady [who died in December last year] and the extremely beloved mother of 8, grandmother of...

Pamela K. Gillis

Pamela K. Gillis

November 6, 2021

Pamela “Pam” K. Gillis, formerly known as Pamela Fluehr, age 73, of Roscoe, IL, passed away on November 6, 2021 at North Woods Nursing Home. Pam was born on July 30, 1948 in Belvidere to Harold and Rosemary (Smith) Nordeen. She married Robert (Bob) Gillis on November 23, 1990. Pam was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved...

Joan M. Blakesley

Joan M. Blakesley

November 6, 2021

Joan Blakesley, 95, died November 6, 2021, after a long battle with Lewy Body dementia. Joan was born August 3, 1926, to Joseph and Anna Jacques in Escanaba, Michigan. After graduating from high school, Joan enlisted in the Army Cadet Corps and began nursing school at St. Anthony School of Nursing in Rockford, Illinois. World War II ended before Joan...

Kathleen E. Appino

Kathleen E. Appino

November 5, 2021

Kathleen E. (Kathy) Appino passed away Friday night as a result of complications due to COVID-19. Kathy was born in Rockford on August 20, 1939, to Roy (Dick) and Dorothy Thompson. She was the middle child of three- Margaret Bartz and Roy (Deb) Thompson. Kathy graduated from West High School in 1957. After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs...

Paul E. Prohaska

Paul E. Prohaska

November 5, 2021

Paul E. Prohaska, 65, of Rockford, IL passed away peacefully on November 5, 2021 after a sudden and brief illness. Paul was born July 20, 1956 in Peoria, IL to Ralph E. Prohaska and Martha M. (née Kluever). Paul’s childhood was spent between Bethesda, MD and Peoria, IL where he attended Wyngate and Northmoor Elementary Schools. He attended Richwoods High...

Albert Sicotte

Albert Sicotte

November 4, 2021

Albert Henry Sicotte, born June 15, 1927, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away November 4, 2021, in Rockford, Illinois. Al, the son of Lucien Sicotte and Lydia Riendeau, was named after his paternal grandmother Albertine. His early years were spent in a community of French-speaking immigrants from Quebec among a huge, loving extended family. He fondly remembered family get-togethers and...

Nancy L. Donahue

Nancy L. Donahue

November 4, 2021

Nancy Lee (Highbarger) Donahue, age 90, of Roscoe, IL passed away at home on Thursday, November 4, 2021. She was born in Freeport, IL on February 13, 1931, daughter of Clifford and Lillian (Mills) Highbarger. Nancy graduated from Freeport High School, Class of 1949 and later worked there as secretary for 24 years. She was a longtime member of St....

Carla Jane Kieckhefer

Carla Jane Kieckhefer

November 4, 2021

Carla Jane (Shaff) Kieckhefer, 82, of Rockford, passed away suddenly on November 4th, 2021. Carla was born on April 7, 1939 in Chicago and moved to Rockford in her Junior High years. A 1957 graduate of West High School, Carla attended Northern Illinois University and in 1961 began a 60 year marriage to John (Jack) Kieckhefer. Carla was an active...

Robert "Rob" D. Harris Ii

Robert "Rob" D. Harris Ii

November 3, 2021

Robert "Rob" D. Harris II, 47, passed away at UW Health University Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Born on November 24, 1973, in Rockford, Illinois, the son of Robert D. Harris and Edith "Edie" Andreassen. He graduated from Rockford East High School. Rob loved music and played saxophone in high school. After high school, Rob played bass...

Arthur J. Polnow, Jr.

Arthur J. Polnow, Jr.

November 2, 2021

Arthur J. Polnow, Jr, 90, Rockford, passed away Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He was born June 20, 1931, in Woodstock, the son of Arthur J. and Martha (Markison) Polnow, Sr. Art was a veteran serving in the Navy during the Korean War. He married Barbara Gorman and she passed away on July 18, 2014....