Obituaries

Mar 20, 2025

Mar 9, 2025

Dolores J.”DJ” Croissant 91 of Ladd. Passed away March 9, 2025, in her home surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Thursday March 13, 2025, at the Ptak Funeral Home. Pastor Alex Garncarz will officiate. Burial will be in Peru City Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted...

Mar 4, 2025

Kay Kolowski-Hyson 57 of Peru. Passed away March 4, 2025, in Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, IL.

A celebration of her life will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Kay was born October 31, 1967, in Peru to Eugene and Barbara (Weber) Kolowski. She worked at Sephora as a cosmetologist....

Feb 16, 2025

Maribeth F. Tonelli 70 of Peru. Passed away February 16, 2025, in St Joseph Medical Center Bloomington. Private services were held. The private burial will be in Valley Memorial Park. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Maribeth was born February 20, 1954, in Peru to Clemens and Anna (Lipinski) Nogay. She was a...

Feb 7, 2025

Beth Casford 63 of Oglesby. Passed away February 7, 2025, in St Francis Medical Center following an extended illness.

Private services will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Beth was born June 29,1961 in La Salle, IL to LeRoy and Agnes (Marzel) Casford. Beth was a cook at Delaney’s...

Feb 5, 2025

Anthony “Tony” Ajster went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 5, 2025. Born November 25, 1944, in LaSalle, IL to Alice (Sajnaj) and Joseph Ajster, Jr., Tony was a lifelong resident of the Illinois Valley. He was a graduate of Hall High School, Illinois Valley Community College and Illinois State University. After graduating College,...

Jan 30, 2025

Anne M. Norrell 61 of Peru. Passed away January 30, 2025, in Allure Healthcare of Peru.

Services will be 12:00 PM Wednesday February 5, 2025, at the First Congregational Church of Peru. Pastor Mark Harder will officiate. Private burial will be at a later date. 

Visitation will be on Wednesday in the church from 10AM -12:00 PM.. Ptak Funeral Home has been...

Jan 22, 2025

Deanna L. Hall 70 of Peru. Passed away January 22, 2025, in Allure of Peru.

Private services will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Deanna was born June 6,1954 in Spring Valley, IL. To James D. (Carolyn Carruthers) Hall. She was a hairdresser in California for many years.

Deanna is...

Jan 18, 2025

George C. Dowell, 92 of Peru. Passed away January 18, 2025, in St Anthony Medical Center Rockford, IL.

George was born October 18,1932 in Peru to Clark and Celina Dowell. He attended public schools in Peru and La Salle- Peru High School. He joined the Army in September 1953 and was discharged August 1955. He served in Germany as an Armorer...

Jan 8, 2025

Marjorie Faye Mills Kreske (1933-2025)

 

Marjorie Faye Kreske (Mills), 91, of Greendale, Wisconsin, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on January eighth, 2025, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born and raised on a farm in Oglesby, Illinois to Bertha and Golden Mills, Marge was one of twelve siblings. Growing up with five sisters and six brothers, (including...

Jan 6, 2025

Evelyn A. Coulter passed away quietly in her home in Peru, Illinois on January 6, 2025. She was born on August 21, 1932, to Vincent and Angeline Ratkiewicz in Chicago, Illinois. 

 While in Chicago she attended St. Helen’s Catholic school graduating the 8th grade. Her family moved to Peru following her graduation and she enrolled at St. Joseph’s Commercial where she...

Nov 2, 2024

David M. Neill 78 of Peru. Passed away November 2, 2024, in Allure Healthcare Mendota. 

Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Saturday November 23, 2024, in Valley Memorial Park. Rev Ronald Margherio OSB will officiate. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangement. 

Dave was born May 26, 1946, in Spring Valley, to Emmett and Cecelia...

Nov 1, 2024

Rodney J. Pietrowski 69 of La Salle. Passed away November 1, 2024, in his home. 

Private services will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Rodney was born June 1, 1955, in La Salle to Leonard and Ann (Wrobleski) Pietrowski Sr. He married Lorianne Klukaczynski May 16, 1981, in St Valentine...

Oct 27, 2024

Mary Jo Stokes 40 of La Salle. Passed away October 27, 2024. 

A celebration of her life and private burial will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. Ptak Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. 

Mary Jo was born September 5, 1984, in Peru, IL to Joseph and Susan (Loechner) Lucas, Sr. She loved exploring the...

Oct 22, 2024

Stephen L. Klukaczynski 90 of La Salle. Passed away October 22, 2024, at St Francis Medical Center Peoria. 

Cremation rites have been accorded. There will be no services. Private burial will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Stephen was born September 22, 1934, in Peru to Stephen L. and Josephine (Kozlowski) Klukaczynski, Sr....

Sep 1, 2024

Thomas J. Hocking, 82, of Jonesville died unexpectedly in his flower garden the afternoon of September 1, 2024. Visitation will be Saturday September 7, 2024, from 12:00 – 3:00 PM in the Ptak Funeral Home in Peru. There will be a 3:00 PM service. The La Salle- Oglesby Veteran’s Memorial Group will conduct Military honors at the funeral home. Cremation...

Aug 30, 2024

James Pappas, 64 of Peru. Passed away on August 30. 2024.

James was born in Chicago, Illinois to George and Sandra (McWilliams) Pappas on September 2, 1959.

James loved working with the community. He was volunteer Responder with the Peru Ambulance. He was employed by IVCH in Peru for many years.

Survivors include his wife Jill, two daughters Tina (Mark) Morscheiser Utica and...

Aug 27, 2024

Nancy R. Ptak 71 of Bloomington, formerly of Oglesby. Passed away August 27, 2024.

Funeral service will be 12:00 PM Tuesday September 3, 2024, in the Ptak Funeral Home. Fr Gary Blake, of St Valentine Church will officiate.

The visitation will be on Tuesday from 10:00 AM –12:00 PM in the Funeral Home.

Cremation rites will follow the services. Ptak Funeral Home has...

Aug 16, 2024

Paulette Y. Schauer 78 of Peru. Passed away August 16, 2024, in OSF Medical Center Peoria. 

Visitation will be Thursday August 22, 2024, from 5-7 PM in the Ptak Funeral Home. 

Per her wishes cremation rites have been accorded. Burial will be private 

Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the services. 

Paulette was born July 18,1946 in Peru, IL to Paul W. and...

Jul 31, 2024

Robert “Bob” Edward Smith, 91 of Peru. Passed away peacefully on July 31, 2024, in his home.

Visitation will be 10AM-12 PM on Friday, August 9th, 2024, in the Ptak Funeral Home with service to follow, with Pastor Terry Broady officiating. The burial will be at 3PM Friday, August 9th, 2024, at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa, IL. Ptak Funeral Home...