All Obituaries

Audrey J. Eckstein, 92, of Champaign, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at Meadowbrook Health Center in Urbana, IL.   Audrey was born on December 19, 1926 in Logan, West Virginia, a daughter of Millard and Mollie (Adkins) Keyser.  She married Roy A. Matsler on December 30, 1953.  He died on October 6, 1969.  She later married Charles J. Eckstein on May 2, 1975.  He died on October 20, 2010.   Survivors include: a sister, Mary Lou Edeburn of...

Agnes Klein of Flint, Michigan and Urbana, Illinois died November 4, 2017 in Urbana at the age of 101. Agnes was born January 13, 1916 in Saginaw, Michigan to new immigrants John and Frances Kania. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings Mary Porlas Keie and Frank Kania. On November 20, 1941, Agnes married Mentford Klein at Holy Family Catholic Church in Saginaw. They made their home in Flint, where Mentford worked at Fisher Body Plant #1 for 35...

Jerome (Jerry) Ehrsam passed over on June 5, 2019, after a short illness at Carle Foundation Hospital surrounded by family. He was born the second son to Loretta (Roedel) and Robert Ehrsam on September 18, 1936, in Arcola, Illinois. His mother remarried when Jerry was young and Sylvester Partlow raised him and his siblings with their mother. Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Martha (nee Bright). He was a beloved dad and stepdad to Angela (Pete) Henderson, Dale Ehrsam, Dean...

José Luis Melgarejo Sr., 80 years old,  of Mahomet, Illinois passed peacefully on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Carle Hospital in Urbana with his wife and son by his side. He was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala on September 11, 1938 to Concha and Nicolas Melgarejo. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Cheryl Melgarejo of Mahomet. He is also survived by his daughter Patricia (Patty) Melgarejo of Guatemala City, Guatemala and her 4 children Sergio, Lucia, Lessly and Axel;...

Michael Scott Chapman, 51, passed away peacefully at 11:13 am, Friday, (May 24, 2019) at OSF Hospital, Urbana. He was born Dec. 28, 1967 in Cincinnati, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Chapman, Linda Chapman and Stepdad Mark Brown, a brother Ronald Chapman, and his beloved dog Tippy. He is survived by his life partner, Teri Gibbs and her 4 boys and 2 grandchildren; 2 sons, Jonathan Michael and Joshua Scott; 1 daughter, Kristen Michelle Sweeney; 2 brothers, Curtis (Terri),...

John (Jack) L. Hayes, Jr., 90, of Monticello, formerly of Mahomet and Champaign, passed away on Sunday, May 19, in Monticello. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 am, Saturday, June 1, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 403 W. Clark St., Champaign, followed by the burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Champaign.  A reception will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign, from 1 to 6 pm.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Owens Funeral Home. Jack was born in Champaign...

Caroline Wells Donaldson passed away at Carle Foundation Hospital on May 1, 2019, after a four year struggle with ovarian cancer.  Caroline was born June 18, 1964, the third child of Malcolm M. Donaldson and Deborah J. Donaldson. Caroline is survived by her three children Fiona I. A. Coleman, Quentin A. Coleman, and Forrester W. Coleman; the children have the support of their father, David A. Coleman to help them through this difficult time. Also in mourning are Caroline’s...

Jimmy Nelson Hood, 76, of Mahomet died on Monday, May 13, 2019 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. In accordance with family wishes, Mr. Hood will be cremated and friends may greet the family on Friday, May 24 from 4-6 pm at Blair-Owens Funeral Home, 102 E. Dunbar, Mahomet. A memorial service will begin at 6pm at the funeral home. Jim was born on March 6, 1943 in Champaign; a son of Fred and Lou Hood. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Peggy Crowley Hood. He is...

Katharine "Kay" Oline Aston, 101, of Champaign, passed away May 16, 2019, at home at the Inman Place in Champaign. Born in Cambridge, England, on June 25, 1917, Kay was the second daughter of W. O. Aston and Carrie Anderson Aston of Morganville, Kan. Kay is survived by her cousin, Jobelle Shands of Madison, Wis. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Mary Aston Tehan and nephew, John Tehan of Springfield, Ohio. After receiving her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawn in 1958, she was...

Justin Alan Taulbee, 35 years old, passed away at home on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at 11:29am.  Friends may greet the family on Thursday, May 23 from 5-7 pm at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St, Champaign. The memorial service will begin at 7pm at the funeral home.  He is survived by his parents, Mark and Debra Recker; maternal grandparents, Lee and Myrtle Pardy of Urbana; his 3 brothers and their families, Mark and Katie Recker, Jason and Bambi Recker, and Josh and Jenny Recker,...