Husband of Karen Fagerburg has Passed at 83
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New news! (posted 3/5/26) ROCKTON, ILLINOIS — Gary Phelps, husband of Classmate Karen (Fagerburg) Phelps, passed away March 1, 2026 at Beloit Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. They were married for 61 years.
He graduated from West High School, Class of 1960, and Rockford College with a Bachelor of Science in 1964
Most recently he worked as an Inventory Control Manager at Amerock/Newell Corporation, retiring in August of 2002.
See his obituary for more information.
Classmate James Marks Passed On at Age 85
New news! (posted 2/23/26) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — James Lewis Marks passed away peacefully February 16, 2026 surrounded by his family.
He attended Washington Junior High and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
He started working at Piggly Wiggly and then Eagle Foods where he became the store manager for 33 years.
James earned his Bachelor's Degree of Divinity in 1967. Later he was assigned to a pastoral position in Elgin, IL where he served as pastor of Bethesda COGIC for 42 years.
He assisted the West High Class by delivering the invocation at the 50th high school reunion in 2009.
He leaves his wife Shirley after 65 years of marriage and three children and five grandchildren.
See his obituary link for more details.
Husband of Marie Ryan has Passed at 78
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New news! (posted 2/17/26) ROSCOE, ILLINOIS — Deacon Phil Abel, husband of Classmate Marie Frances (Ryan) Abel, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2026 surrounded by his family. They were married for 45 years.
He worked for Ingersoll Cutting Tool and served as a Reserve Officer with Boone and Winnebago County Sheriff's departments.
He was ordained as a Deacon at St. Bridget Catholic Church.
See his obituary for more information.
Classmate Karen Greenman Passed Away at Age 84
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New news! (posted 2/13/26)ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Karen Sue (Greenman) Livesey has passed February 10, 2026 at age 84.
She attended all three years at West and graduated in 1959 spending much of her school time with the orchestra. Later she graduated from Swedish American School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse.
Karen married Manual "Manny" Livesay November 24, 1962 and they had two children.
Manual Livesay passed September 21, 2019 and his obituary can be found in the website archives posted 4/2/2022.
See Karen's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Ruth McLaren Passed Away at Age 84
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New news! (posted 1/18/26) LOVES PARK — Ruth Ann (McLaren) Stodola passed away January 16, 2026 at age 84.
She attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
While at West High, Ruth was active in several activities including the Glee and 8-5-3 clubs, Stagecrafters, Pep club, GAA, Knights of the Turntable.
It was at West High where she met her future husband Doug Stodola. They have been married for 63 years. They have three children, ten grandchildren, and nine greatgrandchildren.
Ruth attended Northern Illinois University - the first female to receive a scholarship into their teaching program. She has taught elementary school for over 35 years.
A funeral service for Ruth will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108. A visitation will take place from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service. Internment at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, an organization that is near and dear to Doug and Ruth’s hearts.
See Ruth's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Judith Vicari Passed Away at Age 84
New news! (posted 1/18/26) MESA, ARIZONA — Judith Ann Vicari has passed January 5, 2026 at age 84.
She attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West and graduated in 1959.
After a short time in college, she enlisted in the United States Air Force. There she met her husband James T. Keck Jr. who was also in the Air Force. They had two children and traveled together all over the world living in several air force bases. They finally retired in San Jose, California.
She continued her education earning BS and MBA degrees at the University of Hawaii later working in Silicon Valley and Arizona.
See Judith's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Chuck Espy Passed Away at Age 84
New news! (posted 1/6/26) FAIRFIELD, IOWA — We just learned that Charles Clifford Espy, Jr. passed away January 2, 2026 at age 84.
He attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
While at West High, Chuck was well known and very active in many school activities including Forum Club, Stagecrafters, Hi-Y Club, A Cappella, Golf, Natl Athletic Society, and, of course, the Swim Team.
He later attended Northwestern University and Iowa Wesleyan where he met his wife Jan (Janice McCurdy). They were married April 17, 1965 and have been together for over 60 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Fairfield with Pastor Danny Cary officiating. Following the service a reception will be held at the Fairfield Country Club from 2:30-4:30pm. The service may be livestreamed via www.behnerfh.com.
See Chuck's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Marty Pirrello Passed On at Age 84
New news! (posted 12/13/25) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Martin C. Pirrello passed away December 10, 2025 from complications during heart surgery. He was 84.
He attended Washington Junior High and all three years at West High graduating in 1959. Marty was a regular on the school football team. An avid sportsman he also played baseball, bowling, and years later could still be found on the golf course with several of his high school classmates that he kept in close touch with over the years.
When Marty was not playing golf, he worked as Service Manager at a local Chevrolet dealer.
He leaves his wife Joanne after 51 years of marriage.
Marty, along with his wife Joanne attended several West High reunions as shown in the following photos.
See his obituary link for more details.
Classmate Lynne Walther Passed Away at Age 83
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New news! (posted 11/2/25) NORTH MIDDLESEX, VERMONT— We just learned that Lynne LaVon (Walther) Lincoln passed away September 19, 2025 at age 83.
She attended the last two years at West High graduating in 1959 and was active on the editorial staff of the OWL newspaper.
She later attended Rockford College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received Masters Degrees in English and Education.
She leaves her husband Robert Lincoln, two sons and three grandchildren.
See Lynne's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Connie Burns Passed Away at Age 85
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New news! (posted 9/28/25) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — We just learned that Connie Kay (Burns) Dorsey passed away July 13, 2025 at age 85.
She attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959. At West she was active in the Glee Club.
Connie was well known and well liked by West High classmates and regularly attended several class reunions.
Spending her final years in River Bluff Nursing Home, she leaves two children and three grandchildren.
See Connie's obituary link for more details.
Husband of Donna Smith has Passed at 86
New news! (posted 9/27/25) AURORA, COLORADO — Clarence V. Herrmann, husband of Classmate Donna Lee (Smith) Herrmann, passed away peacefully August 11, 2025 after a lengthy illness. They were married for 61 years.
He served on active duty wth the US Army.
See his obituary for more information.
Husband of Sharryn Helm has Passed at 87
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New news! (posted 9/26/25) LEESBURG, FLORIDA — John Albert Franks, husband of Classmate Sharryn Rae (Helm) Franks, passed away peacefully July 1, 2025 after a courageous battle with melanoma. They were married for 67 years and have four children.
John retired in 2000 as Vice President and General Manager of Modern Metals Products. He continued to pursue his hobbies of golfing, gardening and cooking.
Albert and Sharryn attended the West High class 50th reunion in 2009 and their photos are included with the obituary.
See his obituary for much more information.
Visit with Janet (Liles) and Stan Petersen
New news! (posted 7/19/25) DUNWOODY, GEORGIA — As we traveled through Atlanta on the way to Rockford, Patty and I were able fullfil a promise to visit classmate Janet (Liles) Petersen and her husband Stan. We learned that they are very close to a marriage milestone of sixty years having met at college in Iowa.
They live in a lovely well kept and landscaped home where Janet has planted several roses in front giving a succession of bloom.
They were very proud to show us a recent photo of their family taken at thanksgiving 2024 shown below.
Ron and Patty Ingrassia
Wife of Kenneth Kloweit has Passed at 80
New news! (posted 7/15/25) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Janet Ann (Schrom) Kloweit - passed away Friday July 11, 2025.
Janet graduated from Muldoon High School and Edgewood University in Madison, WI. where she earned her Master's degree in education. She taught school for 33 years.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years Kenneth Kloweit.
Janet was a lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church. Services will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025. Visitation will take place from 9:00 to 10:45 AM in the Father Beauvais Center (located behind the church), followed by an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. James Catholic Church. Burial will proceed to Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Winnebago, IL.
See her obituary for much more information.
Classmate Stuart Kaplan Has Passed at 84
New news! (posted 7/5/25) PLACENTIA, CALIFORNIA — Stuart Joel Kaplan passed away May 4, 2025 at the age of 84.
He attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
His ROTC training in high school prepared him to enlist in the US Air Force where he developed his electronics skills used later as an engineer and plant manager. He also owned and operated Kapco Engineering, a company that installed and repaired heavy equipment. Stuart found a place helping and training those who needed a mentor.
He is survived by his wife Roberta of 51 years, and a family of three children and six grandchildren.
See Stuart's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Sante DeMarco Has Passed at 84
(posted 6/21/25) PECATONICA, ILLINOIS — Sante DeMarco passed away June 19, 2025 at the age of 84.
He came to the USA from Italy in the early 1950's and attended all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
Sante spent his entire career working as a mechanical engineer for the Woodward Governor Company.
He married Kay King from the West High class of 60. Kay Passed on Nov 16, 2022 after having Parkinson's for 20 years. Her obituary can be viewed in the archives of this website posted 11/20/2022. They had two children, seven grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM CDT at McCorkle Funeral Home, located at 203 West 5th Street, Pecatonica, Illinois. Prayers will be said on Monday, June 23, 2025, at 10:30 AM CDT at the same venue. The Funeral Mass will be held on the same day at 11:00 AM CDT at St Mary's Catholic Church, Pecatonica, with a live stream available at the provided link. The Committal Ceremony will follow at 12:00 PM CDT at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Winnebago, Illinois, also available via live stream.
See Sante's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Norman Cornelius Has Passed at 83
(posted 4/29/25) SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Norman Cox Cornelius passed away April 9, 2025 at the age of 83.
He attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
He served in the US Navy and was a member of the Navy Club for 65 years where he was Commander for Ship 1 in Rockford and later Chaplain for Ship 32 in Springfield, IL. He also drove a mail truck for the US Postal Service.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Shirley Ann (Weiskopf) Cornelius, and a large family.
See Norman's obituary link for more details.
Husband of Liz Karriker has Passed at 92
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(posted 4/29/25) SALEM, MISSOURI — George Francis Gruendel, husband of Classmate Elizabeth Ann (Karriker) Gruendel, passed away peacefully March 28, 2025 - they were married for 36 years and have five children.
George, who earned a PhD, was a professor at University of Illinois and after retirement taught military science at Webster University.
See his obituary for much more information.
Husband of Janet Peterson has Passed at 84
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(posted 4/29/25) WILDWOOD, ILLINOIS — Ronald Oscar Wienke, husband of Classmate Janet (Peterson) Wienke, passed away peacefully February 10, 2025 - they were married for 62 years and had three children.
Ron was a 7th grade English teacher in Deerfield, IL for 32 years. He also became a track and girls basketball coach.
See his obituary for much more information.
Classmate Bob Quest Has Passed at 83
(posted 3/23/25) SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA — We just learned that Robert William Quest passed away January 7, 2025 at the age of 83.
He attended Washington Junior High, and left West during his Junior year to join the US Navy. Note that the photo on the left is from the Washington Junior High Yearbook in the year 1956.
He later enrolled in evening education from 1963 through 1974 where he earned a BA and MBA in finance from California State University in Fullerton, CA. This enabled him to pursue a professional career with several companies.
Bob married a "California" girl Leslie in 1963 and they had two children and were married for 45 years when Leslie passed August 6, 2008.
See Bob's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Patty Edwards Passed Away at Age 83
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(posted 2/9/25) FORT COLLINS, COLORADO — We just learned that Patricia Ann (Edwards) Stevens passed away December 31, 2024 at age 83.
She attended Walker Elementary School, then Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959. At West she took part in Future Teachers of America and Glee Club.
She leaves her husband David T. Stevens (class of West High 1958) and two children, five grandchildren, and had been married over 55 years.
See Patty's obituary link for more details.
Wife of George Evert has Passed at Age 80
(posted 2/6/25) COLUMBIA, MARYLAND — Mary Frances Evert Wife of Classmate George Wiliam Evert, passed away November 30, 2024 - they were married for 59 years.
George and Mary Evert raised a family of two children and 4 grandchildren. She was a retired High Schhool teacher while George retired from the DOD National Geospacial Intellegence Agency.
The Everts attended both the 50th and 60th class reunions.
See her obituary for more information.
Classmate DeAnne Lind Passed Away at Age 84
 Kudzma Photos/20250110 DeAnne Carla (Lind) Kudzma Obit Photo.jpg)
(posted 1/12/25) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — We just learned that DeAnne Carla (Lind) Kudzma passed away January 10, 2025 at age 84.
She attended Roosevelt Junior High, and all three years at West High graduating in 1959.
Her husband Gerry Kudzma predeceased her June 24, 2022. His obituary was published on this website posted June 25, 2022 (see the newsletter archives).
They had two children and six grandchildren and had been married 61 years.
Dee loved a party and especially planning the party which led her to serve on most of the class reunion committees since the beginning. Sadly she later became ill and could not be part of the 2024 reunion. I believe she was there in spirit. We all missed her.
A Celebration of Life will be on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., at the Lombardi Club, 209 Olive Street, Rockford, IL 61107. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, 111 N 1st St, Rockford, IL 61107. Please share memories and condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.
See Dee's obituary link for more details.
Jim and MaryLou White Family Gather Together
(posted 1/4/25) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Jim and MaryLou (Spinello) White, both from our class of 1959 and married for 63 years, were able to get their complete family all together for Thanksgiving 2024. They have 2 Children, 6 Grandchildren, and 1 Greatgrandchild. You can spot Jim and MaryLou in the photo 5 and 6 places from the right.
NOTE: Previous news articles can be found in the newsletter archives - see the archive table.
