Deaths

Death notices for the Stateline: Apr. 21, 2025

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

Michael McGinnis

Apr 21, 2025 — 3 min read

Cecelia Buckner, Carl Johnson, Dale Wieman, Mark Olson, Marilyn Chastain, Donald Wilder

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

Apr. 11, 2025:
Dale A. Wieman, 72, Roscoe
Always a farmer, Dale valued hard work and was known for his bold ideas and fabrications. He was an accomplished hunter, fisherman, and storyteller, but received more joy taking friends salmon fishing than catching fish himself. He devoted his life creating a habitat sanctuary on his hunting land for his family.

Cecelia L. Buckner, 76, Rockton
She and her husband owned and operated Rockford Heating and Air Conditioning for 33 years. In her spare time, she loved antiquing, going to auctions, and giving new life to old jewelry. She enjoyed watching the hummingbirds.

Apr. 15, 2025:
Donald J. Wilder, 76, Roscoe
He retired as Roscoe Police Chief after more than 30 years in law enforcement for and . He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and the Packers.

Carl E. Johnson, 87, South Beloit
The longtime owner of Sterling Machines in Rockford, one of his favorite sayings was, “Don’t talk to me if we’re not talking racing.” His mechanical skill and strong work ethic earned him the respect of many.

Mark A. Olson, 66, Roscoe
He served as a Scout leader in Roscoe for decades, taking them on weekend campouts and committed to spending one week camping with them every summer. His Dutch oven pizza and cobbler were popular. He worked over 30 years as a clinical lab scientist for OSF Saint Anthony.

Apr. 17, 2025:
Pete McReynolds, 96, Roscoe
He served as Military Police in the United States Army during the Korean War. A truck driver for his whole career, he was a lifelong Mason, in the Tebala Shrine, Scottish York Rite, Eastern Star, and White Shrine.

Marilyn F. Chastain, 98, Roscoe
Graduating from business school in 1945, she was a proud mother of six children and started working at the Rockford Board of Education after her youngest child began school. She retired as the office manager at Auburn High School. She did a crossword puzzle a day up until her final years. All of five feet tall, she made a huge impact on this world.