Deaths

Death notices for the far Stateline: Sept. 8, 2025

We remember those who are no longer with us in Roscoe, South Beloit, and Rockton.

Michael McGinnis

Sep 9, 2025 — 3 min read

Thomas Adland, Jeff Wermager, Suzanne Longacre, Donald Lester, Daniel Ryytty, Jeffrey Rockenbach, John Akerlund, Kenneth Bach

With sadness, we announce the following deaths for Rockton, Roscoe, and South Beloit in recent weeks:

August 16, 2025:
Jeffrey B. Rockenbach, 77, Roscoe
Full of grit, gusto, and good humor, he played football on scholarship at Northwestern University. In his final years, Rocky moved to Roscoe, Illinois, to live his daughter and son-in-law.

August 28, 2025:
Donald Lester, 66, Rockton
An active member of the Roscoe Rockton Lions Football Club and the DA Crew for Junior Tackle Football, his love for the Chicago Bears was unparalleled. He served as a beacon of quality control in the steel industry for decades.

August 29, 2025:
John Akerlund, 80, Roscoe
Whether fishing or grilling, he was a cherished part of Roscoe United Methodist Church and later, New Horizons Church of Northern Illinois.

Daniel Ryytty, 59, South Beloit
An outdoorsman, he worked for EcoLab for more than 25 years. He became an organ donor.

September 1, 2025:
Thomas L. Adland, 75, Roscoe
He rode in The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, with his sister. His other interests included building go-karts, working on motorcycles, and stained-glass artwork.

Jeff L. Wermager, 64, South Beloit
His love for boating grew into a lifelong passion and lifestyle. At one point, his fleet included five boats.

Kenneth R. Bach, 85, Rockton
After a long career in retail, he was self-employed as a woodworking craftsman. He was a member of Beloit Lions Club for over 50 years.

September 3, 2025:
Suzanne L. Longacre, 71, of Rockton
She grew up on a farm in Shirland and graduated from Hononegah High School in 1972. She was a health inspector for the Winnebago County Health Department and helped to plan for emergencies.