Trust the Torch!

Obituaries

Gregory A. Morse, 60

Gregory Andrew Morse, 60, of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025. Greg was born on July 11, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, where he lived with his mother, Elise Marie-Claire Lauzon and his first father, Bryan McTague, until Bryan’s passing shortly thereafter. Greg’s mother was remarried in 1967 to James K. Morse, who adopted Greg and moved the family to the United States. Greg’s parents later blessed Greg with three siblings, Jeffrey, Krista, and Stephanie, and they lived in Connecticut, St. Louis, and Lake Bluff before moving to Lake Forest, Ill. Greg was an avid sports enthusiast, but had a particular love for baseball (New York Yankees) and hockey, (New York Rangers). He played college hockey at Marquette in

Julie Ann Ellison, 60

DELAVAN – Julie Ann Ellison passed away on July 19, 2025, in Delavan, Wisconsin, at the age of 60. She was born on April 3, 1965, in Woodstock, Illinois. Julie was the beloved daughter of John Ellison and the late Patricia Ellison.  She shared a close bond with her brother Don Ellison, sister Pam Knowles and Pam’s husband Mark. Julie also held a special place in the hearts of her niece Caitlyn Ellison, nephew Jake Ellison and great niece Kinley Rae Ellison. Her extended family included aunts, uncles and cousins who were all part of her cherished circle. Among those closest to her was her dear friend Donna Oatman whose companionship brought joy and comfort throughout the years. A deeply meaningful

James Richard Reed, 89

James Richard Reed, our beloved father, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at his home in Woodstock with his children at his side. Born April 22, 1936, in Summerfield, Ohio, Jim spoke fondly of the country and farm life that surrounded him as a child. Jim was the son of Ralph and Hilda Reed. The family moved to Lakemore, Ohio, where Jim attended school in Springfield Township. He was involved in sports and loved hunting and fishing with his brother, Joe, from a young age. Jim met June Brotherton Reed, the love of his life, in high school and dated for several years, marrying in the day he graduated from Kent State University on Aug. 23, 1958. They were

James Tyrrell ‘Ty’ Keller, 92

James Tyrrell “Ty” Keller, 92, passed away peacefully at home on July 18, 2025, following an extended illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude and Theodore Keller; his brothers, “Ted” and “Jack”; and his beloved son, Tony. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 53 years, Lila; his daughter, Anita (Laurie) Scott; his son, Michael (Mary) Keller; and his cherished grandchildren, Lucas, Ally, Sadie, and Tony. Ty was born in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 22, 1932, to Gertrude and Theodore Keller. He pursued a calling to the priesthood early in life, attending Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana, where he earned his liberal arts degree and completed two years of seminary studies.

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

Top Writers

Picture of Larry Lough

Larry Lough

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

Picture of Janet Dovidio

Janet Dovidio

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

Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

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

Picture of Tricia Carzoli

Tricia Carzoli

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

Keep Exploring

By Tricia Carzoli news@thewoodstockindependent.com The Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisc. featured a local aerobat…
Farmers Market invites young vendors to try out their skills By Susan W. Murray news@thewoodstockindependent.com At the Tuesday Farmers Market on July…
Last year’s runnerup is this year’s singin’ teen champion ByRachelBrands news@thewoodstockindependent.com Stage Left Café was packed and bustling with…

Subscriber Access

Login