Mary C. Hirstein, 79, Fairbury, died at 10:30 pm Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her graveside service will be at 2:00 pm Friday, December 20, 2019 at Forrest Twp. Cemetery, Forrest.  The family suggests memorials be given to the Fairview Haven Retirement Community or South East Livingston County Ambulance Service (SELCAS).
Mary was born June 3, 1940 in McLean County, IL the daughter of Clarence M. and Bernice G. Allen Hirstein. They precede her in death.
Mary attended Wing grade school and Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Forrest, Indian Creek Country Club, the Silver League and Senior Citizens Club.

​Melvin David Schuler, 92, of Lexington passed away on November 16, 2019 at Serenity Villa, Fairbury.
Mr. Schuler was born March 26, 1927 to David and Myrtle (Rhoda) Schuler of Chenoa. He married Mary Lou Bossingham on November 27, 1949 in Stanford, Illinois. They were blessed with seventy years together. Mary Lou survives.
Those remaining to celebrate his memory are: Dwight Schuler, Lexington; LuAnn (Bryon) Lundell, Phoenix, MD, Paul (Kelly) Schuler, Lexington. Grandchildren include Kelsey Schuler, Naperville,IL, David (Lauren) Schuler, Chenoa, John (Makenzie Kelley) Schuler, Bloomington, Kara (Jason)Yeager, Lutherville, MD, Ericka (Brett) Butler, Baldwin, MD and Allison (Jon) Cook, Baldwin, MD. He has eight great-children.
He is survived by his brother, Gerald (Ramona)Schuler, Chenoa and Carolyn Shane, Chenoa.
Melvin was a life-long farmer and his farming legacy continues with his sons and grandsons. Melvin was a faithful servant of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Chenoa his entire life. He was an elder and served in many other committees.
He was a member of the Kiwanis, McClean County Farm Bureau, and a men’s coffee group. Melvin and his wife enjoyed traveling with his many friends and to visit family in Maryland.
A funeral will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 23rd at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Chenoa, Illinois. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm on Friday, November 22nd and also 10:00-10:45 am on Saturday at the church. Family requests memorial contributions be made in Melvin’s memory to Lexington Community Center or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Chenoa, Illinois.  Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa is assisting with arrangements.
Our family would like to thank the staff of Fairview Haven/Serenity Villa and OSF Healthcare Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care of our husband and father.

Forrest – Ernest “Gene” Jones, 84, of Forrest, passed away at 5:36pm, November 15, 2019, at Serenity Villa, Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
His funeral will be held at 10:00am, Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at First Baptist Church, Fairbury. Pastor Daryl Evans will be officiating.
Burial will be in Forrest Township Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Tuesday, November 19, 2019 also at the First Baptist Church, Fairbury and 9-9:45am on Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Southeastern Livingston County Ambulance Service, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, or the donor’s choice of charity.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.
Gene was born January 5, 1935, in Pontiac, the son of John “Dick” and Velma Ahrends Jones.
He first married Joyce Spangler and later married Lena Stork Mauser on May 25, 1991.
Surviving are his wife, Lena; children, Ernie (Beth) Jones of Vancouver, WA, Jerry Jones of Pontiac, Ron (Patricia) Jones of Flanagan, and Dale (Valerie) Jones of Pontiac; bonus children, Randy (Kim) Mauser of Saunemin, Shirley Freeland of Gibson City, Linda (Al Hoffman) Diemer of Saunemin, Lori (Dennis) Cheek of Rantoul, Jim (Rose) Mauser of KY, Sharon (Tim) McGuire of Fairbury; 10 grandchildren; 15 bonus grandchildren; many great grandchildren; brother, Jim Jones of Pontiac; and sister, Mary Lou (Larry) Campbell of Crest Hill.
He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law, Terri Jones.
Gene was baptized in the Methodist faith and attended First Baptist Church, Fairbury.
Gene retired from Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac after 27 years in maintenance. After retiring he worked part time for Paternoster Ford.
His love of cars began at an early age working alongside his father at the Dick Jones Ford Garage, Odell.

Alta N. Steidinger, 90, Fairbury, died at 7:18pm, Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community in Fairbury.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, November 8, 2019, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury.  Private funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with ministers of the Christian Apostolic Church of Fairbury officiating.  Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be given to Fairview Haven Retirement Community, South East Livingston County Ambulance Service, or OSF Hospice.

Miss Steidinger was born March 26, 1929, in Forrest, IL the daughter of Joseph and Bertha Ifft Steidinger. 

Surviving are four sisters Vera, Doris, Edna and Alice Steidinger, all of Fairbury, two brothers, George Steidinger, Fairbury and Joseph W. (Dorothy) Steidinger, Forrest, a sister-in-law, Anna Steidinger of Chatsworth, plus many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Ivan and Richard, sister Norma Steidinger, sisters-in-law, Kathryn Steidinger and Caroline Steidinger.
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Miss Steidinger was a lifetime resident of the Forrest/Fairbury area and was a member of the Christian Apostolic Church of Fairbury.

Harvey Samuel Traub, 88, died peacefully on October 21, 2019 at Serenity Villa at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury with his wife, Barbara, at his side.  He was born on November 17, 1930 in Strawn, IL, to John G. Traub and Mary Zehr Traub.  He was the oldest of nine children.  On February 18, 1951, he married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara Joan Weeks.  They were married for 68 years.
Harve grew up in the Apostolic Christian church community and at age ten became the “man of the family” when his father suddenly died.  He had eight younger siblings and much was expected of Harve.  In spite of extraordinary burdens placed on him in childhood, he met the responsibilities put on his shoulders.  He dropped out of high school his junior year in order to farm for his family.  He took correspondence courses to rejoin high school his senior year and graduate with his class.  He was his senior class president.  He started his own successful trucking business. However, his dream was to become a lawyer.  With the support of Barbara, he became the first in his family to attend college.  Then he went on to pursue a law degree at the University of Illinois.  On graduation, he joined Honegger’s Corporation in Fairbury as counsel. After a few years, he entered private practice with the Hanley & Phillips firm.  Harve loved practicing law as a general practitioner and felt proud to be rated by his peers as an outstanding “A” lawyer through the Martindale Hubbell peer review rating system. 
Service to his community also marked Harve’s lifetime.  He was proud to be a founding member of SELCAS (SouthEast Livingston County Ambulance Service).  He was a 32nd degree Mason and spent many memorable days driving sick children to the Shriner’s Hospitals.  He was president of the Fairbury Hospital Board for many years.  His enthusiasm for helping people through good governance shone in his role as precinct committeeman, and later Livingston County Republican Central Committee chairman.  He was proud to have been selected to be an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1976.   Harve’s talents extended to real estate developments in Fairbury, Pontiac, and also in Kalispell, Montana.  He was especially proud to have developed Timber Ridge, the beautiful, wooded subdivision in Fairbury, creating homes for a multitude of Fairbury families.  He was active in Rotary Club for many years.  Harve enjoyed hunting and fishing and his friendships at Knoll Lodge. 
Though as a child, he was discouraged from worldly pursuits, nonetheless he sought books, higher learning, and travelling and he actively encouraged his children in these things.  His children cherish the many trips that he and Barbara shared with them to inspire and educate them.  He and Barbara travelled extensively within the United States and also internationally in Germany, England, France, Spain, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, and Mexico.  Harve deeply appreciated his family roots in Fairbury but loved the mountains in Montana and later Tucson, Arizona, where they lived for twenty years. 
Harve was a member of the Christian faith, having been raised in the Apostolic Christian community and church, later joining the United Methodist Church in Fairbury, and finally the St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson.
He is survived by his wife and also sons Eric, Chama NM, and John (Mary Jane), Mandeville, LA; and his daughters Mary (Correze”Buck”) Cunningham, Borden IN; and Barbara (Mark) Ulbrich, Towanda, IL.  He is also survived by his grandchildren:  Christopher (Bibiana) Traub, Randall (Deseree) Haurez, Tina (Larry) Beachler, Amanda Traub, Anna (Jimmy) Sines, Brad (Michelle) Cunningham, Joe (Thatsanee) Wiser, and Jessica (Pierce) Groover; and great-grandchildren: Taylor and Erica Traub, Coleman Haurez, Lee and Andrew Beachler, Owen, Jacob, and Luke Sines, Hayden and Dylan Cunningham, Evelyn, Sophie, Magdalena, and Josephine Wiser, and William and Alexandra Groover; five sisters, Dorothy Martin, Evelyn Saal, Ruth Streitmatter,  Kathryn Honegger, Marjorie Leman, along with many nieces and nephews.   He is also survived by his godchildren Ross, Scott, Janice, and Barbara Vail, the four children of his best friend, Stanley Vail.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mary Mae Traub and Ida Lou Gundy, and his brother, John Traub.
Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Friday, October 25, 2019 at Duffy Pils Memorial Home in Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Saturday at the church.  His funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Fairbury.  Burial will follow in Avoca Township Cemetery north of Fairbury.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SELCAS, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, or Fairview Haven Retirement Community. 
The family wishes to thank the staff of Fairview Haven/Serenity Villa for their loving service, their dedication, and their kindness.

Fairbury – Leona Clara Steffen, 99, of Fairbury, formerly of Forrest and Gibson City, passed away at 10:04pm, Thursday, October 3, 2019, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her funeral will be held at 11:00am, Tuesday, October, 8, 2019, at Forrest Apostolic Christian Church. Ministers of the church will officiate. Burial will be in North Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Forrest.
Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:45am, Tuesday also at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Leona was born October 30, 1919, in Oakville, IA, the daughter of Benjamin and Caroline Moser Wiegand. She married Melvin N. Steffen on February 15, 1948, in Forrest. He died December 27, 2018.
Surviving are her brother, David (Ethel) Wiegand of Forrest; sister, Virginia Hilti of Pontiac; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Lester, Paul, Joe, Laverne, Wilbur, and Ben; sisters, Caroline Butikofer and Edith Zimmerman.
Leona owned and operated with her husband, Mel’s Market in Gibson City and Melvin for over 30 years.
She was a member of the Forrest Apostolic Christian Church.

Fairbury – Iola Aberle, 85, of Fairbury, passed away at 9:34pm, September 29, 2019 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Her funeral will be held at 10:00am, Thursday, October 3, 2019, at First Baptist Church of Fairbury. Pastor Daryl Evans will be officiating.
Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury.
Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church.
Memorials may be made to SELCAS.
Iola was born December 18, 1933, in Forrest, the daughter of Wesley and Clara Steidinger Yoder. She married Robert Aberle on December 15, 1962, in Forrest. He survives.
Also surviving are her daughters, Lynette (Darin) Bazzell and Kelli (Josh) Maquet both of Fairbury; grandchildren, Jacob and Korinne Maquet and Trey and Dylan Bazzell; and sister, Phyllis Gerdes of Fairbury.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.
Iola was a bookkeeper for Fairbury Medical. She also cared for her ailing mother for nine years.
She enjoyed being outdoors and loved time with her grandchildren.

Fairbury – Robert Louis Wenger, 90, of Fairbury, passed away at 1:48am, September 7, 2019, at Serenity Villa at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
His funeral will be held at 10:00am, Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury.
Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fairbury.
Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Tuesday, September 10, 2019 also at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Boys and Girls Club of Prairie Central or the donor’s choice of charity.
Robert was born January 25, 1929, in rural Forrest the son of Louis and Luella Skinner Wenger. He married Mary Ann Rathbun on October 1, 1949, in Fairbury. She survives.
Also surviving are his children, daughter, Terri (Richard) Wells of Jensen Beach, FL; sons, Dennis (Carol) Wenger and Michael (Jean Ann) Wenger both of Fairbury; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Robert was a lifelong farmer in the Fairbury area and custom shelled corn for over 20 years.
He was a founding member of the Rural Fire District and was on the board of directors for Weston Grain.
Robert brightened commuters lives with his line of horses in the field, that can be seen off of Route 24.

Fairbury – Phyllis M. Tipton, 92, of Fairbury, passed away at 7:45pm, August 18, 2019, at Serenity Villa at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
Cremation has been accorded.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, Fairbury. J.D. Buchenou will be officiating.
Friends may greet the family from 10-11:00am, Wednesday, August 21, 2019, also at the church.
Inurnment will take place privately in Avoca Township Cemetery, Fairbury.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Hospital, First Presbyterian Church, Fairbury, or Paralyzed Veterans.

Phyllis was born August 14, 1927, in Fairbury the daughter of James Garfield and Naoma Ramseyer Drennen.
She married James L. Tipton on July 29, 1950 in Fairbury. He died March 14, 2005.

Surviving are her children, James (Sally) Tipton of Fairbury and Mary L. (Jim) McCambridge of Ft. Collins, CO; grandchildren, Bethany (Aaron) Meiss, Scott (Tiffani) Tipton, Sarah (Jason) Elliott, Wesley (Allison) Stallbohm, and Molly Stallbohm; step-grandchildren, Adam (Maurin) McCambridge, Shannan (Bryan) Olson, and Aaron (Sarah) McCambridge; great-grandchildren, Landon, Kyler, and Lexi Meiss, Aiden and Ally Tipton, Olivia and Parker Elliott, Mack and Drew Stallbohm; step-great-grandchildren, Maddie and Jackson McCambridge, Jay, Lyndsey, and Ty Olson, and Emmett and Daphne McCambridge.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Wilma Hacker and Liz Parmele.

After raising her children Phyllis became the secretary for the First Presbyterian Church in Fairbury and then was the secretary for Westview Elementary School, Fairbury for 27 years.
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She was an active lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church, Fairbury. She enjoyed playing Bridge, Euchre, and watching the Cubs.
Phyllis was wonderful homemaker always cooking good healthy meals for her family and being supportive of her children and grandchildren’s events.

Fairbury – Darol H. Johnston, DDS, 101, of Fairbury, passed away at 8:42am, August 8, 2019, at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.
His funeral will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, August 17, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, Fairbury. Pastor Dan Robertson will be officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury.
Visitation will be held from 9-11:00am, Saturday, August 17, 2019, also at the Church.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Fairbury or Southeastern Livingston County Ambulance Association.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.
Dr. Johnston was born February 11, 1918, in Piper City, the son of Ollie and Charlotte Johnson Johnston. He married Jean M. Bocher on May 24, 1941 in Chicago. She died May 7, 2006.
Surviving are his children, Darol “Skip” Johnston of Fairbury, Deborah Holderer of Mahomet, Randolph Johnston of Chicago, Steven (Debra) Johnston of Peoria, Michelle “Mickey” (Dennis) Hallstein of Minier, and Janine Johnston of Lakeland, FL; grandchildren, Tim Holderer, Lisa Ervin, Chip  Holderer, Suzanne Johnston, Alyssa Washington, Brenna Piquard, Kelsey Johnston, Stacy Bolen, Thad Hallstein, and Brook Maffett; and, 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters; Phyllis Armfield, Bonnie Flessner, Betty Grosskreutz and brothers; Mitchell, Everett, and Marvin Johnston.
Dr. Johnston was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during WWII in the Pacific Theater. He was a past commander of the John Joda Post 154, American Legion and member of the VFW, Fairbury.
He graduated with a bachelor of science in 1940 from the University of Illinois. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1942 also from the University of Illinois.
He began his dental practice in Fairbury in 1946, retiring in 1990 at the age of 72. He was a member of the McLean County Dental Society and Past President of Livingston Count Board of Health.
Dr. Johnston was an active member of 1st Presbyterian Church in Fairbury where he was a trustee, deacon, elder and Sunday School teacher.
He was also member of the Fairbury Lions Club where is served two terms as president, the Fairbury Jaycees, and past board member of Dominy Library.
Dr. Johnston loved music and was an avid Cubs farm for over 90 years.

Taking our new passenger bike for a spin on a beautiful summer day!