Person Page - 3542

     John William Fry was buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa.² He was born on July 22, 1897 at Abingdon, Knox Co., Illinois.² He married Ruby Augusta Gray, daughter of Charles Edgar Gray and Ruby Augusta Spears, on July 15, 1939 at Lombard, DuPage Co., Iowa.¹ John William Fry died on August 24, 1965 at Thayer, Union Co., Iowa, at age 68.^1,2

     Her married name was Gray.¹ Edna M. Unknown married Edgar F. Gray, son of Charles Edgar Gray and Ruby Augusta Spears.¹ Edna M. Unknown was born circa 1911 at Illinois.¹

     George Edwin "Joe" Spears was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn, DuPage Co., Illinois.⁴ He was born on May 22, 1922 at Glen Ellyn, DuPage Co., Illinois.^6,4 He married Virginia Curtis in November, 1944.^2,4 George Edwin "Joe" Spears died on June 18, 2011 at Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Co., Georgia, at age 89.^6,4 He George "Joe" Edwin Spears, a life-long resident of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, passed away in Lawrenceville, Georgia on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at age 89. He died from complications of Parkinson's disease. To the end of this life George remained strong, gregarious, loving and fiercely independent - just as he had lived his life. Born May 22, 1922 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, to Dorset B.Spears and Ann (Gray) Spears, George's siblings include Ida (Spears) Obrecht, Gertrude (Spears) Lammers, Helen (Spears) Benhart and Harry Spears - his only surviving sibling. Raised in a home built in Glen Ellyn by his father, George attended Main Street Elementary School and the original Glenbard Township (now Glenbard West) High School, graduating in 1940. As a boy he manually set bowling pins at Hesterman's Lanes and caddied at Glen Oak Country Club - both in Glen Ellyn. At Glenbard, George excelled in football, band and socials. On the football field he was small but tough, and was a starter on the school's championship and undefeated 1939 team. With the German Blitzkrieg rolling across Europe, George fibbed about his age and enlisted in the Army in 1939; he was inducted in September 1940. In the Army, George trained and served as a Coastal Artillery gunner and First Sergeant, serving in California and Washington states and the Aleutian Islands. George volunteered for the Army Air Corps' selective Aviation Cadet program, successfully completing flight training in Blythe, Merced and Stockton, California. During flight training George married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Curtis of Lombard, Illinois in November 1944. George then earned his commission as a second lieutenant and Army Air Corps pilot wings in February 1945 at Randolph Field, Texas. By late 1945, with the wars in Europe and Japan concluded, George was released from the Army and headed to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with his new bride. George earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering at the University of Illinois. George made his living working in and selling supplies to the printing industry, but he made his life around his family and community. By 1959 George and Virginia returned to Glen Ellyn to raise their young family. Their children include: Curtis Allen Spears and his wife Joan (Helledy) Spears of Florence, Wisconsin; George Brian Spears and his wife Ellen (Griffith) Spears of Atlanta, Georgia; Chris (Spears) Ward and her husband John Ward of Berkeley Lake, Georgia; and Glenn Fielding Spears and his wife Kimberly (Smith) Spears of Johns Creek, Georgia. The four children all graduated from Glenbard West High School in 1965, 1967, 1971 and 1974. George and Virginia have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Their grandchildren include Aaron Spears, Lelia Spears, Benjamin Spears, Kristin (Spears) John, Amanda Ward and Katelyn Spears. Their great-grandchild is Bowen Spears, son of Aaron and Alison Spears. George's many volunteer activities included coaching little league football and local leadership in the Eisenhower and Nixon presidential campaigns. In Glen Ellyn, George served on the Board of Directors of the B. R. Ryall YMCA as well as the Forest Hill Cemetery Association. George also contributed greatly, but often behind the scenes, to Virginia's passion, the Glen Ellyn Historical Society. He helped found, and was an active member of, the Glenbard West Boosters Club, and was a member of the Kiwanis and Rotary service organizations. Retiring in 1989, George became a regular at the Village Links Golf Course in Glen Ellyn. Over the years George and Virginia attended almost every Glenbard West football game, cheering loudly from the stands from 1961 until Virginia passed away in 2002 and George moved to Georgia to be near children in 2009. At a small farewell for George when he left Glen Ellyn for Georgia in 2009, he made these remarks: "To all my dear friends, Let me thank you all for coming this afternoon to share some time together before I leave for Georgia. As all of you know, I am a Glen Ellyn boy through and through. This very warm and embracing town, filled with wonderful people like you, has been my home for most of my 87 years. From the humble house my father built on Kenilworth Avenue, to Main Street School and Glenbard, and the brick houses on Crest and Roger Roads, we have shared many grand times. Virginia and I raised our children here, as did many of you. They have all moved away, so now it's time for me to move near them. Let's make this a happy farewell. I am happy and honored to have known each of you. I am happy and honored to have shared laughs, tears and life with each of you. I may not recall what I had for breakfast today, but I will not forget you! As a sportsman, let me close with some advice. I encourage my fellow golfers to keep your head down. For my fellow bowlers, always follow through. And for all my friends, live well and laugh hard!" George sustained his love of life, family and golf in Georgia. He participated in and won the local Senior Olympics putting competition in 2010, and took second place in 2011. All four of his children were with George his final month of life. The family will host a funeral service at the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, 424 Forest Avenue, on Saturday, September 10 at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception and then interment at Forest Hill Cemetery. The family requests that those who wish to make a memorial donation in George's name may do so to the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, P.O. Box 283, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60138 (info@gehs.org), or to the Glenbard West Boosters, P.O. Box 154, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60138 ( gwboosters.com). on August 3, 2011.⁴

     Her Social Security Number was 357-12-6869.³ Virginia Curtis was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn, DuPage Co., Illinois.⁴ She was born on October 31, 1924 at Geneva, Kane Co., Illinois.^1,3 As of November, 1944,her married name was Spears.² She married George Edwin "Joe" Spears, son of Dorset Alonzo Beebe "Doss" Spears and Ann Elizabeth "Anna" Gray, in November, 1944.^1,2 Virginia Curtis died on October 12, 2002 at age 77.^1,3 She A memorial service to celebrate the life of Virginia C. Spears (nee Curtis), 77, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, at First United Methodist Church, 424 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn. Born Oct. 31, 1924, in Geneva, the youngest of the five children of Clarence R. and Dorothy S. Curtis, the Lord called an angel home when Virginia passed away Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, in the presence of family. Inurnment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn. Virginia grew up in Lombard and graduated from Glenbard High School in 1942. In 1944 she married her high school sweetheart, George "Joe" Spears of Glen Ellyn. Virginia was an active volunteer in many community activities including Reliquarians, the Treasure House charitable resale store and the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, of which she was president from 1979 to 1981. She was an accomplished antiques appraiser and owned an estate appraisal and sales company. She also enjoyed quilting, reading, exploring family genealogy and helping others. In 1988 she and George began traveling to Sun City, Ariz., for the winter, but always returned to their home in Glen Ellyn. Virginia is survived by her husband, George; their children, Curt (Joan) Spears of Florence, Wis., Brian (Ellen) Spears of Atlanta, Ga., Chris (John) Ward of Atlanta and Glenn (Kim) Spears of Andrews AFB, Md; grandchildren, Aaron, Gene (Maggie), Gregg, Lelia, Ben, Mandy, Kristin and Katelyn; and sisters Jean (Fred) Wardle and Hope (Blaine) Osterling. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Curtis; and sister Luana Curtis Kopan. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, PO Box 283, Glen Ellyn, IL 60138; or to CNS Hospice, 690 E. North Ave., Carol Stream, IL 60188. Arrangements were made by Leonard Memorial Home, Ltd., Glen Ellyn. on October 15, 2002.¹

     His Social Security Number was 329-24-3085.³ Kenneth William Obrecht was born on March 2, 1933 at Elmhurst, DuPage Co., Illinois.^3,2 He married Nancy Marie Larimer on October 10, 1958.^4,5 Kenneth William Obrecht died on July 17, 1999 at Winfield, DuPage Co., Illinois, at age 66.^3,2 He Kenneth W. Obrecht, 66, of Wheaton died Saturday in Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Born in Elmhurst, Mr. Obrecht worked for Albany Bank in Chicago for 16 years before his retirement in 1998. He was the treasurer of the DuPage County Republican Central Committee for 25 years. In addition, Mr. Obrecht was a member of the Wheaton Lions Club and served on the board of School District 200. He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the State of Illinois Employees Retirement System for 12 years. Mr. Obrecht graduated from Glenbard High School in Glen Ellyn in 1953 and from North Central College in Naperville in 1959. He also served in the Army and enjoyed golfing and fishing. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; one daughter, Merry Sawdey; three sons, Michael, Gordon and Paul; a brother, David; two sisters, Patricia Kreibich and Ruth; and six grandchildren. Memorial visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until the time of memorial services at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Danada House, 3 S 501 S. Naperville Rd., Wheaton. on July 21, 1999.²

     David John Obrecht was buried at Assumption Cemetery, 1 South 510 Winfield Road, Wheaton, DuPage Co., Illinois.³ He married Frances Larkin.² David John Obrecht was born on October 19, 1938 at Glen Ellyn, DuPage Co., Illinois.^4,2,3 He died on December 27, 2009 at South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan, at age 71.^3,2,4 He SOUTH HAVEN - David J. Obrecht, 71, of South Haven, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at home. He was born Oct. 19, 1938, in Glen Ellyn, Ill., to John M. and Ida (Spears) Obrecht. David served his country in the U.S. Army. He married Frances Larkin. David worked for Aon Insurance. David was a member of St. Basil Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Frances Obrecht of South Haven; three children, Elizabeth (Bernard) Czekajlo of Geneva, Ill., John (Patricia) Obrecht of Chicago and Ellen (Robert) Snow of Medina, Ohio; grandchildren, McKenna, Aimee and David Czekajlo and Charles and Henry Snow. Funeral services will take place at Moss Funeral home in Batavia, Ill., at a later date. on December 29, 2009.²

     Her Social Security Number was 303-36-2327.³ Nancy Marie Larimer was born on September 9, 1936 at Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.^3,2 As of October 10, 1958,her married name was Obrecht.¹ She married Kenneth William Obrecht, son of John M. Obrecht and Ida Elizabeth Spears, on October 10, 1958.^1,2 Nancy Marie Larimer died on October 9, 2000 at Wheaton, DuPage Co., Illinois, at age 64.^3,2 She WHEATON, Ill. — Nancy M. Obrecht, 64, of Wheaton, Ill., formerly of Bloomington, died Sunday at her residence. Born Sept. 9, 1936, in Chicago, she was the daughter of Arthur and Lillian Larimer. A registered nurse, she had worked in various doctors' offices and for Community Nursing Service. She received a nursing degree from Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. She was a member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ in Wheaton and Nature Conservancy. Survivors include three sons, Gordon Obrecht of Wayne, Ill., Michael Obrecht of Polo, Ill., and Paul Obrecht of Santa Fe, N.M; one daughter, Merry Sawdey of Cannon Falls, Minn; four brothers, David Larimer and Victor Larimer, both of Bloomington, Charles Larimer of Austin, Texas, and John Larimer of Essex, England; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth W. Obrecht, and two brothers, Cliff Larimer and Gene Larimer. Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Matthew United Church of Christ in Wheaton with the Rev. Neal R. Sadler officiating. Leonard Memorial Home in Glen Ellyn, Ill., is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Nature Conservancy, Illinois Division, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603, or American Diabetes Association. on October 11, 2000.²