All Obituaries

Hwacha Thomas, 79, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. She was born January 14, 1945 in Seoul, South Korea, the daughter of Hyun Seung and Soon Bin (Park) Shin. Hwacha married Corwin Thomas on July 25, 1967, in Seoul, South Korea. Hwacha was employed with Ace Coffee Bar, Inc. at Barber Greene Company. She was a member of Christ the Teacher University Parish. Hwacha was a devoted Christian whose unwavering faith guided her...

Betty L. Rowe, 86, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at her home. She was born August 12, 1937, in DeKalb, Illinois, the daughter of Arthur and Blanche (Vatne) Kittleson. Betty married Fred L. Rowe Sr. on May 16, 1953 in Lawton, Oklahoma. She is survived by her children Fred (Stephanie) Rowe, Lee (Debbie) Rowe, Clyde Rowe, and Dale Rowe; her ten grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and two great great-granddaughters; her sisters Judy Reed, Joanne (Lou) Ebert...

Richard A. Sampson, 78, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Bethany Rehab and Health Care Center. He was born November 8, 1945 in Melrose Park, Illinois, the son of Harold and Rose (Radell) Sampson.  Richard  was a Veteran of the US Air Force.  He is survived by his children Ken (Julia) Ziga of DeKalb, David Sampson of Lisle, Richard (Janet) Sampson of Geneva, Jason (Marcia) Sampson of Nevada, Iowa and Jenny (Eric) Harms of Nevada; his twenty one...

C Daniel Dillman, 90, of DeKalb, IL, passed away on April 21, 2024. He was a lifelong educator who was passionate about teaching and about baseball.   Dan was a distinguished professor of Geography at Northern Illinois University, where he taught for more than 40 years. Dan taught undergraduates and graduate students, and he enjoyed his involvement with the honors program. In his post-retirement years he and his wife, Joanne Dillman, volunteered with NIU’s Lifelong Learning...

Barbara Louise Moser, 91, passed away on April 21, 2024, at Grand Victorian in Sycamore, IL. She was born October 17, 1932 in Greenville, MI, daughter of the late Raymond and Frances (Weeks) VanVlerah. Barbara married Kenneth Moser on November 27, 1954 in Cortland, Illinois. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, niece, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, son Todd, great-granddaughter Mattea Lesorgen, sisters Betty (Kenneth) Snyder...

John K. “Jack” Rhoads, 93, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024, at his home.  He was born July 11, 1930, in Reading, PA, the son of Len and Gertrude (Berger) Rhoads. John married Ruth Harris in 1960. Jack was a graduate of Reading High School in Pennsylvania class of 1948. He graduated from Albright College in Reading in 1952 with a Bachelor’s degree.  He received his Master’s Degree from Case Western University in 1953 and a PhD from...

Otta  Ritzman, 96, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center.  She was born February 4, 1928, in Lee, Illinois, the daughter of Otto and Vina (Jacobson) Rygh. Otta married Allyn Ritzman on December 4, 1948, in Lee. Otta graduated valedictorian from Shabbona High School in 1945. She was employed at GE for 35 Years.  She was a member of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb for many decades. She loved to sing, hum and...

Margaret C. Carlton, 88, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2024 in DeKalb, IL. She was born and raised in Vermont, and graduated valedictorian of her high school class.   She moved to Los Angeles in her late teens, and worked at a local bank.  While living in Southern California, she met and married her late husband, Burley, and together they had four daughters.  The family relocated to DeKalb, Illinois in 1970.  She earned a Bachelor’s degree at Northern...

G. Howard Little, 89, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at his home under care of Heartland Hospice.  He was born September 20, 1934 in Carlinville, Illinois, the son of Earl and Viola Little. On April 9, 1958 he married Sandra Loveless of Palmyra, Illinois.  Howard graduated from Carlinville Unit District #1. After high school, he served in the US Army stationed in Germany. He worked in the grain industry for many years including elevator...

Kathleen Ellen “Kathy” (Surdyk) Wells, 78, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 15th, 2024, at home, with loving family by her side. Born July 29, 1945, in Hammond, Indiana, the daughter of Helen (Rupp) and Mickey Surdyk, Kathy married Richard Randolph “Dick” Wells on July 20, 1968, at Newman Catholic Student Center - Christ the Teacher University Parish in DeKalb. They shared almost 46 wonderful years together. Kathy was raised in Calumet...