John Paul Kerpan, 83, passed away on March 27, 2013. He was a veteran having served for the Army from 1951 to 1953. John retired in 1987 from Navy Public Works at the Great Lakes Naval Base after a lifelong career. He was a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Mundelein and a former member of the Knights of Columbus. John enjoyed spending time with his family, playing cards, golfing, walking in the neighborhood and building birdhouses. John was the beloved husband of 58 years to Dolores R. Kerpan, loving father of Donna Kerpan, Diane (Thomas) Brown, and Mark (Julie) Kerpan, devoted grandfather of Kyle Brown, William Brown, Robert Kerpan, and Katherine Kerpan, great-grandfather of Charles Brown, brother of Frances Magri of Frederick MD , and JoAnn Williams of Des Plaines, IL, and uncle of many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Anna (nee: Matievech), his brothers Milan “Ben” Kerpan, Joseph Kerpan, and Peter Kerpan, and his sisters Mary Kerpan, Mildred Swentkofske, Kaye Chumbley, and Lillian Nagode. Friends of the family may visit Monday, April 1, 2013 from 5:00pm until 8 pm at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake, IL 60030. The funeral mass is scheduled for Tuesday April 2, 2013 at 10:00am at St. Mary of the Annunciation 22333 W. Erhart Rd. Mundelein, IL. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. For information, call 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Edward “Ed” Utter, 77, passed away March 22, 2013 surrounded by his family. Ed was born September 23, 1935 in Whitewater, WI where graduated from City High School. He attended Whitewater College and Rockford School of Business. Ed served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1953 to 1956 and was a member of the Grayslake American Legion. He married Kathleen “Kay” Collins in Whitewater in September of 1961. Ed was employed in the lumber business working fo Wickes, Wolohan, and Stock Lumber. Ed is survived by his wife Kay, his children Mark (Deb) Utter, Linda (Joe) Ludford, Valerie (Kevin) Wold, all of Lake Villa, IL and Vincent Utter of Lindenhurst, his grandchildren Jordan and Natasha Seger, Scott (Brittany) and Steven Wold, Monica, David, and Morgan Ludford, Jamie and Ashley Utter, Fotini and Curt Utter, his great-grandchildren Ava and Kali, and his sisters Jean Utter and Diana Pfaff of Caldonia, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sons David in 1988 and Curtis in 1989 and his granddaughter Margaret Rose Ludford. Friends of the family may visit on Sunday March 24, 2013 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. The funeral service is scheduled for Monday March 24, 2013 at 11:00am at the funeral chapel. Interment will be held at Avon Centre Cemetery in Grayslake. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grayslake Rescue Squad. For information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Thomas Niemi, a 65-year-old Grayslake resident, passed away at home Tuesday evening, March 19, 2013.  He was born in Waukegan on November 6, 1947 to the now late Leo and Betty Niemi.  Thomas served his country proudly as a U.S. Marine.  He graduated from Waukegan High School in 1965, and then from Illinois State University in 1969 with his Bachelor’s degree.  Thomas was a member of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Grayslake for 38 years, and was a systems analyst for Hollister, Inc. in Libertyville, retiring after 26 years.  He is survived by his wife Margie {nee Windhorn} Niemi; his daughters Lynnese Niemi and Dana (Chad) Scott; his grandchildren Isaac Thomas and Marina Grace Scott; his brother-in-law Roger (D’Ana) Windhorn; his nieces and nephews Todd (Diane) Brinkman, Tammy (Howard) Hilby, Cheryl (Todd) Zoellner, Thomas (Ronda) Brinkman, Cory (Marilyn) Windhorn, Jami Windhorn, and Molly Windhorn, as well as 15 great-nieces and great-nephews.  His sister DeLee Brinkman, brother-in-law Todd Brinkman, and aforementioned parents preceded him in death.  Friends of the family may join them for memorial visitation on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL  60030 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.  The memorial service will commence at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013 at Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church, 285 Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Lestgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.  For information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Guillermo “Willy” Gonzalez, age 41, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013.  Friends of the family may visit at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.  Additional parking is available across the street at St. Gilbert Catholic Church, in the large lot just east of the old chapel.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at St. Gilbert Catholic Church, 301 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 in the newer church.  Interment will follow at Avon Centre Cemetery in Grayslake.

Shirley Ann Manning, a resident of Round Lake, passed away Monday March 18, 2013 at the age of 74. She was born December 5, 1938 in Chicago to James Sr. and Laverne Manning. Shirley had worked for International Harvester for 30 years and the Round Lake Park District for the past 15 years. She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake since 1952 and volunteered at the rectory for many years, as well as working for the Catholic Charities. Shirley loved animals especially her dogs. Shirley is survived by her brothers James (Susan) Manning Jr. and Thomas F. (Maureen) Manning, her nieces and nephews Timothy (Sarah) Manning, Tina Manning, Shannon Manning, Kelly Manning, and Erin Manning, her great-nephew Conor Manning, her very dear friends Jerry, Isabel, and Pauline, and her faithful companions Bailey and Riley. She was preceded in death by her parents. A visitation is scheduled for Friday March 22, 2013 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. A funeral mass is scheduled for Saturday March 23, 2013 at 10:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church 114 N. Lincoln Ave. Round Lake, IL. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre in Alsip, IL. Memorial contributions may be made for masses in Shirley’s name. For information, call 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

John F. Brennan, a 66-year-old Grayslake resident, formerly of Bergenfield, NJ, passed away the evening of Sun. Mar. 10, 2013 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.  He was born in New York, NY on Nov. 5, 1946 to the now late Joseph and Teresa Brennan.  John served his country proudly, enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1968.  He is survived by his former wife and dear friend Judy Brennan; his children Rachel Brennan, Michael Brennan, John Abrams, and Jennifer Abrams; his grandchildren Grace, Dylan, Alex, Noah, and Mia; and his sister Nancy Hansen.  John was preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine Brennan.  Friends of the family may visit at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. BELVIDERE RD., GRAYSLAKE, IL 60030 on Fri. Mar. 15, 2013 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., with the funeral service commencing at 6 p.m. Interment will be held privately.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center, Community Affairs (135), 3001 Greenbay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064.  For further information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Anthony V. Damore a resident of Grayslake passed away Wednesday March 6, 2013, at the age of 34. He was born January 7, 1979 in Libertyville to Vincent and Margaret Damore. Anthony is survived by his parents Vincent and Margaret Damore, his fiancee Dori Johnson, his grandmother Helen Damore, his siblings Nicole (Michael Hanna) Damore, Joseph Damore, and Jeffrey Damore, and his niece and nephew Gavin, Katlyn, and Dominic. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers Joseph Damore and Wallace Robidou. A visitation is scheduled for Monday March 11, 2013 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm with a memorial service commencing at 7:00pm.

Schwalbach, David Allen
69, passed away on February 26, 2013, in Zion, IL. He was born on February 15, 1944 in Bloomfield, NJ and grew up in Wildwood, IL, where he graduated from Warren Township High School. David joined the U.S. Marine Corps, in 1962, and served for four years. In 1970, David began his career at Schuller International/Manville Corporation, Waukegan, IL, where he worked as an industrial electrician and was very involved in the Manville Workers Union. In 1996, he began working for Ladish, in Cudahy, WI and retired in 2007. David was a long-time Waukegan resident and an avid fisherman, Chicago White Sox and Bears fan.
David is survived by his daughters, Christine Stapleton of Beach Park, IL, Laura (Jon) Stead of Lindenhurst, IL, and Elizabeth Graczyk (Steve Garofalo) of Mount Pleasant, WI; his grandchildren, Caitlin, Justin, and Camille Stapleton, Sara Stead and Gabriel Graczyk; former wife Karyn Roberts; sisters, Ellen (Tom) Maxymek, Linda (Vitale) DeNicolis, Peggy (Chuck) Spangenberg, Judy Confrey, Mary (Bob) Kingsbury, Lisa (Joe) Bigalke; brother E. J. (Sandra) Schwalbach, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanne Cantley, and his parents Herbert and Marion Schwalbach.
Visitation will be held at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, from 3 until 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Funeral service will begin at 10 a.m., on Monday, March 4, at the funeral home. Interment to follow in Highland Memorial Park, Libertyville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made, in David’s memory, to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Shirley A. Stalker, age 66, a resident of Gages Lake, passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at her home. She was born September 28, 1946 in Binghamton, NY, to Robert and Dorothy (nee Rutherford) Webb. Survivors include her children, David (Catherine) Sprague of Lindenhurst, Laurie Sprague of Winter Park, FL, Leslie (Kamila) Allen of Norridge, and Amanda (Lawrence) Link of Grayslake; grandchildren, Kaleigh, Emily, Sarah and Angelina; siblings, Sheila Moskey of Kennett Square, PA, Steven Webb of Binghamton, NY, Perry (Alicia) Webb of Charleston, SC, and Judy (Jack) Williams of Jacksonville, FL; and a very special niece, Natalie Markovitch. Shirley’s husband, Richard, her parents, and her sister, Arlene, preceded her in death. Friends of the family may visit Saturday, March 2, 2013 from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 1:00 p.m. at Wildwood Presbyterian Church, 18630 West Old Gages Lake Road, Grayslake, IL 60030. Memorials may be made in her name to Hospice Dreams. Arrangements were entrusted to STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030. For information, please call 847-223-8122 or log on to www.strangfuneral.org.

Mabel C. Bennett, a former resident of Saddlebrook Farms in Grayslake, passed away Monday February 25, 2013, at the age of 94. She was born August 11, 1918 in Cedar Rapids, IA to James and Wanda Simmermon. Mabel was a member of the St. Mary of Annunciation Church in Mundelein and began the Gift of Love program at St. Francis in Lake Zurich. She owned and operated Bennett Embroidery for over 40 years and made rosaries for missions trips by the church. She will be missed and known for touching many peoples lives over the years. Mabel is survived by her children Judith (Tony) Majcher, Jared (Pam) Bennett, Christine Bennett, Deborah (Joseph) Sorgani, Mary Bennett, and Charles (Barbara) Bennett, her grandchildren Debra, David, Tony, Jason, Paul, Scott, Tom, Amanda, Joe, and Brittany, and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles, her sister Grace and her brother James. Friends of the family may visit from 4 PM – 8 PM, on Thursday February 28,2013 at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 E Belvidere Rd, Grayslake, IL 60030. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Friday March 1, 2013 with a visitation starting at 10:00 am at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 22333 W Erhart Rd, Mundelein, IL 60060. Interment will be privately held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation at www.aamds.org. For information please call 847-223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.