Area Obituaries

  April 5, 1948 — January 6, 2026 Ronald Eugene Emerson, 77, of Assumption, Ill., passed away on January 6, 2026, at his residence. He was born on April 5, 1948, in Taylorville, to the late William Jacob and Rose Marie (Jackson) Emerson. He married the love of his life, Rhonda (Jones) Emerson, on January…

  February 8, 1995 — December 31, 2025 Sean Edward Neville, 30, of Taylorville, Ill., passed away on December 31, 2025, at his residence. He was born on February 8, 1995, in Springfield, to Mark Edward Neville and Sunshine Durbin. Sean loved tattoos, listening to music, and working on car sound systems. In his free…

  March 23, 1955 — January 5, 2026 Daniel Duane Speagle, 70, of Owaneco, Ill., passed away on January 5, 2026, at his residence. He was born on March 23, 1955, in Taylorville, to Donald and Dorothy (Garrett) Speagle. On June 7, 1975, he married Mary Buerk in Owaneco, and they spent many loving years…

  June 26, 1941 — January 1, 2026 Dr. David Giovagnoli, former resident of Taylorville, Ill., and Hayward, Wis, passed away peacefully at home on January 1, 2026. He was born in Springfield, Ill., on June 26, 1941, the son of Hugo and Alberta (Jones) Giovagnoli. A 1959 graduate of Taylorville High School, David maintained…

  May 15, 1950 — December 30, 2025 Michael (Mike) L. Mateer, 75 of Edinburg, Illinois passed away at St John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois surrounded by his family on December 30, 2025. Mike was born on May 15, 1950, in Decatur, Illinois to Leon and Doris (Reeter) Mateer. Mike met his high school sweetheart,…

  May 20, 1949 — January 1, 2026 Patricia ”Pat” Stringfield, age 76, of Athens, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at her home. She was born on May 20, 1949, in Jacksonville, Ill., the daughter of Howard and Jennie (Jamison) Davidson. Pat married John Stringfield on December 14, 1985, at Indian Point Presbyterian…

  September 26, 1938 — January 3, 2026 Martha Ann Hahnenkamp, 87, of Litchfield, passed away Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Pana Health and Rehab Center. She was born September 26, 1938, a daughter of Christopher John and Laura Marie (Gerling) Zuber. She graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1956. Martha married…

James “Jim” DeWilde, 68, of Taylorville, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 9:40 a.m. in St. Louis, MO. He was born in Taylorville, IL. A graduate of Taylorville High School, Class of 1975, Jim spent his life rooted in the community he loved. He married Marsha Faye (Brasel) DeWilde in 1981, who preceded…

July 13, 1951 — December 30, 2025 Ellen C. Curtin, 74 of Stonington, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. She was born on July 13, 1951, in Taylorville, the daughter of William C. and Margaret K. “Marty” (Unser) Curtin. Ellen graduated from Stonington High School in 1969 and…