Alice Caroline Wohrer Yarnal

Alice Caroline Wohrer Yarnal, age 93, of Kaneville, IL, passed away peacefully at her home, Thursday, July 3, 2008. Alice's strength and determination, allowed her to remain at home content with her memories, her loving nieces and nephews, and her beloved community all around her.

She was born December 19, 1914 on the family farm near Hayden, IN, the daughter of Fielding Estey and Dorcas Faye (Wilder) Wohrer. She spent her childhood there on the farm, the oldest of five children, and attended Hayden School until her freshman year of high school when the family moved to Lockport, IL. After a few months, they moved again to make their home in Elburn, IL, where Alice attended Elburn High School graduating with the class of 1931. It was at the Elburn High School that Alice met Edward Yarnal; they had their first date at the Jr. Prom. She went on to attend Northern Illinois Teacher's College, DeKalb, where she received her teaching certificate after two years. It was the years of the Great Depression and there were no teaching jobs available so Alice worked as a "mother's helper" for a family in Wheaton for a time.

In the early 1930's, she took a teaching position at the Blackberry Center School on Green Rd., south of Elburn. It was a one room school house with sixteen students from first grade through eighth. The Meredith's, Bennett's, Holmberg's, Meek's, and Washburn's children were her students and they, and their families, would remain familiar names through many years to come.

On June 26, 1937, Alice and Edward were united in marriage and made their home in Geneva until 1947, when they moved to a farm on Main St. Rd., just west of Kaneville. She taught for two more years after her marriage; working with kids was her favorite thing. Alice and Ed lived nineteen years on the farm and she worked right alongside Ed driving the tractor, working in the field and feeding the cattle. She enjoyed life on the farm but the time came when a farmer needed more acres to "make ends meet". They sold the farm and Ed went to work at Burgess Norton while Alice found a job with Kane County Mutual Fire Insurance where she worked until her retirement. In 1965, they moved into town and made their home on Harter Rd.

Alice and Ed enjoyed many years of traveling, visiting people and places; gathering memories and gemstones as they traversed the United States and several continents. They journeyed to England, France, Germany, Hawaii, and Alaska, where she had an opportunity to exercise her interest in geology. Alice had a large collection of rocks, nearly 200, which she collected over the years (even after Ed declared that they were not to buy any more rocks). It was a hobby she shared with school children when she would visit area classrooms.

After Ed passed away on November 10, 1983, Alice became involved in the History of Kaneville and wrote two bound books about it as well as helping Lynnette Werdin research and write the history of the Kaneville Cemetery. A lover of local history and family ancestry she wrote "They Came to Spencer Township, The Ancestors of Faye and Fielding Wohrer". It was an eight year project which resulted in a beautiful legacy to be read and treasured by the generations to come.

Though Alice and Ed did not have any children of their own they were blessed with nieces and nephews which Alice "adopted" in her heart. Family, encouraging others, supporting others, and keeping them in prayer; those were the things that mattered most to Alice.

She was a longtime member of the Kaneville United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and Bible School. For many years, she was active with the young people in the community often directing their plays and passing on to them her philosophy, "learn something new everyday". Alice was also a member of the Kaneville Historical Society, the LaKelvine Club, The Order of the Eastern Star, Anemone Chapter #678, Elburn and later the Batavia Chapter.

She is survived by one sister, Myra Kotecki of Schaumburg; her nieces and nephews, Dennis and Jean Wohrer of San Francisco, CA, Mary Kay North of Chrisman, IL, Edwin and (Debbie) Longfellow of Louisville, KY, Donald and Linda Longfellow, also of Chrisman, Larry and Juanita Lee of San Antonio, TX, Linda and Brian Murphy of Austin, TX, Jeffrey and JoAnna Kotecki of Vernon Hills, IL, Roger Kotecki of Warrenville, IL, Carl and Bess Kotecki of Silver Springs, MD, Cheryl and Norris Going of Ashville, NC, and Joyce and Don Meyers of Cary, IL; Ed's two nieces, Myra Kunze of Lake Geneva, WI, and Ann Lyon of Virginia. Though many have preceded her, she leaves a host of friends that bridge the generations.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; three of her siblings, Fielding Wilder Wohrer, Mae Longfellow Fisher and Loris Lee Lee; a nephew, Jim Wohrer in Vietnam; and a niece, Marylou Yarnal Henning Johnson.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at the Kaneville United Methodist Church, from 4pm to 8pm and Wednesday morning prior to the service from 9:30am until 10:15am. The funeral service will begin at 10:30am with the Rev. Jason Turner officiating. Interment will conclude at Blackberry Cemetery, Elburn.

A Memorial in her name has been established to benefit Kaneville United Methodist Church and other favorite charities. Checks may be made to the Alice Yarnal Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Memories and condolences may also be forwarded to the family through this address or via her obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information, call Conley Funeral Home, 630-365-6414 or 1-800-8-CONLEY.