Obituaries

Reverend Dr. Roy Backus

Published by admin on Mon, 02/09/2026 - 12:04pm

MORRIS—Reverend Dr. Roy Carl Backus, 76, of Morris, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 at his residence.

Charlotte Curtis

Published by admin on Mon, 02/09/2026 - 12:02pm

Charlotte Ann (Trofimchuck) Curtis (née Vaira), 92, passed away peacefully on Feb. 5, 2026, under the loving care of Lightways Hospice at Serenity Estates in Morris.
She was born Aug. 10, 1933, to Anton and Lucy Vaira in South Wilmington. She graduated Gardner-South Wilmington High school in 1951 than in August of 1955 she married Frances A Trofimchuck and together had five children.

Ronald Selk

Published by admin on Mon, 02/09/2026 - 12:01pm

CARBON HILL—Ronald A. Selk, 59, a resident of Carbon Hill, and formerly longtime of Naperville, IL, passed away Jan. 29, 2026.
Ron was a proud graduate of Naperville Central High School, class of 1984. After completing high school, he joined his family business, Seating Concepts, where he built a strong work ethic and took pride in contributing to something meaningful alongside those he loved.

Nick Dziuban

Published by admin on Fri, 02/06/2026 - 4:26pm

Nick Dziuban, age 37 of Lockport, IL, formerly of Wilmington, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Born December 15, 1988 in Joliet, IL, Nicholas Michael is a son of Joseph and Patricia (Benson) Dziuban. He was raised and educated where he excelled at athletics and graduated from Wilmington High School with the Class of 2007. Nick continued his education at the University of Saint Francis where he received a Bachelor's Degree in History, and also attended Aurora University for his Educator's Certificate.

Mitchell Corbin

Published by admin on Fri, 02/06/2026 - 9:52am

MONROE, WI— Mitchell R. Corbin, 82, left his earthly home surrounded by family on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, to be reunited with family and friends in their eternal kingdom, due to complications from Parkinson's and will be remembered as “a man of the land”.

Benjamin Allen

Published by admin on Wed, 02/04/2026 - 12:12pm

WILMINGTON—Benjamin Robert Allen, 50, of Wilmington, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
Benjamin, known to many as “Ben,” “Benny” or “Gentle Ben,” was born May 31, 1975, and was the beloved son of Robert B. and Sheila (Fonck) Allen, of Mazon. He was raised on the family farm in rural Mazon, attended St. Rose Parochial School in Wilmington, and graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy with the class of 1993.

Barbara Basham

Published by admin on Tue, 02/03/2026 - 3:06pm

GODLEY—Barbara Jean Basham (nee Swisher), 88, of Godley, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Morris Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 1, 1937, in Danville, IL, to Roy and Regina (née Longmire) Swisher.

Jane K. Smith

Published by admin on Tue, 02/03/2026 - 9:24am

WILMINGTON —Jane K. Smith, 80, of Wilmington, passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 at her home.
Born Nov. 14, 1945, Jane grew up on a farm east of Peotone with her parents, Lester and Margaret (Johnston) Schroeder, and her sister, Joy. She was raised in Peotone, graduated from Peotone High School, and achieved her Bachelors Degree from Illinois State University. On Aug. 20, 1966, she married Daryl Eugene Smith at Immanuel Church of Christ in Peotone.

Larry Koca Sr.

Published by admin on Fri, 01/30/2026 - 12:35pm

BRAIDWOOD— Larry William Koca Sr., 79, of Braidwood, passed away on Jan. 17, 2026 at Lightways Hospice in Joliet. Larry was born on June 20, 1946 in Braidwood, to Adolph and Irene (Schwark) Koca.

Pierre Dube

Published by admin on Fri, 01/30/2026 - 9:46am

COAL CITY— Pierre C. Dube, 83, born on Oct. 25th, 1942, in Hammond, IN passed away peacefully at the Valley View Hospital in Arizona and went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. He grew up in Harvey, IL. He was the beloved son of Lorraine and Ralph Dube and also raised by his Grandmother and Grandfather Johnston. He then served in the Air Force where he was a Sargent from 1960-1964 in the middle east during the Cuban Crisis. He married his wife Patricia M. Brown (Pogliano), who was the love of his life in July 1993 in the mountains of Arizona.