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Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory, 1111 LaSalle Street, Ottawa, IL (2026)

05/26/2026

Theresa Schott

We are saddened to announce the passing of Theresa Schott on May 25, 2026 in Ottawa, Illinois. Theresa was born July 24, 1961 to David and Marie (Stoudt) Hill in Ottawa. Theresa was a loving mother, wife, and grandmother; she will be greatly missed.

A visitation will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow, officiated by Msgr. Halfacre. Burial will take place at a later date.

Theresa spent most of her career at St. Patrick's School and Marquette High School. She loved to go to the beach, especially Destin, Florida, Puerto Vallarta, and Indiana Beach. Theresa also loved gardening, painting, cooking for her family, and, of course, her dogs.

Theresa is survived by her spouse, Gerald Schott; her children, Jordan Schott and Taylor (Chris Muncey) Schott; her grandchildren, Josie and Tanner Schott; siblings, Dava Aussem and Lori (Nort) Stephenson; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gary Hefler, Jerry Carey, Dan (Crystal) Schott, Donna (Tim) Sibert, Bill (Cindy) Schott, Tim (Karen) Schott, Andy (Missy) Schott, and Jim Polancic. Theresa also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Marie Hill; her father- and mother-in-law, James and Adele Schott; and her siblings, Margaret McGrath, Mary Ann Farrell, Sharon Carey, John Hill, and Pauline Hefler.

Memorials may be made to the family.

View Theresa Schott's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/26/2026

Gary Lewis Smith

Gary Lewis Smith, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on May 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on May 19, 1945, to Edward Smith and Delores McCoullough Smith, Gary lived a life defined by hard work, humor, and deep love for his family. He married Gail Battistelli on December 7, 1962, and together they shared more than 63 years of life together blessed with many memories.

He was a proud father to Tim, Kevin, and Lesley. He found his greatest joy in time spent with his grandchildren, especially cheering them on at sporting events and making memories they will cherish always.

Gary will be remembered for his quick wit, strong character, and gift for bringing laughter to those around him. He often said there was little in life that could not be fixed with duct tape and determination, and he was known for sharing both stories and wisdom in his own unforgettable way.

He also shared a special bond with his beloved dog, Peanut, a faithful companion throughout the years.

Gary retired from Libbey-Owens-Ford as an electrician after 42 years of dedicated service and took great pride in establishing his own business, Smith Electric, where he was known for his meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Many memories were created throughout the years boating with family and friends at Shoreline Boat Club.

He is survived by his wife, Gail; his children, Tim (Michael) Smith, Kevin (Debra) Smith, and Lesley (Ryan) Lowery; his brother-in-law, David Battistelli (John Caruso); his five grandchildren, Karter Lowery, Kennedy Smith, Konner Smith, Kendall Lowery, and Kambell Lowery; and his brother, Bill Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Smith and Delores McCoullough Smith; his brothers, Edward Smith Jr. and Ron Joy; and his sister, Carol Toadalen.

Gary will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for his wisdom, humor, and unwavering love for his family and friends. His legacy lives on in the memories, the laughter, and the many life lessons he leaves behind.

A celebration of Gary's life will be held on Friday, May 29 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to gather from 2:00pm until 4:30pm. A funeral ceremony will take place at 4:30pm. Burial will follow in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family, which will later distribute them to causes that were important to Gary.

Despite decades of health challenges, the family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care provided by OSF Home Health, especially Krista and Sue, and Vitas Hospice, especially Jamie, Brittney, and Dena.

View Gary Lewis Smith's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/18/2026

Frederick Alva Conner

Frederick Alva Conner, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026. Frederick was born in Ottawa, Illinois on January 9, 1942 to Charles and Laura (Kruft) Conner.

A visitation will take place at Ottawa Funeral Home on Friday, May 22, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at Ottawa Funeral Home on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10:00 am; burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.

Frederick spent his childhood in Ottawa. He entered into the Navy at age 17 where he served 20 years, then went onto work for Shell until he retired. Frederick loved to spend time shopping at thrift stores, reading books, watching movies, and doing crossword puzzles.

Frederick is survived by his brother, Bruce (Mary Jo) Conner, of Utica; his sister, Dee Ann Thomas, of North Highland, California; his brother-in-law, Bruce Ramsey, of Cleveland, Ohio; as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Frederick is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Loren "Butch" Conner; and his sisters, Alta (Paul) Ringer of Ottawa, Barbara Conner-Ramsey of Cleveland, Ohio, Clara Morris of Idaho, and Colleen Perkins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

View Frederick Alva Conner's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/12/2026

Sharon Saager

Sharon Sarah Saager, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May 15, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 6:00pm. Cremation rites will follow and burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery at a later date.

Sharon was born September 22, 1941 in Ottawa, IL to John and Francis (Schaibley) Loeffler. She married Ronald Saager on October 10, 1959 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ottawa. He preceded her in death on April 10, 2021.

Sharon started her working career at Hornsby's Department Store, later working at Fashion Shoe Store, and ultimately worked at Walmart as a department manager for 35 years. She retired from Walmart in 2020. She loved her job and was always volunteering to help out other store associates. She was an avid reader and a Chicago Bears fan. She enjoyed cooking and baking and was well known for her Lasagna and her desserts, especially her cookies. She liked to plant flowers at her home and always made sure it was inviting for anyone to come over. More than anything else in her life though, her family came first. She loved being a mother and grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with each of them. She was incredibly giving and would give the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it and if it wasn't the correct size, she'd buy you a new one.

She is survived by her children, Kathy J. (Scott Dahl) Saager and Kristi (Bradley) Sliker; her grandchildren, Sarah-Marie Duffield, Matthew (Samantha) Vatland and Morgan (Jared) Jackson; her great grandchildren, Murphy, Jettson, and Jameson; her siblings, Fred (Rita) Loefler and Theresa Wheaton; her sister in law, Ramona Loeffler; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Francis; her husband of 61 years, Ronald; her son, Dean Eugene Saager; and her brother, John Loeffler.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to the family.

View Sharon Saager's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/11/2026

Margaret Theresa Green

Margaret Theresa Green, 77, of Ottawa passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Pleasant View Lutheran Home.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 9:00am until 10:00am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30am at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.

Margaret was born August 24, 1948 in Ottawa, IL to Frank and Frances (Tomascheski) Grigg. She married the love of her life, Robert Green, and he preceded her in death on January 5, 2019. She worked as a teacher at from 1970 until 2004 and was incredibly proud to give her students an educational foundation. She worked at McKinley, Shepherd, and Jefferson Schools.

She is survived by her caretakers and friends, Marlene Williams and Sue Prettyman; her special friends, Bekah Litchfield and Sergei Tehaika; as well as numerous other friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Frances; her husband, Robert; and her sister, Mary Ann Grigg.

View Margaret Theresa Green's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/08/2026

Gary Ocepek

Gary L. Ocepek, 80, of Ottawa, passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon, May 4, 2026, at home under the loving care of his family.

Gary, son of Joseph and Betty (Conrad) Ocepek, was born on May 29, 1945, in Ottawa. On November 1, 1975, he wed Shelli Peterson at Saint Patrick's Church in Ottawa, a union that would span fifty cherished years.

A lifelong Ottawa native, Gary received his early education at Saint Patrick's Grade School before graduating from Marquette High School in 1963. He embarked on his banking career as a teller at First National Bank of Ottawa, later joining Ottawa Federal Savings and Loan in 1970. Over the following decades, he rose through the ranks, ultimately being named President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer in 1994. After forty distinguished years with Ottawa Savings Bank, he retired at the age of sixty-five. Among his most enduring contributions was overseeing the renovation and expansion of the Bank's building - both inside and out - to honor the rich history of Washington Park and the surrounding architecture.

He was involved in countless community organizations and boards, including Ottawa Jaycees, the Elks, Friendship Days, the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and Ambassadors, City Council, Housing Authority, Ottawa Youth Center, Community Sesquicentennial, Wallace Fire Protection, and United Way.

Gary took tremendous pride in his community, perhaps nowhere more so than in his role with Labor of Love. As the program's first volunteer Chairman in 1992, he helped lay its foundation and remained a steady, guiding presence for twenty-one years.

He is survived by his wife, their three sons, Ryan (Becky) Ocepek of Eagle, CO, Brady (Allison) Ocepek of Ottawa, and Casey (Amanda) Ocepek, of Ottawa; five grandchildren, Aidan, Lily, Kaisley, Kennedy, and Colton, his mother-in-law, Jean Peterson of Ottawa, and brother-in-law Scott (Denise) Peterson, of Madison, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law, Harold Peterson.

Gary was a devoted family man who treasured every moment spent with his children and grandchildren. He had a passion for the slopes of Vail, Colorado, where family ski trips became cherished traditions. His love of cooking flourished in the kitchen, and he passed this on to his sons, who still carry that gift with them. At home, he found equal joy in tending to his garden and pouring his care into the house that held so many memories.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date at the grave site in Oakwood Memorial Park, where Gary will be laid to rest.

The family requests memorials be directed to Marquette Academy Grade School, Wallace Fire Protection, or Labor of Love.

View Gary Ocepek's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/06/2026

Donald Fox

Donald Samuel Fox, 76, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, IL.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 10:00am until 12:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 12:00pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery at a later date.

Donald was born September 15, 1949 in Ottawa, IL to Matthew and Patricia (Revell) Fox. He married Kathryn Powers on April 11, 1980 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Naplate. He attended Marquette and later went to Western Illinois University. He owned and operated Captain's Cove for nearly 10 years and worked as a realtor for many years. Outside of work, his passion was his family. He attended every sporting event for his children and later his grandchildren. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and New York Yankees Fan. He enjoyed taking fishing trips up north and taking family vacations to Hawaii and Marco Island, FL. When he was younger, he enjoyed playing softball in the Ottawa Men's league. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed spending time there with his friends.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kathryn Fox; his children, Patrick Fox, Jonathan (Wendy) Fox, Nick (Sarah) Fox, and Kristen (Leslie) Fox; his grandchildren, Knox, Beau, Donnie, Ellie, and Fitz; his sisters, Vivian (Larry) Carstens and Liz (Ken Mattes) Fox; and his sister in law, Laurie Fox.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Patricia; and his brother, Michael Fox.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be directed to the family.

View Donald Fox's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/06/2026

Edwin Pitstick

Edwin J. Pitstick, 89, of Ottawa, entered eternal life on May 1, 2026.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 20, from 3:00pm until 6:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 10:30am at St. Columba Church. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.

"Ed" or "Eddie" was the youngest of 16 children, born to Henry and Ida (Funsfinn). He had 7 brothers: Peter, Larry, Vincent, Hubert, Richard, Edmund, and Bernard; and 8 sisters: Rose Bulfer, Mae Alexander, Rita Pitstick, Lottie Stallings, Paula Chapple, Marjorie Nelson, Marilyn Hanusik, and Zita Alexander, all deceased.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bette Lu (Hentrich), and 4 children: Colette (Mike) Stremlau, Chris Watson, Cheri Pitstick (Eric Reynolds), and Eric Pitstick; 4 grandchildren: Elissa (John) Roos, Sara (Tim) Auran, Kelly Watson, and Connor Watson; and 3 great-grandchildren: Carter Roos, Noah and Lily Auran, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Eddie grew up on a farm north of Ottawa. After attending one year at Marquette High School, he was needed to work full time at Pitstick Dairy, the family business.

As a young man, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He trained as a flame thrower at Camp LeJeune, NC, and Camp Pendleton, CA.

In 1962, Pitstick Dairy Lake opened, and he became part owner and manager of the beach. It proved to be a popular place for thousands of visitors to enjoy swimming and picnics.

Eddie was a self-made man and always loved a challenge. He believed in hard work and strove to accomplish something every day. His biggest project was building the Pitstick Pavilion. For over 50 years, this banquet hall provided services for weddings, parties, meetings, and various other events.

Eddie's greatest desire was to make others happy. He derived satisfaction in knowing his business brought joy to the people he served. While work was his priority, in rare hours of leisure, he enjoyed cruising down the Illinois River in his boat.

In summary, Eddie lived his life to the fullest and in exactly the way he wanted to live. Throughout his entire life, he held a strong conviction of faith, hard work, and independence.

His memberships included St. Columba Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Starved Rock Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Ottawa Friendship Village.

View Edwin Pitstick's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/04/2026

Karen Marie Inman

Karen Inman, 88, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2026 at La Salle County Nursing Home in Ottawa.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 21, from 1:00pm until 2:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.

Karen was born on April 25, 1938, in Gowrie, Iowa, to Harold and Vivian (Lind) Swanson. She attended the University of Iowa's nursing program and devoted more than 25 years to her work as an OB-GYN nurse at Ottawa Community Hospital. She married Kenneth Inman on March 20, 1960 in Iowa City, Iowa. He preceded her in death on September 18, 2020. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed participating in the Taco Tuesday, Bunco Babes, and YMCA Mermaids groups.

She is survived by her children, Thomas (Vianney) Inman, Audrey Heiss, Julie (Mohi) Khan, and Sarah (Tim) Repko; her grandchildren, Natalie Khan, Alex Heiss, John Repko and Leah Repko; her great grandchildren, Karson and Wyatt Repko.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Vivian; her husband, Kenneth Inman; her sister, Irene Christianson; and her grandson, Eric Heiss.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to La Salle County Nursing Home or PADS.

View Karen Marie Inman's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/01/2026

Kamee Frazier

Kamee Leah Frazier, 66, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at her home.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 5, from 1:00pm until 3:00pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 3:00pm. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory.

Kamee was born January 20, 1960, in Ottawa, IL to Milton and Daniece (Morse) Frazier. She attended Marquette High School and graduated in the Class of 1978. She worked at Kroger for many years and was also the bartender at the Moose Lodge. She was an avid Cubs and Cowboys fan. She was very dedicated to taking care of her mother for many years when her health declined. She enjoyed all types of music and especially liked Jelly Roll. As a young child, she would continuously bring home stray cats, and her love for cats continued throughout her life. But more than anything, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren; they were her heart and soul.

She is survived by her children, Robert "Robbie" Frazier, Jordan (Robert McGowan) Frazier, and Matthew (Jacqueline Witczak) Greathouse; her grandchildren, Avery, Kinnly, and Athea; her siblings, Kim (Tom) Nanouski and Kip Frazier; her cat, Brat; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Daniece; and her cats, Fatty and Little Boy.

In the famous words of Steve Goodman, who she heard sing it many times, "Go Cubs Go!"

View Kamee Frazier's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

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