Today's Obituaries and Guest Books

SYCAMORE – Donald O. Askeland, 78, of Sycamore, died Friday, May 17, 2013 at Bethany Health Care and Rehab Center in DeKalb.

He was born Aug. 18, 1934, the son of Arthur and Myrtle (Hill) Askeland.

Donald was a veteran of the U.S. Army, enlisted in June 1960 and trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He was honorably discharged as a private on standby in May 1966. He loved spending time with his family, while enjoying hunting, fishing and bird watching in his spare time.

He began his working career as a mechanical technician at various car dealerships including Brad Manning Ford. Don later worked for Duplex in Sycamore as an experimental machinist in research and development, engineering supervisor, and head of Corporate Stores. He retired from Northern Illinois University after working seven years in their building services department.

Survivors include three daughters, Suzanne (David) Alvin of Glen Ellyn, Angela (Jimmy) Brooks of Springfield, Mo., and Sandra (Mike) Woodson of DeKalb; five grandchildren, Michael (Kelly) Carbone, Melissa (Carl) Alvin McCorkle, Jonathan (Sarah Tiesenga) Alvin, Riley Woodson and Tristan Brooks; and four great grandchildren, Sid, Samantha, Makenzie and Michael Carbone, Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Robert and one brother, Richard.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Butala Funeral Home and Crematory in Sycamore. A funeral service will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. with Rev. Michael Massey officiating. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to the DeKalb County Hospice or Opportunity House in care of the Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178. For information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com or call 815-895-2833.

DeKALB – Jerry Blake Carroll, 70, of DeKalb, Ill., died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, DeKalb.
Born April 28, 1943, in Murray, Ky., the son of Wymer and Wilma (Lovett) Carroll, Jerry married Patsy Maness on April 25, 1972.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Jerry was a laborer and a cement finisher for many years, and was a member of Labor Union Local 32 of Rockford, American Legion Post 66, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Moose Club of DeKalb.
He is survived by his sons, Blake (Nichola) Carroll of California, Jerry (Linda) Carroll Jr. of Lakeland, Fla., and Randy (Toni) Carroll of Guyton, Ga.; grandchildren, Sarah, Adeline, Isaiah and Joshua; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy, in 2011; his parents; and his sister, Martha Sommerville.
The memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Anderson Funeral Home, DeKalb, with full military rites. The visitation will be from 5 p.m. May 25 until the service. A reception at American Legion Post 66 will follow. Interment of cremated remains will be at a later date at Elmwood Cemetery, Sycamore.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jerry B. Carroll Memorial Fund, sent in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.

FRANKLIN GROVE – Donna Mae Cochrane, 83, of Franklin Grove, died Friday, May 17, 2013 at Franklin Grove Living Center.

Born July 16, 1929 in DeKalb, she was a daughter of Ernest and Margaret (Priess) Jordal. She married William Cochrane on Sept. 5, 1947 in DeKalb. He preceded her in death on Jan. 6, 2004. She was a cook at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb for 10 years until her retirement.

Surviving are a daughter, Kathy (Curt) Reid of Gypsum, Colo.; a son, Kevin (Kathy) Cochrane of Franklin Grove; two sisters, Janice (Arthur) Byro of Minnesota and Nancy White of Michigan; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter Mary Ann, and a brother Ernest Jordal, Jr.

Cremation rites have been accorded. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, May 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. There will be no services. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her memory. To send condolences visit www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com.

MELBOURNE, Ark. – Frances Pauline Mickley Davidson was born Oct. 9, 1928 in Rochelle, Ill. She departed this life May 17, 2013 in Little Rock, Ark., at the age of 84 years, 7 months and 8 days. Funeral service will be Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Melbourne, Arkansas.

DeKALB – Nancy Rockstead, 81, of DeKalb, passed away on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Kishwaukee Hospital.

Born March 20, 1932 in DeKalb, the daughter of Leonard and Ethel (Lawrence) Bergeron. Nancy married Richard Rockstead on June 24, 1950 in Sycamore. They have celebrated 62 years of marriage together.

Nancy attended Sycamore and DeKalb schools and graduated from Sycamore High School in 1950. She was happy to be a homemaker and worked at Wal-Mart in the fabric department for 20 years. She loved to quilt and made many beautiful quilts for her family and friends.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Richard Rockstead; six children, Michael Rockstead of DeKalb, Kimberlee (George) Griswold of DeKalb, Janice Saylor of Rochelle, Kelli (Roger) Kempson of Kings, Joseph Rockstead of Kings, and Scott (Rae) Rockstead of Rochelle; 12 grandchildren; Randi (Jeff) Neimeyer, Cole and Regan Griswold, Chase (Jill) and Ashley Rockstead, Michael Rockstead, Josh and William Rockstead, Andrea Pisapia, Landon Kempson, and Cody and Bobby Rockstead; three great grandchildren, Finlee and Foster Niemeyer, and Aubrey Gabbard. She is also survived by her siblings Bill (Mary Lou) Bergeron of Aurora, Marilyn Williams of DeKalb, and Lenny (Yvonne) Bergeron of South Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sons; Douglas and Stacey Rockstead.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd. Quiram Sycamore Chapel, 1245 Somonauk Street, Sycamore, IL 60178. To share a memory or condolence visit www.olsonfh.com or call 815-895-6589

DeKALB – Shirley Mae (Louy) Thomas, 84, of DeKalb, Ill., died Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at Oakcrest DeKalb Area Retirement Center in DeKalb.
Born July 8, 1928, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Lambert and Evelyn (Lynch), Shirley married Frank Thomas on Sept. 9, 1950, in Maywood. They later made their home in Elmhurst for 28 years before moving to DeKalb in 1994.
Shirley stayed home to raise children until 1963 and then returned to work as a secretary. She later earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and worked as a controller for several small businesses. She managed her own accounting services business for several years and she was still working part-time as an accountant for DeKalb County CASA at the time of her death. She enjoyed knitting, reading, crossword puzzles and volunteer work. She routinely knit baby sweaters for a church committee involved with DeKalb County welfare programs.
She is survived by her loving husband, Frank; son, Larry (Bev) Thomas of Crystal Lake; daughters, Eileen (Tom) Dettman of Cortland and Barbara (Jim) Fox of DeKalb; one sister, Sandra (Harold) Burroughs of Atlanta; grandchildren, Glen (Beth) Dettman, Richard (Kim) Dettman, Thomas Dettman Jr., Brandon (Cheryl) Thomas, Katelyn (Alan) Schwing and Karlene (Mike) Fox; and five great-grandchildren, Hannah, GlenTom, Caleb, Carter and Grayson.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Lambert and Evelyn (Lynch) Louy; and grandson, Brent Thomas.
A memorial service in celebration of Shirley's life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at First Congregational United Church of Christ of DeKalb, 615 N. First St., DeKalb. Private family burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in DeKalb.
The family requests that memorials be made on Shirley's behalf to DeKalb County CASA, 407 W. State St. #6, Sycamore, IL 60178; visit www.casadekalb.org for more information.
Arrangements were entrusted to: Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL, 60115. To send an online condolence, visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com; 815-758-3841.

DeKALB – Dorothy E. Wise, 98, of DeKalb died Friday, May 17, 2013 at the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center.

She was born April 14, 1915 in Milwaukee, Wis. The daughter of Bernard and Marie (Wells) Boettcher. She married Ralph Wise in 1938 in Iowa.

Dorothy worked at Alpine Valley and enjoyed meeting several celebrities over the years. She was fond of riding her bicycle and swimming up until 2006. Her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Her competitive nature made her a natural in playing Dominoes, Apples to Apples, Bingo and various cards games like Gin Rummy and Euchre.

Survivors include one son, Donald (Yong) Wise of Collinsville; one daughter, Pamela (John) Stubinger of Sycamore; four grandchildren, Tracey Busby of DeKalb, Trisha (Steven) Knych of Elgin, Timothy Stubinger of DeKalb and Brian (Jill) Wise of O'Fallon, Mo.; and seven great grandchildren, Jake and Jennifer Busby of DeKalb, Zoey, Sam and Abby Knych of Elgin, and Alex and Nathan Wise of O'Fallon, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph; one brother, Norman Boettcher and two sisters, Marion Svoboda and Elaine Boettcher.

Her visitation will be on Thursday, May 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178. Burial will be at a later date in Florida.

For information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com or call 815-895-2833.