Lake Thunderbird Owners Association Illinois

09/08/2024

Interesting article about the Indian Mounds on the George Wheeler homestead near here, just across Route 29.

Henry News Republican Newspaper. August 17, 1933 Page 1

08/05/2024

Very, very sad news: Long time and much beloved former resident of LTA, Bob Smith has passed away. He was active with the Board and a friend to so many.

Robert "Bob" Edward Smith
December 27, 1932 — July 31, 2024
Peru
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 has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Robert was born December 27, 1932, in Chicago, IL to Edward and Cecelia (Eberle) Smith. Due to the early deaths of his parents, he was raised as the youngest with his eight aunts and uncles, by his grandmother, Anna Folz, during the later end of the Great Depression.

He graduated from St. Leo High School (Chicago) in 1950. Robert joined the Boy Scouts in 1943 and was active till 1952, reaching Eagle Scout rank. The same year, while in college, he enlisted in the Air Force, becoming a meteorologist, during the Korean War. While stationed in Germany, he fell in love with the architecture and the lifestyle of the countryside.

Robert married Joyce Vennetti in 1954 and had three children, Robert Jr. (Mary Ann), James (Melissa), and Susan Smith. They later divorced. He remarried Elizabeth “Betsee” Brooke in 1996, who also has three adult children, Ross (Kim) Brooke, Ryan Brooke, and Bethany (Ryan) Ashley.

He was a successful and accomplished businessman for many years, founding a printing business (Unipak) in 1968, a sales/marketing firm (RES Inc.) in 1971 and an electro surgical medical firm, creating a patent, in 1976. He retired in 2002 at 70 years old.

In 1993 Robert moved to Lake Thunderbird, where he designed and built his home as a skilled carpenter, taking inspiration from Germany’s many country chateaus. He took an active role in the Lake Association, serving six years on the board of directors, with three of those years as President. He will be remembered for his successful fighting of property taxation, resulting in fairness for property owners.

Throughout his life he kept his love of the outdoors and deep love for reading with him. In his earlier years, he was an avid fishman, even having large fish fries where he would fry all the fish, he caught for attendees to enjoy! He also enjoyed camping and landscaping. In his later years, Robert and Betsee enjoyed collecting antiques, attending frequent auctions, traveling, and enjoying their families while celebrating their golden years at Lake Thunderbird.

Robert was proceeded in death by his son James Smith, parents, grandmothers’ Anna Folz and Martha Bywater, uncles Gerald (Buddy) Eberle, Verne (Be**er) Eberle, Donald Folz, and aunts Constance (Connie) Covyeau, Vivian (DeDe) DeJoy, Iris Folz, Phyllis Folz, and Eileen Schwartzer.

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, three stepchildren, 8 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Robert Smith Jr., Ryan Brooke, Ross Brooke, Ryan Ashley Keith Jarosz, Matt Doljanin, and Bob Bittner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Shiner’s Children Hospital Chicago and the local Scouts Museum in Ottawa.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at PtakFH.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert "Bob" Edward Smith, please visit our flower store.

We specialize in providing professional assistance during an extremely difficult time, in a comfortable atmosphere with the expected and appropriate care and attention to detail.

08/03/2024

You need to be as safe before you get in the water as you hopefully are when you're swimming. There are now 25 water areas in Illinois that have been declared too unsafe for swimming due to dangerous bacteria levels.

07/30/2024

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kurtzmemorialchapel.com%2Fobituaries%2Feugene-ciardullo%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1JWy2Rt1ySXNKPhg4uSchekhYwzz-YmXecZIEyPmMqThHjC0xAimMLkXg_aem_xZQ685BTsc4Yoh5CCby3oQ&h=AT11aU6Na4YNi752yIfzSJ7DuxL3b4hiZFvTHS9BZc1KTj6yc2CA45Z2-G0hVciM_KgwPb3mbtZvyn6jlDBA8NzWQOfY_VFRNLhhT67AcBJyMcZw76aaZMY9cQaUalwUOA&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT0Wl1GxY7msJbd7yUk4uY2lWs3eZ61Wax2be7Vd935FHksD4EwLe6ECeCRdLGUBpDhU18IldK1IqcjaDh50e9ubQAuheG4RUS1agwe7S3W6HJ9Jv_qZDfzARCdKP4Sh4qatURSZfFuSujRWJMyPpYjwhoev8dkXukSi-r_2UE-tZThZN7s4nVOuRybwniXeEl3u5wjfFD9RH4-QWMfZTEiwrQROtJm_7o3LwlmHwxBL7TmB2UYK

View Eugene A. Ciardullo's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/29/2024

Saw this little family of wild turkeys on Cedar near Kentville Road.

07/22/2024

We drive past the old steel mill site but never even thought about the families who sold their land.

Henry News Republican Newspaper Archives July 21, 1965

07/21/2024

Memories of Our own Steve Hunt. RIP

Henry News Republican Newspaper Archives January 21, 1970

06/28/2024

06/23/2024

Henry Republican Newspaper Archives March 13, 1919
Interesting history of Putnam County

06/23/2024

Found this historical article and thought I’d share

Henry Republican Newspaper Archives March 13, 1919

06/03/2024

Yum!

If you're craving old-world Italian food, head to Verruchi's Ristorante in Illinois, which has been in business for well over a century!

04/13/2024

A little reminder…

04/07/2024

🌟 Exciting news alert! 🏥 Our OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth - Peru Emergency Department is now OPEN and ready to care for all the amazing residents of the Illinois Valley! 🤗 Remember, this is just the beginning of our phased opening - outpatient services will be available in the future. We're here for you whenever you need us! 💙

http://osf.care/Erjp50R998G

03/28/2024

⛈️ Today’s topic is severe thunderstorms. Who has seen or is familiar with the outlook/risk categories? These highlight potential threat areas often days before watches or warnings.

03/27/2024

A reminder that the road weight restrictions have been lifted and Republic has resumed trash service to individual residences this week.

Also, a reminder that the large roll-off dumpster has been removed from the Maintenance Shop and all trash deposited at the remaining dumpsters must have an LTA garbage sticker attached to the bag. (Available for purchase from the LTA office)

03/17/2024

03/13/2024