Obituaries
Obituary of Roxie Lee Frederick Jr.
Roxie “Rocky” Lee Frederick, Jr., born on December 28, 1955, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2025, at 4:30 a.m. at home with his wife by his side.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. His wife, children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter were his life, and he devoted every day to them. He married Joyce Marie Tooley in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 8, 1973. They were married for 52 years.
Roxie spent each day learning something new. He earned accolades in photography from Lake Land College and obtained a diploma in welding. His striking photograph of Comet Hale-Bopp graced the front page of the Litchfield News Herald, and Governor George Ryan chose his image of the Illinois State Capitol for official state use. He captured moments at the opening of the new Busch Stadium and sold those cherished memories to fans across central Illinois.
Roxie photographed the beauty of the pine tree landscape at the old Litchfield Lake. Those photos are displayed at the Old Route 66 Litchfield Museum. He also has pictures displayed in the hallways at the Lincoln Land Community College – Litchfield location. He was accomplished at everything he ever put his heart and hard work into. This carried over into his family. Every day, his feet hit the floor, and he worked hard to give his family his best.
He was a true explorer at heart, taking road trips with Joyce across the country, from coast to coast. A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, Roxie passed his love of baseball on to his children and even coached his son’s junior high team. Whether watching games at home, listening to them at work, or cheering from the stands at Busch Stadium, baseball was woven into the fabric of his life.
Roxie worked as a laborer at Illinois Coal Mines for 5 years. He then worked for 20 years as a mail messenger and logistics manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. For 17 years, he drove a weekday commuter bus for state employees to Springfield and on weekends for Cavallo Bus Lines. He was beloved by everyone he worked alongside and the patrons of the bus line.
Roxie’s legacy is one of love, laughter, and deep devotion. Though his time here ended too soon, his spirit lives on through the countless lives he touched—his wife, children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and all who knew and loved him.
His three children survive him: Shelly Grigoroff (Brian Stewart), Jeremy Frederick (Merisa Frederick), and Jessica Dougherty (Ryan Dougherty). They have 10 grandchildren: Megan, Devin, Marc, Chloe, Tony, Nolan, Preston, Nathan, Nora, and Olivia. Megan recently added a great-granddaughter, Mia Marie. He is survived by sisters Mary Ann Snider and Robin Frederick (Philip) and brothers Dale Frederick and Charles “Chuck” Frederick (Heather). He was preceded in death by his parents, Roxie Lee Frederick, Sr., and Virginia Irene “Lassiter” Frederick.
A memorial service for Roxie will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Rev. Fred Kraemer of Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield will officiate. Visitation will be held on Saturday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service.
The family respectfully asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be designated to Hearts United, 110 N. Jackson St., Litchfield, 62056.
Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is serving the family. To sign the online guest book, light a virtual candle, or for directions, please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.
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Timmy “Pastor Tim” Robbins, 54 of Charles City, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, Iowa.
Timmy Alan Robbins Jr., the son of Timmy Alan Sr. and Eileen (Schrum) Robbins, was born on October 3, 1970, in Farmington, Missouri. He graduated from high school in Gillespie in 1988. He was united in marriage to Amy Hoffstot on December 21, 1990, in Granite City. The couple was blessed with five children, Dustin, Tyler, Loren, Noah, and Levi.
After high school, Tim worked in management at Wal-Mart which is what brought him to Iowa. He soon after began to feel the call to preach in 1991. He began his full-time ministry with Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Dodge as a Youth Pastor. He was also a bus captain, Sunday School teacher, children’s church teacher and served in both prison ministry and nursing home ministry. In 1997, Tim started a church in Kirksville, Missouri. In 2003, the family moved to Charles City and has served as the Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church for the last 22 years.
Tim enjoyed being involved in his community. He also served as the principal of the church’s school and had helped run youth camps in the past. He was on KCHA every Sunday morning, as well as a podcast, and YouTube channel. Tim loved geography, studying maps, and history, especially the Civil War. He enjoyed watching sports like football, NASCAR Racing, and other car racing. He was very active in his children’s sporting events while growing up and coached the church’s softball team.
Most of all, Tim loved his family and cherished every moment spent with them. Tim will be remembered for his kind heart and the unconditional love he had for people.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Amy Robbins; children, Dustin (Anna Lauren) Robbins, Tyler (Ashley) Robbins, Loren (Jacob) Scott, Noah (Angela) Robbins, and Levi (Danielle) Robbins; grandchildren, Evan, Hazel, and Cyrus Robbins, as well as Violet Scott, and Jasper Robbins who are in Heaven; father and mother, Tim and Eileen Robbins; sister, Tracy (Dan) Robbins; along with many cousins, nephews, aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dolphin & Bessie Schrum, William “Bill” Robbins, and Rosemary Baker; sister, Kimberly Robbins; beloved aunt, Kathy Robbins; aunt, Carol Greenwell; uncles, Aaron Robbins and Dolphin Jr., Donny, and an infant Paul Schrum; and cousin, Terri Dawn.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
A funeral service for him will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Charles City. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Floyd County Cancer Friends. Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements.
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David Alan Higgins, 71 of Mount Olive, peacefully passed away on April 17 at HSHS St. Johns hospital in Springfield surrounded by family. He was born on August 23, 1953, in Litchfield.
He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1971 and received a bachelors of art in music composition and theory from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1976. David married Patricia Higgins (Casey) in 1978. Together they had three sons, Robert (born 1980, deceased), Jeffrey (born 1981), and Andrew (born 1987). He was a lifelong teacher of music.
In 1984, after moving with his family to Minier, Illinois, he founded Dave Higgins Music Services where he taught guitar, bass, piano, and banjo, as well as tuned pianos until 2015 when he retired. After retirement, he and Patricia moved from Minier to Mount Olive to be closer to family.
David is survived by his mother, Roberta Higgins (Priori); his wife, Patricia; his sons, Jeffrey and Andrew; a sister, Cathy (Marty) Dillard; a brother, John (Kim) Higgins; and two doting cats, Shadow and Rudy.
He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Higgins, and his firstborn son, Robert Higgins.
David loved his music, his family, his friends, and his cats. He enjoyed the finer things in life: Cardinals baseball, watching a storm roll in, summer vacations in State and Federal parks, and sitting on the front steps watching the world roll by. He also liked listening to the TV. He is dearly missed by all who knew him, and by a few who only heard about him.
Memorials may be made to Benld United Methodist Church. Visitation is on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Benld United Methodist Church with funeral services following at 11:30 a.m.
Following the funeral, there will be a Celebration of Life at Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield, Picnic Area #4, at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Kravanya Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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Ronald G. Yurkovich, 87 of Mount Olive, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 10:55 p.m. at his residence. He was born on June 12, 1937, in Litchfield to Nicholas Yurkovich and Olga (Maren) Yurkovich.
He married Christy L. (Popovich) Yurkovich. Ron served in the US Army as an MP and Retired from Shell Oil Co. He was a lifetime member of Turner Hall, Croation Lodge, and Saint John Paul Catholic Church in Mt. Olive.
He enjoyed road trips with his buddy Filo and relentlessly gave him a hard time. He also enjoyed restaurants with only one rule “No bread, No Yurk!” Ron was a champion poley player and bowler in his opinion, but gave up bowling after throwing his bowling ball in #8 pond.
He is survived by his wife, Christy (Popovich) Yurkovich; son, Stephen (Mindy) Yurkovich; daughter, Catherine Yurkovich; step-son, Stephen (Amanda) Frizzo; five grandchildren, Tiffani Yurkovich, Kahl Yurkovich, Chloe (Heath) Darr, Charlie Frizzo, and George Frizzo; two great-grandchildren, Luke Darr and Riley Darr; sister, Barbara (Bill) Rhodes; brother-in-law, James Thomas; and many loved nieces and nephews.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joyce Thomas.
Private family services will be held. Memorials are suggested to Catholic Charities Carlinville attn: Sean Caveny or Mt. Olive Library. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
