All Obituaries

Charles ‘Chuck’ Baldwin went home to the loving arms of his heavenly Father on February 12, 2019. His blessed life began in Carbondale, Illinois on December 20, 1946, son of Edsel and Mary Baldwin. He graduated from Cape Girardeau High School and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Illinois. He began his professional career as a counselor and coach in the Mahomet school system before having a long and successful career as a counselor, associate...

James W. (Wally) Denzer of Mahomet, formerly of Bloomington, passed away February 15, 2019 at Advocate BroMenn hospital in Normal. He was born August 29, 1932 in Bloomington, to Fred and Ruth (Shoemaker) Denzer. He graduated from Normal Community High School and proudly served in the U.S. Army. He farmed his entire life on the farm where he was raised. He worked with his brothers, tending the farm, after their father passed when they were teenagers. Wally was also a salesman for livestock...

Junnatta F. Dillingham, 88, formerly of Champaign, died at 12:53am on February 8, 2019 at Kirby Medical Center in Monticello.  The funeral service will be at 12:00 on February 13 at Owens Funeral Home (101 N. Elm St.) in Champaign.  The visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign.   Junnatta was born on March 9, 1930 in Fountain Run, KY, a daughter of Jimmy and Lottie (Rich)...

Joseph Theodore Costa, "Joe" passed away at home on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. He was born Feb. 20, 1933, in Champaign, the middle child and second son of Michael and Louisa Brown Costa. He attended Holy Cross Grade School, Champaign Jr. High and Champaign High School, graduating in 1951. From March 30, 1953 to March 29, 1955, he served in the Army, first in the Infantry at Fort Lewis Washington, then in the Signal Corps at Fort Huachuca Arizona.  Joe was always a dedicated...

Carl Casella, 95, passed away peacefully on Jan. 30, 2019. Carl was born in November of 1923 in Chicago, to Joseph and Caroline Casella. Carl graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago and after graduation enlisted in the Navy. He served for almost three years during World War II, where he served as a plane captain aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga air craft carrier.  He then attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he studied hotel management, learned to love to ski, and...

Richard C “Rich” Lencioni, age 65, lost his battle with cancer on January 24th, 2019 at his home. Rich was born November 18, 1953, in Geneva, Illinois to Sylvia & Jerry Lencioni, who both preceded him in death. Rich was a sales representative for American Chicle, Pfizer, Cadbury-Adams, and Kraft.  He graduated from Western Illinois University. In junior high, Rich played in a local garage band.  Later in life, he continued his passion for music, playing guitar...

Margaret ‘Eileen’ Lyons, 95, died on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Amber Glen Special Care Unit, Urbana. There will be a visitation on Friday, February 8, from 1-2 pm at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St, Champaign. The funeral service will follow at 2pm at the funeral home with Rev. Deborah Owen officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana. Eileen was born on Jan 7, 1924 in Ashkum, the only daughter of William and Mabel (Brooks) Lyons. She graduated from Kinmundy...

Farren 'Andy' Swarts, 53, died at his home in Mahomet on Feb. 6, 2019.  A private family service will be held at a later date.  Andy was born on Sept. 12, 1965 in Urbana to Regina Wikoff Moore and he graduated from high school in Springfield, OH. In his adult years, Andy worked as a carpenter and handyman in Champaign, Mahomet and the surrounding areas.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Regina and his step-father, Cecil Moore.  Andy is survived by his...

Wanda Elliott, from Mahomet, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019, at the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home in Mattoon, IL. Wanda was born on May 9th, 1930 in Mahomet, to Hubert and Lela (Lindsey) Ponder. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John, sister Louise (Bice), and nephew Reid. She is survived by her two daughters; Denise (Joel) McDearmon and Stacey (Steve Warters), her sister Marilyn (John) Mohr, brother Harold and many nieces and nephews. Wanda was married to Donald...

Roger D. Dotson, 71, of Mahomet died Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 5:40 p.m. at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.  Roger was born on March 6, 1947 in Carbondale, the son of Robert and Mary 'Louise' (Monti) Dotson. He was raised in Marion and graduated from Marion High School in 1965. Upon graduation Roger enrolled at SIU Carbondale, before enlisting in the Army in 1967. Roger honorably served in the US Army for 4 years, serving in the Vietnam War from 1967-1968 before...