The Daily Gazette from Sterling, Illinois • a9

9 BITUARIES Sauk Valley SaukValley.com OBITUARIES IDA M. CURTIS Born: March 21, 1950 Died: December 7, 2020 MONROE CITY, Ind. Ida Mae Curtis was born March 21, 1950 in Amboy. She passed away December 7, 2020 in Monroe City, Indiana, at her home, surrounded by family. She married Leslie Curtis on September 14, 1968, in Amboy.

They resided in Rock Falls, and wintered in Florida for many years. She is survived by her husband, Leslie Curtis; son, Rick (Yvonne) Curtis of Smithton, Illinois; daughter, Roxanne (Jeff) Kempfer of Monroe City, Indiana; three grandchildren, Amanda (Case) Colley, Alyssa (Shane) Neel, and Bailey Kempfer; two great-grandchildren, C.J. and Adrianne Colley; and a child to arriving in April 2021. She was also survived by her sister, Shirley (Robert) Gray of Illinois and brother Dean (Peggy) Gilbert of Arizona; sister-in-law, Alice Morris of Amboy; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

JOHN ESPINOZA Born: March 12, 1943 Died: December 8, 2020 ROCK FALLS John Espinoza, 77, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. He was born on March 12, 1943, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Francisco and Josephine (Marruffo) Espinoza. He served in the U.S. Marines. John married Juanita Leal on October 12, 1968.

He was employed as an electrician at Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. for 30 years. John was very active in several community organizations and volunteered his time to many events. He had served on the Whiteside County Board. Survivors include his wife, Jane; his children, Pancho (Meghan) Espinoza of Skokie, Isabel Espinoza of Rock Falls, Fina (Espinoza) Coffey of Skokie and John Espinoza of Streamwood; his sisters, Rita Krummel of Rock Falls and Helen Rodriguez of California; his grandchildren, Matthew, Emma, Sophia, and Alejandro Espinoza, and Logan and Austin Coffey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Richard, Robert and Joseph Rideout; and his sister, Jenny Amesquita. Masks and social distancing requirements will be required to allow 10 persons at a time to rotate through a public visitation on Friday, December 11, 2020 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St.

Mary Catholic Church in Sterling. Burial with military honors will conclude at Calvary Cemetery. KENNETH J. WOLF JR. Born: March 24, 1950 Died: December 3, 2020 GALT Kenneth J.

Wolf 70, of Galt, passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford. Kenneth was born on March 24, 1950, in Sterling, the son of Kenneth J. and Marjorie (McCue) Wolf Sr. He was a U.S. Army veteran and proudly served in the Vietnam War.

He married Paulette Schaver on November 1, 1985, in Sterling. Kenneth was also a member of the Sterling VFW. He enjoyed fishing the Rock River, and driving his 1970 Mach-1 Mustang. Kenneth will be remembered by his family as a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, brother, and grandfather. Survivors include his wife, Paulette of Galt; four sons, Kenneth James (Danielle) Wolf III of Rock Falls, James Ronald (Erica) Wolf and Robert Johnson, all of Sterling, and Joshua David (Dana) Wolf of Thompsonville, IL; two sisters, Nancy (Ed) Meyer and Karen Wolf, all of Sterling; four brothers, Kevin (Jackie) Wolf of Galt, Kurt (Rhea) Wolf of Peoria, Kris Wolf and Tim (Sheila) Wolf, all of Sterling; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grand- children, with one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; one Wolf; and one nephew, Kris Wolf Jr. Cremation rites will be accorded. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 28, 2020 at Calvary Cemetery in Sterling. Reverend Richard Russo will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established. Online condolences may be made at www. mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com MELVIN F. LEFFELMAN Born: November 17, 1928 Died: December 9, 2020 DIXON Melvin F. Leffelman, age 92, of Dixon, formerly of Amboy, passed on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at Liberty Court Assisted Living in Dixon, surround- ed by family and those who cared for him.

He was born November 17, 1928, in Sublette, the son of Francis and Clara (King) Leffelman. Melvin was a lifelong farmer in the Maytown area. He proudly served in the Army National Guard, Amboy Lions Club, Amboy American Legion Post, was a parishioner at St. Anne Catholic Church in Dixon, and had been a 4-H leader. Melvin cherished his memories of flying his plane and riding horses in his youth.

He enjoyed golfing and fishing, especially when with family and friends, and of course being a dad, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. Melvin had the heart of a cowboy, and the boots to match Melvin rejoins Marjorie Ely, whom he married on February 11, 1950, and shared 41 years of marriage with. She preceded him in death on March 17, 1991. He married Florence Okland Morrissey on December 30, 1994, in Rockford. She preceded him in death June 3, 2009.

Melvin is also welcomed by his parents; brothers, Robert Leffelman and Eugene Leffelman; son-in-law, Dennis Brechon; and brothers-in-law, Joe Quest, Donald Henkel, John Latta, Hubert Leffelman, Gordan Ely and Dick Ely. Melvin will be loved and missed by his children, Mark (Janelle) Leffelman of Liberty Hill, TX, and Julie Brechon of Polo; three grandchildren, Rachel (Jordan) Plock, Miranda Leffelman (Sublette) and Cordell Leffelman (Liberty Hill); and one great-grand- daughter, Paisley Plock is also survived by his brother, Ron (Eileen) Leffelman of Dixon; sisters Elaine Henkel of Mendota, Velma Quest of Sublette and Doris Latta of Amboy; sisters-in-law, Mary Helen Leffelman of Mendota, Karen Ely of Amboy, Joann Leffelman of Sterling; and brother-in-law, Ned (Carol) Ely of Amboy. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church in Dixon.

Burial with Military Honors by the Amboy American Legion will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Maytown. At a later date, there will be a memorial service for all who knew, loved, and were loved by Melvin to attend. Memorials have been established to the Amboy American Legion and St. Anne School.

Arrangements by the Jones Funeral Home in Dixon. DARRELL E. CULVER Born: July 3, 1941 Died: December 9, 2020 ROCK FALLS Darrell E. Culver, age 79, of Rock Falls, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. Darrell was born July 3, 1941, in Sterling.

He was an active member in the Rock Falls American Legion, where he was Commander and was the bugler for military funerals. Darrell served in the U.S. Navy for 7 years, and was employed by Northwest Steel and Wire for 20 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family and playing bingo. He is survived by his wife, Estelle Culver of Rock Falls; two sons, Allen (Lea) (Caroline) Culver and Scott (Jolene) Culver, both of Fairborn, Ohio; two daughters, Robin (Joe) Audette and Stacey (Tim) Smice, both of Rock Falls; two sisters, Karen Crebo and Donnie Willett, both of Rock Falls; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Margie (Riser) Culver; three brothers, Richard Kilroy, Howard Culver and Ivan Kilroy; and two sisters, Caroline Fargher and Roberta Zigler. Visitation, with a maximum of 10 people at a time, will be Monday, December 14, 2020, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. A private funeral will follow afterwards. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling.

Masks and social distancing will be enforced. A memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent to www. mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com. OBITUARIES continued from page 8 OBITUARY INFORMATION All obituaries, including death notices, are due by noon Monday through Friday for the following edition.

They can be sent to ley.com or by fax to 815-625-9390. Receipt of all obituaries must be confirmed by phone. For more information, call 815-632-2567, Monday through Friday, and 815-632- 2534 Saturday and Sunday..