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• _UID: B522CC2817FC4419B168A4857E330186B5D9

Notes:

?b?Information given by Freda Swanson and Otto Nagel about their parents, Edward and Mathilda Nagel:?/b?

Edward Nagel was a soldier in the Bismarck's army in Germany. He did not fight in a war but was involved with protecting Germany along the Polish border and along the French border. In one skirmish on the Polish border, Edward's helmet was slashed but his scalp was left untouched. A photograph of him in his army uniform remained in Otto Nagel's house until his death.

Mathilda had scarlet fever at the age of 3. As a result, she had a leaky heart for the remainder of her life. Nevertheless, she bore 7 children and lived to the age of 92. When she was 20, she came from Germany to Chicago. The family tradition says that Mathilda later sent money to her first cousin (Edward Nagel) in Germany so that he also could come to America. They were married shortly after he arrived in Chicago.

Mathilda had blonde hair and blue eyes, but Edward had darker hair and brown eyes.

Elsie and Bill, the oldest children, attended a German Lutheran school in Chicago, where they learned to speak, read, and write in both German and English. The church they attended also had services in both German and English. When Freda was a little girl, her parents owned a large house. They rented the upstairs to a woman with two boys. Ma Nagel took care of the boys while their mother worked. One February day, the boys were playing with matches and started the house on fire. Edward Nagel came home and saw that the roof was on fire. He went in and told his wife to get all the children out. Mathilda was nursing Eddie at the time. She got all of the children out, while Edward went upstairs to get the two boys out, as their mother was at work. The house burned so badly that they had to live elsewhere while it was being rebuilt. The Nagels lived with relatives, and the upstairs family lived with some of their relatives. After the fire, the Nagels began to think that it would be better to live in St. Charles.

The Nagels moved from Chicago to St. Charles about 1905 when the Heinz brothers moved their glass factory. Being tired on the big city, they bought a 66-acre farm on the east side of St. Charles. The farm was located at the present site of the Tin Cup Pass at the intersection of Kirk Road and Route 64 (which was gravel at that time). The house was located where the Firestone shop now stands. They had a horse named Dick who was blind in one eye.

Bill Nagel built a teeter-totter for his younger siblings. Once, Freda was on it with her cousin Martha Nagel from Chicago, but Freda fell off and broke her arm. The scar was visible on her wrist for most of her life.

Edward Nagel soon realized that he was not cut out to be a farmer. They sold the farm in 1914 for $6,500 and moved to 376 E. Illinois Avenue in St. Charles. Later, they moved to 313 South 11th Avenue, where Edward and Mathilda both lived until their deaths. Edward worked for the Heinz brothers' glass factory (owned by his brothers-in-law) as the maintenance engineer because he knew a lot about boilers.

Elsie and Charlie Dau had a large wedding in the Nagels' parlor, after which they rolled up the carpets and had a dance. Freda was 8 at the time, and stayed up to watch the dancing as long as she could. The dancing lasted all night, so Freda and all of Charlie's siblings went to bed, all lying crossways in a big bed.

When Freda was 12, the age when Lutherans would normally attend confirmation classes, the German Lutheran church in St. Charles did not offer confirmation. Finally when she was 15, Pa Nagel decided that she needed to go, so he sent her to confirmation classes at the German Lutheran church in Batavia. She and Bessie Haines would take the streetcar to Batavia in the evening for confirmation.

Edward Nagel was musically talented, and played the organ very well. Mostly, he played church hymns, although he did not play in church. His brother Dick played the fiddle equally well. Dick often came out from Chicago to visit in St. Charles, and the two brothers would make music together. Freda sat down at the organ and showed that she could play songs without any lessons. After that, Edward bought her a piano, and she joined Edward and Dick in their music sessions. Elsie later gave this piano to her daughter Edna.

After Freda and Edgar were married and Edgar was working at a car dealership, Edward bought his first car through Edgar at the dealership. Mathilda was against the idea and, at first, would not ride in the car with him. He never had a driving lesson, but just got in the car and began to drive without knowing how. Once, he took Mathilda and Dora with him in the car to visit relatives in Chicago. Dora was so afraid of his poor driving that she refused to come back with them, so she took the 3rd rail to Geneva.

Edward died of stomach cancer, which supposedly resulted from his falling from a ladder. The cancer was discovered during an exploratory surgery in November 1928. He was an employee of McCormick Machine Company at the time of his death. Mathilda spent her last two weeks at Valley Rest, a nursing home in St. Charles, where she died of pneumonia.
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The records of the Evangelische Kirche at Stojentin, Kreis Stolp in Pomerania show the baptism of Therese Mathilda Heinz, born June 17, 1864, baptized June 26, 1864. The parents were Heinrich Heinz, cartwright (maker or wagons), of Czierwienz, and Auguste born Burow. Godparents were Carl Nagel, day laborer from Lischnitz (probably her mother's brother and her future father-in-law), Johanna Reetz, maid from Czierwienz, and Caroline Jacobi, maid from Neitzkow. (The birthdate disagrees with her death certificate and gravestone, both of which show June 1, 1864. She did not use the name "Therese" after migrating to Illinois. But this is obviously the same person that we know as Mathilda Heinz Nagel of Illinois.)
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?b?From Germans to America, Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports
?/b?Edited by Ira. Glazier

Vol. 51, p327 & 335 Mathilde Heinz, Age 20, F, from Hesse, on ship "Lloyd Nurnberg", left from Bremen, arriving in New York, May 26, 1885, and later arriving in Baltimore, May 28, 1885. [Since she was not travelling with any family members, there is no way to determine if this is our Mathilda. However, this was the only Mathilda Heinz in the passenger records who was of the correct age and arriving in the correct year. If this is our Mathilda, then she was just short of her 21st birthday.]

Vol. 53, page 410 Edward Nagel, Age 24, Merchant, on ship "Main", left from Bremen, arriving in Baltimore, November 24, 1886. [This seems very likely to be our Edward Nagel. His date of arrival is shown as 1885 in the 1900 census, but 1886 in the 1910 census.] This detail is also available at www.castlegarden.org. The place of last residence shows as "Unknown"

(Ellis Island was not yet open at the time Mathilda and Edward arrived.)
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?b?U.S. Census Records?/b?

The 1900 census shows the Nagel family living at 713 W. 22nd Place in Chicago consisting of: Edward Nagel, head of household, white male, born Dec 1862 in Germany, married 13 years, came to the U.S. in 1885, naturalized, teamster, can read, write, and speak English, owns home with a mortgage. His wife, Mathilda, white female, born June 1864 in Germany, married 13 years, mother of 4 children, 3 living, came to the U.S. in 1884, can read, write, and speak English. Elsa, daughter, born Oct 1888 in Illinois, at school. Wilhelm, son, born Oct 1890 in Illinois, in school. Frida, daughter, born Nov 1898 in Illinois.

The 1910 census shows the family living at 376 E. Illinois Street [now Illinois Avenue] in St. Charles consisting of: Edward Nagle [sic], head of household, age 47, married 23 years, born in Germany, came to the U.S. in 1886, naturalized, engineer in "stationary" industry. Lillie, his wife, age 45, mother of 7 children, 6 living, came to the U.S. in 1884. William, son, age 19, born in Illinois, employed as "cutter" in glass industry. Freda, daughter, age 10, born in Illinois. Dora, daughter, age 7, born in Illinois. Otto, son, age 2 2/12, born in Illinois.

The 1920 census shows the family living on Perkins Avenue in St. Charles consisting of: Edward Nagel, head, age 57, came to the U.S. in 1886, naturalized in 1891, working as engineer in a factory. Mathilda, his wife, age 55, came to the U.S. in 1884, naturalized in 1891. William, son, age 29, working as a glass cutter in a factory. Freda, daughter, age 21, working as [illegible] in piano factory. Edward, son, age 19. Dora, daughter, age 17, clerk in a factory. Arlo [sic], son, age 11, in school. There is no "Perkins Avenue" in St. Charles today, but it may have been the same as the present-day 11th Avenue.

The 1930 census shows 2 families living at 313 11th Avenue in St. Charles. First is the Swanson family, headed by Edgar, and secondly the Nagel family headed by Mathilda and including her sons Edward, 29, and Otto, 22. Mathilda is shown as the owner of the house valued at $7000.

In the 1940 census, she is listed as mother-in-law in the household headed by Edgar Swanson, at the same address.
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?b?
Naturalization Record?/b?

Edward Nagel of 713 22nd Place, Chicago was naturalized March 24, 1896. Certificate # 13428. Born in Germany. Witness Henry Brunnig, 827 S. Halstead St. (House was renumbered in 1908 as 2844 22nd Place.)
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?b?
Obituary of Edward Nagel?/b? (from the St. Charles Chronicle, January 10, 1929):?b?

?/b?Edward Nagel, 66 years old, passed away Saturday night after an illness lasting more than two months.

He was born in Kreiss Gotzloff, Germany, December 11, 1862. He came to America in 1888 [sic], settling in Chicago. On August 13, he was married to Miss Mathilda Heinz.

Mr. Nagel came to St. Charles in 1905 when the Heinz Cut Glass Company, with whom he was associated for many years, came here. He was with the cut glass company up to a few years ago when he went with the Globe Music Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Nagel were blessed with a family of seven children, one of whom preceded him in death.

Surviving him are his widow, three sons, Otto, William, and Edward and three daughters, Mrs. Freda Swanson, Mrs. Elsie Dau, and Mrs. Dora Johnson, all of St. Charles; a brother Richard of Chicago; three sons-in-law; six grandchildren; and a host of friends.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Rev. W. F. Theiss officiated. Burial was in North Cemetery.
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?b?Mrs. Mathilda Nagel Celebrates 90th Birth Anniversary?/b? (Clipping from the St. Charles Chronicle)

Mrs. Mathilda Nagel, 313 S. Eleventh Ave., whose 90th birth anniversary occurred on Tuesday, June 1, celebrated the occasion on Sunday, May 30 at a family gathering at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Nagel, 1108 Western St., Geneva. A delicious dinner was served in the Nagels' spacious and attractive back yard.

A resident of this community for the past 49 years, Mrs. Nagel came to this country from Germany. She is a member of St. Mark's Lutheran church.

She is the mother of six children, all St. Charles residents; Mrs. Elsie Dau, Mrs. Edgar Swanson, Mrs. Arthur Johnson, William Nagel, Edward Nagel and Otto Nagel.

Other members of her family include six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two brothers, Otto Heinz of St. Charles and Emil Heinz who resides in Oakland, Calif.

Mrs. Nagel was the recipient of many gifts, cards and flowers from relatives, friends and neighbors."
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?b?
Obituary of Mathilda Heinz Nagel?/b?

St. Charles -- Mrs. Mathilda Nagel, 92, 313 S. 11th Ave., died unexpectedly early this morning at the Valley Nursing Home. She was born in Germany June 1, 1864, and came to the United States at the age of 20.

She married Edward Nagel Aug. 13, 1887, in Chicago, and moved to St. Charles in 1905, where she was the oldest member of St. Mark's Lutheran church.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Elsie Dau, Mrs. Freda Swanson and Mrs. Dora Johnson, all of St. Charles; three sons William and Edward of St. Charles, and Otto of Geneva; a brother, Otto Heinz of St. Charles; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and one daughter.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Yurs Funeral Home. The Rev. Herbert Reischauer will officiate with interment at Union Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday.
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?b?Death Certificate for Mathilda Nagel?/b?

Mathilda's death certificate was filed on March 2, 1957 in Kane County, Illinois. It indicates that she died after 3 days of suffering from pneumonitis (bilateral). She had been at Valley Rest for 2 weeks prior to her death, and in St. Charles for 52 years. The attending physician was Dr. R. Hoskins of St. Charles.

Edward married Mathilda Lily Heinz 13 Aug 1887, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA. Mathilda (daughter of Heinrich Friedrich "Henry" Heinz and Augusta Burow) was born 17 Jun 1864, Czierwienz, Stolp, Pommern; was christened 26 Jun 1864, Stojentin, Stolp, Pommern; died 1 Mar 1957, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried 3 Mar 1957, Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 9952CC08A19D4CAAB3E22142E6D626E2AF49

Notes:

?b?Obituary of Elsie Dau:?/b?

"Elsie Dau, 92, of St. Charles, died Saturday in the Fox Valley Nursing Center, South Elgin. She was born Oct. 7, 1888, in Chicago.

She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of St. Charles.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Edgar (Freda) Swanson of Lancaster, Wis; one brother, Otto Nagel of Geneva; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; one son, Walter, and one daughter, Edna Schelstreet.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles, the Rev. Charles Holmer officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, St. Charles. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice."

Elsie married Charles John Dau 12 Jan 1907, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. Charles was born 4 May 1882, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA; died 24 Dec 1943, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: C80C99103E16412DBAA5C1D11159A09AD472

William married Mabel Timm Sep 1920. Mabel was born 1895, Illinois, USA; died 1986, Illinois, USA; was buried , River Hills Memorial Park, Batavia, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: CDAC47C2E3DD4ED0B514793ECC884ED15394

Notes:

Martha died of "croup" as a little girl. Many years later, her sister Freda told her grandchildren that Martha's death was caused by sitting on the grass when it was damp.

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• _UID: D65E30432EAF49DB900ACDD42E649D8FA188

Freda married Edgar Leonard Swanson 1 Sep 1920, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. Edgar was born 26 Aug 1897, Batavia, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 20 Dec 1985, Lancaster, Grant, Wisconsin, USA; was buried 23 Dec 1985, Garfield Cemetery, Campton, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: C233856B1E084473B1755198356990AAA9B7

Notes:

Eddie was mentally retarded, probably as a result of a difficult birth. He lived with his parents his entire life. He learned to walk at age 6, but never learned to talk or to feed himself. He was generally a happy and cheerful person. After his father died and his mother became elderly, Edgar and Freda Swanson also moved into the house. Much of his care was then provided by his siblings Freda and Otto. After his mother's death, he moved with Freda and Edgar to the house they purchased on Illinois Avenue. On June 28, 1958, he went to live at Elgin State Hospital, but after 11 days, he returned to Freda and Edgar's house where he died of pneumonia.
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?b?
Obituary of Edward Nagel:?/b?

Edward Nagel, 57, of 1008 Illinois Ave., St. Charles, died Monday in his home after a lingering illness. He was born Oct. 7, 1900 in Chicago and lived in St. Charles since he was four years old. Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Elsie Dau, Mrs. Frieda Swanson, and Mrs. Dora Johnson, all of St. Charles, and two brothers, William Nagel, of St. Charles, and Otto Nagel, of Geneva. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mathilda Nagel. Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the Yurs Funeral Home with Herbert Reischauer, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

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• _UID: 282C3FF0ACB74BEDBF8876DC9D174CD68DCD

Notes:

Art and Dora lived on a farm in the Wasco, Illinois area. He was a policeman in St. Charles, but also did a lot of auctioneering. For a time, they lived in a large blue house on Route 64 in Wasco. Their back yard abutted the schoolyard of the Wasco school, and their son and daughter-in-law, Wes and Elaine, lived in the smaller white house next door to the east. In their later years, they owned a house on Second Street on the west side of St. Charles. Dora died of complications of diabetes.
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?b?Art's obituary:?/b?

"Arthur R. 'Mike' Johnson, 81 of St. Charles died May 19 in Michaelsen Health Care Center, Batavia. He was born May 2, 1900, in Chicago.

Before his retirement in 1965, Mr. Johnson had been a policeman in St. Charles for 20 years. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, St. Charles, and had been an auctioneer in the Fox Valley area since 1928.

He is survived by a son, Kenneth of St. Charles; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dora; a son, Wesley; and his parents Amandus and Matilda Johnson.

Funeral services were held yesterday in St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Burial was in Garfield Cemetery, Campton Township."
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?b?Dora's obituary:?/b?

"Dora C. Johnson, 78, of St. Charles, died Tuesday, in her home. She was born July 2, 1902 in Chicago.

She was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, St. Charles.

Survivors include: her husband, Arthur; one son, Kenneth of St. Charles; one brother, Otto Nagel of Geneva; two sisters, Mrs. Elsie Dau of St. Charles and Mrs. Freda Swanson of Lancaster, Wis; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son, Wesley in 1975; her parents, Edward and Mathilda Nagel; two brothers William and Edward Nagel, and one sister, Martha.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday from St. Mark's Lutheran Church, St. Charles. The Rev. David Zersen will officiate. Burial will be in Garfield Cemetery, Wasco. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Thursday at Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles. Contributions may be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church."

Dorthea married Isak Arthur Ralph "Art" Johnson. Isak was born 2 May 1900, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA; died 19 May 1981, Batavia, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Garfield Cemetery, Campton, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 5FC795E5016D455C848DAE66ED79EC9FC5AC

Otto married Ellen Desedria Carlson. Ellen was born 29 May 1907, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 13 Jul 1938, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried 16 Jul 1938, Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Otto married Daphne Jean "Jeanne" Coon 20 Sep 1941. Daphne was born 4 May 1917, Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 9 Dec 2013, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Garfield Cemetery, Campton, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: ACF7C55775A1477A89D401C36371551CFC6F

Notes:

Walter Dau died of peritonitis. His widow Jeanette lived for many years afterwards, and was married twice more. Her last marriage was to Mr. Eliason.

Walter married Jeanette Clever. Jeanette was born 20 Apr 1911, Montgomery, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 23 Apr 1997, near St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Sugar Grove Township, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 71A155EBD8D34970AD05ABE3B6DD2FCD85A5

Edna married Joseph Robert Schelstreet 15 Sep 1934, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. Joseph was born 24 Dec 1910, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 11 Mar 1953, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Union Cemetery, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 7EC505F713994CE6BB6B56522391BA85DE5C

Ralph married Mary Ann Shewalter 11 Mar 1941. Mary was born 6 Feb 1923, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 13 Aug 2012, Geneva, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: FCA8974A48204AB791155FE385CD5039B1C7

Dorothy married Donald Elmer Nelson 20 Oct 1942, St. Charles, Kane, Illinois, USA. Donald was born 3 Sep 1922, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA; died 15 Jul 1962, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA; was buried , Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA. [Group Sheet]

Dorothy married John Herschell Westcott 8 Apr 1967, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA. John was born 2 Mar 1910, Burlington, Kit Carson, Colorado, USA; died 23 Nov 1998, Morrison, Jefferson, Colorado, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: B18CC6789AB844C1B5B41B8481284422E9B1

Notes:

Bill Divine was born on the family farm at LaFox, Illinois. As a little boy, he was called "Billy Jay", but later became "William John", or "Bill" for short. He attended the LaFox School through the sixth grade. LaFox School went up through the eighth grade, but Clyde transferred the younger children, Bill, Lyla, and Ramon, from LaFox School to Wasco School in 1935 because he was angry with the LaFox School Director, Charles Keslinger. So Bill went to Wasco School for 7th and 8th grade. There were 14 in his class in Wasco, many of whom became lifelong friends, including Jay Johnsen, Bud Wynthein, Norm Skala, and Bob Jay. For high school, the Divine children returned to their own district and attended Geneva High School where Bill graduated in 1941. He was a member of both the wrestling and track teams, his specialty being discus-throwing.

At the age of 16, Bill witnessed the death of his younger brother in a tragic accident. This event was very traumatic for him and the entire family. Bill was always especially careful about accidents around machinery and horses after that time.

Bill and his siblings had a pony named Babe throughout their entire childhood, as Babe lived to be 23 years old. Of course, they also had teams of horses on the farm, since Clyde did not buy his first tractor until 1939. As an adult, Bill always had one or more horses around the farm, though he rarely had time to ride them. At the time of his stroke, he had 10 horses on the farm.

After high school, Bill worked with his father Clyde on the family farm, and also took on other odd jobs with his friend Jay Johnsen, including re-setting the pins at the bowling alley, and unloading coal trucks by hand. He and Jay also played on the LaFox baseball team before they were married. The team also included Verne and Ray Cox and John Bartelt.

Bill and his brother-in-law Jay Johnsen began farming together in Campton Hills at the time of their marriages in 1946. They rented Miss Rachel Beith's farm on shares. The Divines stayed on at the Beith farm until 1950 when they rented a dairy farm at Bald Mound, south of LaFox, from the Baker sisters.

In the early 1950's, they purchased the "South Farm" from Bill's father Clyde and his Aunt Irma, who had inherited it from their father. The farm was called the South Farm because Clyde had operated it for many years, and it was to the south of Clyde's farm, on Keslinger Road just east of LaFox. The house on the South Farm had deteriorated greatly from the time when the Bill's grandparents had lived there, and Bill was not ready to give up the rental of the Baker farm, so the family never moved to the South Farm. Instead, they rented the house to the Drury family, and later to the Forth family, for the price of $30 per month. The farm consisted of 104 acres, with 80 acres being the original farm on the south side of Keslinger Road, and the other 24 acres, referred to as "the Bentley Land", another mile east, lying on the north side of the road. The Bentley Land was so called because Bill's maternal great-grandfather Levi Brundige and his paternal grandfather Will Divine had convinced Arnold Bentley to split up his farm into three parts, the southwestern 24 acres being purchased by Will Divine and the 100 acres north of the railroad being purchased by Brundige on behalf of his son Levi Brundige, Jr.

After Bill's mother Bessie died in 1962, Clyde moved to St. Charles with his daughters Merilyn and Lois. Bill Divine and family then gave up the Baker farm, sold the dairy cows, and moved to Clyde's farm at LaFox on the last day of 1962. Bill later bought a small herd of Angus beef cows which he continued with until the time of his stroke. In the early 1960's, Bill and Marilyn sold the original 80 acres of the South Farm to National Electronics. National Electronics, later known as Richardson Electronics, built their factory on the portion of the property along Keslinger Road, while the Divines rented back the southern 67 acres of farmland until 1978. The Divines later purchased the 100-acre farm formerly owned by Levi Brundige, Jr, from Fred and Ruth Abrahamson. Once again, they did not live on the farm that they owned, because by that time, they were living in the house where Bill was born and they had no reason to move. In the early 1970's, they sold the Abrahamson farm to a speculator, Jim Murray, but rented back the land until 1978.

In 1978, they moved to Echo Valley Ranch north of Lancaster, Wisconsin, which they had purchased in 1973. For the first time in their marriage, they lived in a home that they owned. Two years later, they purchased a home in the town of Lancaster where they lived for two years before returning to the farm. During this time, Bill continued to operate the farm and the farmhouse stood empty.

On August 31, 1990, Bill suffered a massive stroke which left him severely incapacitated. He lost his sight and his short-term memory for the remainder of his life, though he did recover his speech. In 1991, Marilyn bought a house on Jefferson Street in Lancaster and moved there with Bill.
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?b?Bill's obituary:?/b?

William J. Divine, age 74, of Lancaster, WI, died Wednesday, November 19, 1997 at his residence. He was born May 6, 1923, in Geneva, IL, the son of Clyde and Bessie (Brundige) Divine.

William graduated from Geneva High School with the class of 1941 and followed the family footsteps into farming. On June 15, 1946, he was united in marriage to Marilyn Swanson in Batavia, IL. They began their married life farming in the Kane County area and settled in LaFox in 1962. Moving to North Lancaster Township, WI, in 1978, they continued their life of farming until 1990 when they retired.

He was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, Mississippi Lodge #86 of Lancaster from 1983-1991. William was an avid bowler and he and Marilyn loved to square dance. He loved his horses and cattle and his life on the ranch. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, especially his 'best friend' and brother-in-law, Jay Johnsen.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of fifty-one years; two sons, David (Mary Sue) Divine of Livingston, WI, and Peter Divine of Boulder, CO; one daughter, Virginia 'Ginny' Divine of Middleton, WI; two sisters; Lois Divine of St. Charles, IL, and Lyla (Jay) Johnsen of Elburn, IL; his mother-in-law, Freda Swanson of Fennimore, WI; many nieces and nephews and a community of dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Bessie Divine; one sister, Merilyn Divine and one brother, Ramon Divine, as well as his father-in-law, Edgar Swanson.

His funeral service will be held Saturday, November 22, 1997, at 2:00 p.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Steven Johnsen, nephew and Director of the Inner City Parish, Denver, CO, will officiate together with the Rev. Carl Lugn, of Batavia, IL, associate pastor of the Geneva United Methodist Church, Geneva, IL. William will be laid to rest at Garfield Cemetery, Campton Twp, IL.
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?b?Marilyn's obituary:?/b?

Marilyn E. Divine, age 86, died Thursday April 14, 2011 at ManorCare in Platteville, WI. She was born September 23, 1924 in St. Charles, IL, the daughter of Edgar and Freda (Nagel) Swanson.

Marilyn graduated from St. Charles High School in 1942 and worked at St. Charles National Bank prior to her marriage. She married William 'Bill' Divine of LaFox, IL, on June 15, 1946 and assisted in the farming operation in Campton Hills and LaFox. In 1978, they moved to their farm at Lancaster, WI, and later moved into the city of Lancaster in 1991. She was a member of the Bethlehem E&R Church in Lancaster and the Rebecca Lodge of Lancaster.

Marilyn was an animal lover, especially dogs. She was also a seamstress, making clothes for herself and her family. She enjoyed listening to any kind of music as long as it made her smile. In earlier years, she was a member of several square dancing clubs. After she moved into Lancaster, the neighborhood kids 'adopted' her as their special grandma.

She is survived by three children, David (Mary Sue) Divine of Livingston, WI, Peter Divine of Boulder, CO, and Virginia 'Ginny' Divine of Madison, WI; two grandchildren, Cory (Amanda) Divine and Cara (Ben) Biddick, both of New Glarus, WI; two great-grandchildren, Kalea Biddick and Adara Divine; and a sister-in-law, Lois Divine of St. Charles, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 1997, her father Edgar in 1985, her mother Freda in 2004, and her sister Dorothy Nelson Westcott in 2009.

Her funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 12:00 noon at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Steve Johnsen, nephew and pastor of the Denver Inner City Parish, Denver, CO, will officiate. Burial will be at Garfield Cemetery, Campton Hills, IL, following the funeral. Visitation will be at Conley Funeral Home on Tuesday, at 11:00 preceding the funeral.

Marilyn married William John Divine 15 Jun 1946, Batavia, Kane, Illinois, USA. William was born 6 May 1923, LaFox, Kane, Illinois, USA; died 19 Nov 1997, Lancaster, Grant, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , Garfield Cemetery, Campton, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 686788400803414085C4B9605E694299270E

Wesley married Elaine Andersen. Elaine was born 1 May 1926, Dyke, Iowa, USA; died Mar 1996, Wasco, Kane, Illinois, USA; was buried , Garfield Cemetery, Campton, Kane, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 0270562C2F544E2AB23BF7C39489E2992E04

Notes:

?b?Obituary for Ken Johnson:?/b?

Kenneth E. Johnson
Born: Jan. 8, 1932
Died: Dec. 10, 2015

Kenneth E. Johnson, 83, passed away after a brief illness at Loyola Hospital on Thursday, December 10th. Born on January 8, 1932, graduate of St. Charles High School in 1949, and served in the ?u?U.S. Marine Corps?/u? as a sergeant from 1951 to 1954.

Ken made a career in banking, was past President and Board of Director of Geneva Savings and Loan. Ken helped organize the St. Charles Jaycees, was past President of the Geneva Lions Club, past Commander of the Wasco American Legion, member of the St. Charles Moose, and St. Mark's Lutheran Church in St. Charles. Ken also was an auctioneer, working with his father and later with his son, Gregory. A long time resident of St. Charles, he and his wife, Blanche, retired to Lake of the Ozarks, MO in 1994.

Ken was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Blanche Scott Carlson; his parents, Arthur and Dora (Nagel) Johnson; his brother and sister-in-law, Wesley and Elaine Johnson; and his former wife, Joyce Krebs.

He is survived by his children, Gregory (Melynda) Johnson of Lexington, KY, Lynette Cesar of Elburn, and David (Kristine) Johnson of Campton Township; 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He is also survived by 4 step children, Beth (Art) Bettuzzi of Naperville, Tina (Thom) Boyd of Wilmette, Scott (Irina) Carlson of Chicago, and James Carlson of Chicago; and 8 step grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 17, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service to follow at 7pm at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E Main Street, St. Charles, IL.

Kenneth married . Unknown [Group Sheet]

Kenneth married Abt 1975. Unknown [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: EC57F4EFF1954A7DA8A57B80E9AEF7C40DD5

Donald married 12 Nov 1955, Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA; divorced 26 May 1965. Unknown [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 05439F5069D34E3893A1A1EB77CFA6F99EEA

Lois married Lester Heather. Lester was born 5 Aug 1928; died 1992. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: C3D39376C147477C8C7538A63D7EAD54050D

Gary married Sep 1959. Unknown [Group Sheet]

Gary married 22 May 1965. Unknown [Group Sheet]