Lesley A. Gonigam

1951 - 2025

Lesley A Gonigam
Born: April 11, 1951 in Princeton, IL
Died: December 9, 2025 in Princeton, IL
Tiskilwa - Lesley Ann Gonigam, 74, of Tiskilwa, IL, sadly passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at OSF Saint Clare Medical Center, in Princeton, IL. She was born at that same location, then known as Perry Memorial Hospital, on April 11, 1951, to Gail L. and Helen Y. (Klesath) Plumley of rural Manlius.
Lesley graduated from Manlius High School, Class of 1969, and attended Western Illinois University. She was an active member in multiple communities throughout her life.
She was married to Richard S. Huebner from 1973 to 1985, with whom she had two children - Elizabeth A. (Huebner) Dobbs and Jonathan S. (Stephanie Fowler) Huebner. In 1987, she would find love again and married Craig C. Gonigam, together they welcomed twins - Patrick G. Gonigam and Suzanne Y. (Gonigam) Bence.
Lesley was a founding member of the Act IV community theater group and participated as an actor and a singer in many Princeton Homestead Festival performances as well as Festival 56. She was a member of the Princeton-Illinois Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and volunteered her time as a tutor at Lincoln Elementary School.
She loved Jesus Christ and showed His compassion as a dedicated member of a number of churches in the area. She had a life-long passion for music and a beautiful soprano voice, which allowed her to sing in many choirs and choruses throughout her life.
Lesley was preceded in death by her parents, Gail L Plumley and Helen Y Plumley, sister Marilee (Plumley) Frient and infant brother Jay Plumley.
She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Craig; her siblings and their families, Sharon (Robert) Bittner, Christine (Roy) Jones and Allen (Cindy Dale) Plumley; four children, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Patrick and Suzanne; sixteen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lesley's expansive family adored their "Nonnie", a loving nickname that was her mother's as well, and they always looked forward to seeing her at family gatherings and other special occasions.
Lesley had a caring heart and a spirited personality and reveled in those family get-togethers. She was often found at the center of the gathering, as performers frequently are, and would often trigger a fit of the jovial, yet uniquely identifiable "Plumley Laugh" in multiple members of the family. She loved well and was well loved, and she was absolutely devoted to those around her.
Please join us in celebrating her life and the impact she had upon those who knew her.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 21st, from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments, 701 E. Thompson Street, Princeton, IL 613567.
Funeral services to follow at 2:00 pm at Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments. Per her request, cremation rites have been accorded.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Tiskilwa Ambulance Service, 135 High Street, Tiskilwa, IL 61368 in Lesley's honor.
Online condolences may be directed to www.norbergfh.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments.