All Obituaries

Roland “Bek” Bekeleski, 86, of Spring Valley, formerly of Peru, passed away peacefully surrounded by family April 11, 2021 at Aperion Care in Spring Valley. Mass of Christian burial will be 12:30 PM Thursday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Peru with Rev. J.A. Small officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Webster Park. Visitation will be 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Thursday in the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle. Bek was born in Spring Valley on...

Mary Jane Heagy, 96, of La Salle died peacefully April 10, 2021, at Heritage Health in Peru with her family by her side. Mary Jane was born April 21, 1924, at home on the prairie in Hancock County, Illinois. She was the fifth born child of nine to Ferdinand Joseph and Amanda Jane (Worrell) Boeddeker. She was a 1941 graduate of Elvaston High School where she met her future husband, George Merlin Heagy of Elvaston. The couple would marry April 14, 1945, in the rectory at St....

R. Bruce Johns, 75, of La Salle passed away at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa on April 9, 2021. Funeral services will be 7:00 PM Friday at the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Pastor Betty Delgado officiating. Burial will be private in Forest Lawn Memorial Park with full military services conducted by the La Salle/Oglesby Veterans Memorial Group. Visitation will be in the funeral home Friday from 5:00 PM until time of services. The funeral service will be live streamed via the...

Allan A. Smith, 92, of Tonica, passed away peacefully April 9, 2021 in Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday at the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 AM until time of services. Burial will be private. Mr. Smith was born in Spring Valley on November 2, 1928 to Marshall and Irma (Alleman) Smith. He married Nancy Sell on January 24, 1959. Mr. Smith worked as a farmer for 55 years and at Unimin Silica Sand...

Joseph L. Janz, 51 of Galva, formerly of La Salle, passed away April 8, 2021 as a result of an automobile accident. Cremation rites have been accorded.  Memorial services will be 11:00 AM Saturday in Abundant Life Fellowship in La Salle with Rev. Chico Perez officiating.  The Hurst Funeral Home is handling Joseph’s arrangements. Joe was born in Peru on September 25, 1969 to William and Marie (Warkins) Janz.  He married Penny Hack. He was a laborer. Joe is survived by...

Ronald J. Yanke, 88, of Davenport, Iowa, died Sunday April 4, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family. Keeping with his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial services will be 4:00 PM Tuesday April 20, 2021 in the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Rev. Gary Blake officiating.  Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Webster Park.  Visitation will be in the funeral home from 2:00 PM until time of services on Tuesday. Ronald Joseph Yanke was born in...

Marie T. Newcomer, 87, of Peru passed away peacefully on April 4, 2021, Easter Sunday, in Manor Court of Peru. Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 AM Friday in St. Hyacinth’s Church in La Salle with Rev. Thomas Otto officiating. Live streaming will be available on the Hurst Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in St. Vincent’s Cemetery. Visitation will be in the church on Friday from 10:00 AM until time of services. The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is...

Marlene S. Lohr, 72, of Wenona, passed away at home on March 30, 2021, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be Saturday, April 3rd from 1:00 until 4:00 PM in the Hurst Funeral Home in Wenona.  Marlene was born in Washington, IL on November 27, 1948 to Paul and Thelma (Rinkenberger) Chionie. She was a graduate of Toluca High School in 1966. She married Randy Lohr on September 3, 1982. She was a waitress at...

Samantha L. Schillaci, 36, of La Salle, passed away unexpectedly in her home on March 26, 2021. Cremation rites have been accorded.  A Celebration will be at a later determined date.  The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is handling Samantha’s arrangements. Samantha was born in Chicago on November 18, 1984 to Samuel David and Linda (Stec) Schillaci.  She worked in the food industry. Samantha enjoyed crafting, collecting Precious Moments, making...

Thomas “Tom” E. Venturini, 71, of La Salle, passed away peacefully at home on March 25, 2021. Cremation rites have been accorded.  Burial of his ashes with be in San Francisco as a tribute to a trip that was not able to happen before his death. The Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is entrusted with his services. Tom was born in Chicago on July 1, 1949 to Evo and Jean (Hoering) Venturini.  He served with the United States Army. Tom married Kathleen Schroeder. He was...