May 15, 2025

A sampling of headlines in this week’s Sidell Reporter. To read the stories that go with this, plus many more articles in this week’s issue, subscribe today to read the Reporter in print and/or online. For details click here.

Prunkard sworn in as Sidell Village mayor
Sidell Village Hall open every Monday thru Friday  
8am-noon • 217-288-9251

Memorial Day Service in Sidell May 25  The Sidell American Legion Auxiliary will hold a Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 25 at 12 noon at the memorial board in Sidell. Pastor Tim Pearman with the Sidell Assembly will be the guest speaker. The Georgetown Legion #203 Honor Guard will also be part of the service, as well as local musicians, The Hometown Band.  Bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be held at the Baptist Church.

Sports

Lady Storm wins VVC, again

Girls hold Blue Devils in 7th to take the win, ending with perfect 10-0 in VVC; now 22-4

Boys win four to improve to 18-7

13 from Junior High state bound

Obituaries

    JULIE D. BROWN, 81, of Buckley and formerly Sidell, passed away at 3:50 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025, at her home.
    Julie was born Sept. 15, 1943, in Greensburg, Ky. to Liston E. and Mary H. Murray Sutton. She married Robert E. Brown Sr. in 1960 in Danville. He preceded her in death on April 16, 2003.  Surviving are two sons: Robert (Brandy) Brown Jr. of Fairmount and Matthew Brown of Oakwood; two brothers, Donnie Sutton of Gibson City and Albert (Freda) Sutton of Kentucky; two sisters, Irene Miller of Buckley and Marge Bradford of South Carolina; five grandchildren, Rachelle (Fiancé Corey Hebert) Brown, James Brown, LaTrisha (CW) Parrish, Brittany (Chris) Hoel and Billy Brown; seven great-grandchildren: Aurora Brown, Gabriel Brown, Shane Mills, Avvah Hoel, Kayley Hoel, Titus Hoel, and Ezra Hoel.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Liston Sutton Jr. and Larry Sutton; one sister, Ann Newell; one sister-in-law, Barb Sutton; two nephews, Joe Owens and Rick Owens; and one grandson, Brandon Brown.
    Julie was in home care and loved taking care of other people. She was a devoted member of the Sidell Pentecostal Assembly and loved her church family and pastor. She enjoyed going to family functions and spending time with her sister Irene. They were inseparable.  A Celebration of Life was held May 17 at the Sidell Pentecostal Assembly with Pastor Tim Pearman officiating. Inurnment at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery, Indianola. Memorials to Breast Cancer Awareness. Robison Chapel, Catlin, Illinois is handling the arrangements. Online condolences at www.robisonchapel.com.

    GERHARDT RICHARD MOHR, 84, of rural Homer, passed away on Nov. 6, 2024, at Carle Hospital.  Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. with the Singing Men of ‘GNN and the American Legion Post 201 from Newman performing.  Lunch will be provided at the church following the ceremony.  Gerhardt was preceded in death by his parents whom he cared for until their passing in 1998, and his brothers, Hilbert and Frederick Mohr.
    Gerhardt was born on Aug. 21, 1940, in Jarman Hospital, Tuscola to John H. and Evelyn Reifsteck Mohr. He attended school in Allerton which later consolidated with Broadlands and Longview to form ABL. His 1958 graduating class was the first to hold commencement in the newly constructed building.  He was a charter member of the ABL Future Farmers of America chapter and was active in FFA and school interests throughout his life.
    From 1958 to 1962, Gerhardt attended the University of Illinois where he graduated with a BS in Animal Science and received his commission as a Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps through the U of I Army ROTC program. He served honorably in the U.S. Army in Germany for four years during the Berlin Wall Crisis before being released from active duty into the reserves. 
    Upon returning to the family farm, Gerhardt, along with his brother Fred, built a substantial pork producing operation. He was an avid farmer- grain and livestock. Gerhardt worked with the Champaign-Vermilion County Pork Producers, served on the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Farmers Board from 1968 to 1972, and was elected to the ABL School Board and later the Heritage School Board.  He kept in touch with his military colleagues from the 14th Quartermaster Battalion and was a lifelong Illini fan.  
   Gerhardt was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he was dedicated to many activities including the choir. He was also a member of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau, the Homer American Legion Post, and the Singing Men of ‘GNN. 
Gerhardt was married to Gisela Zumkeller and has two children- Christina Mohr, MD of New York and Richard Mohr, LTC (R) of Colorado, and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Maxine Mohr.  
   Gerhardt loved his family and grandchildren deeply. He remained active in farming and pork production until 2017. Gerhardt’s strong faith, sustained by the grace of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, guided him throughout his life. He consistently spoke of “God’s Blessings” to others.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Homer Funeral & Cremation Services, which is handling Gerhardt’s final arrangements. For further information, please contact Christina Mohr (either through phone or Facebook) or Immanuel Lutheran Church (at 217-834-3289.

    JOY LOUISE HANCOCK, 82, died May 6, 2025, at the Hawthorne Inn in Danville, after a decades long battle with Parkinsons.
    She was born Nov. 2, 1943. Her parents were Glen Dale Knight and Myrtle Underwood Knight. She grew up in rural Carroll township near Indianola. She graduated from Indianola Grade School and Jamaica High School in the Class of 1961.
    She married Freddie Hancock on Jan. 18, 1964. They lived in Fairmount for many years before parting.
    She graduated from DJC Nursing school in 1974 and worked as an LPN at St Elizabeth Hospital until it closed. She then worked various locations as a nurse, including the prison and several doctor offices until she retired in 2008.
    She was in a longtime relationship with Fred Wheeler, sharing their lives together and building a house which they loved and considered one of their greatest achievements. He preceded her in death in 2017.
    She loved to travel and took two trips to Europe and several cruises. She loved to visit her relatives and enjoyed nothing more than going to see her aunts and cousins in West Virginia. She was also very fond of her relatives in Illinois and tried to keep in touch with everyone who she remembered from her younger days.
    Joy had a kind heart and could not resist taking in a stray animal. She gave motherly love to many abandoned strays, providing them a loving home they otherwise would never have had.
    She is survived by her sister, Melody Knight of San Francisco, Calif.; her brother, Brian (Ellen) Knight of Ladoga, Ind., her longtime friend, Anna (Tom) Kukla of Danville, and her friend and neighbor, Frank Lawrence of rural Danville.
    There will be celebration of life in the near future. Her ashes will be interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.

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