All Obituaries

Ruth Rea Ringland Rains died on Saturday, February 10 at home.  She was born on October 20, 1927 in Champaign, Illinois and was retired from the University of Illinois.  Her parents were Ray O. Ringland and Anna Day.  Ruth’s son, John Ray, preceded her in death.  Ruth was a good neighbor, and tried to define “neighbor” as Christ did.  She was a lover of dawn, of nature, of people and poems.  She called her poems her “tears,” yet she...

Ronald Walter Prescott (Mr. P), 90 of Champaign, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on April 18, 2024 surrounded by family. Mr. Prescott was born on May 27, 1933 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada the son of Walter Edwin Prescott and Ethel Carter Prescott. Mr. Prescott attended the Unitarian-Universalist Church. In his later years, he became a free thinker.  He was an avid stamp collector, classical music lover, and wine connoisseur.  Mr. Prescott attended grade school in Toronto,...

Today we remember our beloved mother Shahjahan Mahmood Akhtar.   She was born on February 21, 1943, in Lahore, India - which is now Pakistan. A beautiful girl with dark curly hair, the first child of Haji Mahmood and Bilquis Sahiba. Shahjahan would be the oldest of eight siblings - four sisters and four brothers. Her childhood was opulent and full of joy, as the favorite child of Haji Mahmood, a reputed trader of dry goods in Lahore, whose presence and absence in town was...

Rocks were the core of Dwain Berggren’s life. Boys born in 1933 in Bushnell, Il. were expected to become farmers like their fathers. As a high school senior, however, Dwain the son of Alvin, a farmer, and Velma Berggren declared his goal was to be a geologist. Supported by his mother, Dwain started college, but was drafted into the army during the Korean War, stationed in Germany. He returned to Illinois where he entered UIUC, finished his hours, and obtained a master’s degree...

John Kirby Chaney, 83, of Mt. Zion and formerly of Urbana passed away at 6:47 a.m. on April 14, 2024 at Imboden Creek Senior Living Center in Decatur. He was born on January 20, 1941 in Monticello, IL the son of Charles & Flonnie (Henderson) Chaney. John was the first baby born at Kirby Hospital and was named after John & Mary Kirby the hospital founders. He married Linda Sue Dawkins on October 7, 1981, in Elizabeth City, NC. John is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter- Angela...

Frank E Howard was born to Frank O and Grace Howard on October 2, 1951. He grew up, fell in love and married Debby Leach on August 7, 1970. Their family tree grew as their daughters Julie (John Rochester) and Mica (Brad Mitchell) added grandchildren and extended family to their tree, making years of good memories and full holiday tables. Frank never met a stranger and would offer his phenomenal construction skills to anyone in need. Whether planting a flower, fixing a grandchild's...

Robert Keith Hanson, 86 passed away on April 8, 2024 in Urbana.  Keith was born July 27, 1937 in Savanna, IL, the son of Robert and Eleanor (Gilman) Hanson.  He married Joan Rinkenberger on August 5, 1962 in Cissna Park, IL.  He is survived by his wife Joan, of Urbana, four children, Brent (Keiko) Hanson of Castle Rock, CO, Ethan (Ernestine) Hanson of Mesa, AZ, Thane (Heidi) Hanson of Mahomet, IL, and Gretchen (Aaron) Webb of Oakland Park, FL.  A sister and brother, Ellen...

Private Family service at a later date.

Private family service at a later date.

Sharon Rose Reinhold, 80, of Urbana, passed away at 10:33 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Sharon was born September 7, 1943, in Urbana, to William and Rose (Hren) Reinhold.  She is survived by her brother, Richard (Betty) Reinhold of Urbana, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and six siblings; Katherine (Entler), Frederick, Walter, Edward, Robert, and Gene. Sharon was a member of DAR and DAC.  She...