Area Obituaries

J. Howard Piper, 89, died on Monday, July 7th, at Cedarhurst Senior Living in Jacksonville, Il. Howard was born on July 16th, 1935, in White Hall, Il., the only child of Francis and Helen Strang Piper. Howard met and married the love of his life, Jean Elizabeth Seiling, in 1965. They went on to spend…

Elaine Grimm Taylor, age 62, of Springfield, Illinois, formerly of Mount Carroll, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025, at her home in Springfield, surrounded by the love of her family and the compassionate care of hospice. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, at SS. John and…

Barbara J. Jones, age 93, of Pittsfield, died Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Eastside Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield. Cremation rites have been accorded, and all services will be held privately. Memorials are suggested to be made to Pittsfield Public Library. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com.

David Allen Shoemaker, Sr., 93, of Perry, died Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Barry Healthcare and Senior Living. Funeral service was held at 11a.m., Saturday, July 12, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with visitation held prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment followed the service at Wilson Cemetery in Perry. Memorials…

Barbara Yelliott, 91 of Pittsfield, died Friday, July 11, 2025, at Liberty Village in Pittsfield. Funeral service was held at 12 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, with visitation held prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment followed the service at Pittsfield…

Dennis C. Workman,  86 of Pittsfield, and formerly of Griggsville, died Monday, July 7, 2025, at Calhoun Nursing and Rehab Center in Hardin. Funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 14, at Nebo Church of the Nazarene with visitation held prior to the service from 9 to 11 a.m., at the church. Interment…

Shelley D. LaRock, 53, of Pittsfield, died Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at her home in Pittsfield. Cremation rites have been accorded, and there will be a Celebration of Life held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to be made to the family c/o Niebur Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left to the family…

Linda Kay (Blackwell) Herkert, 76, of Kampsville, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 29, 2025, after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was born on September 15, 1948, the oldest of eight children to the late Laverne and Lois Blackwell. She graduated from Calhoun High School in 1966 and…

Betty Jo Dirks, 92, of Hardin, IL, passed away peacefully in her home on June 29, 2025. She was born April 16, 1933, in Coldwater, KS, daughter of Grace and Lester Booth. She was proceeded in death by her husband, parents, and her brother Donald Booth, also a grandson Anthony, and a great granddaughter, Daphne.…

Esther Ruth Rudolph, 87, of Grafton, passed away at 9:35 p.m., Sunday, June 29, 2025, in the Emergency Room at Jersey Community Hospital. She was born on Oct. 31, 1937, in Grafton, Illinois, the daughter of the late Leonard Earl and Reta Marguerite (Vinson) Wallace. A lifelong resident of Jersey County, Esther learned the value…