Obituaries
Death of Theresa Marie Swanson
Theresa Marie Swanson, née Magelli, passed away on December 26, 2020, at 12:04 AM. Theresa grew up in Mount Clare, the youngest of nine children to Italian immigrants. Her father worked as a coal miner in Southern Illinois.
Her love of reading and frequent visits to the local library inspired her to dream of travel and to see the world. With her energy and intelligence, she earned a scholarship and graduated from Blackburn College in Carlinville in 1960 with a BA in Mathematics. In 1961, she married her husband of fifty-nine years, Harold. Three weeks later, Harold enlisted in the US Air Force and they moved to San Antonio, TX. Over the next nine years, they lived in thirteen different locations around the United States and enjoyed learning about local food and culture from lobster boils in Massachusetts to pit roasts in the Mojave Desert.
Theresa had a diverse professional career from Fortran programmer for the Air Force to junior high Math Teacher and member of the Logan School Board in Princeton, IL to Technical Writer for Pioneer Hi-Bred. She continued to enjoy her love of travel and visited many places with Harold that she read about in her youth, including the United Kingdom and Europe. In 1995, Harold and Theresa moved to Shanghai, PRC for three years, where she edited the Expat Association Newsletter and traveled with Harold throughout China and Asia.
After retiring to Des Moines, IA, she dedicated her energy to earning 800 ACBL masterpoints at the Des Moines Bridge Center, traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren, producing the St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church newsletter and was a founding member of the FreeStore, a Des Moines based charity which provides furniture and household goods to individuals in need. She and Harold volunteered for 19 years at the FreeStore, where Theresa served as Board Chairman and continued as an active volunteer and board member until her death.
Her commitment to charity included providing extra services to FreeStore clients such as working with local restaurants to package unused food for clients to take as a meal on “moving day”. Having moved 18 times herself, she knew how comforting a warm meal is for families when they move. Her empathy extended to many kindnesses that she gave to others throughout her life. In 2018, Theresa was honored with the Service to Humanity Award from Blackburn College and the Iowa Volunteer of the Year award with Harold.
During the Covid shut down and with declining health, Theresa still found happiness in creating and giving to others. She made and donated over 800 masks for the Navajo Nation and the Rosebud reservation. Her generosity touched many lives and will live on through multiple generations of family and friends.
Theresa is survived by her sister, Janette; husband, Harold; children, Kathy, John (Tina), Anna and Amy (Joe); and seven grandchildren.
A private service was held on Monday, December 28, 2020, at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests donations to the FreeStore at www.thefreestore.org/donate/. Please visit www.IlesCares.com to sign the guest book and leave online condolences.
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Nancy Ilene Weller, 74, of Gillespie, died at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 2:52 pm. She was born June 4, 1949, in Litchfield, to Charles Giller and Margaret Whitman Giller. She married Kenneth Raymond Weller, Sr., on August 17, 1968, in Litchfield. He preceded her in death on December 5, 2011.
She was a caregiver. Nancy loved horses, reading, and her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Chester (Katina) Weller of Gillespie, Luke Weller of Gillespie, Spring Weller (spouse, Phillip Benner) of Fowler, IN, 6 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 5 brothers, and sisters.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, 4 brothers, and sisters.
No public services are scheduled. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Beverly Kay Brown, 82, of Gillespie, died at Gillespie Health and Rehab Center, Gillespie, on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 8:45 am. She was born October 4, 1941, in Litchfield, to Mario Meldi and Opal Olston Meldi. She married Bob Brown on October 30, 1976.
She worked for the State of Illinois in title transferring and data processing. Beverly enjoyed reading and was an avid reader of People’s magazine.
She is survived by her spouse, Bob Brown of Gillespie, children, Joell (Sid) Flyte of Edwardsville, Jackie (Larry) Fear of The Villages, FL, Kathy Giesler of Mattoon, Kim (Joe) Brittin of Springfield, Jane (Greg) Hallum of Ishpeming, MI, Lori Brown of Temecula, CA, grandchildren, Breanna Leake, Dominique Flyte, Addie Flyte, Bradley Fear, David Fear, Brad Brittin, Melissa Casad, Amanda Kozak, Jaime Galloway, Jaimee Dobson, Jenny Knight, Emily Nault, Elyssa Gregurash, Erin Baldini, many great-grandchildren, brothers, Ron (Corky) Meldi of Nitro, WV, and sisters-in-law, June Swan and Loni Cloyd. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Jedd Hallum, and brother-in-law, Preston Brown.
Friends may call on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Funeral services are Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie. Burial will be at Benld Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to SS Simon and Jude Church. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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Darrell Leon Hoffstot, 69, of Gillespie, died at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1954, in Granite City, to Willard Lee Hoffstot and Hazel Mae Holloway Hoffstot.
He was retired after having been an assembler for Echlin. Darrell enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and water skiing.
He is survived by his sons, Zachary Hoffstot of Mt. Olive, and Zane Hoffstot of Gillespie, and sisters, Sandra Elledge of Litchfield, and Peggy (Joseph) Fischer. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Victor Hoffstot.
No public services will be held. Anyone wishing to send an online condolence may do so at www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie, is in charge of the arrangements.
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