Area Obituaries

Edna Nissley, 90 years, 2 months, 1 day, of Springfield, Ohio, formerly of Arthur, passed away peacefully March 6, 2023, at 11:45 p.m. at Wooded Glen Health Campus in Springfield, Ohio. Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 11, at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Arcola, with Pastor Larry Rocke officiating. Burial was in the Sunnyside…

Delano Yeakel, 73, of Arthur, passed away at 1:49 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon. Visitation will be held from 4–7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at the Arthur United Methodist Church, 128 E. Illinois St. in Arthur. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,…

Robert “Bob” Eugene Lowder passed away on March 5, 2023, with family at his side. He was born July 26, 1934, in rural Lovington, to Thelma (Brown) and Dallas Lowder. Bob grew up in the family farmhouse, where a typical day involved milking cows, walking beans, and gathering eggs—plus a healthy dose of shenanigans with…

Kenneth R. Bontrager, 63, of Sullivan, passed away Monday, March 6, 2023, at 9:26 p.m. at his home surrounded by his family. Kenny was born on October 22, 1959, in Tuscola. He was the son of Raymond C. and Ella A. (Miller) Bontrager. He married Goldie (Miller) Bontrager on November 10, 1979. They enjoyed 43…

Sharon L. Bullock, 83, of Mattoon, died at 11:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2023, at Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon. Private family graveside services were held Monday, March 13, at the Arthur Cemetery, Arthur, with Pastor Jill Bunker officiating. Shrader Funeral Home, Arthur, assisted the family with arrangements. There was no public visitation. Sharon was…

Maxine B. Chapman, 98, of Atwood, passed away at 4 p.m., Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Mt. Vernon. Funeral services celebrating her life were held Saturday, March 11, at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, Atwood. Burial was in the Mackville Cemetery, Atwood. Visitation was held Saturday at the funeral home. Maxine…

Robert D. “Bobby” Benson, 50, of Bement, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 10:15 a.m., at his residence in Bement. Visitation was Tuesday, March 14, at the Hinds Funeral Home, Bement, followed by the funeral service. Pastor Lenny Summar officiated. Private burial will be in the  Bement Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be…

Mary Lou Flenniken, 93, of Bement, passed away at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Arbor Rose in Monticello, with her daughters by her side. Memorial services will be held at 1p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at the Hinds Funeral Home, 348 N. Piatt St., Bement. Visitation will be held from 12…

Dr. Robert R. Smith, 99, of Tuscola, IL, passed away at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Care Center, Mattoon, IL  Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Tuscola United Methodist Church, 901 North Prairie Street, Tuscola, IL.   Visitation…