All Obituaries

Walter L. Arnstein, aged 89, died peacefully at home on October 6 from complications due to multiple myeloma and brain cancers. His wife and daughter were at his side. Dr. Arnstein became fondly known to decades of U. of I. history students as a founder and frequent host of the British History Association (BHA).  Inspiration for this unique and popular off-campus organization came partly from a less ambitious organization at the University of Chicago and partly from the movie...

James Ernest Neidel, 76 passed peacefully in his home on October 15th, 2019. Preceded in death by Father, Ernest Neidel, 1st wife Judith Simmons, and son James Neidel.  Surviving is his mother Bernice Neidel, loving wife of 52 years Kathryn Neidel; children, Jeffrey (Darla) Neidel, John (Jennifer)Neidel, Aaron (Betty) Neidel, and Sarah (Christopher) Tudor; grandchildren Justin, Jared (Courtney), A.J, Greg, Leigh-Anne, Marissa, Michalynn, Ethan, Adalynn, and Ella. Please Join us in...

Eva M. Collins, 92, of Mahomet, formerly of LaCrosse, IN, died on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.  There will be a visitation on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 3-5 pm at New Beginnings Lutheran Church, 304 E. Dunbar, Mahomet. The funeral service will begin at 5:30 pm at the church with Pastor Allan Oman officiating. Burial will take place on Friday, Oct 18 at 10:30 am at Oak Grove Cemetery, Lacrosse, IN. Blair-Owens Funeral Home, Mahomet, is assisting the family...

Doris J. Beckett, 93, died at 2:01pm on September 30, 2019 at Farmer City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.  In accordance with family wishes, Doris will be cremated and there will be a Memorial Service at 11:00am on Saturday October 12 at the First Baptist Church of Mahomet, with the Reverend Pat Murphy officiating.  There will be no visitation, but friends are encouraged to join the family at Millie's on Prairieview Road for lunch after the service.  Her ashes will...

Thomas H. Tracy, Sr., 73, of Ivesdale, died on the morning of Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in Monticello. Owens Funeral Home will conduct a visitation on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 9-10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ivesdale.  The funeral Mass will begin at 10 am at the church with Fr. Fredi Torres-Gomez and Deacon James Brewer officiating. Interment will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Ivesdale and military rites will be accorded. Tom was born on Aug. 19, 1946 in Decatur, son...

William D. Pankau, 86, of Champaign, died at 10:55am on October 5, 2019 at Bickford Cottage in Champaign.  There will be a visitation at Owens Funeral Home (101 N. Elm St.) in Champaign from 4:00-6:00pm on Tuesday, October 8.  The Rosary Service will be at 3:30.  The funeral service will be at 10:00am on Wednesday October 9 at Holy Cross Catholic Church (403 W. Clark St.) in Champaign.  Entombment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in...

Doris Jeanne Kirkpatrick Lain was born in St. Joseph Township, Champaign County Illinois, a daughter of Edith Josephine and Lysle Albert Kirkpatrick.  She went to school in Sidney, and attended the University of Illinois, graduating from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.  She married Garrie Lee Lain in December of 1949.  He died in February of 1967 after a sudden illness.  Doris passed away on September 18, 2019...

Laura Hahn, 58, died at 11:04 p.m. Monday (Sept. 30, 2019) at home in Champaign. Laura was born and raised in Urbana and attended the U of I, where she met her husband, Charlie. She earned three degrees from the U of I and served her career in several roles as staff and faculty. Most recently, she was the director of the Academy for Excellence in Engineering Education. Laura was an expert in the field of faculty development and spoke at numerous conferences and universities worldwide. She...

Marie Ann Sexton, 75, passed away peacefully at her home in Houston, TX on September 18, 2019. She was born on May 6, 1944, the first daughter of 5 children of Dr. Joseph E. Sexton and Loretta Sturdyvin Sexton of Champaign County.  She attended Duchesene High School in St. Louis and furthered her education at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY, John Carroll University and Trinity College in Washington, DC. and then moved to Houston in the 1990s to work as a law clerk for Mr. Parker and...

Tracy E. P. Harper Sr., 70, passed away at home Thursday (Sept. 19, 2019). There will be a funeral service at noon Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign, with the visitation one hour prior to the service. He will be buried in Mackey Cemetery, rural Mansfield. Military honors will be accorded by the VFW 5520 Color Guard. Tracy was born Sept. 11, 1949, in Urbana at Mercy Hospital, to Helen Irene Watson and James Wyatt Harper. He married Connie Pece in 1978. She...