All Obituaries

Robert “Bob” E. Bon Durant, Jr. 64 of Divernon, IL passed away Monday, December 22, 2025 at St. John’s Hospital. He was born July 25, 1961 in Terre Haute, IN; the son of Robert E. and Joyce Garner Bon Durant, Sr.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Anna Garner and Edward and Bertha Bon Durant; brother-in-law, Dale Haney; his dogs, Holly Elizabeth, Toby Michael and Chino; and his cats, Sara Jane, Simon Arthur and Tegan. Bob married Mary Haney on ...

Charles R. Cook, 80 of Dawson, formerly of Divernon, passed away Friday, January 16, 2026 at his home. He was born March 19, 1945 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Charles Doyle and Alice Mary Backovitch Cook.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Doyle Cook; two sisters, Viola Papai and Anna Louise Katcher; step-daughter, Jeannie Hansen. He married Donna Norman Bea on August 10, 1996. Charlie was employed as a driver’s license examiner for the Secretary of State, a ...

Dale A. Jaeger, 84 of Auburn passed away Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Eastland Retirement Community in Auburn. He was born July 3, 1941 in Hillsboro, the son of Harold and Amanda “Pat” Wilson Jaeger. Dale married Nancy Morgan on January 30, 1965 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and infant brother, Don Jaeger. Dale served U.S. Navy.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he played the organ for over 50 ...

Marshall Kay Bickel, 81 of Auburn, passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at his home. He was born May 12, 1944 in Auburn Township, the only son and second child of Clarence Orville and Adah Marie Estrop Bickel.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Delores E. Walkington. He married Susan Gayle Lindblad on March 27, 1971 in Springfield.  Marshall was a farmer all his life, inheriting his love of the land and strong work ethic from his father.  He was a 1962 ...

Wanda Lucille Goodin, 76, of Foley, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at SSM Hospital St. Joseph in St. Charles, Missouri. She was born on March 30, 1949, in Springfield, Illinois, and was the daughter of Samuel and Helen Lucille (Crowe) Fishburn. Wanda was united in marriage to Brad Goodin on March 17, 1969, and together they had one son and one daughter. She spent most of her adult life living in Arizona, California and Hawaii. For several years, Wanda worked as a Data ...

James “Jimmy” Austin, 63 of Pawnee passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Lincoln Memorial Hospital. He was born February 10, 1963 in Lincoln, IL; the son of Voris James and Ruth Ann Lillard Austin. He was preceded in death by his mother in 2014 and one brother, Jon. Jimmy married Gail Sisk on October 19, 1991 in Auburn. Jimmy was a member of U.S. Trotting Association and had a lifelong passion for harness racing as an owner, trainer, driver and presiding judge. He will be ...

Ella Marie Beechner Brown, 89, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of March 20th, 2026, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. Ella Marie was born on January 12th, 1937, in Cameron, Missouri, to Marvin and Lois “Mildred” McCollough Beechner. She spent much of her childhood in Missouri, moving frequently and attending over ten different elementary schools due to her father's employment as a swine herder and feed dealer. Through these experiences, she ...

Leon Berkley, 95 of Pawnee passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Manteno Veterans’ Home. He was born September 26, 1930 in Olaton, KY the son of Homer and Silvia Sandidge Pharris Berkley. Leon married Shirley Hausback on February 12, 1966 and she preceded him in death on February 6, 1993. Also, preceded in death by a son, Michael Berkley. Leon served in the US Navy for eight years. He worked for Weavers, Fiat-Alice, and Echlin. Leon loved to garden, fish, hunt, camp, and build ...

 Charles Henry Williams, 90 of Divernon passed away Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Concordia Village Skilled Nursing Care. The oldest son of Ira Henry William Williams (Farina, IL 1905 - 1982) and Dorothy Eliza Dalton-Klanke Williams (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada 1914- 1995) of Hillsboro, IL. He married Lucille Nichols August 27, 1960 and she preceded him in death on August 17, 2022. Also preceded in death by his siblings, Alta Margaret Murdock, Iva Emoline Rogers, and Idamae ...

Michael D. Garvin, Sr. 81 of Auburn passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Arc at Sangamon Valley Springfield. He was born March 12, 1945 in Springfield; the son of John Henry and Marguerite Lenora Thomason Garvin. He married Sharon Dickman and she preceded him in death on October 23, 2025.  Also, preceded in death by two grandsons, Brent Garvin and Colin Ballard; siblings, Jerry, Paul, John, Helen Smith, Donna Asbell, Carol Lofquiest, Linda Sion and Virginia Amerantes. Mike was a ...