Area Obituaries

Bobette VanAlstine, 65 of Florence, died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Cremation rites have been accorded, and a Celebration of Life will be 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 at…

Roberta Lynn Ballinger, 75, of New Salem, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. A funeral service was held Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Visitation was held prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment followed the service at the Gray Cemetery…

Thomas R. Worley, 82, of Colorado Springs, CO, formerly of Kane, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 at his home. Cremation rites have been accorded and no services will be held.

Jerry L. Worley, 83, of Wichita Falls, Texas, formerly of Kane died Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in hospice care. Services are pending.

Julie Kaye Pohlman, 61, of Grafton, Illinois, died at her home on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, beginning at 12 p.m. at the Grafton American Legion. Memorials may be given to Riverbend Humane Society, Jersey Community High School Band Boosters, or Here’s to Reading—little…

Helen Lucille Brown, 86, of Jerseyville, died at 12:24 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville. Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Funeral Services were conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at First Assembly of God in Jerseyville. Burial…

John Allen Sobie, 55, of Rockport, died Mon., Feb. 16, 2026. Arrangements are pending with the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Helen Lucille Brown, 86, of Jerseyville, died at 12:24 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 at Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville. Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Funeral Services were conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at First Assembly of God in Jerseyville. Burial…

Fern Christina (Hagen) Schlieper, 96 of Auburn and formerly of Nebo died at her daughter’s home Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Graveside service was held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Calhoun County. Memorials are suggested to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be left to the…

Paul W. Woolsey, 86, of rural Carlinville died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. in Carlinville. Friends may call on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Brighton from 4 to 7 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Brighton.…