Obituaries
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OETGEN, Eloise - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, April 19, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Eloise K. Oetgen, 1917-2007, Beardstown
   Eloise K. Oetgen, 89, of Beardstown, died early Wednesday morning, April 18, 2007, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   She was born June 14, 1917, in Schuyler County, the daughter of James and Ida Rhodes Kelly. She married Ray Oetgen on Oct. 21, 1939, and he preceded her in death in 1991.
   She is survived by one daughter, June Marek of Summerfield, Fla.; one granddaughter, Amy (husband, Don) Stevens of Norman, Okla.; and one great-granddaughter.
   Mrs. Oetgen graduated from Rushville High School. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Beardstown. After many years of service with the State of Illinois, she retired from the State of Illinois Drivers License Bureau in Springfield.
   Private graveside services will be held at Oetgen Cemetery near Beardstown. Friends may call from 12-2 p.m. Friday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Memorials are suggested to Heritage Manor South Activity Fund. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

OETTLE, Jimmy Lee - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, November 5, 2006 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Jimmy Lee Oettle, 1939-2006, Beardstown
   Jimmy Lee Oettle, 67, of Beardstown, died Saturday morning, Nov. 4, 2006, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   He was born Oct. 14, 1939, in Beardstown, the son of Frederick and Edith Irene Emerick Oettle. He married Martha H. Dixon on Aug. 5, 1967, in Rushville, and she survives.
   He is also survived by two daughters, Susan Oettle and Marla Martin, both of Beardstown; five grandchildren, Amber, Jessica and Jordan Martin and Melissa and Megan Oettle; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Minor, John and Donald; and one sister, Elsie.
   Mr. Oettle served in the U.S. Army from 1962 until 1966 serving in Germany. He was formerly employed as a welder at Trinity Industries and Cass Fiberglass both in Beardstown and Illinois Cement in LaSalle Peru. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
   Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown, with burial at Beardstown City Cemetery. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services Monday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

OETTLE, Rosie - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, December 5, 2006 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
   Rosie Oettle, 66, of Beardstown, died early Monday morning, Dec. 4, 2006, at her residence.
   She was born Nov. 29, 1940, in Beardstown, the daughter of Wilbur Eugene and Nettie Louise Knous Steele.
   Surviving is her mother of Camp Point; one son, Michael Scott (wife, Debbie) Haynes of California; two daughters, Susan (husband, Michael Sr.) Black and Mary (husband, Rodger) Pate, both of Beardstown; eight grandchildren, Melissa and George Koepp, Donald Busby, Kaylyn Haynes, Tiana Wessel, Sean and Travis Pate and Teresa Jarrett; three great-grandchildren; one brother, James (wife, Marilyn) Bishop of Beardstown; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father; and one brother, W.E. Steele, Jr.
   Mrs. Oettle was formerly employed at the Beardstown Hospital and she also previously worked as a janitor for Beardstown Schools.
   Graveside funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at Messerer Cemetery near Frederick. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to the graveside funeral service Wednesday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

O'HARA, Doris Jane Wibye - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, September 26, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Doris Jane McNamara Wibye O'Hara, 1918-2007, Beardstown
Doris Jane McNamara Wibye O'Hara, 89, of Beardstown, died Tuesday morning, Sept. 25, 2007, at Heritage Manor South in Beardstown.
   She was born Jan. 10, 1918, in Beardstown, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Race McNamara. She married Walter O'Hara, and he preceded her in death.
   She is survived by one daughter, Becky Wibye Peterson of Virginia; three granddaughters, Tamara Peterson (husband, Andre Burke) of Bloomingdale, Pamela (husband, Richard) Dalsin of Springfield and Carla (husband, Tim) Anderson of Chatham; 10 great-grandchildren; and three nieces. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Rebecca Gray and Betty Moore.
   Mrs. O'Hara graduated from Beardstown High School in the class of 1936. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women in Beardstown. Many years ago she was a waitress at the Mallard Inn and also owned and operated the Bal Tavern, both in Beardstown. She enjoyed walking.
   Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown, with burial at Beardstown City Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Cass County Food Pantry. Condolences may be sent to sagerfh@casscomm.com.

OHRN, Fred E. Jr. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, September 25, 2003 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
Fred E. Ohrn Jr. - 1926-2003 - Virginia
   Fred E. Ohrn Jr., 77, of Virginia, IL died Tuesday evening, Sept. 23, 2003 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
   He was born July 24, 1926 in Cass County, the son of Fred E. Sr. and Glenna E. Fox Ohrn. He married Phyllis Ogden and later married Blanche Reader. He later married Gina Blake on Sept. 8, 1979 in Jerseyville, and she survives.
   He is also survived by a son, Fred W. (wife, Rita) Ohrn of Berthoud, Colo.; two daughters, Connie (husband, Terry) Wellenkamp and Pamela (husband, Randy) Greenwood, both of Virginia; three step-sons, Gregory (wife, Beth) Mundy of Grafton, Christopher (wife, Donna) Mundy, and Bradley (wife, Carol) Mundy, both of Jerseyville; nine grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two nephews; several cousins; and his former wife, Blanche Ohrn of Virginia. He was preceded in death by one son, Rock E. Ohrn; one sister, Dorothy Mae Sweatman; and his first wife, Phyllis.
   Mr. Ohrn served with the US Navy from 1944 to 1946 during WW II aboard the USS Puget Sound as a gunner's mate third class in the Pacific Theatre. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Victory, American Area Campaign, and Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medals. Upon his return to the area, he began farming from 1946 until his death. He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Virginia and attended the Virginia United Methodist Church. He was a long-time board member and former president of Garner Chapel Cemetery. He was a member of the Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau and the Jacksonville Elks Lodge. Well known for his profound sense of humor, he loved the land, every aspect of farming, and spending time beautifying his property. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Virginia United Methodist Church with burial in Garner Chapel Cemetery, north of Philadelphia. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Friday at the church where the family will meet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to Garner Chapel Cemetery. Massie-Buchanan Funeral Home in Virginia is in charge of arrangements. Messages of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www.buchananfuneralhomes.com

OLESON, James, newspaper unknown - Note: This obituary was probably published in the Virginia Gazette of Virginia Illinois since it mentions that he worked at Crawford Lumber Company which was in Virginia. This family's name was spelled Oleson. The lead in for this obituary correctly spells the name, but the story misspells the name as Olson.
   James Oleson Dies Mon. At Hospital James Albert Olson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Olson, was born November 12, 1881 and died Monday, October 21, at St. John's Hospital Springfield, after an illness and surgery. Mr. Olson spent his entire life in this community, having been employed the latter years by Crawford Lumber Company. He was married to Miss Stella Cassens, June 15, 1908 and he is survived by one living son from this union, Loran Ernest Olson, of Bluff Springs. His first wife preceded him in death and on August 3, 1913 he was married to Miss Lucinda Cassens, sister of his first wife, who also preceded him in death. There remains from this marriage, one daughter, Miss Florence Alberta Olson, at home. Mr. Olson has been a kind father and a good neighbor, and a faithful workman whenever employed. Besides the son and daughter mentioned, he also leaves one sister, Mrs. Mary Williams, of Chandlerville and one brother, John Edward Olson,of Bluff Springs. Services were held Thursday at 2:00 o'clock p.m. at the Christian Church with Rev. L. Roy Cronkhite officiating. Miss Ruth Peterson sang "Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", accompanied by Miss Iva Lancaster at the organ. Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery, Tallula.

ORWIG, John C. - Journal-Courier, Jacksonville, Illinois, August 11, 2007 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
John C. Orwig, 1918-2007, Beardstown
   John C. Orwig, 89, Beardstown, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
   He was born July 28, 1918, in Frederick Township, Schuyler County, the son of Charles W. and Grace Zeigler Orwig. He married Carol Jean Kruse on June 25, 1976, at First Christian Church in Rushville, and she survives.
   He is also survived by one son, Charles A. (wife, Geraldine) of Springfield; one stepson, Terry (wife, Barb) Bast of Atlanta, Ill.; four step-daughters, Debbie Smith (companion, Sam Nation) of Bath, Gail (husband, William) Riggins of Pleasant Plains, Kathi Armstrong of Ashland and Jackie (husband, Michael) Blakeman of Wichita Falls, Texas; two grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
   Mr. Orwig attended school in Browning and graduated from Beardstown High School in 1936. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beardstown and worked for Illinois Bell in Beardstown retiring as a Central Office Technician in 1981. He loved to hunt mushrooms and enjoyed woodworking as a hobby.
   Graveside memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Browning Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Cass County Historical Society. Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.worthington.com.

ORWIG, William D. - The Cass County Historian, March 2000, taken from Beardstown Illinoian, December 7, 1876
   William D. Orwig committed suicide Tuesday. His daughter, Mrs. John Shaw found him in the yard. He died shortly after.

OSMER, Mary Ann - Beardstown Illinoian Democrat, Mar. 27, 1873
   Died Monday the 24th Mary Ann, wife of John Osmer, at her residence here. She was age 44 and born in Cliffe, Kent, England. Services were from the Congregational Church yesterday. Burial at Beardstown City cemetery.

OWENS, James - Virginia Gazette, Virginia, Illinois, September 9, 1899 - Submitted by Marcia Cox
James Owens Dead.
   Jas. Owens died suddenly, one day the first of the week at his late residence near Ashland. He was the son of the late Kate Owens, a bachelor passed at age 50 years of age. He leaves a handsome property.

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