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Obituaries

Jeanette R. Johnson, 82

Jeanette R. Johnson, 82, of Woodstock, passed away Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Hearthstone Manor in Woodstock. She was born in Elkhorn, Wis., on Sept. 8, 1942, to Christian and Elizabeth (Ketelaar) Jacobsen. She married Harold W. Johnson on May 12, 1962. Jeanette worked for Guardian Electric for many years in the purchasing department and as a supervisor. She also worked for Apple Creek in Woodstock for many years. She enjoyed volunteering, but she really enjoyed cooking and reading. She loved spending time with her loving family as well as her best friend, Linda Thorsen, who was a constant source of happiness in her life. She is survived by her three children, Renee (Keith) Huff, Chris Johnson, and Jacqueline (Jerry)

Clifford Frederick Pierce, 85

Born: January 18, 1940 Died: June 27, 2025 Clifford Frederick Pierce, 85, of Woodstock (Marengo) IL, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Friday, June 27, 2025. He was born on Jan. 18, 1940, in Charlevoix, Mich., to Dorris and Charles Pierce. He was raised by his mother, Dorris (Struthers) (Pierce) Pearsall, and his stepfather, Claude Pearsall, as the second of five siblings. He attended Charlevoix schools and graduated from Charlevoix High School, where he enjoyed playing basketball. Following high school, he went on to attend and graduate from butcher school in Toledo, Ohio, later utilizing these skills in Charlevoix, Mich., and then later in Woodstock at Pierce’s Little Store. He worked at Woodstock Die Cast for

Joan Bean, 74

Joan Bean passed away peacefully at the age of 74, surrounded by her loving family after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1951, Joan grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and South Bend, Indiana. In 1972, she moved to Joliet, Illinois, to pursue a nursing degree. There, she met and married Donald Bean, a Navy veteran and computer engineer who had offered to fix her calculator. The couple eventually settled in Woodstock, Illinois, where Joan devoted her life to nursing. In recent years, Joan and Don moved to Berlin, VT, where she passed. In 1977, Joan earned her nursing certification and began her 30-year career at Woodstock Memorial Hospital. She was a compassionate caregiver

Edwin Alexander Grell, 81

Edwin Alexander Grell, 81, of Woodstock, passed away July 5, 2025, surrounded by his family after deciding that living on dialysis was no longer the path he wanted to take. Born on May 15, 1944, in Chicago, Ed was preceded in death by the love of his life, Margaret. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with unwavering love, laughter, and joy. He is survived by his children, Thomas (Annette) Grell, Jonathon (Jacqueline) Grell, and Jennamarie (Travis) Test; his grandchildren, Jerred, Alexandria, Edwin, Bradley, Nicholas, William, and Kaitlyn; as well as his in-laws, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. As a child, Ed lived in Woodstock for several years before his family moved to Mt. Prospect. Ed returned to

Susie ‘Susie Q’ Morton, 42

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Susan “Susie Q” Morton, 42, passed away on June 21, 2025, in McHenry surrounded by her family and friends. Born Aug. 25, 1982, in Plymouth, Wis., Susie’s vibrant soul always had a zest for life, captivating so many hearts with the simplest of smiles. Susie was the beloved daughter of Mary and Leonard (Judy), and the adored sister of Kevin, Sarah (Ernesto), Amanda Hemmrich (Kyle), and Brittney Rortvedt (Jake). She was the doting aunt of Ethan and Elsa Schuette and Lilyana and Jackson Hemmrich. She was also the niece of Tom and Ruth Reiss (John). There is nothing that Susie wouldn’t have done for her family as this unit was the cornerstone

Michael ‘Hevy’ Domek, 56

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael “Hevy” Domek, who departed peacefully very early on the morning of June 26, 2025, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous three-year fight with glioblastoma. Mike was born on April 16, 1969, and lived a life marked by his visionary spirit, relentless dedication, and generous heart. Mike’s entrepreneurial journey began with humble roots and immense ambition. In 1992, with just $100, he founded VIP Tour Co., a testament to his strong work ethic and keen sales acumen, in the event-ticketing industry. This passion evolved into the creation of TicketsNow.com in 1999, an innovative online marketplace that revolutionized secondary ticket sales. Under Mike’s leadership, TicketsNow grew exponentially, earning

Brian Kennedy Buckley, 64

Brian Kennedy Buckley, 64, of Woodstock, died on Friday May 30, 2025, at Northwestern Hospital in McHenry. He was born in Woodstock on Oct. 3, 1960, to Ed and Frances Buckley. Brian attended Woodstock High School, where he participated in tennis, basketball, and baseball and graduated in 1979. He also attended Western Illinois University. Brian met his wife, best friend, and love of his life, Carol in sixth grade. They were happily married for over 37 years. Brian’s constant strength, companionship, wisdom, and laughter will be forever missed. He is survived by his wife, Carol (née Carey); daughter, Abby (Eric) Luhrsen; son, Jack Buckley; sisters, Nora Watson (Ernie Johnson) and Sheila Veltus; brother, Kevin (Mary) Buckley; many nieces and nephews;

Eugene Limbaugh, 84

Eugene Limbaugh, known by everyone as Gene, of Woodstock, IL passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025, at the age of 84. He was born on July 6, 1940, to Robert James and Francis (Trisler, Chumley) Limbaugh in Woodstock, IL. After graduating Woodstock High School in 1958, he married Helen (Lois) Hunt on June 14, 1958. They were married for 66 years. He had a strong work ethic and willingness to help others, which he demonstrated when he worked at Woodstock Tire in the early 60’s, working with a lot of farmers in the area. Those were the days when the service call usually took him to a customer’s farm or maybe the farm field. In 1965, Gene partnered with

Salvatore Amato, 96

Salvatore Amato has passed away at age 96. He was one of four boys and four girls in the Amato family. His three brothers were Tony, Vince and Frank who all served in the military. Salvatore was Captain of LST 753 in WW II. He married Mary Crecelius, a woman from the Quad Cities. Salvatore spent thirty years with General Motors in the Mid-West where he was a Special Agent. He has three children: Gregory, Dwight and Beth. Dwight and Beth reside in Arizona and Gregory still lives in Woodstock, Illinois. Sal was an avid day sailor and possessed a 16-foot boat that he used in Browns Lake. He rode his bicycle across Iowa on RAGBRI, a 500-mile bike ride

Mary Elizabeth (Klocek) Gillis, 72

Mary Elizabeth (Klocek) Gillis, was residing in Huntley, Illinois and passed away peacefully on May 24, 2025 at the age of 72. Born in Woodstock, Illinois, Mary lived a life full of love, strength, and unwavering devotion to her family. Mary is survived by her seven beloved children and grandchildren, daughter, Theresa Francis (Gillis) HarriSon and husband: Timothy Edward HarriSon Jr. and their children, Timothy Edward HarriSon III, Amelia Ann HarriSon, Vivian Rose HarriSon and Scarlett Elizabeth HarriSon; son, Vincent Adam Gillis; daughter, Anna Marie (Gillis) Zuchora and husband John Zuchora. And their children, Peyton Julian Zuchora, Harper John Zuchora, and Emersyn Grace Zuchora; son, Michael Scott Gillis and his wife Kimberly Ann Weybrecht-Gillis; daughter, Samantha Christine Gillis and her

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Larry Lough

Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.

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Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.

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Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.

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Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.

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